1st Time buyer advice
 

I've been looking for a Z for a few weeks now and have found some leads but ultimately something didn't work out (distance,package,etc). I wanted yours guys take on my search.

I like all the colors but silver so that is easy enough. I really would like a persimmon interior but its hard to find. I want a manual and the sport package with under 20k miles. Through the search I have yet to find just the right one, or its the right one for the most part but auto. Here's the question, should I settle on just finding one and going for it or would it be best to hold out for the one with the most options I want? Is the stick really that big of a deal over the manual? What should i settle on nd what should i I keep looking for?
Thanks in advance for the help

I suggest you wait until end of the year when production hits. Honestly, for something at such a high price range to an average person, it's better to wait it out and get exactly what you want rather than take someone and regret it later, like those wanting Monterrey Blue Z's.

wait and get what you want

Personally, I wouldn't settle unless it was something I could live without. If it's something I really want, than you should hang in there and keep searching.

My advice: go to a Nissan dealer and drive it both with and without stick to decide if you can live without 6MT. Most around here will tell you that the 7AT is faster anyway, but if you're really addicted to manual, like me, you'll want to hold out for that. I say test 'em both while you're looking.

Only you know what you're willing to compromise on, but I probably wouldn't hold out for persimmon. It looks great, but it's hard to find, and it limits your exterior color choices. If you're heart's set on sports package, then don't compromise on that, either. I love my Z and I don't have sports, but I made that determination after testing them with and without sport.

That's good advise. Don't settle. You will eventually regret it and it will cost you more money in the long run.

Also, don't be afraid to to travel or have a car shipped. Carmax is always a great option. You may not get the best price but you can have a car safely shipped for a reasonable price.

Used Nissan 370Zs at carmax.com

I have driven both auto and stick and the stick seemed more lively and fun. Coming from my truck anything is faster so its not a big deal what trans is faster. The other frustrating thing looking for a used z is the price people want. Its like your dealing with corvette owners here. No sorry not paying upwards toward 30g's for a 09 with 30k miles. As of right now I would settle on a black interior and be ok with it, but the sports and stick I'm pretty set on. I want to hold out for the right one, but I'm so damn antsy to get one!

I know how you feel. I was faced with the same situation back in March. They had the exact one I wanted except with black leather instead of persimmon. I just decided to wait it out and I'm still waiting lol getting antsy as hell to say the least!!!! only a couple weeks left to go, and it seems like a lifetime away. That being said, I have no regrets. I know it would have pissed me off not to get the persimmon...major selling point for me.

I've "settled" on vehicle purchases, and yeah, it's definitely not worth it. Hold out until you can find exactly what you want.

me too, one of the reason why i got rid of the corvette and 350 as i hated the color

What happens if I can't find one that has the persimmon and sport package?
Then is it time to settle? I know the options I want have extremely narrowed my chances, am I asking for too much?

Ultimately, you will have to decide what is settling, what is making a second choice, and what is a dealbreaker.

For me, manual and sport were deal breakers. For my wife, nav and heated/ac seats were deal breakers. We both wanted Black Cherry. Not to many options for us.

It will be better in the long run to be patient and get exactly what you want with a purchase like this. You don't want to be an "I wish I had..." when the newness wears off. We do not regret waiting for the car we wanted at the price we wanted.

Good luck and happy hunting!!!

Just look forward to having one until you do. No big rush at all unless you don't have a car to drive now or need to return a lease.

I guess you should decide what is a must have and what is nice to have. Makes life easier, especially when dating. Nice to have a supermodel, must have...well, you can fill that in. :D

Hey op, do you like Genesis coupe? Lol just kidding. :icon17:

Another newb wanted one so just wondering if that's an option for you too.

mustang gt, its so fast

The persimmon was a must for me but when I was buying my dealer could only find 2 and they where very far away. So I got a base sport and had a local shop put leather in it for me. In the end it wound up being cheaper. This might help find what you are looking for. I have pics in my album.

Sorry in advance for the long post. Just being detailed on 7at performance as much as words can express so you can understand without actually driving it. But I do recommend driving BOTH.

If this car drove like a rx8,genesis coupe, camaroor mustang v6. I would say get the manual hands down. But the Z auto is sick, it feels way closer to dual clutch. You can hardly tell the difference. Only the occasional slight torque converter drone reminds you its not dct.

The ecu is so good at predicting our drive style, without even going in manual mode. The Z will predict you from your foot. You will notice in auto mode alone you can control gear changes between 2800,3800,4400,5200,6,000 and 6800 rpm. Most other auto trannies give you 2 or 3 modes on the peddle. The Z auto gives you 6. (Maybe more?)

In manual mode you get thousands of gear ratios preselected by the ecu depending on your drive style patterns. The cvt also has 2overdrive modes for better fuel economy and power deliery DRM that works on upshift as well like SRM. Its really not disappointing at all. In traffic. Put it in D and you're chillin. Road opens up... you open up on gears.

The paddle shift gives a supersmooth race car shift that's so seemless and crisp its marvel, yet when you use the stick to shift, the car feels like a 1970 240z, its slightly unrefined and mildly slower to shift. The car jerks a little when you shift on the floor. It takes you back to when notchy slower shifting was the norm as far as feel. So the auto is a lot more fun than some make it out to be. It gives you the best of both worlds. Only thing you can't burnout in the auto. Just make it chirp the tires.

If you plan on tracking often for sport. Depending on what type of racing you do? I recommend manual. If your left leg has a mind of its own and forces you to try clutching when in front of a steering wheel. Drive manual. Lol
Honestly more than tranny choice. Aftermarket exhaust or much smaller/no resonators would be my priority. The Z needs a sound boost.

That's just my opinion and like a$$holes... everybody's got one. Happy hunting and good luck.

Since when did the Z come with a CVT?

No I am not looking for a genesis. Both my parents have new hyundais and I drove the Genesis coupe for giggles when I took my moms Sante Fe for an oil change, but I must say they do make very nice quality cars. Nor am I looking for a Mustang. The Challenger RT is my backup plan.

I dont plan on tracking the car at all, just look forward to driving around some country roads here on the weekends and then to work. I have my truck also to drive atm so I am not without wheels. I was just getting discouraged at not finding one with the options I want coupled with being antsy to buy. I finally found a PG with sport, stick and persimmon in SC but it had higher miles than I wanted (30K) and somebody changed the Rays wheels out with some weird shiny chrome ones that still have a nissan center but not sure what they are. Again just a few things short. Also the dealer wants too much for it and wont come down more than 500 bucks. I guess I shall just continue on the wild goose chase for my perfect match.

I used a search feature on the Nissan website with good results. I was able to look for the car I wanted (6sp vert) and find out what dealers had an hour drive in any direction. I then called a few to verify they still had them on the lot and then spent the day test driving. I bought the car in 1 day. Of course this was new, so maybe more choices than used.

Update: I came across a really nice deal and its pretty loaded and has some mods on it. All the mods that I would do in the potential future. Its in my price range and all, only thing holding me back is its a auto. I know the autos are all good but I kind of wanted to get a stick. Id buy it yesterday if it were a stick and the same deal. Its local luckily and I'm going to drive it this Saturday to get a feel for the auto and see how I like it and if I can pass on the stick. Any thoughts? I know I need to do what's best for e, but just seeing what youd do in my shoes.

We can't make that decision for you. I settled for auto in one of my cars but I just love sticks even if the autos are faster now a days. I couldn't stand not shifting myself and took a loss on the car with auto.

Yeah that's why I hope when I drive it ill get a good idea of whether it'll work or not.

Don't buy it if it is not what you truly want.

^^ this.

absolutey true for the transmission. sorry to compare our cars to my old HondaFit :icon17: but i had a MT (sold) and still have the AT which my wife uses. I HATE the AT Fit. the MT Fit was pretty fun to drive.

basically the same car except for the transmission. the fun factor is like nigth and day difference. i would absolutely vote against buying the AT if you wanted MT. the paddle excitement will wear off very quickly and you will want that clutch pedal and the 6 gates.

now if you wanted AT, that's a whole different story. :)

I got my G37 in auto and although I had fun with the paddles, I have regretted the decision for 4 years!!!!!!!!! That's why I'm so anxious to get my Z.

You guys are killing me lol. I think I gotta grab a stick. Ill still drive it this Saturday to see how I feel, but well see what happens. Good looking out guys!

Don't let the excitement of driving the Z suck you in to buying it in auto just to get your hands on it right away. That's what happened to me. I also really liked the paddle (it had just come out in 2007 when I got the car) because it was race-car like....got tired of it fast.

Trust me, be mindful of the temptation when you test drive it lol

Could we see a thread in the future. "How do I change my auto into 6 spd"

:icon18: that would be dejavu.

Yeah I hear you guys. I'm going into it with an open mind and going to be patient and if its not what I want, walk away. It'll be hard because its a fantastic deal on a loaded car but it is just missing that one thing.

fixed!!

its like marrying a cute woman from a mail order catalog who doesnt speak any english and is super boring. it gets old pretty quickly when you have to start paying for it

op....preparing to possibly sell mine lol it meets your requests (white, man, sport package 16,xxx )

Is she even alive or are you talking about some blow up doll? :icon17:

It depends if you can get off having sex with it :)

as far as both transmissions go. i think both are great. the MT has its quirks
but the sync rev is cool. and imho the 7AT has no equals in it class. and even out of its class its a kick xss auto.

If isnt a DSG or PDK, than its a plain jane Auto. All these new cars with paddles take forever to switch , its better to leave them in D. They putting paddles in SUVs , thats some B.S
The Z was slightly better but you can easily tell the difference if you driven a proper DSG. I recently drove an IS -F and that truly felt like there was not lag.
6MT for me.