Taya Tahiti

Hi there !

I am going to buy a 350z, roadster or coupe, doesn't really matter, even if a roadster would be better. So, I started my researched 2 weeks ago, and found 3 cars I really like (the body style, and also interior).

1) From a dealer : Roadster 2004, grey (beautiful exterior), leather (fully loaded), Xenon LED lights (front and back), 40,000 miles, sport wheels and tires, automatic (I really want an auto), owned by a 50 years old man // $15,000

2) By owner : Roadster 2004, black (also in a really great condition), 80,000 miles, rebuilt title, and for the moment I don't have more information about it // $8,900 (think I can deal it at least for 8000 as I am paying cash)

3) by owner : Upgraded 350Z coupe 2004, black (excellent condition), clean title, upgraded sound system, fully loaded, limo Tint, 2009 350Z Transmission Installed (only 30,000 miles on it), new tires, 114K miles, mostly highway miles. No accident or damage report to carfax // I already proposed a deal, he asked 12K and can let it for $11K.

Could you please help me to choose, the prices are not the same, so my question is, does it worth to add 5K and getting a lower mileage ? Or do you thing I could get a good deal with my 2 others propositions ? At the beginning I didn't want to pay more than 10 or $11,000, but when I saw the #1, woow this car is so beautiful !! it's like a brand new car, the interior and exterior are so in excellent condition ... well, now, I am really confused ... should it worth it ? Is it a good deal for the price ? Cause 15 grands is not a "cheap price", well, I mean I am a student, I saved money for this car, and I have the 15 grands, but at the beginning I was more thinking about put 10,000 in my car, and save the rest, the 5 grands. So, what would be your opinion about it ?

Oh, and btw, I am sorry for my english, I am french, just arrived in Vegas since a months Thank you for the answers ! Hope I could make my choice monday !

JCITY

iTrader: (2)

I'd opt for #1.However,the price is too high.I'd always go for a used car wthout
any mods.However,I'm not a fan of the roadster.
Offer 13k.

WTFMike

iTrader: (2)

Well, I wouldn't pay 8k for a car with a salvage/rebuilt title.

calidrew909

I would get which ever one has the least miles

pss350z

iTrader: (6)

Looks like you're all over the board here.

First off I'd definitely be looking for a manual seeing as you already have one on the list, meaning you haven't ruled them out. Skip the auto for a RWD sporty car. If you drive stick you'll kick yourself in the ***** for buying an auto.

Lower the miles the better without a salvage title. I personally like buying privately cause then you know exactly who had the car especially if they're the original owner. I would keep looking if I were you and jump on a sweet deal when it comes along.

Taya Tahiti

Thank you for your answer, so ok for the salvage/rebuilt title, to avoid !! Concerning the transmission, I like the 350z for the body style ... I like sports drive but well, not enough to choose a manual. Concerning the #1, the price is fix, non negociable, already negociated. Don't you think is a good deal for the price ?

JCITY

iTrader: (2)

Its only money!
If you love the car,buy it.Prices on Z'S will vary by area,supply&demand.
Whats a couple of grand over the years you'll own it.
Don't listen to the negatives on the 5AT.I've owned one for over 10 years.
A tune crisped up the shifts.Plus,NO problems with the tranny!Read the posts
almost daily on MT probs,clutch replacement etc.If your lifestyle is to have a
trouble free car get the AT.

Taya Tahiti

Thank you JCITY ! your answer is clear, and positive I asked to my parents, they also think it would be better to add 3K grands more for a lower mileage ... So well, I guess Tomorrow I will go to look for my new baby I think in my town (Vegas), well, first of all I don't have a lot of choices, so I think the deal is good, I was watching over internet, same kind of cars fully loaded, with a low mileage, are not sold less than 16K grand, and also, lot of cars with 90K miles and more are sold between 10K and $12K, so I guess I could sell it back for a good price in a year, or 2, this is important for me as the moment I don't know exactly how much time I plan to stay in America ... 1 year, or more, idk yet.

Feel free to post others opinions, well, before monday end of the afternoon, after that, I think it will be too late cause I plan to buy it tomorrow, but every opinion is more than welcome And thank you everybody for your time and your understanding.

oldschool350z

iTrader: (1)

Well I wouldn't ever buy one with a car with a salvage title.

I bought my z with only 30k on it. I looked for 6 months and I knew what I wanted, manual, clean and touring. When buying from private sellers it's always as is.

Blooster

iTrader: (1)

Make sure you really want a convertible before you buy one. Z and ZR are not the same. ZRs usually cost more and tops need extra maintenance. If you get one, make sure the top works!

Of course you know which one I prefer

Taya Tahiti

the convertible is awesome ! that's sure ! and furthermore, here in Nevada, I can enjoy a long time during the year, the weather is sweet here

Well, I was wondering if it would worth to buy a car with 65K / 70K miles ? because there is interesting prices for roadster 2005 and 2006 but with 65K miles .... What do you think about Z with this mileage ?

Blooster

iTrader: (1)

That mileage isn't too bad. Average for a daily driver is about 12k per year. My 05 has 60k but it's been VERY well maintained. That kind of thing also matters, as well as the odometer. If it's a private seller, maybe ask to see service records?

xXShadowGraveXx

sound like the first is a touring if there is no leather cracks or electrical problems id say go for it. i know that its always exciting to jump on the first few Zs you see especialy if they are pretty cheap but 15,000 doesnt sound too bad but try to talk down to 14,000 maybe 13,000 depending on any flaws you find. just walk in with a sack and you are good. i have 2004 roadster touring auto and love it. just need to look at every detail.

roadmax

Found my z two months ago. It is a 2007 Enthusiast roadster. Bought it from the original owner, he bought it from the new dealer in March 2008 so it has been in service 5 years, 7 months. It is red with a black top and interior, which are like new. The car only had 18,250 miles and that is what I paid, $18,250! Put new tires, alignment. Did not notice paint chips on hood and front bumper. Am working on that right now. Is an AT. Use this as a guide. Was looking for a week and found it. Was lucky.

If you buy from a dealer, at a minimum would ask for hood and bumper paint job if you have paint chips/road rash. Look closely.

PS: I never buy used cars from dealers.

Taya Tahiti

Well, first I would like to thank you everybody here for helping me with your own experience ! So today I made a last tour, of the dealers in my town, and I spent all the weekend on internet to compare deals, with that, I could talk down with the dealer (a big company) and got a price for 14K grand out the door !! So well, after all my research, obviously, there will be always a better deal from an owner, one day, but when !? :/ That's my concern, I don't have the time to wait THE deal from owner, I think also I can not take the risk to buy with an owner here as the moment I just arrived in USA since a few weeks, don't speak fluent english, can be easily fooled (furthermore, I know nothing in cars !!).

The car I think I am going to take, so my first choice, is a 2004 Roadster, 49,000 miles, xenon LED (front and back), fully loaded, gps navigation, leather black inside, grey exterior, and sports wheels ($500 each), talked down to $14,000 (we started from 15,900).

I go back tomorrow to the dealer store, ... I am sure tomorrow morning I will still thinking about taking it or not ... wait and see

xXShadowGraveXx

Congrats man. Its good you talked them down. Great milage and nice catch on the touring. You will love the car man. Hope things work out to the best man.