i drive a 2000 toyota celica gt right now, and im looking at the 350z, im only 19 so my budget maybe only up to $15000, so that's not too bad.

my only concern is winter.... i live in massachusetts so i'de have to drive it in the winter. With it being rear wheel drive, would snow tires help enough? I can handle roads decently with my celica, so if the 350z with snow tires can stay up to par with the my celica, that would work for me. I'de also be looking to purchase an automatic if that makes a huge difference.

I'm also very hesitant because my dad just purchased a new 2007 mazda Rx-8 and it is terrrrrrible in the snow, or even very light snow for that matter.

I waited 7 years to buy my celica, it was my favorite car, but i'm starting to see how the 350z may be more appealing to me.


Thanks for any help.

 

Okay, guys; be easy here. He sounds sincere.

With snow tires, many people here drive Zs in winter.

 

awww, don't crush my dreams. First to point out, my knowledge on cars is low.


Would I not drive because of poor handling, Or simply becuase it such a precious beauty?

 

awww, don't crush my dreams. First to point out, my knowledge on cars is little.

Would I not drive because of poor handling, Or simply becuase it such a precious beauty?

In any case, information, and suggestions would be helpful. Keeping my celica for the winter may or may not be an option, I don't have garage space, so the Z would have to sit under a tarp all winter. But, i'm a student, making 15k a year lol, this may just be a dream to me. My insurance now is 1700 a year. I paid 1/3 of the cost of my celica while my parents pay the rest, as long as i stay in college. So, i'de prob receive a little help.

 

EDIT. Mom and dad are buying the car. Mom and dad make the decisions. Good-bye.

 

i never said they were buying....Please stick to topic, enough with the sarcasm.

I've done minor research

http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread/t-138189.html

seems like these guys think it may be alright

 

anyone?

 

the z can handle snow just fine but it relies heavily on driver skill. I drive around in the snow on my T1R's and I do fine.

ideally I'd have a 2nd set of wheels with blizzaks to use for a couple months out of the year, just to be safe, but I can't justify the cost yet.

good luck persuading mommy and daddy. I am sure the insurance costs are going to go way up.

 

mm thanks for info. It would probably be best for me to wait until after college as the area around my college is terrible (people and driving wise).

By then, my insurance will drop drastically. I wouldn't think it would raise that much either... i paid 2400 first year that i had my celica, then second year and now it was 1700 for full coverage.


Would definitly like to see more responses from people who actually take theirs in the snow.

 

There are not that many who intentionally drive their cars in the snow for a reason. IMO, any RWD sports car is not a practical DD for anyone, let alone someone who lives where they get lots of snow. If you have access to another car to use for snow or simply when you need to carry more than two bags of groceries, then it may work out for you. I wouldn't expect the Z to do any better than your Dad's RX-8.

I'd wait until after college to buy another car. You have much better things to do with your money than spend it on cars.

 

lol why the hell do people think a 19 year old cant afford one of these cars??? Its not a gallardo christ sakes.

 

+100

 

Most 19yr olds I've known are making a max average of about 12$/hr. A good portion are in college and only working part-time. I wouldn't try for a Z if that was my income...

 

Because most 19 year olds have yet to establish themselves with a home, an education, a family, or a career. $15,000 - $20,000 isn't a lot of money, but it goes a long way to helping establish those more important things.

A problem with most 19 year olds (or most kids in their 20's for that matter) is they don't seem to have the ability to prioritize and look ahead. The more mature among them are able to move beyond the "I see, I want" stage of adolescence.

Ask yourself this. If most 19 year olds didn't live at home with their parents, would they be spending money on a Z? In reality, it is the parents who are buying these cars for the kids even if the kids "worked for the money" themselves.

 

it's nice that you can conclude the obvious, but it is not always the case in all situations...Yes, i'm thinking of getting a z, but it would take years to actually buy it.

Gathering $15,000 in cash is not that hard...sacraficing pleasures like eating out and such really helps. I pay my own rent, car insurance bill, cell phone, food,little education expenses, and car expenses. So, i'm pretty independent.

You were a kid once, you are simply just stating what everyone else does once they get the "older point of view" E.x high school seniors make fun of freshmen, and then those freshmen make fun of the freshmen once they are seniors.


in conclusion, if this car started used in the 20k's i wouldn't ever think about getting it. The teens range is affordable these days even for younger ages.

 

[QUOTE=stupidkid282;6785639]I paid 1/3 of the cost of my celica while my parents pay the rest, as long as i stay in college. So, i'de prob receive a little help. QUOTE]

sorry buddy but you shot yourself in the foot on that one, don't even pretend they aren't going to be taking the brunt end of this one as well.

your intentions are clearly not to save and buy it, and that's ok. if i was in your shoes I would milk the situation for what it was worth as well. you'll have a greater sense of pride of ownership if you do it yourself, though.

 

Like there's something terribly wrong with parents helping their offspring?

Good one...

And yes my intentions would be to save and buy.... I would rather gather cash than finance and pay a rediculous amount of interest.

15000 again is not much, just 3 summers worth work in my position... and that is just counting summer pay..

 

there isn't, but mine didn't, and I learned to be self sufficient very quickly. blessing in disguise.

 

I had a mortgage at 19. $210,000 over 23 years @ prime rate, no co sign had very well built credit. had my truck paid off and paid cash for the 350. Didn't go to college because I did not have to, hit big in the construction industry young with a few good contracts. You never know what kind of situation people are in yet people just assume mom and dad bought their life.

 

props to you, floppy headed canadian. however it's completely irrelevant here because OP already busted out the parents are paying for 2/3rds of his previous car crap and that he will likely receive help on this as well.