I'm SO sorry for posting another thread, but I have thru weekend to decide so need someone to look this over asap!

Looking to replace my aging 2004 Touring with this 2008 with a super low 25k miles. Looking to get katzkin leather for seats, Z1 cold air intake, and possibly try and get the Nismo exhaust my 2004 currently has from factory.

$19k out door include shipping

should I go for it?

 

Do not triple post the same content that was already in your previous thread. You post once and it shows up on everyone's new threads.

 

Didn't know, my apologies. Was just pressed for time. Thank you

 

Not sure I'd want to pay that much for a used '08 Enthusiast 6sp. Yes, it's got low miles, but the wheel rash and body and interior wear indicate some hard use. Any service records? Too bad this inspection didn't include a leak down or other objective testing of the VQ35HR.

 

I don't see any of that wear ? I only saw it on driver door handle and arm rest.

Carfax is good except first recorded service was at 15k miles but regular after that. Also 3 failed emission test. Dealer is Ford and he sent me internal invoice with thier own prepurchase inspection

 

Failed emission test. That's a gotcha, particularly in CA. Sure, when they sell it to you, it's on them to provide clean smog but with a bad history, who's to say it won't happen again. Why did it fail? Smog is via OBD and/or visual. (no cats, non-CA compliant intakes, that sort of thing). Best to find out why a low mileage car failed thrice. Suspicious to say the least.

 

Well, my 2004 350z failed emissions test at least twice from memory. Was easy to get it to pass but I don't remember details or why it didn't pass.

So for this 2008 car, here is the smog test history from carfax

Feb 2012 : passed
June 2014 : failed
June 2014 : passed (2 days after ir failed)
July 2016 : passed
May 2018: failed
May 2018: passed (same day it failed, 30 miles later)
December 2020: failed
December 2020 : 2 days after failure. Vehicle serviced between

After that until it got sold in 2024 passed 2 emission tests

So what happens if I get it and for whatever reason, it doesn't pass CA smog no matter what? Isn't there a lemon law you can return car within 30 days or something? And as a 2008 car isn't the law less strict than newer cars ?

Regardless , how can i find out? The owner sold the car to dealer and doubt dealer would know. I giess ill ask

I just know my Z failed at least twice too for seemingly no reason....

 

Lemon laws only apply to cars with intact factory warranties

 

OP posted that he wanted some feedback on whether to buy this Z and we've tried to give him our opinions. But if he wants to buy someone else's problems, why not let him? $19K sounds like a lot of $$ for a low mileage Z, and I'd keep looking. Mic and others have given us a running tally on Z33s for sale on BAT and it sure seems like there may be better deals to be had rather than buying a 350Z from this Ford dealer who is looking to cash in on this trade-in.

 

Ive only gotten 2 opinons, these boards are dead now so its understandable. I've been looking for a year now. Had multiple apps sending me alerts if a Z is added nationwide. I'm not sure how high I should set my expectations when buying a car pushing 20 years old, as there will undoubtedly be SOME issues.

As far as pricing, the dealer is asking $16k. Cars with twice the mileage of more go for that much or more. This one if anything seemed too good to be true which is my initial red flag.

I was lookin for more than 2 opinions, its not like im being stubborn. Your comment about failed emissions tests could be something extremely simple. My own Z failed and passed same day later, and im in CA.

I Dont know what to do. I will never be able to afford the new Z so I settled on getting a new 350z and hope it lasts me 20 years like my current 2004 Z. My current Z is a rebuilt title and worth nothing, yet requires about $4k of maintenance according to Nissan service dealership.

I dont know what to do. Or where to find those much better deals you mentioned. I haven't seen anything better priced for an HR with less than 40k miles in a year searching

 

My last post on this thread reflects less on the car and more on the buyer. Used cars will come and go, but desperation is a dealer's best friend. If you're uncertain on what to do, keep in mind that time remains on your side. You've been looking for a year? Psssh (as Mic might say) that's nothing. I waited three years after putting down my money on a pre-order '03 before my track model arrived. And after owning both a DE and HR model (street and race cars), I can only say that either Z33 model remains a 350Z. I'd put some renewed effort into restoring and improving your '04 rebuilt Z since that's what you already own. If the dealership says you need $4K in maintenance work, that means it's likely less than $2K in parts if you do the work yourself. Learn more about the car (and yourself) in the process of doing some quality work. In the meantime, keep an eye out for a bargain, but don't let desperation be your guide.

