Talk me into Keeping a 15 year old Brickyard Touring
 

Getting the itch...
Wanting something more luxurious
Looking at Used Infiniti Q50 Sport, AWD ( It snows here )
In the Mid $20,000 price range with 25,000 to 30,000 miles.

Here's the trade in... 89,000 miles - hatch struts tired, passenger window temperamental, CD player skips, and a few speakers on fritz...

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....034f3d9ff4.jpg
No dealer has offered more than $5,000 for it, in fact, $4,000 to $4,500 is it so far....
I have zero patience to curb it and sell myself, just won't do it.

The Z runs great, is a blast to drive, I'm in my mid 50's, so, is it time to move on ?

Convince me what to do Z Community, Thanks, Be Honest, I'm really on the fence here..

Will coughing up $20K to go into a 12 year newer sedan really make feel better ?

Agreed, nothing like a paid off car. I'd be tapping into home equity to pay the difference.

It makes little sense to me to put even a penny into the Z since its value is so sadly low, and going lower fast.

December through March, basically a third of the year, the Z just clutters the Driveway.

I have a 45 minute commute, 32 miles one way, 75% Highway, Z does not get driven in snow or ice conditions, have a Wrangler for Winter and soft top down Summer fun in the Sand.



https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....461c37795.jpeg

Here's the unit I'm trigger happy for

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....6cdd40c8ce.jpg

Would also have this Wrangler for really bad snow days and Summer Topless Beach Blasting

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....022be2a801.jpg

Stop me, or encourage me ?

This statement is so,so true keep the Z fix the minor hiccups and enjoy, save the car payment money maybe invest it and gain some return over a few years then decide if you really want the Q50 It's good though your keeping it in the same family I'd even test drive one to see if it even meets my expectations, if I still want one once I saved up a good amount of money I would sit back and let the deal come to me and wait for a steal!!

I had the opportunity to drive the Q50t the turbo was quite awesome should consider this one as well, almost sporty as the Z!

I say do it.... nothing really to lose from it,

Hey Trav, Got this same question out there in a CFOT thread " Need AdviSe - Work Car..."

U R the first to say " Go fo it " both here and there so far.

I'd only be losing like $22,000 dollars out of savings... But, you only live once, I've got at least another 7 years of work commuting to do..

Keep the input coming folks !

I am facing the same dilemma you describe, but with slightly more complexity:

1. My care has more mileage (129K).
2. I have a couple of small rust spots (below driver door key and corner of driver side rear quarter panel).
3. I need to replace the clutch assembly.

If it weren’t for the rust on my car, I would definitely do the other repairs and keep the car. However, because the car is showing some rust points, I assume there are others coming.

I would say you should keep your car. You have an unusual and rare paint and the 350z is a universal design that will look good 20 years from now.

You only live once! If you're financially stable and can afford it do it!

Hell i toy with idea of getting rid of the vette, it was always a dream to own one ...had it 3.5 years now and that is around the time i dump cars and move one to something different

How's your back? Is it a pain to get in and out of the Z? Sometimes I find it annoying to get in and out of my "sporty" cars especially after a long day at work, where I want to just step into something more comfy instead of a noisy, low to the ground, somewhat stiff ride with a cheap interior.

You make a good point mr. sparco, you really do...

My back is fine, but yes, on some less refined roads my kidneys do get slapped around quite a bit while experiencing every road undulation, pot hole patch, and frost heave....

You nailed it. No way to describe my feeling about the Z than what you just posted. :thumbup:

Same here, xyz paid off, a few more payments on the van. The younger me psychologically needs the sporty cars to stay sane, the wife on the other hand, "you will drive your cars to the ground."

Gee whiz guys..... I don't ever want to hear you guys makin' fun of my age again!!! "Owwwwwww, it hurts to get into a small sporty car wahhhhhhhh... boohooooo" Wow, you guys need to go join the Chrysler Cordoba Rich Corinthian Leather forums.... :icon17:

Coincidentally, I have a Z33 and my father has a Q50S. Completely different experiences, but the Q50 is sporty enough to not miss the Z if you're starting to get second thoughts about it. We have the RWD variant so I can't really tell you how the AWD handles.

