I actually have a 335i right now and am considering a 370Z

My 335i isn't a lease return though... it's being lemoned
Which is pretty common on these cars

For me, I've been considering upgrading to a new M3 vert or a used GTR (can't afford one new).... but at the age of 22... I feel I should stop making $1000+ a month car payments... Buy a Z, save money, sell it in a year and get a new GTR and call it a day.. or if income works in my favor, keep the Z and buy a GTR...
I can't see myself spending $40k on a Z...my budget for 'saving' is low 30s, high 20s.. and I want all the goodies (nav sport etc)...

And I don't want to waste money on a 335i anymore...
to me, the 335i (Well, I do have a vert) Was too bouncy in the corners.. and too slow stock
I had to mod the hell out of the car to enjoy it.
Coilovers, sways bars, strut bar, upgraded intercooler, intake, BOV, downpipes, Jb3 tune, 93octane daily, and other mods I don't feel like listing... was pushing over 400wtq and whp
ran a 1/4 in a little under 13, which I think is pretty good for a 4000lb vert... especially since the M3 coupe runs 12.8...
a stock 335i vert is not worth the 65k I paid for it... I made a mistake... don't want to do that again.. .

So.. my main concern in 'downgrading' to a Z is the loss of comfort, hard top convertible, and massive amount of torque and power.
But... I have always loved the Zs from back in the 90s up until now.
Always took any chance I could to drive my friend's 350 back in the day.
And the handling of a Z, from my limited driving, is better than my fully modded 335i (I never had a chance to instal a LSD on mine...)

I'm coming from 355i, previously a 996 Turbo, boxster and a C230, a S400...

so the Z (if I get one) will be a completely different car..

I've driven the 6MT.. but have decided i want a AT.... I drive too much for the manual (my 335i is auto, though the Porsches were stick)

So I feel what you're going through

My main concern with the Z is the lack of the rear seats... I remember how annoying it was with the Boxster... though in the past year, I've only used my rear seats maybe 10 times... (yeah I've only owned my car for a year and already being lemoned...)

Decisions decisions...

Sorry if I rambled on and on and on too much...

Try to get a 2009 loaded and you can save a lot - there were still a few left when I was looking for mine.

I don't think the 370Z rides badly at all for a sports car, a lot better than my NSX or MR2 (though both had some suspension mods). It is a little bouncy to me (not enough rebound control) but otherwise fine. I also don't think it is that loud compared to the mid engine cars, but i will probably switch to Hankook V12s when I get new tires, or maybe try some sound absorption on the rear wheel wells.

If you are looking for something with a lot of torque to give you a big kick when you get on the gas, it might not be right for you. For me, i like the flat torque curve like NSX and the smooth rush of power.

Never had a problem with the heat issue.....
Road noise it's a sports car learn to live with it, a lot has to do with the tires
i will be changing them next time....

i think the ride is very decent....

anyone who had the 350 knows how much this car was improved on.

Persian54 - drive an RX8. Less torque, but has a back seat.

I just entered my 40's and I think making $1000+/mo car payments at ANY time isn't a good idea (unless you've got the income to back it up, OR your house is completely paid off). Considering the cars you've driven, and the ones you are thinking about, looks like your income could support a car payment like that (want a resume? :icon17:). Have you test driven a Z yet?

Back to OP: has the second test drive happened yet? Curious.

And this from the guy who hath extracted nearly 700hp at the rear wheels of the venerable S2k. :bowrofl:

They handle really well.. but they are extremelly slow... you can rev it up to forever but still.....

Regarding a backseat, at this price range, a G37 or an Evo 10 would be ideal; or a used e46 M3

Well, the way I look at it, if you use a car mearly as a point A to B transportaion object, than you shouldn't spend more than 10-15% of your net on the car.

However, if the car is part of a hobby, a passion, a lifestyle, etc for you, than that 10-15% wouldn't be so ideal.
There are those who spend $$ on eating out all the time at fancy places, taking trips, Vegas, shoes, purses, clothes, etc etc. To them, a car may mearly be a point A to B thing.

For me, and I feel for many on this and other car forums, a car is not mearly used as an A to B object.

