Ok I have narrowed what i want down to a an 07 or an 08.

Black, White or Red. 6mt

Now I can buy:

07 Enthusiast aftermarket deck and system 50k miles very clean looking. Black on Black

or

08 Reconstructed Red Nismo was hit from behind all parts were replaced but not with the Nismo ones just a reg Z back (a shame i know) 25k miles. Looks perfect from the pics I am going to check it out tomorrow.

both want around $18k

I'm nervous about the nismo just due to the fact that I will be moving to California in the next year and don't know how a Mass reconstructed title will carry over.

Any opinions or info would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Andrew

 

Reconstructed titles usually don't have a problem with insurance or state transfers. Salvage titles tend to have issues though. It seems California is often different/more strict than other states so you may want to double-check, but i know it'd be fine in PA.

How are the body panel lines on the nismo.. do they still line up? Does the hatch open/close properly? Still have brembos? Do you have access to any pictures of the damage from the accident? I'd be worried about the rear suspension, differential/drivetrain. The drive shaft is CF, so any stress fractures may be problematic at high speeds. And possibly the impact to the exhaust having messed something upstream due to the force. You're kind of at the mercy of the skill level & budget of the mechanic that fixed it up. Hopefully he was very thorough, but there's also the possibility that many things were 'good enough' or had simply gone unnoticed.

Just as a comparison, last week i paid $15,800 for an 07 Solar Orange base with 70k. It looks great on the outside and had a few of the typical paint scrapes on the interior.

If you're really comfortable with the nismo then i'd say go for it. That's a great price if there aren't any problems. The clean title version is likely around $25k or so (didn't look it up).

 

If you plan to keep the Z for a long time, Nismo, but if you are the one that changes different cars every couple years, Enthusiast. Dealers will not buy salvage cars, or if they do, they are giving you next to nothing price. For $18K, just keep searching, I think you can find some1 desperate to sell for a good price. Good Luck!!!

 

I'm going to inspect the nismo later today, is there any noticeable differences with the rear suspension from a normal z? I have a feeling if they didn't put the nismo back bumper and wing on chances are they did the same with rear suspension. I'm usually pretty good at finding the problem areas as my current car is reconstructed.

I definitely plan on keeping it for a long time as long as it doesn't suck. I will keep you updated maybe take some pics of nismo later. the guy swears you can't even tell it was in an accident, besides the stock back bumper and stuff.

 

Yea, the nismo comes with the S-Tune suspension. retails for $1000-$1500. Here's a pic of it. look for the nismo stickers and red springs. don't forget to make sure it has the brembos.. those are expensive too.

 

I would get the clean title one.

 

It does have the brembos for sure. From the pics all the body lines look good (doors, trunk etc.)

I don't think he will be able to get $18,000 for it. It would have to be someone who really wants a nismo. I think i'm going to offer him a little less and see how it goes. I figure I am going to want to get the nismo back or at least something close and that is going to cost me a few pennies.

 

get the 07 clean looking one

 

$18k for a salvage car, hell no

 

Go for the non-salvaged Z Op. The guy is smoking some good ish if he wants 18K for a salvaged Z.

 

This

 

I looked at it just a little while ago. it is very clean only defects I saw were the tiny bubble appearing on the passenger rear quarter panel. It's reconstructed and has all the repair paper work and inspection paperwork. I offered him $15 but he wouldn't take it. all suspension and breaks are all nismo. I definitely like it but at $15 it is already a little too much.

 

....you are asking for trouble down the road purchasing a Nismo that has been rebuilt. These cars are engineered, designed and built with expensive and precise parts and manufacturing. A rear end hit will effect the whole car, not just the rear parts. It will rattle, have bent and misaligned parts all the way through to the front license plate bracket. And as we all know, its an expensive vehicle to repair properly. If they used a standard bumper, they used standard or even aftermarket parts to repair the rest. I work for Nissan Canada; take my advice and save yourself a ton of money and grief.

 

Echoing what others have said, steer clear of that "Nismo". It was smashed in, halfass repaired, no thanks. Something tells me the dude probably took a check from the insurance company that was to cover OEM Nismo parts, then just bought the cheapest non-Nismo stuff he could and kept the rest of the money. Honestly I would have slapped him for asking that much for a damaged and poorly repaired car. I am sure he will find some ricer who will buy it, but don't be that guy, just go with the other Z.

 

Yea the more I think about it the more it sounds like a bad idea, i mean my current vehicle is reconstructed and I have had pretty good luck with it but it does have clicks and clanks you can't figure out where they come from, but mine was also hit in the front pretty hard and its front wheel drive. Thank you everyone for the help, I was just about ready to buy it last night too.