Hey everyone, I just wanted to get your guys opiniong. Right now I have a Dodge Dakota and I'm looking to get a Z. Its a 2000 and I'm going to sell it for about 16k and I owe anywhere from 7 to 9, not sure. All of the money will go to the downpayment of my Z. My dad at the moment pays 250/month and is willing to pay that for another 5 years because that is how much I have on the loan now. I have a part time job where I get anywhere from 10-20 hours a week and get paid 10 an hour in cash to sit around and watch TV and do hw. I know you guys have flamed a bunch of kids coming on here living in poverty and driving Z's but I wanted your honest opinion. I live at home because my dad wont pay for dorms and I'm in my hometown, I don't have to pay for anything, I actually get $80 a week for gas and food. I know everyone will say focus on school but my job lets me study and do whatever I want. And then my next thing would say that I should focus on my career and get out of community college or what not but I just turned 18 and I'm a sophomore at UCSD and am majoring in Biochemistry so I think that as of now I'm on the right track. My insurance right now is based on a red truck, with a V8 in it, and being a 16 primary driver, so its about 4k a year I believe. So the question is, should I come up with the difference in payments and insurance (minimal, talked to them). It will be anywhere from about 175 to 250 for the payments each month. I don't really have anything to spend my money on and I make almost that in a week. What do you guys think? Should I do it? I mean a lot of kids my age pay that much a month for civics, so why not pay just a small amount each month for a really nice car? I personally think I like the G35 better based on practicality but that is outta the options since my dad has the sedan and I don't want the same car as him. Let me know your honest opinions, because I really have nothing else to spend my money on, and I can't move out because then I would have to pay for total car, insurance, food, tuition, apartment, food... Its dumb but its my dad's rule. He said he pay for everything if I stayed at home because he knows I'll do better academically if I wasnt away on my own, and I can't just pay for apartment (wish I would do) because he says there is no such thing as part of a man, and if I moved out I would have to be a "full" man and pay for everything. So what do you guys think? I already drive the G and I have a compact truck with a V8 so its pretty quick so there is no problem with the power with the car. Let me know, I'm really interested in some advice. I'm also looking into leasing and also maybe buying an EVO. Thanks a lot everyone.

 

im 19 and i have a base Z. i paid 26500 with 3.9 apr and i downpayed 5000. currently im paying 420 a month and i have part time job jus like you. i earn around 800 a month. also insurance is cheaper then my integra which is 500 difference a year.

 

no

 

I think you should spend the money on drugs, alcohol, prostitutes and food

No but for real do what you want, the Z is an incredible car, but a place of your own would be better

 

Lets see, in the end you'll get 8k off your truck. So your payments will more than likely be around 320bucks a month. I'd expect your insurance to stay the same more than likely.

It looks like most of your money would be going into the Z. Its one thing to have a nice car, but kinda pointless if your completely broke during the good years of your life.

 

No

wait till you finish school. Smartest thing to do IMO

 

Hmm 22 years ago I wanted a Z for my first car, my parents were helping me out I was 16. They said I wasn't ready for a car like that to start with and I'm sure money played a part in the decision. I ended up with a Datsun 310GX which I loved, put 60k miles on it in the first year.

 

Let me add a disclaimer: if you cannot stop thinking about the Z, it consumes almost as much of your thoughts as women, and feel at the point of obsession, then scratch that itch

 

go for it. I see no reason for you to move out. at 18 if your parents are able and willing, you dont need to be paying for your own place if you dont want to be.

you have the money, and atleast in a more expensive car itll depreciate slower than most. just dont wreck it.

 

Oh boy...Here we go again...

I don't understand why you young guys keep coming to a Forum FULL of Z enthusiats asking if we think you should buy a Z....99.9% of us LOVE our cars, so we're not going to rant about how bad it sucks so you shouldn't get one. What did you think we'd say?

It makes total sense that you live at home if you're going to college in your home town. Dad shouldn't pay for a dorm out of his pocket when he spent the last 18 years of your life paying for the bedroom that you sleep in already, what's a few more years of you living in it. That is a financially sound decision on his part.

