Should I sell my car?
So after saving a years salary by living at home, working, and going to college, I bought myself a 07' 350z Enthusiast HR. I unfortunately overpaid for it cause I fell so in love with the car. Paid $13,500 + 7% NJ Tax + Motor Vehicles, closer to $14,400. It has 106K miles on it. Since purchase I've had to do spark plugs (100K is a bad mileage to buy a car cause these things start to have to get replaced), fuel injector cleaning, serpentine belt, 2 new TPMS sensors, and weatherstripping (almost $180 installed). After cleaning the injectors and throttle body I kept getting Check engine lights. After deep research I found that it was linked to the local shop not doing a idle relearn procedure post cleaning the throttle body as I was getting a high idle code.
These past couple weeks have left me kinda traumatized given how much time, money, and check engine lights and TPMS lights were going on. My question is: do you think I should just fold and sell the car and lease a Elantra or something given the mileage of the car? I'm graduating college this semester and NEED a reliable car. |
Originally Posted by BaddassZ
(Post 10554640)
So after saving a years salary by living at home, working, and going to college, I bought myself a 07' 350z Enthusiast HR. I unfortunately overpaid for it cause I fell so in love with the car. Paid $13,500 + 7% NJ Tax + Motor Vehicles, closer to $14,400. It has 106K miles on it. Since purchase I've had to do spark plugs (100K is a bad mileage to buy a car cause these things start to have to get replaced), fuel injector cleaning, serpentine belt, 2 new TPMS sensors, and weatherstripping (almost $180 installed). After cleaning the injectors and throttle body I kept getting Check engine lights. After deep research I found that it was linked to the local shop not doing a idle relearn procedure post cleaning the throttle body as I was getting a high idle code.
These past couple weeks have left me kinda traumatized given how much time, money, and check engine lights and TPMS lights were going on. My question is: do you think I should just fold and sell the car and lease a Elantra or something given the mileage of the car? I'm graduating college this semester and NEED a reliable car. |
Originally Posted by Zmandriving
(Post 10554677)
first determine how much you could sell it for. since you already own the Z I would probably drive it until something major happens. These cars are pretty reliable. Have you changed fluids yet? Like trans, coolant, brake, clutch, and power steering fluids? I would recommend doing this if you plan on keeping the car. If you really want a new car then do it but if you plan on moving out you are going to have other expenses like rent and utility payments and then throwing car payments on top of that for someone just getting out of school might be a tight squeeze on your wallet. Cant comment on how reliable the elantra is but my brother inlaw drives a Sonata and seems to like it and hasn't had any problems yet.
I'm not worried I won't be able to make payments on a lease + rent with a professional level income. You can always modify ur rent to accommodate ur car payments. It's just another piece of the puzzle solved. But the uncertainty of expensive car repairs is what I have to say I can't really afford. It's a hard decision cause I f'in love this car and always wanted a Z. But if I can't afford a lower millage / new one maybe I should have held off. |
Most of what you have done is preventative or elective maintenance. You don't need TMPS, You didn't have to have the Injectors and TB cleaned and I doubt your serp belt was in desperate need of immediate replacement, your weather stripping would be related to an abuse issue. The serp belt could have left you stranded if it actually broke, nothing else you've done has had any real affect on the reliability of the car. IF the car isn't a lemon and has been moderately cared for it should have no trouble reaching 200k miles or more.
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Originally Posted by monztr
(Post 10554707)
Most of what you have done is preventative or elective maintenance. You don't need TMPS, You didn't have to have the Injectors and TB cleaned and I doubt your serp belt was in desperate need of immediate replacement, your weather stripping would be related to an abuse issue. The serp belt could have left you stranded if it actually broke, nothing else you've done has had any real affect on the reliability of the car. IF the car isn't a lemon and has been moderately cared for it should have no trouble reaching 200k miles or more.
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Thanks for your opinion that you think I should keep it! Any other opinions welcomed!
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Sounds like regular maintenance so far
Spark plugs aren't a big deal. I believe the plugs themselves were under $100 and took me half an hour to do. Not sure why you want to get rid of it now |
Geo Metro Convertible
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Um.....How do you go from a HR 350z to a Hyundai Elantra?.By all means keep your 350z.
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The elantra hatch is a nice DD and I'm being completely serious
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Originally Posted by iideadeyeii
(Post 10554782)
The elantra hatch is a nice DD and I'm being completely serious
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I agree that you should jeep the z given if you can afford it with rent and everything else. The maintenance shouldn't be a problem since it looks like you've done the worst of them already..
But I want to add the elantra isn't a bad car either. I had an 05 we bought with 55k miles and we had it til around 80-90k before my gf pulled out in front of someone.... The only thing we had to replace was the cv axles. Keep in mind they have NO BALLS once your doing 70ish you can floor it and they barely move its a good dd and reliable but if you want something fun and reliable your pretty much out of luck. But I did buy this chip that worked pretty well, it gave it a couple more hp or you could turn it down and save gas, looking back now I'm surprised it actually worked, but its not like it was 20+ hp ( like it claims) more like 5ish, was probably a more aggressive stock tune for it or something.. |
keep the Z, but pray that the slave cylinder doesn't go out.... if so bend over and get ready to take it up the bum (unless you are mechanically inclined and feel comfortable dropping the transmission)
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is the car paid off? if so most repairs are going to be cheaper than a car or lease payment over the year
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Keep her she will last.
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My cars are paid off and I can't fathom a car payment again.
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Originally Posted by iideadeyeii
(Post 10554782)
The elantra hatch is a nice DD and I'm being completely serious
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A ****ing Hyundai? NO.
Keep Z and make it a project car down the road. And buy a DD when you do :thumbup: |
That was all basic maintenance - the TB and injector cleaning probably involved a bottle of $10 "cleaner" in the gas tank BTW and wasn't need to begin with. did you do most of that work yourself I hope? No reason not to keep it from what you posted.
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