Your budget is $1000-$1500/month. Take the lower # or less to be safe. Get a 5 year loan w/daddy co-signing for a low interest rate and borrow as much as you can, keeping the payment @ $750 per month. Determine what this loan amount would be then consider the condition of and if you want to rehab the exterior and interior, the entire drive train and perf. mod's you want. Then find out how much these things cost + labor.
Do you have enough to do what you would like?
Do you think you'll stay interested in the Z to ride out 5 years of payments?
Would you be better off with an american muscle car that stock is a second + faster than an HR Z?
Last thing you want is to sink a bunch of $ into a bucket only to be disappointed with the outcome and then part out for 1/2.
Or...n2o and have fun till it dies. Just be sure to post some pics or a youtube vid when you blow that **** up.

 

Mainly just enjoy the car before you do any mods the Z is a really good sports car on it's own merits just keep in mind speed kills so learn what it's capable of as it sits and definitely practice responsible driving and you'll find that it is more than fast enough for some spirited fun!!!

 

Daily driver or play toy ?