Love...?
 

I started thinking about this in the marks out of ten thread.

I saw the 370z on the internet and fell in love with it, along with the new BMW Z4. Nothing else out there seems that exciting. Nothing less than 100k, anyway. ;)

Took both out for a test drive, didn't really absolutely love either, but the the 370z seemed a little more alive, perkier. something. I decided to buy the 370, which is the first Japanese car I've ever owned. I've mentioned before that I've been a bit of a Euro snob about cars and wanted desperately to be proved wrong. I thought that buying and owning a Japanese car would help me gain a wider, well balanced perspective of things.

Just a couple of weeks in, but I'm not really feeling it. I'm able to forgive the blind spot which now doesn't seem quite as bad. In fact, I really don't notice it. I've learned to appreciate, if not love, the boomboxy dashboard. I can see why things are the way they are. The techy buttons and toys are all very clever. Muscle memory is starting to remember where things are without me having to look. It's certainly cosy, despite me feeling like I'm riding a little high for a Sports car. I made my top ten list of stuff I like, but, as I said, I'm not in love.

*Something* is amiss. I'm not experiencing any kind of bond with it. I'm usually really into my car at this point, but this feels more like an extended rental period. I purchased my previous cars by simple emotional response alone, even if the numbers didn't add up. This was the first car that I've really researched extensively. Numbers. Comparisons. Reviews. Opinions. User opinions. I read and watched everything I could.

Now, thing is, I'm not exactly punishing this thing or pushing it yet, at least until the break-in period has been reached, but I've done the same thing with other cars and become attached to them long before the 'serious' driving began.

What is wrong? Is this simple buyers remorse? Is it because I paid for it outright and don't have to do that whole post-purchase rationalization thing as I pay it off over X years? I think I can be more honest than I otherwise would.

Has anybody else here found themselves in the same situation? Did you stick with it to find a bond that grew slowly over time? Attachment? Once I hit xxxx miles and push my foot down a little, will it become a whole other animal? Will I finally feel at one with it?

Thanks for reading my rambling. I'm just a bit confused. And quite possibly drunk.

;)

I didn't not like my 370z at first, but I wasn't in love with it. I like it more and more each day and am approaching the level of being obsessed with the car. I have 4300 miles and have had it for 4 months or so. I came from a g35 coupe and I loved that thing too much. The fact thats its really quite stock had something to do with it for me.

My first mods were done at 500 miles and they were test pipes, Stillen G3 intakes, and eibach springs along with wheel spacers. That perfected the look to me. The springs and spacers work wonders to the stance of this car. Makes it look so much better IMO.

And the test pipes and g3 intakes woke the sound up and added some noticeable power.

After I did all that I was pleased with the results and than some. Now there's only a few cars out there I would rather be driving.

What color did you get ? Sport package ?

Thanks, Chuck.

I got Platinum Graphite, Sports, Touring and Navi. Fully loaded, basically.

People mention modifying their car which makes them like it more and more, but I'm really not the mods type.

I can really understand how making it into a really personalised hobby car and investing time and money into it can really give you a bond with it. Hmm.

sounds like you bought it because it was the best bang for your buck, but not what your heart desired. Do what chuck suggested and personalize your z maybe that will create some love juice..haha. If that doesn't work get a Z4.

I felt the same way briefly, until I didn't have my car for a couple of weeks. When I returned to it I realized I had that 'bond' you speak of. I'm about 9000 miles in and I enjoy it more and more every time I drive it. It also helps that I don't drive my car during the week very often, so getting in is nearly always for pleasure rather than for strictly transport.

When buying a sports car, you're not buying the car out of necessity, you're buying the car for joy. If you're not 100% into it when purchasing the car, you probably shouldn't have purchased it, IMO. Cars aren't exactly a cheap purchase, so you should be sure that the car makes you 100% happy. I don't care what car reviews think, what your friends thinks, its how you feel when you stare at your car or when you're cruising around in it.

Walking up to the car, you should have the smile on your face. I have that with my 370z because when I purchased it, I knew exactly what I wanted, no more, no less and it fulfills my expectations out of a sports car right now.

I do admit, I love it more now that I have the engine broken in and I can actually enjoy the car. That first 1200 miles felt like hell, not being able to put my foot down on that throttle. Now that its good to go, man, jumping on the highway is fun fun fun. The manual says to keep that needle at under 4000 rpm pre-break in....4000rpm is really where the fun begins, so who knows, once you get that sucker alive, it may show you a different side you haven't experienced yet.

Everyone's different however. Some folks are the "grow to love it" types and some are "hate it/love it right away" types. I'm the latter. If it doesn't suit me right away, its rare for something to grow on me. I may get used to it or tolerate it, but I'll never grow attached to it.

