At the end of the day the market determines the value. You car is only worth as much as someone will pay. All of these services like kbb, nada, black book are guides and nothing is absolute. It's a starting point. if you want to really determine your vehicles worth look to see what sold on eBay and what the prices are in your area for a comparable car.

 

A few things to think about that I have noticed

1) The car is being really abused now as the value has dropped. I am noticing progressively younger and more immature drivers becoming owners. As such the car is now topping the most crashed list on the IIHS:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobile...he-road.html/?
a=viewall

2) Last year there was a huge increase in new car sales. As such the used car inventory has surged and prices for all cars have fallen

http://www.edmunds.com/about/press/f...dmundscom.html

None of these things can be directly certified since I don't have sales info but that is just what I have noticed.

 

Definitely have to say 1 is a big factor here. I remember back in December 3 nismos were crashed all in the same week.

 

*cries*

 

I was offered $13K for my car and a few $12K offers. I even had someone who wanted to come down to look at the car, but I didn't budge on my numbers. I recently did a KBB value on my car and it was $14,139 private party value. My car has the 1 year color, averages 3,000 miles a year and the paint looks like glass. If someone offers my car my asking price, I'm getting the new Nismo. If not, I'm enjoying the no payment and like a new car, car.

 

What year is your z?

I had mine listed for sale last year and got lowballs, $9,000 for my 2004.5 touring with 55,000 miles. Granted I'm not the first owner but I have all records and take extra good care of it, very meticulous. Just makes me upset

 

Hey bloodwings, I gotta tell you. People won't buy it for 14k. That's just the truth. 13k is a good offer. When it comes to selling things, buyers look for certain things, once they are met, everything else like 'clean like glass' paint and it being a weekend car, is really not a hot point.

People in the market just want the lowest price over the best product. As an economist that sells lots of crap on Kijiji, I can tell you this is a recurring pattern. Enjoying your like-new car is the best option. It's paid out and most depreciation has already happened. From this point on it's just a gentle depreciation slope and you get yourself a nice looking, reliable car.

 

Prices fall like this for all cars. This is the time it is happening for the 350z. The main reason here is that Gen1 370z has now turned into Gen2 370z which means the prices for the new Z car are becoming more affordable. This makes the 370z the new 350z and the 350z becomes the new 300zx or 240sx.

The good news is most depreciation already happened so this market is prime for someone like me, mid twenties, access to credit, and a passion for cars. If you already had a Z before this drop, it's a bit painful, but if you entered the market like me, it's favorable.

I got a 2006 touring with the 18 inch wheels for $12k. Got the dealer to get rid of some rust on the roof and throw in a new aux belt, then I was on my way.

 

Eventually our 350z will look as old as the Datsun. Whenever they come out with the next "Z", it will look very dated.

Hell the 370z has been out since 2008 technically, it's a very old and tired design.

 

The current drop is mostly do to the increased availability of used 370's. Why would the average consumer want a used 350Z when they can easily buy a used 370Z? My '06 took a huge hit in value at the end of '08 when the new 370Z was announced. I had been thinking about trading it in (I was on my 3rd oil consumption motor), so I was watching the values. My KBB trade in value went from $25k to $16K from July '08 to Nov '08. That's huge. I ended up trading it in for a new leftover '08 Mustang GT/CS in April '09. I was only able to do that because I got $12k off the sticker price.

 

I bought a 350Z in August of '14. I could have bought a 370z but I just do not like it at all. I know it's my opinion but I have never liked the 370. From the longer front end to the chopped off looking *** end of it. It just never grew on me like the 350 did. I love the Z32. It took me a while to love the Z33.