New owner of an awesome Z. Have some newbie questions

winnre · 11-17-2013, 01:06 AM

As a former Mercedes and Porsche owner I am no stranger to luxury vehicles that have power and grace. About three months ago I started looking for a fun car, just a car because I WANT one, not because I NEED one.

My first stop was a used Maserati Spyder, but with no maintenance records and six owners in under 25k miles I decided to pass it up. I looked at all sorts of cars from Toyota and Subaru to BMW and Jaguar. Then I saw the Ford Mustang. I was dead set on it until I found out the manual transmission is not made in America. It is not even made in the Americas. It's from China! No sale!

Now I have seen the Z cars out there since the days of the 280Z. I wanted a 240Z and in California that means no smog control hardware, a definite plus. Well I decided to check out the Z mainly because I saw one on the road that just struck me as the most beautiful thing I ever saw. I followed it to the dealership and it had promptly sold to the test driver. But I was hooked. I wanted a white one. Magma red would work too.

My search began. I test drove a few models and was not to keen on sport or A7 but I did like the GPS. That means the touring package (although the dealer swears they can put the GPS into the base model). I wanted to finance a meager amount to have it on my credit file. So with a $20k down payment I was going to finance $10k on the base model. Then the dealer told me the payments for a $10k loan would be $395/mo for 6 years.

They even had the nerve to add GAP insurance with such a hefty down! A little reverse math put them at around 25% interest. I said no way. They countered with 16%. I left to go to another dealer. Then I found I had left my license at the first dealer, so back I went where they then offered me 9.99%. No sale.

I found myself drifting from dealer to dealer. I used truecar to get a better feel for the prices and my phone was flooded with calls from dealers all over the place.

Eventually I saw the error of my ways in not considering the sport package especially with the shift-rev deal. Sweet. But to get sport and nav means touring. The only place I can shave is on A7 vs M6 to save a few nickels. I really wanted to stay under $40k.

Finally the stars aligned. A dealer told me they had a Touring with Sport, Nav, A7, and all the fixings for $39k, down from $43k. The M6 version was still listed at $41k. Why so little? Well this car was getting old, it had a whopping 40 miles on it and was getting a bit long in tooth at the dealer lot, so they wanted it to get a new home. And I was just the person to make that happen. With $27k down I was at the perfect point for payments and all, and for well under 5% too. Take that other dealership!

Only thing is that the color is gunmetal grey, which is really growing on me with those red brake calipers radiating through the most awesome rims that planet earth has even had grace her outer layer.

So here I am, a new member, wanting to learn and know all that I can about this beautiful piece of art I now possess!

XiP · 11-17-2013, 01:57 AM

hi

exsanity · 11-17-2013, 02:02 AM

Welcome!

blackcherry20 · 11-17-2013, 04:59 AM

And

exsanity · 11-17-2013, 05:00 AM

zmanelite · 11-17-2013, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackcherry20

And

This ^^^^ Plus Juan !

shawnski · 11-17-2013, 07:25 AM

Welcome... Gap protection with 20k down... Lmao
Those Z cars must depreciate pretty bad.. LOL

Zensation · 11-17-2013, 07:32 AM

Sweet. Welcome! Now go get a clear bra, a set of the nismo rims and post upsome pics!

JARblue · 11-17-2013, 08:39 AM

Nice to see someone who clearly knows what they're doing

I'm guessing you won't be starting any "What kind of oil should I use" or "What is the best intake/exhaust" threads

Gun Metallic is the best color! Although I also really like both the Midnight Blue and Magma Red options

exsanity · 11-17-2013, 08:47 AM

IMO, PW is second only to GM..

Minato · 11-17-2013, 09:41 AM

Throw up some pics new member!

6MT · 11-17-2013, 12:39 PM

Hi

winnre · 11-17-2013, 12:44 PM

Will get some pics today. I prefer to stay stock unless the item to be added is super convincing. I think the sport rims are the hottest looking rims I have ever seen. They won't be changed out any time soon. I may get a different airt intake and the cat back tailpipes are something the dealer says would be a good move. Clear Bra for sure, just need to find a local installer.