Rather, something to put a smile on one's face each and everytime s/he drives the car.
Whether it's to work, to the mall, to a friend's house, to see a client, in the canyons, on the track, etc etc.

Thus, for me, who spends a min of 40 hours a week working, other than seeing my girlfriends, only thing I really have is my car.
And I don't have time to track her or auto-x as much as I'd want to... so I try to canyon it when I can.

Long story short... it's not about the $500 or the $1000 or whatever... I look at it on a percentage basis...

For me, were I to pick the Z (if the price and car are right), I'll most likely be buying it cash or 50% down.
For a M3 vert/used GTR, I'd have a $1000 a month payment ON TOP of putting about $15,000 down...
Every financial advisor aspect of me says it'd be the stupidest, most recklass business decision I could make.. something I would extremely advise my clients to not do.....
Not having a $1000/mo car payment would allow me to spend more money in the market.
With the bear to bull to bear to bull market we have now.. it's an opportunity of the Decade.
I was too young to take full advantage of the market back around 9/11... so I've been trying to make it up these past few years
But for me... having a nice car is also related to business... showing people you have money/can manage your money (I've cut out vacations and other luxuries) is important in my line of work.
Would you really take financial advise from someone trying an old civic? (not bashing, just trying to make a point)

All in all... op and me... we both have cars worth almost double (or double in my case) of a Z...
But... from reading what you said, you enjoyed the test drive of the Z very much, even though it was short.
I was lucky and the dealer allowed me to drive the manual for 40 minutes, and the auto for an hour this past weekend; on the freeway, streets, and local canyon.
Amazing fcking car haha...

But.. one thing to keep in mind Op:
There is a bit of a status symbol of owning a BMW... specifically not an entry level one (as a 128 or 328, although they hold the BMW badge... are pretty entry level [great cars nonetheless though])


Sorry to ramble, this was done on my iPhone while waiting outside for a client haha.

No actually, I didn't get a chance on Saturday and all the dealers are closed on Sunday. I'm going to try again this coming weekend and also test drive a G37 Sport and compare.

Hey, I have both a 335i Coupe and a Nismo.
They are completely different. Can't really compare.
I do know that when I take the wifey out, she wants to take the BMW everytime. Her gf's all love the car. They never say squat about my Z.
Their guys on the other hand drool over my Z for what it's worth.

Likes on the z are the fact you sit lower, in the car, I feel like it's a **** pit. The seats hold me in better. I like the handling and acceleration of the z compared to the 335.
I like the brakes on the 335 more. Those suckers are amazing.
The feel of the 335 inside is nice, the plastic and refinements are nice to the touch. The Z on the other hand feels more spartan. Less refined as others have put it.

I actually decided to keep my 335i coupe. So I have a daily and weekend car now.
I enjoy the z so much more. It's a viseral feeling. The agressive styling, etc.
Bad points on the 335 are the idrive, loose fitting seats, rear leg room is worthless. Sunroof makes noise, and friggin brake dust is driving me mad!

Zuppy get some greenstuff. Much less dust for euro cars.

[QUOTE=Zuppy51;701013I like the brakes on the 335 more. Those suckers are amazing.
Bad points on the 335 are the idrive, loose fitting seats, rear leg room is worthless. Sunroof makes noise, and friggin brake dust is driving me mad![/QUOTE]

I drove my friends 350 nismo and... amazing in the canyons but that thing would be too much for me as a DD

Brakes in the 335i are amazing.
Better than the Nismo ones though??


335i iDrive, I assume you have a 07/08
Those suck
the 09s are amazing.
Best system I've ever used.

Rear legroom sucks but at least it's there haha.
in the Vert, I think there is more space (as there's a lot less trunk space)
I've had two adults fit back there with no problems.

That's one thing on the Z.. no back seats

I have people telling me I should toss the idea of a M3 vert/GTR and buy a Z and an e92 335i.. similar to you Haha

Concur - they really improved the later versions. Buddy has to kick me away from the iDrive - I fook around with it everytime I'm in his car. :p

0-140 for the GT happens in 24.6 seconds for the 'vert.
0-140 for the Z happens in 28.1 seconds.

0-130 for the hard-top GT is 19.8, and for the Z, 23.0.

