I like it. I like it. This might help. But about that claim in the first sentence, does anyone know a forum member who can back up that claim who has a degree in mechanical engineering, or a website where an engineer or car "expert" (who isn't making $ off selling plenums) has said so?

Stupid me, I taught her to ask for expert PROOF from unbaised sources about such things.

 

I printed maps of the "Tail of the Dragon," just over the TN line in NC, last night. I think she'd like driving it, b/c she does like to go fast through the twisties. I had seen it on the Nissan site and Doug mentioned how fun it was. It's a start.

BTW, when I saw the map I realized that I had driven the road several times during the eight years I lived in Knoxville, but in an old econo-box Cavalier and Corolla w/leaky seals, low compression, sloppy handling and no hp. At the time, I wanted the road designer shot. My, how a sports car changes your opinions about curvy roads!

 

This one has some leverage to bring to bear. I have agreed to a new sunroom sometime in the next 1-2 years, which I never would have done if I lived in our house by myself, but she is arguing that doesn't count because it's going to have an indoor hot tub in it, and that I will enjoy the hot tub (which I will), so it's just as much for me as for her.

My wife would also probably try, at least, to argue to you that hey, if you still plan on using that backyard after you landscaped it, it's just as much for you as it is for her.

 

If I was willing to do the work, I could actually to this. One of my partners owns an old Chevy Prism (same car, made by Toyota for GM) with over 200k mi. on it; I could get it and tell her I bought it from him, since he just bought a Boxster, get about 50 boxes sitting in the driveway and tell her they're full of parts.

 

Randy- already working on it. Subconsciously, I think one of the reasons she is resistant to meeting Doug and/or joining the club is that she thinks she'll like it, and she KNOWS that if the bug bites her, she can't justify telling me to stop.

I told her by agreeing to put off rims until later, and by "downsizing" my planned rims from Nismos to Kazeras, I'm saving money, but the accountant in her is resistant: "That's just like the Democrats calling a reduction in the amount of planned increased spending a cut."

 

Well....this is how I look at it. First, there is the whole issue of whether you can really afford to spend money on mods. There are many people who probably can not, but spend the money anyway. You being an attorney, and your wife an accountant, it's a safe bet that you have a good amount of "disposable" income.

We all have our hobbies and interests. One can't just waste money frivilously on everything, but to indulge a few interests and passions is part of what makes life more than just food, clothing, and shelter. Everything is not an "investment". Sometimes you need to just live for now, and do something for the sheer enjoyment of it. It is your reward to yourself for your hard work. My wife knows this about me and cars. Modding is in no way any kind of investment. You never get the money back. You are spending the money to enjoy, pure and simple. I am reasonably prudent, financially, but my car is the one place where I will really indulge myself. We make enough money to provide for the "responsible things", and so she doesn't mind. She also knows, however, that if things ever started to get tight, I wouldn't keep insisting on modding my car.

 

coachk, what kind of "coach" are you? I'm sure you would also do perfectly well at being a marriage counselor. you apparently have a really great perspective on things.

 

Maybe I'm completely missing the point here. But if you have to present an iron-clad arguement to your wife every time you want to dip into your disposable income, then I'd suggest there's an issue there that goes beyond differences of opinion on what you do to your car.

Not that I don't sympathize. My girlfriend and I just bought a house and we're in the first stages of ironing out the household budget. She's never been a big fan of my car-related spending, but she's come to understand that it's something that engages me, interests me and that I'm somewhat impassioned about. In the end, I think she's much happier with me doddering around in the garage than seeing me sit on the couch playing XBox all night.

Can we assume that you're not about to drop $15k on mods right out of the gate, and that your biggest hope right now is to learn a bit more about how your car works and (hopefully) get your hands dirty in the process? If that's the case, then frankly, I don't see where an airtight alibi fits in. You've got an interest, a HOBBY, that you'd like to indulge a bit and it's going to cost some dosh. It's that simple. It's not an exercise in cost-benefit analysis; and she would certainly be offended if you demanded the same from her ("Honey, explain to me just how that $600 Coach purse will positively affect our household and our bottom line.")

 

I don't understand it.YOu're a lawyer and your wife is an accountant,How much money do you guys make?What mods do you want to put in y our car?I assuming you want crawford stuff,right?

LIFE IS SHORT,ENJOY WHILE YOU CAN.

 

Well, my wife is the same way and we are both pharmacists making very good money. We have retirement plans for age 45 and started putting money away when we were both 20. Retirement money is not an issue with us. The hard thing for my wife to understand is the passion and the enjoyment I get out of modifying my car. Her hobbies do not require a lot of money so that creates an imbalance. I have to try to get her to spend money just so its ok for me to spend money. In the end, this seems to be the only way I can make it work. I take her out furniture shopping, then I go order a new mod Just to make the money thing fair, we have thought about simply having separate accounts then split the normal bills in half and we each provide for that, then whatever is left over is for ourselves. When you are married to a very independent, business oriented woman who makes good money, this approach is not all bad, unless you make no money and have to get an allowance from her

 

i went to the middle tennessee z club website, anyone know what wheels these are?

