whitelightnin

iTrader: (6)

Hello Everyone!!

I'll start by saying that I currently have a 90 Mazda RX7. I make a good bit more money nowadays and am ready to upgrade.

Tha car I am interested in is my brothers. I will be test driving it etc.. later today. He wants to get back into school full-time+ and wont be able to work the hours to maintain his car payment/insurance(plus a new bike).

The car is:

2003 Silver Touring 350z. Only mods are Rims that he put on about 5-6 months ago(18x9,18x10 Copper 5-spokes). The rims look pretty sick on the car

Car has 36k miles(pretty low for the year) He got it with about 16k miles about 14 months ago and has put the 20k mile on in only 14 months. He uses this car daily and babies it. Wash/wax weekly. Also, He told me yesterday that he has only takin it over 3000rpm a handful of times in the past 6 months due to trying to conserve gas (he's a cheapskate- I believe him )

Miles that he has put on are highway as he drives about 70 miles aday for work and has gone on multiple trips for work and too see a few ballgames.

Has 48month/48k mile warranty purchased in dec2007.

price is 15,000$.......what do you think??

Thanks alot.
Rob

Mike@Blackline

iTrader: (37)

good deal with the warranty, low miles, but if he drove 70 miles a day for work over 5 years, doesnt that equal a lot more than 36K miles

whitelightnin

iTrader: (6)

He's had it for about 14months.

It had 16K when he got it and he's added 20k = 36k on car currently.

P.S. the wheels are Motegi(which you sell ) 18"-Bronze

http://www.motegiracing.com/wheels/d...20lip&section=

Mike@Blackline

iTrader: (37)

oh ok. idk some people are going to tell you that you can find one for cheaper but i mean its a touring with low mileage AND a warranty which is spectacular. if it has nav DO IT NOW, thats a pricey option. pics?

whitelightnin

iTrader: (6)

Nope. I was askin him a few questions, and he says it has everything but navigation.

No pics either. Looks great though. Very small blemishes in exterior( small scratch/rock chip here and there) . Not a real big deal... Interior if i remember correctly is near perfect

So You think it s agood deal? I'm partially trying to help him out, while also getting a good car that I know hasn't been abused.

Mike@Blackline

iTrader: (37)

look at it this way, i drive a 2003 350z with well over 160K miles. no problems. so youre going to have a Z that will last 100K+ miles, and you wont have to pay a dime for any repairs for a while, which may be good if the 3rd gear grind surfaces, but i dont think it surfaces after that many miles, so you may be 100% in the clear.

id do it if i was buying a Z and had 15K to spend

whitelightnin

iTrader: (6)

Thank you for your input!


I havent read too much about the 3rd gear problems..

Do you know when the 3rd gear grind most commonly surfaces( manual or auto)?

This car is a manual...Would it be similiar for each model of the 350z(Im guessing they share the same tranny)??

p.s. I mainly drive another vehicle for work. This Z will be my daily driver but it will prob. only see 50-75 miles a week

Rob

striker27

iTrader: (6)

I think if you have to ask this question on a public forum you are really unable to afford the car. The thing is 6 yrs old it is no longer new. Will it be any good who knows. If you want a Z the new ones are at the dealer.

whitelightnin

iTrader: (6)

Thank you for your POSITIVE insights.
I didn't realize this was my-2008-350z.com ?

I can easily afford this this car, my questions are about whether it was a good price or not. If you read my post above, It'll see less than 100miles a week so I dont see the sense in buying a 370z and letting the warranty run out well before the car see's any major issues.

p.s. I hope your car has under 1000 miles on it! If not, you best be trading that bad boy in

Rob

Mike@Blackline

iTrader: (37)

the third gear grind was apparent in 2003s and 2004s, the trannys would grind going into 3rd gear (for some it was 5th, a few, both), and could only be fixed by replacing the entire tranny, no short fixes. i think the issue surfaced around 7-10K miles, so like i said it sounds like yours didnt have it, or he had it replaced under warranty.

in summary man its a good deal if you ask me, but wait for a few more opinions as the day unfolds, and hopefully you can make a decision.

whitelightnin

iTrader: (6)

LOL

thank you Mike.

Rob

blktrack350

iTrader: (8)

sounds like a good deal. hope to welcome you to the z family soon

Ryan18Bailey

+1

Anywho, to further your decision. I'm from Upstate, NY and Last april I bought a 03 Enthusiast w 30k for 15.9 but I have 5 year/ 100k warranty but your also gettin rims and all the goods that come with the touring.. IMO I'd say that's a good deal.

whitelightnin

iTrader: (6)

Thank you.

I'll be checkin out the car and takin it for a spin in about 2hrs
I've driven it once before but it was pouring down rain.

Rob

whitelightnin

iTrader: (6)

any other input?

Rob

wyoz

I'm going to qualify my below comment by stressing it is meant to be constructive and food for thought:

I assume you can/did get online and check NADA and Kelley Blue Book values for the car, as well as research other similar age/option/mileage cars to compare your brother's car to. Since the car is your brother's - I assume you trust him, what he knows about Z's and what he wants/needs out of a sale. So not sure what else others here can tell you beyond what has already been said to help.

whitelightnin

iTrader: (6)

Thank you, Well said.

I guess I just want to hear anything and everything before I lay down 15K$ Thats still a good bit of money. Just like Johnny-5 Input...Input...Input...

A3VT 74

iTrader: (4)

Keep the rotary...

I have a 1985 GSL-SE....

johns350

advantage: the fact that you have known the car for more than a year - and your brother has owned it during that time - I ASSUME your brother would not sell you a lemon.

Think about it this way - if you buy a used car from a dealer or used car lot, you have NO WAY of knowing it's history. Carfax, etc - only tell you one little piece. You know this car's recent history - and it comes with a warrantee. Price isn't bad according to kbb.com.

I can't tell you what to do - but I bet if you pass it up, you will regret it.

Good Luck - and let us know what happens.

CancerJCCz

iTrader: (9)

Sounds like a straight deal if that is what you are looking for. Some food for thought however, if you are gonna mod it and not be satisfied with 287 bhp then looking into a fully modded car may be a better option.

If I personally could do it all over again I would buy someones TT'ed car (obviously one that records could be verified on) and reap the benefits of having a fully built car for a fraction of the price to build it. You can always buy something done for A LOT less than you can put it together yourself. Just my