This is a pretty big gap. 0-60 are similar due to the mustang GT's skinny tires, but the GT handily out-powers the Z in stock trim. With exhaust on the Z against a stock GT, they are probably very comparable.

That is why I am considering the 370Z and the 'vette togather. The Z is well-balanced as an item, while the 'vette is all-out about speed and handling with no thought to anything else. THe balance as an item is not there. Comfort, quality, solidity, all are lacking.

0-130 for the automatic Z coupe, 21.1 seconds, not too far off.

The GT will get away until it hits top speed and then the Z can reel it in again.

Reel it in again for what, 9 more mph until the 155mph governor kicks in, or 11mph until the 157mph gear-limited top-speed halts its progress? Which definition/method of "reeling it in" are you going to go with?

I am not interested in a slush-box. 6M all the way. Why would you get an automatic that uses a tq converter in a "track" car that will rev-match for you for crying out loud anyway?

I don't use rotary phones either :P

Since the GT has a 146 MPH governor, it won't be getting away either way.

Why not just hire someone to drive you around and not bother with the steering wheel, brakes, or accelerator at all? Why stop at eliminating one pedal when you can rid yourself of all 3?

Different strokes I guess.

tbh I don't really plan on driving at 130+ too often.. if much at all... especially on the street.
Maybe try to hit the top speed in the car once or so, but that'll be about it...

btw, some of us don't want the 3rd pedals because he/she may A) get tired, B) legs hurt C) injuries D) laziness E) lack of skill/ability F) wanting smooth shifts 100% of the times G) etc

I am A D F :P
Having driven the Boxster and the 996 T manual for about a year each... I realized spending a hours in traffic just doesn't make it worth it.

Now.. if it was a weekend car... that'd be a different story :)
But hard to afford a weekend car and a nice daily these days

Why fool around with something that uses pedals and steering wheels when you can get a horse and buggy?

i agree but corvette guys show the same passion.

There are only about 5 to 10 cars still on the road today that have the history
of the Z. Most of us can name them. And the Z still has the WOW factor
after all these years.

I can vouch for that, especially when one of my coworkers bought a Z06. It made ME passionate for the Vette - SWEET engine!

Hey guys, I never got around to updating you on test driving the Z again. I did so a couple of weeks ago and got a chance to take the Z on the expressway. That experience totally killed my chances of getting the Z. It was just way too loud for my liking. It really pissed me off, if there wasn't so much cabin noise I was going to buy that sucker, no doubt.

The following weekend I went and test drove a G37. It was quieter but it was boring to drive and didn't excite me like the Z does. At WOT I knew I was accelerating fast but I felt like, I don't know, I guess like I was going up in an elevator. I had no emotional "wow" reaction whatsoever.

Anyway long story short I got an offer for a new 335is with DCT at $500 below invoice and 0.9% APR for 5 years. That's an offer I cannot pass up! :excited:

I just want to say thanks everyone for your input, thoughts and comments. You were all extremely helpful. Too bad the Z didn't work out for me. After driving one I will always respect that car and I still love its looks. :tiphat:

Enjoy the 335is. You can still wave at us.:tiphat:

You could have got the Z and put sound insulation in it.

I read about the DIY sound insulating when I was researching the Z. You would need to do the trunk and the floor. Others say you really need to do the doors too and you cannot do the entire firewall unless you take apart the dash. I don't like the idea of tearing apart a new car to make it how it should have come from factory. You would also need to change the tires to quieter ones. New tires that are not shitty are probably around $1.2k? Too much time, effort and drama. The cabin noise has been a widely criticized issue that Nissan should have addressed long ago and hasn't in its third year of production.

If you're listening Nissan, you lost a sale. And, I'm sure I'm not the only one who's had to pass on the new Z for this very reason either. I was so going to get this car if it just wasn't so noisy. For shame. :shakes head:

'Grats on the new Bimmer! It's a great car, and that new "is" model is one I haven't had the pleasure to drive around with (time to get some of my other Bimmer fan buddies on the upgrade bandwagon). DCT... *drool*

But I'd miss a stick. The GT-R almost seems like it wouldn't be as fun without a proper manual. Of course, until I press the accelerator pedal...