So, let me preface this question first with a bit of background on myself.

I am a 29-year-old guy, I just received my M.S. in Information Technology a few months ago. In May of 2010 I received my B.S. in Management Information Systems.

I currently work full-time in IT, but struggling with an awful paycheck. I only make about $13/hour. It's entry level, and I've been working here for 2.5 years ... but I'm completely pigeon-holed with a company that has little to no internal growth/advancement. I've been pursuing other jobs, but to no avail thus far. I have a few things in the mix, and foresee jumping to 40/50k with an upgrade in the next few months max...

I also run a small business on eBay in my spare time to generate a supplemental income. I've done this for the past 15 or so years, and it's worked very well for me. The only problem is that it's very time-consuming and stressful combined with a super-stressful full-time job.

I do have some savings, but I also have a VERY large amount of student loan debt. I don't have any other debt, aside from student loans. I have a great credit score.

I currently live with my gf renting a house, and we split all bills 50/50. I receive no assistance from parents, and never have (And that would be weird now at 29 years old! haha)




So given the fact my full-time income is low, I've been able to maintain a normal lifestyle by supplementing with my eBay business (last year I grossed 40k from this income alone). I'm VERY good with my finances, which is why I can live like I do with such low full-time income. This is also the reason why I haven't purchased a 350/370z yet



So there's my background ... my question is a combination of a few things:


I'm looking to purchase a 350 or 370z. I would prefer to buy/finance over leasing (I THINK! .... I've pondered this endlessely and looked at both sides unbiased).

I currently drive a 2002 Honda Civic EX with 110k mileage ... I fear it's on its way out soon, as it's owners prior to myself did not take care of the vehicle like they should have. I've had to put a ton of money into it so far ... and I really don't want to put more into it! So I'd be willing to trade this in as well.


I'd prefer to buy a Certified Preowned ... but it's a tough situation. With a few year-old CPO car, you're still looking at paying close to NEW ... minutes the incentives of buying NEW! I also have a sever distrust for dealerships, even a true Nissan dealership. And CPO cars are only really worthwhile to purchase within a 1-3 year range, so you can still have enough time left on the warranty to use if necessary. Buying a privately-owned Z seems sketchy, who knows how a previous owner drove the car, could have beat it to **** on a daily commute.


Buying new is a bit out of my price-range. $35-40k is too much for me to take on in my situation.

I'm looking more at the $15-25k range (I know that's a bit of a broad spectrum).






Ultimately, I'm trying to figure out the best scenarios here.

Buying new? Is it truly a GOOD idea with a Z in comparison to buying PreOwned or used? When accounting for all aspects of the buy, and the actual car itself.

I don't know the ins and outs of these vehicles, are they a bad purchase after 30/40k?

I feel uncomfortable spending $20k on a car with 30-40k mileage ...and it's making me lean towards buying new ... but that's another 10-15k in cost that I don't really want to spend.






I hope all of this jumbled babbling makes sense haha. I can put a decent down payment on a Z, and there is NO question that I WANT a Z. At this point in my life, I feel like now is the time. I also would like to purchase a jeep to drive on the rough weather days.



I'm a SUPER-paranoid person. So I essentially want the best value for my money, the best & most reliable year/model, and please don't suggest another car ... I want a Z !

 

It does sound as though you're paranoid and might mean a Z is not the best purchase for you. For your preferred price range ($15-25K), you can rule out a new 370Z. For the best bang for the buck, I'd suggest looking for a good, well-cared for '07-08 350Z. These are durable and strong cars, with the VQ35HR engine and Nissan's mid-model updates. Do some searches and you'll find a wealth of information on it.

But your "jumbled babbling" really has me wondering if a Z is the best choice for you. Too many conflicting priorities and unrealistic expectations means you might not ever be satisfied with what you get.

 

Thanks for the reply! The info on the 07-08 was exactly what I'm looking for. The new Z isn't completely out of the question, I'm just not sure it's something I'd like to go for at this point.

In general, how are the life-cycles of these cars if treated well and maintained correctly?


I am 100% for the Z, I just need to pointpoint exactly what I'm after in terms of model/year/mileage/etc ... that's more so the intent of my post.


My brother recently bought an 09 Honda Accord. He was deciding between a Certified v4 or a Non-Cert v6 with slightly less mileage and slightly cheaper.

He went with the v4 and now the warranty is up and he regrets the decision.


I just don't want that to happen to me, that's why I'm so apprehensive and skeptical!

 

Why do you think your civic is on its way out with only 110,000 miles? They last forever. And I bought my Z with 130,000 miles, runs strong and doesn't look or feel like it has that many miles on it.

 

I bought it because it had low mileage and at a fairly cheap price (80k / $5500) a few years ago. I haven't had any MAJOR fix issues, but a lot of little things that were simply due to neglect. The previous owners attempted to 'rice' it out a bit. Just dumb crap, like lowering the car with incorrect springs, a giant crack around the tailpipe where it looks like they backed into something. It came with an aftermarket cheapo air intake. Some fairly cheap tinting.

But it just seems like I cant get the car to run perfectly. And when it does, it still won't fit the bill for my need for speed. I'm a safe and smart driver, but I'd enjoy a car that can get out of it's own way at low RPMs, something with a bit of *****; even if that means sacrificing gas mileage/insurance cost increase/etc.

Now I have a check engine light on it AGAIN. This time due to flex pipe issue.





I take care of my personal belongings VERY well, and I understand that normal wear and tear on a car causes routine maintenance.

However, I can tell this car was somewhat abused. Luckily it's a Honda Civic, so it's hanging around. But at this point in my life, I'd like to enjoy my commutes and, actually, every time I get into my car. Not being pissed off everytime something breaks, and in the back of my mind simply relating it to poor ownership and abuse prior to my ownership. The car is riddled with dings/dents/scratches and the interior looks to be fairly uncared for as well.


The Civic is a nice car, but it's not something I WANT. And at this point in my life, I would like to reward myself with something I want, and that is a 350/370 Z

 

It's never a good idea to buy a new vehicle.