dannyb23

Hey y'all, I'm just looking for some advice on a used 2003 350Z Enthusiast. The dealer is selling for $7995. It's in pretty good condition, no damage or accidents reported. My only concern really is the 158xxx miles on it. Does anyone think that would be a good buy or keep trying to look for something better? I'm not sure how much maintenance that many miles requires or whatever the limit of miles would be before problems started occurring. If I did buy it, it would be a 60-month payment so planning on long term driving and I'm not tryna replace an engine or tranny in a 350Z lol.

travlee

iTrader: (8)

too many variables for us to tell if it is a good deal or not, nobody that cannot physically see the car will know. do you really want to finance a 14 year old car for 5 years? my thought are if you have to finance a car that cheap, you cant afford it. price out tires, oil changes, gas, insurance.

dannyb23

I didn't link it because the dealer only posted one side picture of it. I'm starting a new job and I have a 04 Chevy Silverado and I do want a car, but not a brand new one, so any car I look at is going to be between '03 and '10/'11 years just for a cheap price that I can afford. Now this is another one I was looking at, but still not practical mileage wise, 114xxx and a bit higher in price: http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...odelCode1=350Z

dcains

iTrader: (15)

Just some life advice from someone very much older than you. Don't finance a 14-year old car for 5 years, as you'll be upside-down for virtually the entire loan period. You're also starting a new job, which doesn't put you in the most secure position financially. Take that money you would have been making the car payments with and put it into a savings account, low-risk mutual fund, etc., and in a few years use it for a down payment on a newer, more reliable car, Z or otherwise.

ErkTheJerk73

iTrader: (16)

bad bad idea, if you cant pay for a 14 year old car, you cant own it. tires alone will be 200+ each. 158k on the odometer isn't that bad, but you can bet it was ragged out hard in those 158k! I would hold off and check craigslist or something, a dealer is going to charge more for the same car. You could probably find a Z for 5k same year and mileage.

dannyb23

Let me ask y'all this then, I'm going to buy a car anyway if I decide to save up or whatever, and maybe I won't be interested in a Z anymore, what other type of car could you point me to besides the camaro or mustang or hyundai genesis. Maybe not a full on sports car, but something just a little more stylish, like in between a Z and say a Chevy Malibu, what kind of car could I be looking at there?

shaq77fan

Chevy Malibu stylish??? I am going to need some coffee for the next few responses upcoming...

MicVelo

Given your "starting out in life" (relative) position, I'd be concentrating on the new job and providing yourself a more solid foundation from which to build from. That means - if you need to replace your truck as a DD - look at more reliable, newer models that provide you the reliable transport you need for work and weekends. This could mean a more mundane Toyota, Honda, Ford Focus or something along those lines. You could look at some of the sportier models on those lines of cars if you HAVE TO have something like that.

A 350Z, while a reliable and solid car, isn't necessarily the best car to own as your sole transport due to all of the reasons people have cited here. Especially the financing part! We hear too many stories about people who made enough for a down on a Z but at that first problem.... they go top down.

There will be plenty of time for toy cars later on. And yeah, all those of us who daily our Zs will tell me I'm crazy and even though I daily my Z, I have several others for "backup" and weekend jollies.

MicVelo

Hahahaha..... I think he meant that as the lowest common denominator.... AKA, the lowest acceptable vehicle.

But yeah, I read that like that too until I re-read the context.

dannyb23

[QUOTE
Chevy Malibu stylish??? I am going to need some coffee for the next few responses upcoming...[/QUOTE]

Loll it was just an example, obv my knowledge on the variety of cars is limited And I hear ya Micvelo, thanks for that. Ill start looking into those.

shaq77fan

Just messin'. But, I also used to DD my 2003 Z I purchased a year ago. I drive 70 miles one way to work (that didn't last long driving my Z). After needing to purchase new tires and an oil change basically every month, I resorted to buying a 2016 Toyota Corolla (my brother in law owns a Toyota dealership in SoCal, so I got a smoking deal). As you can imagine, a huge change from driving my Z every day, which I absolutely love, but now I am able to garage my Z and prepare for a full suspension change (struts, springs, sways) with MicVelo's sound advice. The maintenance on the Z can get pretty pricey, as well as running the most expensive fuel (premium in my town runs almost $4 per gallon). Anyways, good luck with your search. I have wanted a Z for 7-8 years, but waited for the right "deal" to come along...last March...it happened, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

MicVelo

The dissing of Hondas by Z owners aside - LAFF - Hondas and Toyotas are fine cars. In between my youthful Datsun Zs and my current/recent fleet of same, I owned an '88 Honda Accordion Coupe, my ex-wife and daughter (before I gave her my Z34) owned a couple of late model Civics and they were all great.

If you go subtle on a Honda (no wings or other crazy mods) with a lowering and a decent set of wheels/tires, they can be really nice looking, and handle well. Saw an older Civic last night that was gently lowered, some 15" wheels, a subtle exhaust (no Coke can tip) and found it to be downright appealing.

They're out there. Just take your time and determine what you need and go from there.

CK_32

iTrader: (1)

I'm with everyone else. It honestly sounds like you can not afford it. Especially because it's a Z.

We'll put it this way, every part I've ever bought is literally almost exactly 3x the price of every friends civic and Miata. New and old.

Their coils were $600, same company less features for the Z was $1,250... Intake for us is $300... for him the same one is $120... tires for us are like $120.. for them it's $70-$80 (smaller rims).. racing radiator.. $200 for them... $350 for us.. Engines and trans.. $800 for them, $2k for us... same goes for just standard and general matinance and parts.

These cars are expensive. I'd say find a little Miata or civic. Hell for $10k you can probably get a lower Milagros BRZ and finance that.

mignav01

To be honest. Doesn't sound as if you can afford a Z at your current position in life. Are you trying to keep both the truck and get a new car? If so just buy an accord/civic/camry. I drove a '00 camry and it was an amazing car for what it was, amazing on gas and tires lasted forever, none of which can be said for a Z.

dannyb23

No I was going to trade in the truck. I am now looking into other cars. I cant really move on anything until Beginning of/Mid Feb anyway, so I am just exploring.

dannyb23

Opinions on this seemingly nice genesis? (Maintenance/repairs, drive performance [rough/smooth] etc.) http://www.mungenasthyundai.com/used...f075095810.htm

StevanGrcic

You should be able to find a 350Z with a lot less miles for $8,000-$11,000. Last July, I got my '04 350Z Roadster touring with 45,000 miles for $10,500.
For me, 350Z was the best bang for the buck used convertible sports car available for around $10,000. I have put on over 20,000 miles in the six months I have owned it. So far, there have been only 4 days this winter when I really couldn't drive it to work because I only have summer tires.

CK_32

iTrader: (1)

Well price is very dependent on location.. in my area unless it's a sht box Z's will not be found for less than $12k.. and these are cars with 130 to 250k miles..

god forbid you buy from a dealer you add about 10% price hike

mignav01

Besides the fact that it's missing a pedal and a few cylinders. Lol, but the price is very suspicious, salvage?