Are you buying the 350z because you would like to buy the other sports cars in the same category but they are just to expensive and you can't afford them. Or do you have enough money for any of them and are choosing the Z because you really prefer it the the Porsches and Bimmers...

 

I prefer the Z and I could have bought any of the other cars. My first choice was an M3. Just couldn't get exited about being part of the German car clique; just too civilized for me. Was going to buy an RSX-S when the Z became reality, preordered the next day and have been waiting impatiently since 2/11/02.

Boomer--What did you think I would say?
BR/FR/AT

 

I'm spending 40k after taxes on my Z.....yes it is in the ball park of the cars you mentioned...but nothing is going to drag me from my Z.

Maybe 100 women chasing after me wanting to use me for sexual experimentation....LOL j/k

 

I can afford a Boxter, but would not want it for the fact that there are too many of them here in Toronto, I see at least two going to work everyday. I would like a 911 Carera S4 but can't afford that one(well, I can, but my wife will probably divorce me). The Z3 actually has a very good lease rate right now, not much different than the 323ci that I'm driving right now, but I have sworn to never buy another BMW cause the one I've had had nothing but problems, 9 in 2 years! Besides, the Z3 can never compare to the performance of the 350Z. I did consider getting the Audi TT, but realized that it's too "CUTE", that's what my wife and many of her female friends think of the Audi TT, and I am too old to be "CUTE". If they did have RSX-Type R this year, it might be a difficult choice for me, but since it's not comming until 2004 to Canada, it was a no brainer for me.

 

I had been looking for a car to replace my workhorse 85 Supra - fairly hot car when I bought it. 135K miles on it and not a spring chicken anymore. Looked at 320SLK's, TT's, was close with the Boxster, disappointed with the Lexus 430. Nothing really grabbed me enough to try to figure out the $$. Saw pictures of the Z, frantically searched the web and found this site. Spent a week figuring out that lots of people were stuck on this car. Ordered it a week later - took a week to find a local dealer who wasn't overly greedy. The fact that the car is a great value probably plays a role in calming my Scottish heart, but it's the FEEL of the car that makes it so perfect.

 

Exactly.

Except for the Scottish part.

 

i see out there is the bmw m coupe, not the m3. Being a coupe rather than in the z3 convertible form, i think it stacks up nicely to our 350Z.

Nissan Z
HP 287@6200
Max. torque/rpm lb-ft 274@4800
Weight 3,290 lbs
0-60 = 5.6
1/4 = 13.9
Brembo brakes

Bmw M Coupe
HP 315@7400
Max. torque/rpm lb-ft 251@4900
weight 3,131 lbs
0-60 = 5.0
1/4 = 13.6
M/// brakes

I know other cars can be compared, but the only one i respect as a competitor is the bmw m coupe.

 

I already have an SLK230, but I am giving it to my wife (we are sharing it now) because I want something more high-performance and fun. (The SLK is an auto.) I might miss the retractable hardtop, but that's about it. This German Engineering thing is overrated; I think the Japanese are just as good when they put their minds to it. If price wasn't an issue I wouldn't mind a Carrera, but this Porsche/BMW/Mercedes status thing doesn't appeal to me. I like cars that are great for what they are and not as some kind of yuppie status symbol.

And yeah, the price has a lot to do with it too!

 

Porche Shmorshe, I have always been a Z man. And they are fun to modify. There is a lot of trick things you can do to a Z. By far most Porshe owners never do a thing to it after they get one, except spend a fortune on service requirements. A lot of us buy a Z car and spend thousands after the fact on aftermarket stuff and no two Z's put through this are alike.

 

I'm leasing my Z because I love sports cars, I work for Nissan, I get free insurance and service (including tires & brakes), and I can't imagine a better value in the sports car world at any price point. Also, I want to keep my 1 year old Jeep as well and if I spent 50K + on a Boxster S or M3, I couldn't afford to do so.

Oh, and I've always wanted to drive a car with a functional aero-package and Brembo brakes.

I can't wait till I get it but it will be February at the earliest

 

30k was the most I was willing to spend on a new car. So after looking around at the WRX, the 328, other low 20k cars etc.. I heard about the 350z coming out for around my price range. The car was much more what I was looking for (a sports car), so I pre ordered it.

I try and use a rule of my car can only cost half my yearly income, even though I finance it for 4 or 5 years. That helps me not buy more car then I can/want to afford.

 

Will always be something better, but if it's not a Z does it really matter. Gotta go with what is in your blood not what gets you in a clique. IMHO

 

I had a 911 S4 and found myself mostly taking the '88 Z to work to keep the miles off the Porsche. Then I said "This is silly - why have all that money tied up in a car you can't (or won't) drive?"
Even though the Porsche is a fine automobile I like the Z better and know It'll give me good service at a resonable upkeep cost.
The Porsche was rather expensive maintanence for the short time I had it ($800 for spark plugs???) and I can work on Z engine myself.

 

I would buy the m3 if I could afford it. No question but this is really going to be a super nice ride for 30k.

 

I am buying the Z because it offers 90% of a vettes' performance at 75% of the price. If I could spend an extra 10 grand, I would be in a vette.

 

DITTO

 

A lot of people say no M3 cause they don't want the status upgrade thing, but in my opinion, you'd be taking a status hit in the vette.

 

I could afford an M3, boxter, etc. Pretty much anything under 60K or so, but I don't like to just waste my money. I think the Z will be an excellent value in the long run. Plus, I think it will be an excellent platform for upgrades in the near future.

-Plucky

 

Had an M3, could afford a Porsche but prefer the Z. When the Z first came out it was an affordable great all around sports car. The "peoples' sports car". The 350Z came back with the same philosophy. I don't think those other more expensive sports cars are worth the difference in price.