Zensation · 11-17-2013, 01:03 PM

If you dont want to waste your money on worthless mods stay away from an intake kit. The bast intake (agreed by most) is the stillen g3. My buddy has that kit and i have a better track time with k&n drop ins(only by .08 seconds) but my point is for all practical intents its a waste of $500. However cat back system is by far the first mod you should do. Not necessarily for power but it completely transforms the sound! Good luck with the modding and definitely do alot of reading around. Lots of info here!

nmjaxx9 · 11-17-2013, 01:33 PM

Welcome and congrats!!

11-17-2013, 01:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
winnre Track Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Close to Redlands, CA Posts: 534 Drives: '14 370Z Touring Spt Rep Power: 13	New owner of an awesome Z. Have some newbie questions As a former Mercedes and Porsche owner I am no stranger to luxury vehicles that have power and grace. About three months ago I started looking for a fun car, just a car because I WANT one, not because I NEED one. My first stop was a used Maserati Spyder, but with no maintenance records and six owners in under 25k miles I decided to pass it up. I looked at all sorts of cars from Toyota and Subaru to BMW and Jaguar. Then I saw the Ford Mustang. I was dead set on it until I found out the manual transmission is not made in America. It is not even made in the Americas. It's from China! No sale! Now I have seen the Z cars out there since the days of the 280Z. I wanted a 240Z and in California that means no smog control hardware, a definite plus. Well I decided to check out the Z mainly because I saw one on the road that just struck me as the most beautiful thing I ever saw. I followed it to the dealership and it had promptly sold to the test driver. But I was hooked. I wanted a white one. Magma red would work too. My search began. I test drove a few models and was not to keen on sport or A7 but I did like the GPS. That means the touring package (although the dealer swears they can put the GPS into the base model). I wanted to finance a meager amount to have it on my credit file. So with a $20k down payment I was going to finance $10k on the base model. Then the dealer told me the payments for a $10k loan would be $395/mo for 6 years. They even had the nerve to add GAP insurance with such a hefty down! A little reverse math put them at around 25% interest. I said no way. They countered with 16%. I left to go to another dealer. Then I found I had left my license at the first dealer, so back I went where they then offered me 9.99%. No sale. I found myself drifting from dealer to dealer. I used truecar to get a better feel for the prices and my phone was flooded with calls from dealers all over the place. Eventually I saw the error of my ways in not considering the sport package especially with the shift-rev deal. Sweet. But to get sport and nav means touring. The only place I can shave is on A7 vs M6 to save a few nickels. I really wanted to stay under $40k. Finally the stars aligned. A dealer told me they had a Touring with Sport, Nav, A7, and all the fixings for $39k, down from $43k. The M6 version was still listed at $41k. Why so little? Well this car was getting old, it had a whopping 40 miles on it and was getting a bit long in tooth at the dealer lot, so they wanted it to get a new home. And I was just the person to make that happen. With $27k down I was at the perfect point for payments and all, and for well under 5% too. Take that other dealership! Only thing is that the color is gunmetal grey, which is really growing on me with those red brake calipers radiating through the most awesome rims that planet earth has even had grace her outer layer. So here I am, a new member, wanting to learn and know all that I can about this beautiful piece of art I now possess! bombdefuzer likes this. Last edited by winnre; 11-18-2013 at 03:17 PM. Reason: typos

11-17-2013, 01:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
XiP A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: no clipping Posts: 11,096 Drives: ↑ ↓ Rep Power: 534	hi __________________ I <3 Frost!!!

