If you want to drive a new Z every 3 years, maybe a lease would be more suitable than buying.

 

You guys are funny...I wouldn't switch just for the fact of the new 3 years of payments... But I will say, Ive got an 06 and love it...My brother has an 03 and loves his...What do I like better, mine of course...but its not even because its mine...I drove his a year before I got mine and loved it, thats why i got mine...So on friday i stepped into his and took it for a little spin...Not even the same feeling...He also has intake and exhaust...Still, mine feels smoother, more responsive, clutch is better, transmission...everything...and i think my butt dyno tells me mine is faster...guess me and him just need to line em up...

 

Just got my '06.

Make the change, if the #'s make sense to you.

They have made some great changes to the Z and you'll probably enjoy the experience even more.

 

You're getting ripped on the deal. Don't know what your payments are, but let's say it's $400/mo. That means you're paying $400*36+$2000=$14600 to get into the 06. This means you're getting less than $13K for your 03. This is a neglecting interest rates to make it simple.

Dealers love playing the numbers game. Ask what the price of the 06 is and the amount they're giving you on the 03.

 

do it...I got one two weeks ago...wish i would have done it when the 06 first hit the floor...

 

Maybe you don't understand the point TK2005 is trying to make. When he said he'll make the payments the same, did he say anything about how long the payments are for? He could have easily made your 3 year payments into a 4 year but with the same payments. You need to negotiate the price, worry about the payments last.

 

Unless your 03 is a maintainence nightmare I would just keep it. If your payments are the same for a period of time that is 2x as great...you're basically paying twice as much as you are now. At least that's how I see it.

Plus, a base for a base doesn't net you the perks of some of the other trim levels.

If you really want on 06: sell your car privately. Then go buy a used 06. You'll save a ton.

 

I did do minor aftermarket work. I threw in a AEM Cold Air Intake, PIAA headlights leather boot on the shifter and I just put EBC Green Stuff brake pads on the front wheels. The Cold Air Intake helped a bit, and I was looking into some unothordox pullies.. That was before my passanger side door handle decided to brake and Nissan told me I would have to replace the whole panel which will cost around $500.00 It makes no sense to me that the door handle would break, let alone have to replace the whole panel b/c of it. I only have a passanger in my car around 35% of the time and the thing broke???? Like I said before things like that break after 6 years at best not 3 shame on Nissan for making such a cheap product. I love my Z just as much as anyone, but it really bites when stuff like this happens

 

Your door handle broke? That's very rare for a recent vehicle.

 

It is rare, but I like how Nissan makes the part so if it does break I have to replace the whole door panel. Honestly that is what got me thinking about an 06 in the first place. I have had a lot of things like that replaced already like the middle console the steering wheel, the plastic piece on the side of the passanger seat but that was all under warranty so I really didn't care too much . This I actually have to pay for like I said before I love my Z just as much as the next guy but Enough is Enough I hope this will be the last piece of plastic I have to replace for a while. I actually thought about writing Nissan a letter about it, but they won't do anything about it but say "I'm sorry" WOPPPPPIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

 

+1, If I could go back in time I'd be sitting in an 05 track. I like my leather, but Brembos and revup engine would've been nice.

 

Funny how most of the conversation avoids this fact and focuses on which is the better model year.

The way I was guesstimating (again, not having any clue about interest rates he's paying/will pay) it would seem they're offering about $10000 for his car vs invoice on theirs.

 

Just keep the 03. By the time your done paying it off a brand new remodeled 350Z will be waiting for you.

Then you sell the 03 for 12-17K and put those 12-17k as your down payment on the brand new remodeled 350Z. And your payments will be alot less then they ever were for your 03.

 

yep, i agree, but none the less, when it comes to overall performance between the 287 and 300, its so close, its a drivers race for the most part. not anything even remotely close to worth trading for and adding another 3 years of payments.

 

You guys are def right. No need to take on another 3 years of payment right now. I was just frustrated with the fact that little things keep breaking. It is nice that the 06 has some major interior upgrades, and the xenon headlights, but now that I have had some time to think about it I will just stay with my slightly modified Z and see what happens in a year or 3

BTW does anyone know of a good mechanic in South Florida that can help me do mods like U/D pullies for a reasonable price? I don't mind putting in the work myself but I don't have the tools or the know how to get it done??

 

I thought about upgrading to an 06, but I like the higher torque and the lighter car. Besides, I'm holding out for another year or two when the new Z or G35 comes out. You'll be kicking yourself later when you're still making payments and the new model comes out. If you want more power, you can do a few fairly inexpensive NA mods to keep up with or exceed the 06 HP levels.

 

i thought about trading mine in also for an 06 but i cant get over the fact that its fatter, almost too smooth and a little thing called money. upgrades are nice but if i bought my Z because i loved with what it came with, then why should i be complaining now??

 

it's not only an issue +14lb of torque... The 287hp engine peaks 200rpm sooner, the power band is narrower, the engine produces HP faster up to 6000rpm. The revup engine catches up AFTER 6000rpm, not 4000... the extra peak torque and HP curve DOES make a difference on the 287hp engine.

If I had to chose I'd get a rev-up, but I wouldn't change car just to get the rev-up. Difference is WAY too marginal to justify the change... if you add the extra weight of the 06, it's even worse... 05 track gets the best deal

 

We are ever closer to a next generation Z. Many accounts claim that fall 2007ie. 2008 model year will be its introduction. Unless your 03 is a nightmare, hold out for next gen at this point. That is what I plan to do with my 04.