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/mtzc/Mike%20Edens.jpg

 

I am Mrs. Darthvol. And yes, I watch the boards. While hubby paints a sad picture of his life, please do not be fooled. (Think stupid juror.) First off, he traded a G35 coupe that he ordered in Dec 02 and took delivery on in May 03 for this 350ZR. (I also traded my beloved '02 S2000 for the Z). We took a bath on both trades, but especially the G. I wanted him to have this car because he really wanted it and I want him to be happy. He also recently purchased a VERY expensive purebred Doberman (We have 4 dogs - our kids!) I also negotiated the trades and would have gotten a car transferred and made sure we did not pay $1200 extra for the 18" wheels that he would want to immediately remove for aftermarkets.

You should also know that because he works 70 miles from Crawford and I am only a few blocks away - guess who he will want to drive the Z in for the mods?????

Just making my case. Also for you guys out there who think sneaking around and lying, ahem, I mean not telling the complete truth about what things cost is a good idea. I was very touched by DarthVol's attempts to convince me instead of mislead me. He will be getting a plenum and exhaust system.

Those wheels are sweet.... maybe Mama needs a mod....

 

"Curses, foiled again." I actually thought she wouldn't notice this thread. Oh, well, Mama said YES! Yea!! Yes, dear, those are sweet wheels, and if Daddy gets them, Mama may have all the mods she wants; I can't complain about mod-equity. ["Meow"; sound of whip cracking]. Seriously, though, I am lucky to have a wife who has some significant appreciation for at least some things masculine, like DRIVING AROUND CURVES REALLY FAST!!!

 

And I'm lucky to have a GF of 3 years (and most likely future wife) that understands separate bank accounts and personal spending on hobbies. She spends on music equipment to make music, I spend money on Z stuff to make silly grins.

If I were yall, I would think about separate bank accounts. I don't know how much each of you makes respectively, but figuring out a good amount for both of you to contribute to the "family account" and then keeping the rest for the "personal account" can go a long way in preventing any future disputes about who gets to spend what where. Just an idea.

ps- grats on the plenum and exhaust.

 

Some input:

In general woman don't understand men's compulsion to alter a car if it isn't broke or how a car can be a meaningful hobby unto itself.

Well here are some rationalizations.

a)Men need to vent their Testosterone otherwise they can suffer from a severe condition known as DTB (Deadly Testosterone Buildup). So you "need" a productive vent. Better the car than high priced hookers. And if you've been married for several years , it' s unlikely that she'll offer-up "daily" romps as a remedy.

b) Running over a cinderblock, speedbump, curb, water puddles etc. etc can milk a few mods:

Cinderblock = Exhaust = new Catback, HiFlow CATs, even a diff.....
Curb = Wheels , Tires , Big Brakes, Coil-overs and Sways...
Puddle = stress cracked , plenum, puleys, headers, Clutch.....

Be creative there are alot of un-forseen "hazards" wink wink out there...BS can be baffling if properly managed.

c) Some mods improve gas mileage and emissions.
The Plenum and Catback will reap huge MPG benefits ..
maybe a whole .1 MPG , with a straight face...and the cleaner emmissions will help you and natures critters sleep at night.

d) Play the "Safety" card. The Brake, wheels, Tires and suspension upgrades will make me safer on the road ...... For God sakes honey ,think of the children...

e) Get into track racing. Get a sponsor (maybe your firm). Honey...
the "upgrades" will help me win races and it's "good" for business.


I got a lot more of these , been thinkin about it through 15 years of marriage

 

If she is worried about Warranty and money is not an issue why don't you just start your modsoff with a Nismo S Tune Exhaust System.

Looks WAY better and in a way, could be considered COSMETIC .. The stock exhaust looks like garbage in comparison. It sounds better, but is in no way overly loud, and it WILL NOT void warranty if installed by a Nissan dealership. ( I installed my own and still had no problems with warranty )

Then if you want to set it off even more, go with the Crawford HF Cats. They will make the car louder, and make a noticeable HP difference. Also, I don't think they can cause problems with warranty either. There is not much a set of cats can do to the motor and I myself have had no problem with warranty.

Wheels and tires are needed on the Z as well in my opinion, and are deffinitly COSMETIC. They may void out suspension warranty, in which case you can do some suspension upgrades as well and lower the stance of your car, which is also COSMETIC.

 

How about, "Its what makes me happy dear. Don't you want me to be happy?" Not exactly what I did, but my lovely wife of 23 years cares more about my happiness than her own.

 

man i can't believe how whooped you guys are....just put the pants on and scrap the g-string....out

 

(shrug) It's a matter of budget. She sacrifices for my stuff, I sacrifice for hers.

It was her idea to get the Z over a WRX because I'd be complaining about the WRX in a couple of years. She figured if I got the Z, there'd be enough worthwhile aftermarket stuff to do to it that I'd be happy for years.

Last month I picked up a set of Bronze LMGT4s and she picked up a new Husquevarna (sp?) sewing machine. Irony is, they almost cost the same amount of money.

Give and take and everyone's happy. BTW, I've got two boys with a third on the way... it all works out if everyone is out for everyone's happiness.

 

I've been doing this with my wife for about 12 years now, and I've slowely broken her down so that when a new package comes from the UPS man (who she is on a first name basis with) she just puts the package in the garage for me and asks me what I am doing to my car now.
For the big stuff, when I buy something for my car, I also buy her something nice. Example, when we had our 10th anniversary she got a diamond wedding band and I got a supercharger for my now 650whp Mustang. It's just a battle of when she's going to give in most of the time, but knowing where to stop.

P.S. When you order something and it needs to be shipped, order alot of things together so they come in the same package. Nothing is worse than having the UPS man to your house 2 or 3 times a week.

Good luck

Peter