I'd do it, but I'd get the 3.7 over the 2.0T. Sure fuel economy will take a hit, but it's a gem of a motor (that you're already somewhat familiar with).

I say keep the Z. The Brickyard is such a beautiful color and it is obvious you have taken good care of it over the years. I'm 74 so slightly older than you, but I still love driving my Z. I have the manual and have had my left knee replaced and so my clutch control is not quite what it used to be. But I am keeping the Z and still love driving it. My Z is also a 2003 model.

I say give the Z a refresh of sorts so that it "feels" different. Find something intuitive about the car that appeals to your senses that will improve your experience. Maybe it's a new steering wheel, new struts or a new seat. It's out there you just have to ask your inner car nut and it will answer. Trust the inner car nut.

I say keep it and get the Q50 if you really want it. I think the Z is worth more to you than it would be to trade it in. The dealership gave me a Q50 (I think it was the 3.0t sport) when they had our M35x for the takata airbag recall for a few days and, while it was very fun, it did not check the same boxes as the Z.

A wise man once said, "When you turn your car on, it should return the favor." IF the day comes when the Z stops doing it for me, it will be a sad day.

Of course, this is coming from a two-person, 4-car family and I got my driveway extended in order to accommodate them so I might not be completely rational :D

Don't pull money out of an appreciating asset for a depreciating asset.

I don't quite get the whole, "I just not willing to sell my car privately, and I'm not getting what I want as a trade in."

Dealers suck big donkey dix. They almost NEVER give you what your trade in is worth. But if you are not going TRY and sell it, I don't see why you would complain??

Maybe CarMax or a broker??

Here's a crazy thought:

Put the 20g into the Z. Imagine the BEAST you'd get outta that!

LOJ Conversions. 20k will get you a LS3!

I was in a similar situation last fall with my 2008. Now, 9 months later, I can tell you I made the right decision, at least in my opinion.

I live in NY, so I feel your pain with the bad weather and such.

For a few years, here and there, I had beaters that I would use in the winter. But the last 2 winters I only had my Z and my motorcycle, so the Z was my only choice in the winter. As weird as this sounds, I just felt bad for the car in the winter. It is getting up in age, although mine is only 10 years old, and just the crappy weather mixed with horrendous NY roads, I could tell it was starting to take a toll on my Z. I considered for months selling her and getting a brand new car. I was looking at the Shelby GT350R, Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio, and the BMW M3. Clearly all would be MASSIVE upgrades to the Z. But then I though to myself... I'm basically going to be in the same situation as I am now, RWD sports car and motorcycle as my only options. Then I considered the Q50 Red Sport AWD. But would I be willing to give up that third pedal? I have been driving stick since my first car, and to be honest, I don't think I am ready to give that up.

Since the Z is paid off, and the insurance is surprisingly cheap, I figured the cost of keeping it is minimal. I could just save some money and lease something decent. I was considering a regular sedan with AWD or a small SUV, and I have always been a fan of pickup trucks, so I figured, why not? Leased a RAM 1500 with the Blackout package.

Now I have the choice of my Ducati or Z in good weather and I have my RAM for bad weather, need space, or going a long distance (it is SOOOO COMFORTABLE, it's basically a Hemi powered couch!)

Here is how I look at it. When you talk to older car guys, they will all tell you they have that 1 car that they regret getting rid of. The bond that I have created with my Z feels almost unbreakable. I have treated her good for the last 10 years and they has been amazing to me. Yea, I barely drive her now, but when I do, she still puts a huge smile on my face.

That is my recommendation, if you can afford it of course. Keep the Z and lease a car you can easily afford. At the end of the day, what is $4,000? Is that what you value a car you have learned to love? Think how you would feel in 1 year, would you miss your Z?

Financials aside, there's no good reason I can come up with to keep that trash DE motor in your driveway lol. Unless you're buying the new toy using a significant amount of your net worth, which would take a special kind of stupid to do, then I think it's a great move.

If you're interested in selling it as it sits now to a private party, send me a message! I adore that color, and so long as it's a 6MT, I'm very interested...

DE is not a trash motor. Yea, maybe stock it cannot compare to a stock HR, but the amount of available aftermarket parts for it is insane. I sometimes hate the fact that I have a HR. If I had a DE I would have probably been boosted by now, but instead I put those funds into 2 motorcycles and now a RAM lol.

Said no one ever

Somehow I got the impression he was kidding.

Or maybe not.... then, oooooooo....

Uummm he did say "Lol" so ya'll can unbunch your panties.....

Reminds me of Talladega Nights...

Ricky: “With all due respect, Mr. Dennit, I had no idea you’d gotten experimental surgery to have your balls removed.”

Dennit: “What did you just say to me?”

Ricky: “What? I said with all due respect!”

Dennit: “Just because you say that doesn’t mean you get to say whatever you want to say to me!”

Ricky: “It sure as hell does!”

Dennit: “No, it doesn’t–”

Ricky: “It’s in the Geneva Conventions, look it up!”

I owned an 03 Z, I liked it for it's reliability. The good days when "oil gallery gasket" and "CSC" weren't in my vocabulary. Again though, I just don't think you're going to miss it. It's not like you're trading it in for a Camry. I took a fun trip to Mexico last week and saw a Q50S with a simple flash tune obliterate an E85 335i (N54). I know that this thread is intended for arguments in keeping your Z, but come on. If you can only afford to own one of them - for me, it's a no brainer.

Close that chapter in your life, cherish the memories of your Z, and move on. Again, this is all under the assumption that this is an easy move for you financially, because I'd be singing a much different song if someone was trying to go into debt for a Q50s or pulling more than 30% of their savings to do so lol. That's just me though.

Most importantly... Remember, it's just a trash DE motor anyway. DUMP IT! LOL. I kid I kid... :icon44:

Keep the Z. It is sportier than that Infinity boat.

Car payments suck, having paid off vehicles is the way to go. That said, I totally get the rationale of missing a car once selling it, that was my s2000. My Z is nice, but it's not the same.

As for the Infiniti, I'm a big fan. My winter/adventure vehicle is an EX35 and I think Infiniti is some of the best value out there in the sporty luxury segment. That said, I'd be aiming for that sweet 3.0T personally.

Life is short, buy what'll make you happy. I'm considering selling both my rides and picking up a 2011+ BMW X3 and going back to just 1 vehicle. Although I'd be paying cash, there's nothing out there that compels me enough to take on a car payment again. A GLA45 seems cool, but I realistically don't need it.

So? After all this.... what's the decision from the OP???

People gotta close their threads.... especially on things like repairs and such. "What was the solution?!?!" :icon8: I say that jokingly but seriously, would love to just go out and nuke any threads that are left hanging with no closure. Useless so might as well.... Ehhhh.

Update:

Suspended the replacement of the Z Activities.

Too much life left in this old Brickyard to let it go.

The Q50: while newer, luxurious, AWD, can carry more passengers, has sunroof, tech gadgets, it... As stated above... " Lacks Soul "

You see nothing but car Ads on TV, and I've gotten nothing new in 4 years, oh well, I'll get a new Skateboard or something to satisfy my need for something new.

Appreciate the Feedback from everyone ! Gonna Keep it longer.....



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good for you.

This was the right decision....good on you man...enjoy the hell out of the Z for......EVER. :)

Biased opinion aside (hardly, laff....), your Z, while needing this or that, is a solid car. I truly believe you'd miss it if you sold it. (Especially seeing all these Zs on CL and such that are just trash, ugggh.) To this day, I have NOT seen a Brickyard in my neck of the woods since I moved here 5 years ago and if I did, there'd be an immediate thumbs up!

Trust me, I still miss the Zs I parted with in 1982. Kind of explains the madness now. :thumbup:

Don't get me wrong, the Q50S may find a place in my garage one day as well. Those are the key words, "as well" as or "next to" my 33.

Smart move to this day I really miss my 77" 280Z I had no choice but to let him go, blown engine by no fault of my own let him run dry! I was young and would of Loved the opportunity to save him and rebuilt him but at the time had no space to store him I watched as he was towed away(sob)now I just have pictures to remind me of the good times we had together,he was my first entry into this world of Z-cars and at that point I couldn't never let it go without rekindling that same relationship with my 2006 Z33 with all the power invested in me death do we part !!!!

Im in the same boat. Im gonna get a 4 door civic soon because I have 2 kids and starting to get knee pain from the stiff ass clutch. Ive drove other z's but mines is REALLY stiffer.

still contemplating on keeping or selling. I would need to fix the dings and repaint. Not sure if its a good idea to throw 3-5k in it.

Everyone has different demands and expectations from their car, so it's impossible to come up with an answer that suits everyone. If it's just getting from point A to point B, sell it and let someone else enjoy that beauty. If you want it to get you to work, AND you want to be able to enjoy the back roads and canyons on weekends, AND you want to be able to totally humiliate that kid in his ricer EVO or that stuffed suit in his 4-series 4-banger (LOL) Bimmer on the freeway on-ramp, well I think you know what you need to do. One thing I would recommend is actually drive your intended new(er) car for a couple of days and see how you like it. A few minutes in a test drive just isn't enough time to tell how the car "fits" the driver. You can rent most models on Turo and it's not that expensive.

Whatever you decide and whatever you end up driving, my advice is this: Take good care of your car. Don't skimp on maintenance or minor or even cosmetic issues that can easily be fixed. The cost is usually minuscule compared to a new car's depreciation. You do that and you car will always be your loyal servant and she will offer you countless hours, days and years of pure driving pleasure.

I too am in my 50's and I sold my track PPW about 8 years ago, thinking something newer & better would eventually come along. Well, nothing "better" ever did come out, not from Nissan nor anyone else in my opinion, and I've regretted the decision to sell it ever since. Honestly, tell me how may cars can you name that come, out of the factory, with Aluminum sheet metal, carbon fiber drive shaft, Aluminum suspension parts, Brembo brakes, super light forged 18" Rays, rock solid manual gearbox, NA engine, etc. About a dozen maybe? OK, now how many of those are also extremely reliable, very affordable and cheap to maintain and insure? Yeah, not many - or none.

I can't replace my Z now, but I've been eyeing an NA 991.1 C2S or a 991.1 GT3 or 997 GT3 or possibly an M2 for the past few months, and I can afford anything up to low 100's, but honestly nothing I've driven so far compares to or impresses me as much as my old Z did, plus I can't daily drive them, except maybe the M2.

Everything stated above is pure Wisdom. Totally Agree about the extended multi day Test Drive before purchase concept !

The Fun Factor I get for 35 to 45 minutes each way before & after work, and for 20 to 40 minutes on the lunch break far outweighs any little annoyances of driving a 15 year old Z that just turned 90,000 miles yesterday.

I sincerely appreciate everyone's time they took to give their opinions and share their experiences.

Glad you think that way. I would add that at 90,000, your Z is just breaking into her prime. I think if you have it professionally detailed, inside and out, remove that damn orange peel from both bumpers, polish and ceramic coat the whole car, add a nice set of wheels and maybe a head unit and and a proper exhaust. How much would all of that add up to? A couple thousand? Peanuts, I say. You do that and I think not only it will turn heads anywhere you take her, but every morning as you open up the garage door or walk up to it you won't bale to hold back a wide grin ;)

Boss been grumpy and customers been giving you a hard time all day? Wait til 5:00p and grab the Z's keys. Wife been nagging you all day? Grab the keys. North Korea about to drop the big one on us? Get the keys.

I sold mine at 128k. The car had not one squeak or rattle, not one drop of oil leak, not a single minor or major issue during that whole time, except the gearbox which was replaced (twice) under warranty, but it was a first-generation car and it was expected. Have a look at my album. Most of those pics were taken just before I sold her.