Burrito06

Hey everyone I currently own a Mitsubishi Eclipse GS and I was thinking about buying a "Z". I was wondering what was the lowest price that someone has bought a z for. I am only 19 and attending college so I am on a budget even though my dad is going to help me with the down payment. I have about a year to save and I want to keep my payments within the 300.00 a month range. Does anyone have any information for me?

CaptinB

Well I recently paid about 29,500 for an Enthusiast model. With $7000 on a three year lease @ 36K miles my payments are like $320/month. I think for a Six-year purchase, you'd be looking at the same numbers.

At your age, I would suggest finishing school and waiting till you are at least 21 to get the car. At 19, I think the insurance is going to eat you alive. Having to scrimp and save every penny to pay for this car will not make it as fun as it could be for you.

As far as how much to pay, start at the invoice price and negotiate up from there. NEVER start at the MSRP and negotiate down. You should be able to get about $1000 over invoice for a Z. That seem to be fairly typical (at least in my area, the Gulf Coast region)

CaptinB

pittkid333

I just bought a base for invoice and my payments are around 420 w. 4k down

zzzya

iTrader: (2)

You would have to find one used with a decent down payment to reach that $300/month mark for a purchase but I agree, the insurance might be a killer. Talk around to different insurance companies to see what you will be paying before buying the car.

Bertg

I bought my 04 Enthusiast 6 spd for just under $32,000 out the door. I'm financing $25,000 thru a local credit union. Monthly payments will be around $475 a month. Since you're only 19, your insurance will be quite expensive unless you're under your dad's policy.

EL Diablo

Do the Math. Even if you price a base Z at invoice(a price you cant get) can you afford the Z? forget about how much over invoice and under MSRP you can save.

After taxes and tags a base Z is around 28,000 dollars. Add a few thousand for the other models.
In order to have a payment around 300 bucks a month you have to put down around 12,000. Your pops sounds like a great guy willing to help his son anyway possible. Do your pops the favor this time. save him the 12G's and all the monthly payments he'll be shelling out cuz your PT job aint cutting it.

You have a nice car. keep the Mitsubishi Eclipse GS until you finish college. Your Dreaming about the Z too much. I was 19 once. Man did I want that Mustang 5.0 haha
Focus on school thats what is important.

I know this aint what you wanna hear but I am not saying it really. it's just the facts.

lascala26

iTrader: (2)

Diablo speaks the truth.

ztropic

iTrader: (1)

Ditto...having a nice car like the Z in college guarantees only one thing...lots of attention. Some good (i.e. enthusiasts, girls, etc.) but mostly bad (envious people, police). You will find yourself worrying more about your car whenever you are out than actually enjoying it. It's too much stress.
I was fortunate (?) enough to have a corvette when I was a second year student in college, but it was entirely too much trouble to continuously keep an eye on it. I found myself wishing I had a regular beater to just bomb around in. Never worry about parking, washing, INSURANCE, etc.

MuggeZ

I just got a 2003 track model for 31600 and that was from 35500. Its been already paid full. Im also 19 and in college and my insurance is like 4000 something a year, but i can afford it cuz i got a great paying part time job.

EL Diablo

Well if your Z is paid off then you dont have a monthly payment.

thats why you can afford a 35,000 car. The majority of car owners make a monthly payment.

Unless you have some serious cash it doesnt make sense to pay in full anyway. it's better to keep your cash in the bank. Anything can happen. Cash is king.

How does a 19 year old have 35K to pay for thier car in full anyway?

MuggeZ

my parents paid for it and im paying them back slowly

EL Diablo

Your a lucky one

Enjoy the TRACK. Love mine.

Time to start modding

Burrito06

Yeah my insurance will be under my dad's and in about a year and a half I will be 21 so my insurance should be lower. Right now I'm keping the eclipse but I do however want to save some money so I can put down a pretty good down payment. I also think that my dad and I are going to share the car so we will be splitting the payments.

NzZ

I went to school just a short while ago...I remember a guy whose dad owns a famous stereo company (let's just say I should complain to him about the touring unit!) who drove a 911 cab.. Sure he lived in a $2k/month apt...but one day when he brought it to school for a party...well, uhh...let's just say some people mistook it for a urinal. Then there's the time when I walked out of our student center to see some frat bros keying the **** out of it. All I could do was be glad I drove an older car that attracted 0 attention. Trust me these cars are dope, but you can and should wait until you've got some place really safe to park 'em. I bought a garage for mine - that's how seriously I take it. ;-)

NzZ

Jsn350Z

Can't help you on the monthly because I paid cash for my car, but I paid 28k for my 04 Enthusiast if that helps at all.

pittkid333

I got my base Z at invoice...25903 w. areo package, splash guards, floor mats, kick plates, and trunk mat

WayneTN

Respectfully disagree. The way you get "serious cash" is by either buying stuff outright or by paying stuff off, not by paying part of your cash to a finance company. Of course, if you can get a return on an investment that outweighs the interest on your car loan, that would be different. But, in general, you should be paying yourself instead of someone else. In the long run, you usually come out ahead by not paying finance charges in addition to the original price. Besides, you can always liquidate what you have to get cash if you need it.

WayneTN

350Zrunnin12s

iTrader: (9)

What is the aero package?

pittkid333

Rear spoiler and front diffuser

EL Diablo

I know what you mean. What I am saying is if all you had was 30 grand in the bank would you spend all of it on the Z and leave yourself with nothing? you might throw down 5 - 7 grand. keep the rest in the bank. For the average working guy 30K is a lifetime savings.

If you got 100 grand or more I could see buying the car cash.

I'm sure there are some people who dont have 100K and bought the car out right. maybe they spent thier entire savings on the car. I wouldnt do that myself.

I'll admit making payments sux! 54 more to go