And if you're drunk, then maybe you just need to have a few more beers and think about it a little more :)

The first time I saw my Z I hated it, I hated the ugly baby blue with orange interior. I couldn't stand it. Then I looked at it a little more and saw some pics outside of a flourescent light show room and began thinking it was that bad and I bought it. Once I saw it in the light I fell in love with it. I loved it from the second I drove it off the lot. Prior to my Z I had an awesome truck, everything and more than I could ever want. But there just wasn't a conection and had buyers remorse as soon as I began to drive it. Seeing 350Zs, Mustangs, and Challengers. First excuse I had to trade it in, I did. Is there a point to the story not really. But give it time to grow on you a little bit and though I hate to say it maybe it just isn't the car for you. Is there anything specific about it that bothers you? Like the fact it has a Hamburger and not a BMW emblem on the hood, or is there something more thats preventing you from falling in love. If this isn't coherent don't mind I've been up for over 30 straight hours.

Perhaps, but it was up against the Z4, which I ended up liking less. Maybe I just need some fluffy dice?

:)

Hmmm, mine's the daily driver. My last was a daily driver, yet I loved it. almost 10 years later and it still felt special.

Yeah, it's a tough one. Mine kind of was out of necessity as my previous car needed replacing and I couldn't see myself in a 4 seater yet.

But your post makes me hopeful. I'm certainly counting down the miles. :) Maybe I'm just a little ahead of myself. Not being able to gas it is quite painful.

More beer? I need to stop drinking and posting. :)

The only thing I didn't initially like were the Boomerang head and tail lights. I initially thought them to be too fiddly, finicky and self-consciously designed. The 350 to me is one ugly, out of proportion thing. The 370 is a thing of beauty. It feels perfectly proportioned. Did you really trade it in? What are you driving now?

Specifics? No, not really. I can certainly get past the hood emblem. I've loved and disliked plenty of different vehicles. I rented a tiny little Fiat thing with about 9 horse power on holiday recently and managed to vibe with it. I had some love for my old Jeep, despite being big, unreliable and just plain crap. I guess it's just so personal and just so intangible.

Thanks for taking time to answer. I guess I'll keep at it until it's broken in and hope for the best.
:tup:

I adjusted the seat and steering wheel and I like it a bit more this morning. I need to get as low down and comfortable as possible. :)

+0.3

I thought the headlights and taillights llooked modern, angry and agressive, and took the car a little farther away from the femine looking 350Z. I think you misunderstood me though. What I was saying is that I traded in a awesome truck with everything and anything you could ask for in it for a 370Z. Almost soley on the fact that I did not have a love conection with the truck and found my self checking out every sports car that drove by me. I fell in love with the Z the first chance I saw it, just not the Z I ended up buying which I hated, but once I took it off the lot I started to love that thing to death, only surpassed by the love I felt for my first car. Like I was saying though give it a little more and do what the other posted suggested and do a few mods.

I feel for the Z in the early promo shots, I went to the Houston auto show and got a chance to see/sit/touch the car without any pressure from a sales person and it sold me. I probably spent four or five hours at the auto show walking back and forth between BMW/Infiniti/Nissan/etc. sitting in cars, opening trunks, checking out all the features. I finally got a test drive and it made me know I wanted the car.
Now it was not all perfect, the car note (exhaust/engine) was not 100% what I wanted but I know aftermarket is around for a reason and I knew I would get what I wanted. But even with just intakes on my car I get into my car and just love driving it. The sound is secondary now, the radio I do not care about (was about to upgrade it), and all that matters is the car and the road in front of me.

It sounds like you have the cash to spend a bit more to really spice up the car. I always loved my car, but adding an aftermarket CBE iced the cake for me. If you have the coupe, I'd suggest a Stillen or maybe the new Berk catback exhaust. If you have the roadster, get the Fast Intentions as drone won't be an issue (no 'interior' for reverberations). Any of these will liven up the exhaust note and put a smile on your face. They are also the most modest of mods taking less than an hour to install, are easy to revert back to stock, and really give you some power and audible pleasure.

I think the catback would start to cement your bond with the car.

It could just be you put *too* much thought into it. You said normally your decisions are more emotional based. Well, those decisions usually have emotional residue as well. However, your logical decision to get the Z doesn't satisfy any "desires".

For instance, I had a GF once. She was far from a 10 on the attractive scale, but she was smart, independent, and "good for me", but there was no "spark". Guess how long it lasted?

As others have stated, find something to create a little spark. Rebadge it, throw on some bolt-ons if you can, or add some interior "flare". A little personalization will definitely help create a bond between you and the car. Perhaps you can even go on a little road trip or something. :P

...and do a track day!

I'm only doing the eibach springs, rear camber kit (if need it???) and spacer before Zday. Already got the tints. :tup: