Hi, thought I'd introduce myself after having lurked here for the last week or so. I purchased my new hobby a couple of weeks ago - a Super Black 35th Anniversary with the automatic and the Bose sound system and no navigation. I call it a hobby because if it was a car I'd be driving it instead of waxing it and keeping it under a cover in the garage. Every time I walk into the garage it takes my breath away.

I retired from the US Navy after 23.5 years of service six months ago and the "Z" is my retirement reward and midlife crisis. I spent a couple of months in the trade magazines and narrowed my choices down to the Audi TT, the Porsche Boxster S and the 350Z after tossing out the Corvette, BMW M4, the Benz and the Cadillac as too ugly or expensive. I test drove a couple of used 911 coupes and the Boxster first - really nice rides, and good soft tops but better looking coupes. I just couldn't convince myself to drive a Porsche around the 909 area code - figured someone would put a gun to my head for it. That and the extra 20K for nearly the same performance that the Audi and the Nissan offered. Someone in my office almost got strong-armed robbed for her car in broad daylight in the middle of a crowded parking lot at lunch last week. What's this place turning into?

The Audi TT I looked hard at was the 3.6L Quattro coupe. Sweet looking but at a price of being a "nervous" ride. I drove all four models of cars around the same route in Riverside and found that the Audi wanted to bump and bounce over every little crack on our wonderful roads due to the shorter wheel base. The biggest problem I had with the Audi was the view out of the car - it felt like I was driving a tank through a narrow slot of vision. I loved the auto transmission on the car but I'm not sure the accelleration was the equal to the 350Z.

Ended up with the 350Z and let my wife pick between the 35th coupe and the Touring roadster and she who is boss also got the color choice. She picked the coupe in super black and claims that I never warned her that black was the hardest car to keep clean. My experences 25 years ago with a 6.6 Trans Am taught me all about the joys of black paint. I took the automatic transmission due to a pair of matching bum legs/knees/feet due to "an old war injury" where I managed to fall down a flight of stairs aboard ship. When I'm having a bad day I couldn't work a clutch and I've quit taking the pain drugs as they screw with your mind - no really! I'd rather live with the pain and my sanity.

In my last couple of weeks I've put a K/N intake and a Zanio starter kit on order, got a nice car cover, and have decided that the Bose will work fine as an AM radio and a just marginal CD player. Before I joined the Navy in 1981 I installed custom car stereo systems ... this thing isn't worth the $1200 but then you knew that right? I'd like to think that the system has something worth saving but until I rip into the speakers to check their quality I won't know where the problem lays.

I custom made my own bracket to mount my Garmin iQue 3600 to the cubby hole door. It just sort of grips to it and when closed holes it tight placing the iQue to the lefthand side of the button to open the door. Works for me for now. The V1 radar detector gets moved from the SUV to the Z this week.

The reading here confirms my opinions on the stock Bridgestone Potenza tires - that they'll work until I replace them with something better next year or so.

The 350Z is my second car so it gets to sit in the garage when it rains and the most work it gets to do is hauling me around at high speeds in style.

In the Navy I was a television systems engineer, worked on video systems from the camera lens out to the transmitters. Alarms, gyrocompass's, telephones, and sensors were also a part of my speciality. I reached E-9 and then decided that I would retire at the peak of my game and look for work elsewhere. I currently work in IT systems management for one of the largest television networks in the world at their headquarters location in Riverside. Married to 18 years to my lovely Thai bride, we have no children (that I know of!).

I have a sense of humor - or at least I think I do - so please don't take offense if something comes off sounding wrong. That's the last thing on my mind. I'm as peaceful and mellow as they come and came here to learn about the joys of ownership and to get to know and meet some of my fellow Z fanatics.

Once I master the URL code I'll post a picture of me and mine here. Let's see if this works ...

 

Welcome to the forum man! You will find a lot of good info and people on the forum. Get ready to spend money. hahaha. I've got a 04 SB touring. suggest you go get a clear bra put on asap before you start to find constellations on your bumper. Black is a sweet color but as you know, a b*tch to take care of. Well have fun and C-U around...

 

welcome to the forums there, master chief peaceful my ****! i am familiar with the khaki ways!

yeah yeah, i'm in the navy, but have no where near the time that you have! i've only got 6+ and i'm a submariner

speakiing of 909, where exactly? i pretty much grew up around the corona area. well, see ya "lurking around!"

n1cK!

 

Welcome! Nice choice! And feel free to go to any of the various meets that are happening around SoCal.

 

Welcome to the forum, you'll enjoy the Z and hopefully will meet some great people here. Come out to any of the meet to check out other Z and see what they have going.

 

Welcome to the family! I love hearing stories like yours....how you spent the proper amount of time to select the car that you really want. I think this can only lead to a higher level of satisfaction VS an "impulse" buy. I have to warn you up front though that if you spend much time on the forum or at meets, you will catch the modding bug that most of us have!! Having said that, I look forward to meeting you and your lovely wife sometime at a future meet, just keep your ears open.

Take care
Brian

 

Great introduction to the forum. Now hurry up and join us at future meets!

 

Welcome and congrats on the need addition.

 

When you reach the ripe old rank of Master Chief you mellow

I live out by March ARB but use to live in Corona near McKinley and then in Riverside near Tyler Mall.

I do plan on attending some of the get togethers as soon as the check book recovers from the down payment. I do planning on doing a bit of modifications but right now I'm still enjoying the almost stock experence. I did buy a cheap black bra for use currently and it sounds like I need to replace it to a clear one.

 

welcome from another n00bie...

I also wanted to say thanks for serving. I am always happy to hear about it when our guys are able to serve for so long and retire...

My dad was a Senior Master Sgt in the AF/ANG and retired after 21 yrs active. So I bet you have a pretty full salad bowl as did he.

Looking forward to seeing you at a few future meets...

 

yeah right!

i also used to live out by mckinley! went to centennial high as a matter of fact, then moved on to UCR, but then joined the navy back in '98.

and so it begins...

n1cK!

 

welcome to the z community. i have an 04 sb as well, great choice in color. can't agree more with dozer regarding the clear bra. my bumper is pitted from small road debree. would also like to mention that my rims are for sale. thread of the sale is in my signature.

 

Welcome Paul.

That pic of your car's HOT! ... ya did alright