Nissan 370Z Forum - Z impressions from a GTR owner

Nissan 370Z Forum (http://www.the370z.com/)

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- - Z impressions from a GTR owner (http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-general-discussions/5039-z-impressions-gtr-owner.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phimosis (Post 82253)

The universal truth here is that cars are not an investment, they are a depreciating asset. On the used car market, you see (multiple) 2005 Lambo Gallardo's or 2006 911 turbo's for $90,000. The seller of the lambo is losing $90,000 in depreciation in 4 years. The Porsche sellers are losing $50,000 in 3 years, plus you're losing $1,000 a month to the bank on the interest for a loan that big. Then, Lambo owners are replacing the SMG clutch at like 15k miles at a cost of $7000. The total cost of 4 years of Lambo ownership (on a new car) is going to run you $120k-140k.

-Phim

Exactly! As someone with a degree in Economics and an MBA in business, 30+ years in the financial world, it is great to see a Medical Doctor with financial savvy, so you can throw that back at your "my friends all drive Porsches" crowd, and feel good about "not making amends" :icon17:

If you have enough money to burn and realize you are buying the "toy" because it brings you great satisfaction, then by all means, but don't expect it to be anything other than a depreciating asset. The 370Z is one hell of a sports car for the price, and a wise move for someone who doesn't want to loose their shirt in 3 or 4 years if they trade or sell.

John

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phimosis (Post 82253)

Hi. I don't mean to be confrontational. I would just like add some insight, because I've probably lived through situations and seen things that you haven't. I totally disagree with your statement.

I'm a medical doctor, nearly 40 years old and well into the "fat" part of my career. I'm single and no kids or alimony to pay for. I can afford going into exotic territory, but I choose not to. A lot of people in southern California live to the very maximum of what they can afford so they can be flashy, be players, meet hot girls, etc. My friends drive Porsches and AMG Mercedes and tease me, saying "I bought a car that is a socioeconomic class below me." The same guys teased me about my last car, which was a Corvette, calling it my "redneck car".

The universal truth here is that cars are not an investment, they are a depreciating asset. On the used car market, you see (multiple) 2005 Lambo Gallardo's or 2006 911 turbo's for $90,000. The seller of the lambo is losing $90,000 in depreciation in 4 years. The Porsche sellers are losing $50,000 in 3 years, plus you're losing $1,000 a month to the bank on the interest for a loan that big. Then, Lambo owners are replacing the SMG clutch at like 15k miles at a cost of $7000. The total cost of 4 years of Lambo ownership (on a new car) is going to run you $120k-140k.

It will take a LOT of desire to get me to spend that much on a car. But desire is a weird thing. Like the girl that was so hot that you'd spend your entire pay check on her, just to keep her happy? If they didn't scrap the program, I would have spent $180,000 on a Lexus LF-A. I want one that badly. The C6 Corvette (ZR1) and 997 Porsche (turbo or gt3) are coming to the end of their life cycle and make them less desireable. The Maserati GT is not fast enough. The GTR is ugly and too heavy.

By buying a 370z, I get a car that is beautiful, light, great handling, has stylish interior and makes good economic sense. Even with mods on this car, I'll probably only lose $20,000 on it. And, if something new and hot comes to market that I just "have to have," like a Porsche 998 or C7 Corvette, I'm still in a financial position to do it, plus I end up having a lot more money in my bank account, which makes you feel "safer," especially when the economy is in the tank.

So don't neccesarily write everyone off as a fake or a braggart just because they say they can afford to buy an $80,000 car but choose not to. It's how their priorities are set up. Based on your comment, if you had the means, you would get an $80,000 car because that is your priority, but not everyone thinks that way.

-Phim

Thank you !

I can pay cash for both cars, but this has not always been the case, and old habits die hard. I don't see the need to spend 80k on a car that will never see it's full potential, it's a beautiful car, and I think I want one, but I just can't bring myself to spend that kind of money on a car. I think I would end up driving it about the same as I would the Z and 40k on a Z is enough... Just because I have the means, doesn't mean I have to waste them. I've wanted a Lambo since I was a kid, but I will never buy one, just because be afraid to drive it , not because of my driving abitlity, but because of everyone elses ... :shakes head:, and I would be afraid to ever park it!

