Hello, I am new to the forum so first off I'd like to introduce myself.

My name is Mario and I'm in the market for a 350z. I am a 20 year old University student with a dying 1990 535i BMW that has custom interior, custom rims, custom tires, newer paintjob, custom white/clear lights and turn signals, and tint.

Yesterday I went to a Honda dealership looking for a new civic and was offered on a '07 350z touring with 33,000 miles on it for $20,991 with a 5.9% interest rate, monthly payments of 350 after a down payment of $4,000 and a trade of my BMW for $1,000. I told the guy that I needed to go speak to my bank and my school's credit union to see what they would offer me in terms of loans. I am a student, so I should be able to get a better loan.

I will be going to get this information today and compare the rates/monthly payments to figure which is best. But in the meanwhile I am wondering if there is anything I could do to haggle the price down to 18k?

I have done some research and these are the things I've found:
- Online dealer ads selling '07 350z touring with 43k miles 6spd manual for $18,777,
another for $19,995 with 47k miles on it, and a '07 350z Roadster in "Solar Orange" 1 of 500 ever made with 32,989 miles on it
(almost 33k like the one I'm looking at) for $17,490. I was under the impression that the roadster (convertable) was going to be the
more expensive car. Not only was this car in Solar Orange (not my preference), but the headlamps and backlights where blacked out
slightly with a shade of tint, the rims where blacked out as well, and the leather is custom because there is fabric going through the
center of the seats. Overall a modified, custom 350z at least from the looks of it.

^How come am I supposed to pay $20,991 when other dealers in the area are pricing competatively?

- The car has scratches on the left door panel where you place loose change, etc.
- The car made a grinding noise while going over a puddle off the dealer lot
- 370z is out, less of a market for 350z?
- The year is ending, and soon it will be a 4 year old model instead of a 3 year old, price will drop?
- How good is the 2dr coupe market right now? Who will really buy this 350z at this Honda dealership?
- Carfax shows 20 things, in a Carfax I've found online the car had 2 previous owners by 03/xx/2010, Nothing but maintenance related incidents of the 20
- meaning I would be the third owner.

Will these things influence the dealer to reduce the price of the car? If likely, can you please give me an estimate? 2k less? 3k less?

I was given a 1,000 dollar trade-in value for my BMW, it was dirty on the inside, and the rims were a bit spotted, the left speaker in the door panel was removed and wires where hanging out, and the upholstry has spots. Do you think if I was to detail the car before coming back, do you think he'll consider putting it up to 2k (by asking for 3k first-off), or should I not bother with the detailing?

Thank You.

EDIT: I've read that the invoice could be $5k lower than the msrp which is $21,100.00 . So around $16,100.00 could be the range at which they will be gaining profit. I'm hoping to haggle down 4-5k from the MSRP. (any suggestions?)

 

GTFO

 

I feel welcomed to the forum.

(Please provide me with constructive feedback.)

 

Get the new Civic, leave it stock, study hard, get a good job, and then think about getting a Z or something even nicer in six years. The Civic will more than likely get you around 'til then with nothing more than routine maintenance. You don't need the distraction and expense of a sports car at this point in your life.

I went through college driving a Corvair. I seem to have done OK, judging from the fact that I was able to quit working at 46, and have enjoyed owning an airplane, a house on the lake, and some sports cars since then.

Detailing the old car will certainly up the price a little, but I doubt it'll be anywhere near the $1000 you're hoping for.

 

Lmao...

 

I agree with Winchman. That's the smarter thing to do.

 

I didn't like the Civic at all, both cost the same. I wasn't under the impression that the Nissan would give me problems. What do you know that I don't? Should I read up on these forums to uncover some problems? If anything, the loan taken out would be the same and If this was a MINI Cooper vs a Civic or a BMW vs a Civic, I would understand not to go with the German auto's because of the hefty price tags and expensive repair/parts/maintenance, but as with the Nissan 350z, I was under the impression that the z is a solid car and not some volatile sports car? "touring"
lol

 

I would not be taking on a car payment if I was a full time student. You can find a reliable daily driver on craigslist for the downpayment you're looking to make on a Z and not have extra debt and higher insurance, or the worry of keeping your car ding free in a student parking lot.

With that said...

Why are you asking US if you can talk the dealer down? You should be asking them that. Walk away if it's not what you want to pay. Sometimes they'll call you back with a lower price.


Should you do research before purchasing a car?

Of course.

Insurance would be higher and practicality lower with the Z.

Secondly, you could get a comparable (year + mileage) used civic for $11k. So I'm not sure how $8k less is the same.

 

^This!

 

I would take out a student loan and have it deferred until after school. Meanwhile working to save money to pay off loan. I'm pretty set on getting the car even if it's impractical. ^_^ I think I can have most of it paid off before finishing school without even having the payments start at the rate I'm getting money.

 

The Nissans are pretty reliable, but the one you're looking at is used with significant mileage. Repairs are more likely, more likely to be expensive, and they won't be covered by the warranty for as long.

The chances of a new Civic having expensive problems is near zero when you consider it'll be covered by the warranty for most of the time you'll be driving it. My wife and I have had six Honda Civics or Accords since 1973, all purchased new. Not one of them needed anything other than routine maintenance while we owned them.

 

Thank you very much winchman for the wise words.

 

wow ...........keep digging yourself a hole buddy..........

-J

 

 

Start your research here: https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-n...zs-debate.html

 

You don't know how to take advantage of student loans I guess... Read about the Stafford Subsidized loans and the rates and come back and tell me not to take advantage of them either.

 

Welcome. You put a lot of effort into this. If $18k is the most you are willing to pay, then offer $18k. Make your offer and stick with it.

 

Yeah, my lack of education on how to properly run up my debt by using student loans to purchase cars is the problem.

 

Yes, I'm not going to sit and watch free money fly past me. AKA Student Subsidized Loan sitting in a CD until it's deferment is up. = free 2.5k in the bank over a course of 4 years via bank CD's alone. You can't pick up a Stafford loan just anytime, you are only approved for one and then again you can only take out ~5k average per year government limit. No other loans are as flexible, you'd have to live in the dark to not know. I really don't want to flame on here, I just want help. But I need to stand up and bring this knowledge to the whole that is my350z.com, take advantage of student loans when you can. -Read into it-

 

lol at getting a student loan to buy a $20K sports car. My $0.02 would be buy a beater for a few thousand and save the Z for a graduation present once you have secured full time employment.