What does your Z mean to you or represent?

Shamu

Snazzy cheap commuter ....that I can drive on the track.

I'm not overly in love with styling of this Z but its a solid value and a car I'm not afraid to park in a big lot and get occasional door ding. It's a nice throw away sports GT car that i can rack miles up on beat on the track and not feel bad like i did driving more expensive sports cars. I feel much more comfortable using this car as a daily driver than my past Porsches. When I drove Porsches I was always paranoid about door dings, etc. the Nismo is just good cheap fun!

UNKNOWN_370

Why not keep the more expensive "Porsche's" and just buy a used Z as a DD? Your comment sounds pretentious IMO. Especially that once you owned any car more than 3 years you stop givin a hay about dings n such. Especially since a porsche depreciates faster than I can take a Sh1t compared to other high priced sports cars.

mantella87

Is Porsche the highest in the automotive food chain you've climbed? If so, I'm puzzled as to why you'd refer to a ~$30-$40k+ car as a "throw away" and a "cheap commuter." A person who owns Ferraris would at least be financially-proportional to those claims if not patronizing... But a Porsche driver, who are you kidding?

ImportConvert

All about mindset. My G20 is a throw-away car to me, but I maintain it and keep her running because she has utility. In some other countries, the president/ruling person would consider it his Airforce 1, lol.

Mindset and circumstance.

mantella87

True, but I would argue that your mindset and ability to abandon the value of a ~$40k car would be limited by your wallet. In my opinion, I don't think owning a Porsche creates enough monetary distance between a 370Z to entitle someone to bill it as a "cheap commuter."

ImportConvert

It depends on if they own a Porsche and live in a shack, or own a Porsche in a garage next to a Veryron situated on a nice $20M Estate.

Any way you slice it, nothing should truly be viewed as throw-away unless you soon want to find yourself wishing you hadn't.

mantella87

Absolutely, that's why I have a lot of respect for the people who keep something like a 1995 Accord in pristine condition. That mentality is a rarity.

ImportConvert

Do you respect my flawless (for its age) 2002 G20?

Shamu

Don't get me wrong my Porsches are driven on regular basis. I'm just more emotionally attached to Porsches and worry about them more. In reality boxsters are mid $40k throw aways too. However I bought a pristine 99 Boxster for $8500. I cared more for that Porsche than I do the newer 370z. There is something about nice German sheet metal, sexy lines, etc that is just more attractive than the Nissan. It has nothing to do with price of entry frankly.

I feel sorry for anyone who pays over $40k for a 370z. My 2010 Nismo was mid $30s new off showroom floor. Heck a well optioned Chevy 2500 HD pickup truck is more than that! I just wanted a nice new reliable commuter for my 100 mile a day drive through mountains that would be fun and take abuse. I have had good luck with my Nissans as high mileage beaters I drove a 280zx and 240sx into ground, have over 100,000 on 350z roadster currently.

I'm just more motivated to keep the Porsches more pristine regardless of price. My other Porsche recently was a 36000 original mile 1974 914. I babied that car. And I only spent $5000 on that one. I never washed that car and waxed it every month. My 370z goes to pay car wash and I scrub it down with a brush with no hesitation just like my truck. Heck man a cheap entry level Lexus cost more than my Z. I look at the Z as a cheap newer car that has limited life. I wouldn't desire 370z 10 years from now like I would an older Porsche. hence throw away stays for me. I'm pretty clear what car means to me. It's a great performance bargain and snazzy looking but already seems to look dated.

I'm not much for Italian cars as I actually drive my cars. Although I have always fancied owning a Pantera I don't like flash of expensive cars. Most of my cars are throw aways. I had a cool Toyota Echo that reminds me of the Z but the Echo was dirt cheap $9k off the lot new! Oh and it got 36 mpg. It was pretty fast ax car too! It was actually a toss up when I was shopping. New Toyota Yaris that I would mod like crazy with blower etc or a Z that i leave fairly stockish.