11-17-2013, 02:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
exsanity Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Middle Tennessee Posts: 10,499 Drives: you mad.. Rep Power: 3700	Welcome! __________________ \| F.I. NonRes Carbon CBE \| F.I. High Flow Cats \| Hotchkis Sway Bars \| KW Variant 3 \| SPL Suspension Parts \|

11-17-2013, 04:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
blackcherry20 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 22,749 Drives: ‘17 badazz Z51 Rep Power: 240460	And __________________ Grand Sport Corvette Arctic White

11-17-2013, 05:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
exsanity Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Middle Tennessee Posts: 10,499 Drives: you mad.. Rep Power: 3700	__________________ \| F.I. NonRes Carbon CBE \| F.I. High Flow Cats \| Hotchkis Sway Bars \| KW Variant 3 \| SPL Suspension Parts \|

11-17-2013, 07:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
shawnski Base Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: houston,tx Age: 68 Posts: 71 Drives: 12 zx14r, 12 370z Rep Power: 12	Welcome... Gap protection with 20k down... Lmao Those Z cars must depreciate pretty bad.. LOL Last edited by shawnski; 11-17-2013 at 07:29 AM.

11-17-2013, 07:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
Zensation Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Spartanburg, Sc Age: 36 Posts: 483 Drives: 93 rx7 Rep Power: 14	Sweet. Welcome! Now go get a clear bra, a set of the nismo rims and post upsome pics! __________________ 370z NISMO 0675 327 rwhp 280 rwtq - sold. FD RX7 single turbo 508hp - sold. Lexus IS-F 5.0L V8

11-17-2013, 08:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 44 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684441	Nice to see someone who clearly knows what they're doing I'm guessing you won't be starting any "What kind of oil should I use" or "What is the best intake/exhaust" threads Gun Metallic is the best color! Although I also really like both the Midnight Blue and Magma Red options __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

11-17-2013, 08:47 AM	#10 (permalink)
exsanity Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Middle Tennessee Posts: 10,499 Drives: you mad.. Rep Power: 3700	IMO, PW is second only to GM.. __________________ \| F.I. NonRes Carbon CBE \| F.I. High Flow Cats \| Hotchkis Sway Bars \| KW Variant 3 \| SPL Suspension Parts \|

11-17-2013, 09:41 AM	#11 (permalink)
Minato Base Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Ft Collins Posts: 107 Drives: 11 370Z M6 Sports Rep Power: 0	Throw up some pics new member!

11-17-2013, 12:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
6MT A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: ITU Zone 2 Posts: 22,459 Drives: Reliant Robin Rep Power: 1791	Hi __________________ Andrew 2009 370Z Sport/Touring 6MT sold 2013 Honda Civic Si coupe D/D

11-17-2013, 12:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
winnre Track Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Close to Redlands, CA Posts: 534 Drives: '14 370Z Touring Spt Rep Power: 13	Will get some pics today. I prefer to stay stock unless the item to be added is super convincing. I think the sport rims are the hottest looking rims I have ever seen. They won't be changed out any time soon. I may get a different airt intake and the cat back tailpipes are something the dealer says would be a good move. Clear Bra for sure, just need to find a local installer. Zensation likes this.

11-17-2013, 01:03 PM	#14 (permalink)
Zensation Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Spartanburg, Sc Age: 36 Posts: 483 Drives: 93 rx7 Rep Power: 14	If you dont want to waste your money on worthless mods stay away from an intake kit. The bast intake (agreed by most) is the stillen g3. My buddy has that kit and i have a better track time with k&n drop ins(only by .08 seconds) but my point is for all practical intents its a waste of $500. However cat back system is by far the first mod you should do. Not necessarily for power but it completely transforms the sound! Good luck with the modding and definitely do alot of reading around. Lots of info here! __________________ 370z NISMO 0675 327 rwhp 280 rwtq - sold. FD RX7 single turbo 508hp - sold. Lexus IS-F 5.0L V8

11-17-2013, 01:33 PM	#15 (permalink)
nmjaxx9 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Middletown, Ct Posts: 5,853 Drives: 2011 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 27	Welcome and congrats!!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Questions from a newbie	Samiam	Audio & Video	12	06-29-2013 11:09 PM
Newbie questions	Mannysrt8	Audio & Video	3	04-23-2012 09:59 AM
Newbie questions	Mannysrt8	Audio & Video	2	04-22-2012 04:19 PM
Newbie questions	lifeztream	Audio & Video	4	04-03-2010 01:42 PM
Newbie Questions	Darkstar87695	Intake/Exhaust	3	10-17-2009 05:13 PM