 

I'm debating not getting rhe car now. I spoke to dealer and he said failed emissions are usually something minor like damaged gas cap or dirty oil filter. He said he will do a second emission test tomorrow to ease my mind. Honestly thr guy has been great so far.

On my car $2.5k of that is due to bad contoller arm ball joint. I'm not sure that's something I can fix by lifting car up and taking thst whole part completely apart no matter how Good I grt.

I really appreciate youe help. Im like 50/50 now on the car....

 

I would say just keep your current Z and put money into it instead of jumping into another one.
Especially if your current one is not your daily why not just shut it down for now and start replacing parts that are needed and take your time with it. At the end getting a new used Z regardless of the mileage you still take a risk not really knowing what the condition or history of the car is. Ive found that Carfax reports may not always show accurate vehicle history.

 

Does it really make sense to pour thousands into a salvage title that's basically worthless ? Wouldn't it be better to put that into a car that has a far longer lifespan ?

What really convincd me was the nissan service rep. When he sent me the needed repairs he told me he needs to be honest and I shouldn't spend that much on the car, and he said when I came to pick it up "I made the right choice". I dont know if he meant not spending so much on my car or getting the 2008 Z (he said it looked pristine in pics even underside, said that's basically no rust)

As much as i adore my Z, it's so hard for me to justify pouring so much into it. I can't even sell it

 

So, here's an alternative... Go Retro and bid on this.

Oh wait, don't do that, I'm bidding on it so just go away. But seriously, seems like a decent vehicle. First off, it's NOT a base model (since that seems to make a big diff to you), VIN confirms Performance trim level, it's low mileage, appears clean, and being auctioned no-reserve.Oh, and it's in SoCal so, what shipping? If it stays reasonable at the end of auction, I'll bid, win, fly down, Uber to pick it up, drive it home.

Barring that, here's what I'd do: I'd spend that $19k that's burning a hole in your pocket, buy a Z34, sell the salvage car for cheap to some kid who can't afford a clean-title car (and who will likely drift it Dugan style on Thanksgiving, but that's another story) and enjoy the upgrade. Biggest problem in buying a 34 is finding a clean one with 6MT instead of the Slushomatic. (BTW, nothing wrong with auto trans, just not something I'd buy in a Z car.)

I won't try to sell anyone on a 34 since I know the drill.... "Wahhhh, I don't like the style!" "Wahhh, it's ugly and heavy!" (which is NOT true, being lighter than a 33 depending on which trim..A 370Z Touring is fat and heavy due to the accoutrements like leather and other geegaws; but the other trims - for the most part - are lighter and significantly stiffer than a 33.) But whatever the reason, there's such polarization between the camps that not gonna waste my breath. And yes, I've owned both 33s and 34s.

But.... Still wish I'da pulled the trigger on a 30k mile 40th Anniversary Z34 that back in 2017 was asking only $19.5k...

But I had 4 Zs, my Benz, roadster and our Highlander so, uh unh, nooooo, ain't gonna park any of my cahs on the street.

 

28000 and wear on the seats and rust already, walk away.

 

Walk away, car has more than 25000 from the looks of it, seats, scratches, or somebody just doesn't care. Mine has 120000 and looks better.

 

Hmmm doent checking codes by a preinspection tell you if odometer is messed with ? And the carfax shows service history with mileage recorded. Plus engine looks super clean

 

A scanner like that will tell you nothing about the speed-o, Carfax is a joke, not everybody goes to the dealer for service, an engine can be made to look new with a little soap and water, and another speed-o from another car, easy swap in a Z. And no, it would show up nowhere unless a dealer did it.

 

he sent me the service invoice on the car they did with a pre-owned inspection checklist , but there is also a ID/OD inspection. When I looked it up apparently in Missouri you have to verify mileage on odometer or something like that ? Do you know what that is ?