Sorry for such a newb post, but here's the story:

Need to get a new car, replacing my Mini Cooper (yes, I'm a girl) and really like the looks of the 350Z.

There's one for sale around the corner from where I live from a private seller. It's a 2004, 28K miles, asking $16K. The price seems a bit high to me from a private seller, but the listing doesn't say if it's a base model, touring, enthusiast, etc.

I'm set to meet up with the seller and see it tonight. Would love to know if anyone has advice on things to look out for and check out particularly well in this model.

I don't need a whole lot in terms of frills or extras on the car - I really just want something that's fun to drive (for my daily driver), and that I can look cute in. [And that costs less to repair than the Mini when it breaks...] I'm hoping that the 350Z fits the bill on all those points...

Any comments/suggestions/things to beware of/check out are definitely welcome.

Thanks in advance!

 

pics?

 

Here's the link to the ad for the car - it has a few pics in it, but the resolution is pretty bad when you try to blow them up to see detail.

http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/cto/1654053267.html

 

My wife drives an 04' vert and loves it. I think girls in verts look awesome. We have hers for sale, too, as we're getting a newer Z vert for her.

It looks like there is cruise control on that vehicle in the link, so it's not a base. The touring came with leather. I know it's not a track model, which leaves it as a Performance or Enthusiast model. I forget which came with 17s (like the one in this ad) or 18" wheels.

 

Its an enthusiast model as all performance models were manual only..

I would say based on those pics (which arent great) look at it in person, that its a fair deal at his asking price, but i would say give it whirl to talk him down a bit, don't let the owner intimidate you, or take a friend with you to help you negotiate, etc...

never shown him that your goo goo ga ga over it..


-J

 

[And that costs less to repair than the Mini when it breaks...]

Am I missing something here.

 

darn - so this one's an automatic, then?

That's just not going to fly... ah well - I'll have to keep looking

 

Mini's are pretty pricey to fix... Around here there aren't that many shops that will work on them - and the ones that do, have pricey labor rates.

 

yep.......the main thing to look for is the shift boot area.......there is no leather boot......the autoZ's have an auto shifter that gives the look of a manual shifter, but its not..

-J

 

have you checked autotrader in your area for 350z's? I'm pretty sure you may be able to get a better deal than what this guy is offering if you look hard enough

 

Thanks for the tip on autotrader.com. I've been checking there pretty regularly - and in the price range I'm aiming for, the 350Zs listed there tend to have 60K + miles on them already and are generally pretty far (100+ miles) away from where I live... There's a lot in Miami and Tampa, but that makes it much harder to get it checked out by someone I trust...

 

I just picked up a 2004 350Z convertible Enthusiast last Sat. with 20,555 miles on it. Auto, triple black. I paid $15900 for it. It is in near perfect shape and has new battery, second set of tires (new).
Look for color of the oil, condition of battery (new or is replaced, check rotors and pads...). With such low miles, there isn't much that could be wrong...good luck with your appointment. *Check paint for any body work...differences in finish texture, etc.

 

Looking cute is important. I think we have a

How to look cute in your 350Z?

thread someplace.