I'm looking to buy a 2003 350z this summer but i'm worried about some problems i've been reading. I've read alot about ppls manual transmissions going out with very low miles and since i'm only 16 i would be f**ked. I would not be able to afford a new transmission too. I've also read about bad suspension. Should I be worried about these problems or any others and not get one or is it just B.S.

 

yup...the Z is an expensive car on all levels of maintenance, so if you are already worried about costs, I would steer clear. just my .02

 

At 16, I really don't think you need a 350z as one of your first cars. I doubt you've been driving very long and should realistically think of some other options other than a Z.

As for maintanence costs, the Z's powertrain is covered for three years or 60k miles, whichever comes first. If it breaks within that time span, it'll be covered. If not, then it'll rest on your shoulders.

Repair and maintenance costs should be the least of your worries. You will have a car payment, insurance payments, and rising gas costs to contend w/ as well. Consider all these things before you make any decision.

 

First of all i turn 17 in a month, i only have to pay back $5000. My mom will pay my insurance and plus i'm keeping my old piece of **** to drive on bad days and things.

 

Search here for tire feathering - how about dropping $1200 on a new set of tires every ten thousand miles?

There is a factory notice out on the issue.

 

--and about Nissan covering transmission problems up to 60k miles. Yeah, mine blew out at 28k, and the Nissan techs tried to cheap out and blame my aftermarket catback exhaust for the problem, saying it died cause of excess heat. Yes, completely illogical, I know.

The morale of the story is that Nissan techs will try to blame whatever or whomever they can to try and get out of paying for any maintenance on your car under warranty. (oh and as for my situation, after a fight I finally got them to cover my tranny under warranty, but they charged me 200 bucks extra to install the new one because they said it was more difficult to install on my car as opposed to a stock Z because of my "complex" exhaust system)

As for tires, I just got new rims and took my stocks off, and when I looked at my stock tires, my rear ones were COMPLETELY bald. I mean these things looked like drag radials. Obvious enough?

 

lol, thats your defense that youve been driving a while? Im only 19 meaning ive been driving three times as long as you and I dont even come close to qualifieing as an experienced driver. That being said, dont let someone tell you that your too young to own a certain car. If you can afford it and its what you want, go for it, just dont kill yourself.

and about the maintanence issues, most have been fixed on the 04s and 05s, but I just found a new one a week ago. Im filling up at the gas station and after about five gallons go into the car i get soaked with gas. I took it into the local dealership and they are replacing the gas tank under warranty (apparently its a quazi common problem) and are even fixing a few interior rattles that were caused by an aftermarket sub for free. As long as you have a good dealer and don't extensivly modify your car it should be fine exept for the rubber thats only rated to last i think 25-30,000 miles (the way I and most other teenagers drive in a car like the 350Z more like 18-20,000 miles) hope that helps

 

ITs hard to kill your self inless you a complete idiot, im 17 and the Z isnt THAT fast youll be fine. Keep traction control on in the rain though!

 

You guys are absolutely right, it's hard to kill yourself if you're an inexperienced driver in a 3300 pound missile going 70+mph.

Anyway, forums blow problems out of proportion. I wouldn't worry about it too much. A new transmission would be covered under warranty anyway, so you'll be fine.

 

sorry, nothing personal, that phrase just cracks me up.

 

?why $1200

 

And always remember...If you earn it *whole audience* YOU DESERVE IT!!!

 

first of all i got my z when i was 16, i'm 17 now, and i've had minimal problems. second of all, your not gonna kill yourself, nearly every car produced will run 100mph+, so if your gonna be stupid it really doesn't matter what your in. and lastly these old fu*kers are gonna hate on us because our first car is as nice as the car they work 40 hours a week to make payments on.


P.S. if you don't have 1200 dollars every 10,000 miles for tires, you shouldn't get a z

 

no sh** they are going to hate on you because mommy and daddy bought you a 30,000 car when you're sixteen years old.

Hey, Im 19 years old. You know how I got my Z??
First of all, I got my 03 touring used for 24,000.
You see I was lucky. Ever since I was very young, my parents had been putting away every cent that was given to me into a fund to pay for my college when the time came. It happened that when the time came, I got myself an academic scholarship to college. Therefore, my parents felt that I earned the money in my college fund for myself, which happened to be about 18,000 dollars, and naturally I used that money to buy myself a car. The other 8,000 plus about 1,500 in taxes came out of my own pocket. Then, the (more or less) 10,000 dollars that I have put on my car in mods since owning it have all been out of my own pocket as well. And where do I get all this money?? I WORK.. isnt that a novel idea?

And to add onto the point you were making, Yeah, it pisses me off when I see sixteen year old kids driving around in my town in brand new 2005 BMW M3s and Hummer H2s and whatnot.

So its not all of this old guys versus young guys crap.
Its people that paid for their own cars versus people that had their car handed to them on a platter.

 

My mom is paying for $15,000 of my Z i have to pay everything past that. Also just because my mom can afford (hint afford) to buy me a nice car because she has a good job doesnt mean you should hate. People that call other ppl spoiled because there parents bought them a car do that only because their jealous and wish they were as lucky and want to make the person with the nice car look bad because they have no other comeback. I know i used to do the samething before my mom told me she was buying me a car. Just because someone's parents are buying them a car doesnt mean they are spoiled my mom doesnt spoil me she makes me pay for almost everything i buy. Spoiled people are the people who can just ask their mom for money or to buy them something and she does it.

 

it's not the fact that young kids are getting nice cars. It's the fact that young kids with nice cars act like a complete jackass. not referring to anyone here specifically, but i see these 16 year olds that get a Z or a 30k car for their first car and they think they're the ****. Let's see you in about 5-10 years when you're working in McDonald's and the Z is an ancient car.

 

gee, i'm sorry my parents are sucessful and yours aren't, and yes you have every right to be proud that you paid for a large piece of your car, but you shouldn't be pissed or jealous that i didn't. i know its not the same, but i have paid for the $6000+ in mods on my car also

 

and another thing, i've read alot of your posts since i've been a member here, and i respect the fact that you are one of the few people with mostly helpful input, but its nothing but a pure display of ignorance to hate someone because they have more than you

 

thank ghost11. to many ppl like that out there. I havent even bought my z yet i'm getting it this summer and you wouldn't believe how many jealous ****ers are giving me ****

 

I dont know about anyone else but i dont like going to work and spending my hard earned money on the things i want. Myself along with 99% of the other people on this board would love to have the things they want handed to them on a platter. So why look down upon someone else because they have things the way you would want them? Thats "Hatin" in its simplest form, no matter how you look at it. But the flipped-side to that is most people like that arent cool about it....they have the imbetterthanyou attitude that comes with the territory. But still i like seeing others doing good and getting the things they want, even if it is from their parents.