Looking to buy, first sports car experiences?

mastatikle

First off ignore what these people are saying about age or whatever. I’m a firm believer that If you can start making sh*t happen and work for you at a younger age then you’ll keep that mindset/motivation as you progress in life. This is a sub 15k car, it isn’t going to ruin your life if you buy it and have to work a little harder to keep it.

Anyway I bought my first 370z at 19 also. I haaaddd to have it lol. Could have bought it sooner too but I waited till I found the right one. Long story short. It’s a fun first sports car. It’s got an ok amount of power and it handles good stock. I think it’s one of the best sports cars in that price bracket. These cars do have issues. One of the most common ones is the CSC failure. I had it happen to me a couple times and it will leave you stranded. Expect to spend at least $1000 when that happens. Another common issue is the steering lock issue which will also leave you stranded. Next comes the misfire codes here and there that you can try to chase down.

My insurance rates were also high, somewhere in the 3k range. My 2011 Kawasaki zx10r which I had at the same time was $3700 a year LMAO, I still have the receipts for that.. So I was fortunate enough to convince my mom to insure the car. It was only like 120-150 a month with me listed as driver. Hopefully you have parents, grandparents or older siblings that would do the same and trust you enough to insure the car for you.
Paying $4000 a year for insurance on a 15,000 car is stupid. Chances are you won’t make a claim and in 3 years you could have bought another car for what you paid in insurance. I wouldn’t buy it for that reason solely, insurance cost.

I kept my first 370z for two years, it wasn’t fun anymore and it was slow compared to all the newer cars around. So I sold it and found a car with everything I wanted, turbos and a V8 lol. I then bought a BMW M6 Gran Coupe when I was 21. So that “too young for a sports car” crap is bs. My M6 makes around 800hp at the motor and breaks traction at 120mph. I’m 23 now and perfectly fine and safe. You just have to respect the car you drive.

On the bright side, things do get cheaper though. I bought my second, current 370z when I was 22 and the insurance is only like 90 a month for full coverage.

SouthArk370Z

How will going in debt - for something that is not essential - work for anyone, regardless of age?

If OP were the type to make sh*t happen, s/he wouldn't be asking what to do.

__________________
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mastatikle

Going into short term temporary debt for something that still holds a value can work for anyone. It’s not like it’s random credit card debt. If the car payments become too much of a hassle he/she can always sell the car. A vehicle can be considered essential. The debt is temporary. If they were able to make due, once they were done with that debt then they would be ahead doing whatever job helped them over come it.

But yeah you’re right, if OP already had that mindset this thread wouldn’t be here.

SouthArk370Z

A vehicle, yes. A 370Z, with its higher price and more expensive maintenance (not to mention limited passenger/cargo capacity), not so much.

I've had various sports/sporty cars over the years but I never put myself in a bind to get one. If money was tight, I got something more pedestrian (ie, cheaper).

I see your point(s) but, going by OP's post, I believe he's not in a position to be taking on unnecessary debt. YMMV

__________________
Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub
Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

Zetine

The main point of this thread was really to get advice from anyone who had gone from a slowish car to something like the 370z, or from FWD to RWD, and try and get a better understanding of different people's opinion on how the 370z bared as a daily; really what I wanted was a direct comparison between a Celica and a 370z, but figured that was too niche, so came to the forum.

I shouldn't of even put in the first paragraph, but figured since it was my first time posting I'd kinda open up a bit about myself. To explain the insurance, the reason it's a big deterrent for me is the simply fact that it costs so much for something that I may not even use, yet is obligatory. Something about paying 4 grand for some invisible service is just a bit of a joke. (Don't get me wrong though, I'm always going to drive with insurance)

I just think the responses are swaying from the actual questions I asked, just don't think about the financial side of things please, that's for me to worry about.

Also thanks for all the great advice people gave about ride quality, and about how the back can really break loose on these in certain conditions. I'm still planning on getting one, I don't think it'll be impossible to learn to control RWD in a Z, just got to pace myself

MZ DAIZY

I’m not pretending to be Mario Andretti Jr. (I’m showing my age, look him up!) here, but I’ve driven my share of “exotic” cars and I WILL tell you that with the couple of mods I’ve had done made me respect the car.

Short wheel base, mixed with HP, testosterone, adrenaline and inexperience will bite you in the *** every time. It’s pretty much why insurance companies charge a small mortgage!

First thing I did was engage the traction control. Once comfortable with the limits of grip and oversteer, I went to an out of the way parking lot, disengaged the TC and pretty much wasted a set of perfectly good rear tires.

Not to sound like your dad, but you must give respect to get respect. In the words of a much wiser man than me: “a man needs to know his limitations”

So with all that, I say go for it! Other than my Brothers Brand new Vette, there is NOTHING I’d rather be driving. If you take price into consideration, there IS nothing I could be driving!