Why waste the money ? Maybe in a couple of years I'll find something else that catches my eye ? :driving:

I feel the same way. I could afford to buy a more expensive car but i'd be scared to drive it to certain places and parking it would be stressful. The more the car costs generally means more expensive servicing/maintenance/insurance costs. Buying a less expensive car is more practical, that's why i'm looking at the 370Z.

We'd love to see a picture of the cars together in your garage as some eye candy! I'm so impressed with how many track miles you have logged, where do you belong? You must go through a lot of tires.

i still pick the 370 than the gtr..i've always love 2 seater..and for the buck..i can use all that extra money doing mods.35g's for z and 120g's for gtr?i say 15 g's for twin turbo and upgrade internals for the z..set of volk racing whels..hks exhaust system..brakes..and sound system..hmmm that'll be around 50 g's..according to my bud that own a shop here in daygo..660 hp for twin turbo and that's stock internal for 8g's??gtr i think is a beautiful car but way too limited for upgrades..but that's just my opinion..

Quote:

Originally Posted by nizz23sd (Post 83676)

Personally, I'd be a bit nervous running 660hp on stock internals on a Z. That's got to be really pushing it. I'd also be willing to bet that just upgrading the turbo's on the GTR is going to be a bit easier and assume the internals are quite a bit beefier.

Where do you find a track that you can drive on ? We live close ( enough ) to Infinion to drive there, and that would be an absolute blast, but as far as I know the only times it is open to the public is for drag racing, which will be nice in a couple of weeks when my wife's new 2SS/RS Camaro gets here ... but as far as I know they never open the road course to the public, which is a shame, because that is what I would really like to run. I tried checking the website for Laguna Seca as well but couldn't find any info for that track either. Both places offer racing schools, which I would like to take now, but I would also like to be able to take my own car(s) out. Anyone know of some tracks that are open to the public ? Maybe a road trip is in order ! : )

The gist is that someone rents a track for a fee, say $6,000 for the day. Then the organizer charges $250 per person for the track day. Quite a few groups do it and you should be able to do it at laguna or sears point. If not, buttonwillow does them for sure.

I would send you a link from other threads, but I'm on iPhone and it doesn't copy and paste.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lug (Post 83832)

The bolt on sports turbine twin set up for the Z isnt going to get 660. You can achieve maybe mid to high 400's but not 660. Going by the post you are quoting. There has to be more done to get above 500 than just bolting on turbos and an intercooler. You will be restricted off the rip from fuel alone. Stock injectors are only rated at 440cc......for starters.

The trouble you'll inevitably run into is trying to set your boost too high without having enough fuel....run lean......destroy pistons and rings. The internals themselves will handle the load, if the rest of the equation is correct. Burning rich wont hurt internals, but your power will be limited until cams are changed. Engine response wont increase until the crank is changed. The only stock engine part that will give without over boosting and frying a piston will be the head gasket. And that is a guarantee.

As far as what was said for bolting on different turbines to the R and getting more power cheaper......ahhhh dont think so. Its rated at 500hp already. So youll already have to go bigger than the HKS 2530's to generate that. Not just a simple turbo change out and get more HP. With the old inline 6 you could change out the manifold and run bigger twins with ease. Not with the current engine used. Gotta change fuel delivery, different manifolds, larger than just a sports turbine, and most importantly get rid of the rediculously small intercoolers. I think the water cooler at work has more heat transfer than those rinky dink things.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musashi (Post 83665)

We'd love to see a picture of the cars together in your garage as some eye candy! I'm so impressed with how many track miles you have logged, where do you belong? You must go through a lot of tires.

I go with track masters and SCDA. Mostly NHIS, Lime Rock and Watkins Glen. I do indeed go through a bunch of tires. :) I have Nittos on the car now, we will see how they hold up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nizz23sd (Post 83676)

How exactly is the GTR limited in upgrades?