As for him footing the bill for your Z, that's really a moral question on your part. You're not going to get into a Z for $250/month, even if you put 8K down....So based on the CURRENT financial structure, a Z isn't going to happen for you. Your dad (or maybe you!) is gonna have to be willing to cough-up some extra $$$ every month to make up the difference. That may have been your intent all along, I couldn't really tell from your post.

Just a few things to think about: The trade mags all say that the 5 year cost of owning a Z is something like 40 or 45K....Warranty aside, think about who's going to pay for the maintenance/repairs on your car...If you think your truck is expensive, wait 'til you have to take your Z to the shop. If you suck your budget dry trying to pay for the car, you're going to hate life when it comes time to fix it.

Draw up a budget....Put EVERYTHING in there that you can think of. Try to think of things that you don't pay for now but might later. Remember that this is a 5 year commitment you're making. If the Z fits into your budget, and you don't have a problem being indebted to your father even after you're out of school, I say go for it. Just remember that you can fool yourself now, but if you do and it comes back to bite you, you're gonna hate life later.

The Z is supposed to hold it's value pretty well, but you will be upside down for the first few years, so unforeseen circumstances could make your Z your greatest liability. Having to sell the car could leave you further in debt that you can handle....Please think about that.

Make sure that the Z works for your particular financial situation. Once you have your budget drawn up, talk it over with someone who can be objective (read: doesn't have Z on the brain). If they have doubts, respect those doubts as reasonable and step back and take a long hard look at your situation.


A last thought is this...Your insurance will SKYROCKET once you get your first ticket. And being 18, single, and otherwise without responsibility, you will get a ticket sooner or later. If/When this happens, can you still afford the car? What if you get into an accident, can you afford to repair your car, or if your insurance foots the bill, can you afford the rate hike? I guess what I'm getting to is that if owning a Z leaves you without a comfortable buffer, don't do it...please.

Whatever you decide, DRIVE SAFE...The Z is an easy car to get into trouble with. All the biochemistry in the world won't bring you back to life.

 

If you want it, buy it. Get the Enthusiast though; LSD & TCS are REAL important.........particularly for young drivers.

 

You will not be happy with the Z if it totally consumes your every thought in your life. If you put all of your money into payments and insurance, you won't be doing much else other than driving it to school and to work. You'll worry about getting parking lot dings or vandalism wherever you park.

Wouldn't it make more sense to drive an older vehicle to school and concentrate on getting that good degree that you're working on? Then, you could get yourself a good graduation present and move out on your own when you get that better job.

Economically, it makes more sense to save all you can while you're living at home, working some, and going to school. It will really pay off big-time later on. Don't stress ole dad too much; he sounds like a pretty good guy.

WayneTN

 

Ok first of all to Kcobean, the reason I came on here was for some honest advice from people that deal with the car, not for you to tell me that it is a great car, I already know that. I really have no one to talk to about it other than my dad and thats already been played out. Second of all I would only be paying the difference in the payments, which according to poison123 would be about 320. That means I would pay 70 a month which is a joke. And to top it off I've already gotten a ticket and my insurance has already gone up so that isn't really a problem as well as I've already had to replace rotors and other stuff on my truck and my dad is willing to pay for maintenance. He really loves the Z, and he actually wanted me to come online on here to ask for people's advice because I basically only have his and my stupid friends. So thanks for your guys advice but 70 dollars a month is definently not too much. 200 is my maximum payment that I am willing to accept. And I kinda feel bad that they are paying for a lot of the car, but most of the downpayment will be money that I put down on the truck that I have saved my whole life, and he has paid for my older sister for years, and in our house everyone gets the same thing. Im ranting about nothing but based on some of the more legitimate replies I think I'm going to get it. Hopefully within a month I'll have a Black or CS enthusiast. I was thinking touring but it seems to be not worth it. Ive scoured through posts on this forum and it says the Bose system sucks and I could get leather seats for 600 bucks. That is basically all the meaningful stuff in the touring for me. If I get the black the first thing I'm going to do is put 15% tint on it, put black wheels like Makaveli's with a big lip, then put Bat's overlays on the taillamps. I want to make it all black. Hopefully I'll be able to talk the salesperson down in price for a good deal. Thanks everyone for your advice.

