Well it's now been two weeks of haggelling and dealing to get two options (both are Base DB with loans for 60 months):

2003 with 15k and no tire feathering yet for 23k. With very low interest comes to 417 a month.

2005 with tax and everything i might get down to 500 a month, but its looking more like 530 (somewhere around 30k out the door.) I am a recently graduated college student makin 50k a year but with a 1000 rent payment (ya SF) and an expensive g.f. I'm worried about 500 a month being too much and not being able to make the mods i want on my Z.

Both of these might not be the best deal for you guys but here in nor-cali good prices like out in AZ are hard to come by. You've all been so helpful in the past and look forward to some great input.

 

dump your g-friend - get a Z...

 

and then you'll have no trouble getting a better newer GF hehehe

 

30 OTD i would assume sticker plus tax license?

Lets talk about an '05 base 6MT.

Assume 30k OTD.
Assume you finance at 4.5% which is average right now.

If you down 3k 60months@4.5 your looking at 500.00 /month

If you down 5k 60months@4.5 your looking at 465.00 /month

or

If you down 3k 72months@4.5 your looking at 428.00 /month

If you down 5k 72months@4.5 your looking at 396.00 /month

Another way to look at this, is to finance for 72months but make 2 checks every month.

for example, if your payment is for 396.00/month @ 72 payments

check # 1 is for $396.00 ( interest+principal)

check # 2 is for $100.00 (towards principal only)

If you do this, you'll end up paying it off 12months early, if you dont have the extra $100 to throw in then you can always fall back on the $396.00 easily.

Now go get your Z!

 

+1

 

Also recent grads get 90 day deferred payments and 500 off from nissan if they finance through Nissan!!

Also dont be afraind to negotiate and research Edmunds.com. Dont pay sticker!!!

You can do better than 30k OTD, I got an Enthus at 29.7 OTD and I am no master negotiator. I am a master baitor if anything hehe.

 

i am in the same boat as you. the Z was right on the edge of my affordability, but i was determined to own one. i found a slightly used 03 about a year ago with feathering (had no idea what that was at the time).

financed it at a rediculously low rate, thank god for my credit rate, and have been making $390 payments ever since. then every other month or so, depending on how i am doing in other areas of leisure, i make an extra payment half way through the month. Over the course of the year you would be amazed to see how it has put a dent in the loan. (not bad advice for credit cards too.)

GOOD LUCK and go get your Z.

 

Be patient. Rushing into something normally turns out to be a mistake. Are there any 2004's around to haggle the dealer on? I would guess they would be trying to get rid of the 2004 stock and would negotiate a little more. That's what I did with my Maxima. When they had the 2002's on the lot, I went in and made an offer on a 2001 and came out smelling like a rose. Sticker was 30,910 and I got 'em down to 26,300, then put down enough money to get the payment where I wanted it.

 

Wow, a $1K rent in SF? That's relatively cheap (unless you're living in the Sunnydale or something ).

 

Wow, great posts guys. Especially ProfessorKan, but one really really big question; what if i don't have that kind of cash put down? Thats the biggest of big questions. The problem is that I only got approved for 24k through my credit union. This is my first car and I've onlyl have minor credit cards. As a result, my credit is good, but just not enough capital. So I'm stuck with either a shitty APR (7 or 8) for 29k otd through nissan for an 05 or a 4.3 APR through my credit union for 24k for the 03. AH! So complicated...i just want to drive, is that so much to ask?

 

I'd say i got right around 1,500 cashola. This is just enough to cover my difference between the 03 with tax (right around 25k) and my loan (24k)

 

High maintenance gfs will always be high maintenance, lose her and find a gf who wants you and not your wallet!!

 

she doesn't want my wallet barry. she's not that THAT high maintenance, just a g.f. period. Pay for dinner and what not cause i like to. Anyway, the dealer today WITH the graduation program got down to 32 OTD, so like 530 for 60 months basically. This is way too high and I walked into my credit union across the street for a loan on a used car. I pick it up on sat and I'll have pics up by monday. Hopefully this is the right choice...time will tell. Can't wait to bring her into a dealer and get the tire feather issue checked out. That'll be fun.

 

In short: Then you can't afford the car. A good rule of thumb to follow is to put 20% down min. You might be able to get away with a little less but this will keep you from getting "upside down" on the loan.

A great resource I used to buy my Z was www.carbuyingtips.com. It looks like a cheese site, but the information is excellent. I purchased my 2004 at invoice using his technique and I gained 1 inch in girth.

 

32K OTD!? What kind is this? A loaded Touroing Roadster??

Thats way too much, I got a brand new Enthus for 297 OTD...

 

You should listen to this guy. It sounds like you're gonna be stretching yourself to the max just trying to buy this car. I would save up for a higher down payment at this point.

If you decide to buy the car in your current situation, you're gonna use half your paycheck to pay for the car and rent. On top of that, you've got other expenses to pay for (gas, food, utilities, gf, etc.). You're gonna be cutting it close every month.

I know you really want a Z, but is it really worth it to put yourself in a difficult position over the next few years?

 

Thanks guys. Great input. I've decided to buy a used 03 for a little bit less than 23k. Works out great at less than 400 a month with taxes and everything. tacomaboy; where do you live? I haggeled a 04 to 29k otd and the 05 was another g or so. O well, maybe a sick loaded GTR in a couple years, Regardless. I will have a Z on saturday. Holy sh#@, thats tomorrow!!! hehe

 

I am in Texas... but from what I hear Arizona has the REAL sweet deals hehe...

but I got my dealer down to 27700 on the car, which is 500 over invouice... TTL at about 2k brought it to 29700 OTD.

Its an 04, no 05s in town yet, but the differences were minor for me. Also end of month made it easier.

I like to use the "well I only have this much, any more and I cant buy" routine. It worked great. 'Course it was true, a penny more and we would have gotten a Murano from another deal.

 

Just my .02 cents, I would rather get the 04 (leftover) rather than the 03 due to first production cars and other issues. You've worked hard over the school years and have a good job. I'm still in school part time and work full-time. You owe it to yourself to get the new Z rather than a used one. You only live once and you need to reward yourself after the amount of stress, finals, papers, projects, and college honeys. You get burn out, good luck in your decision!

 

Don't buy a BASE! Get atleast an enthusiast. you could find an ethusiast or better for the same price!

You know you're probably gonna wanna get HID's and an LSD later anyways! why spend more $$ and time. Cruise Control.