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?