 

go ahead and get the z and learn you lesson the hard way.

 

"Hopefully I'll be able to talk the salesperson down in price for a good deal."

I would suggest not dealing with a salesperson, unless you want to haggle back and forth. Make an appointment with the Fleet or Internet Manager. They generally can give you a lower priice compared to a regular salesperson.

 

Save the money. I wish I could go back in time and saved my money instead of spending it on cars. You could always wait a few years and buy a used Z for like $20,000.

-HIT

 

Exactly...Regardless of what the majority here tell you, you're going to do what's in your heart, so don't get short because I answered your questions. Let's look at what you said....

"I know you guys have flamed a bunch of kids coming on here living in poverty and driving Z's but I wanted your honest opinion."......Ok, I gave that to you. I was even relatively nice in that you laid your financial life on the table, and I tried to do something constructive with it. I was in your shoes once, and it kicked my @$$, so do I have the right to "warn you"? Yes I do.

You also said...

"What do you guys think? Should I do it?"....I gave you my take on that as well, so how did I do you wrong in my post?

You didn't ask about the car, you asked for financial advice. If you had asked "do you think that the car is worth x number of dollars a month to upgrade from my truck, you might have gotten different answers, but all the information you provided had no bearing on our opinion of the car, it's worth or how it relates to you.

I think you're in denial a little bit because if you look at 350zWhite04's post, he said, "...I have a base Z. i paid 26500 with 3.9 apr and i downpayed 5000. currently im paying 420 a month..."

For an enthusiast, you're looking at paying probably 28K. With 8K down, at 4%, you're looking at in the neighborhood of a $390 payment, so now your out of pocket cost is not $70, it's $140. If that works for you, that's great, really.


I sincerely am NOT trying to be a @$$. You obviously like the car, you know what they're worth, you know what you think you can afford, so go for it...Just remember that if the car starts to eat you alive, you heard about it here first.

If you actually made it this far in my post, let me end this way...

If you do end up getting a Z, I hope that it treats you well, and vice versa. And again, be safe...the Z ain't no truck.

Good luck

 

Ya know, if my parents had the cash and were willing to pay a large chunk of it, I sure as hell would get a Z. I actually paid for all of my cars, starting with my 89 Le Baron turbo when I was in my early 20s, and my 90 240SX 9 months later (cause I got sick of working on the Le Baron). Looking back, I'm amazed I lived as long as I did, and after a few close calls in the Z, I'm still wondering if I'm mature enough at 27 to own it.

I personally think your parents are nuts if they're willing to help you that much to get into a Z, although I am sure my parents would have helped me if they could've; I'm sure they thought I was mature enough (if only they knew....). Maybe I'm lucky they didn't tho. But, I sure wouldn't blame ya if you got the Z, cause I know I would definately think about it if I were 18 in that position.

Then again, if I were 18, living in SD, and my parents were paying for car payments and gas, and had a pickup, I'd be getting a dirtbike and learning how to ride, keep the truck, then buy a street bike a few years from now, and buy the z when you graduate (and have way more toys as well as a useful truck). But, that's just me.

 

kcobean, i didnt mean to sound rude, i just wanted to make sure you knew my position. my father and i both feel that now would be a great time in my life to have a car like this, and have no basic responsibilities to anyone but myself. And dissident i would love to learn to ride a bike but its not really my thing. I'm more into surfing and stuff but I don't surf often enough to need my truck and every single one of my friends has a truck so i really have no use for it. And the street bike, my gf's brother has one or had one, and his last accident he shattered one arm, one leg, and a couple of ribs. Not my thing. Thanks for your advice everyone, hopefully ill be joining the Z club very soon.

 

aaa...to be 19 and thinking about buying a sports car. good going!!