What to look for when buying your Z?

TheMech · 11-05-2012, 08:25 AM

Hey all. I've been doing a bunch of reading on the forums learning everything I can and when I get stationed back in the states in 3 months I'll start my search for my Z!

My plans are to get the amuse body kit, exhaust, rims and some other small mods then go for the GTM stage 1 TT kit.

I'm looking to spend around 25k on a used Z with the least amount of miles I can find. What should I be looking for exactly? (I want to save as much money as possible on the car so I can use it on upgrades.)

From what I can tell I should just pick up a low mileage Z with the a Sport package and that's it. Is that correct? That seems like the biggest thing to make sure I get.

Anything else you guys think I should be looking for other then a mint car with a clean record?

Thanks!

Now my hardest decision is what color to purchase!

gsxr750 · 11-05-2012, 11:54 AM

You should tend to stay away from the ones owned by the young street dork crowd, with all the mods, painted accessories etc.

This would give evidence that the car is probably driven hard and you don't know if the mods were done correctly.

What you should try and find is a low mileage unmolested completely stock, latest yr. you can afford, from a mature male owner, with a good documented service history.

Try and stay away from used ones from the dealers unless they are low mileage 1 yr old car etc.

I recently went to a Mercedes dealer in Las Vegas and met the wheel touch up guy behind the dealership , that repainted one of my rays wheels.

What really suprized me was all the mobile vendors that they had parked in backed of the dealership, set up outside in the early morning to fix and touch up all the trade ins and other dealer repair.

1. One painter was repainting the entire front end on a $100k Mercedes completely outdoors in 55 degree weather. Paint specs and flaws all over the front end.

2. car interior refinishers respraying leather seats and door panels with paint dye, and redying stains.

3. then you have the general detailers doing everything from interiors, exteriors and polishing out faded head lights etc.

4. Then you have the quick grind and sand wheel touch up, with wheels that if you watched them spin on a balancer would be wobbling side to side like the wheels on a beat up 20" bmx bike, from the excessive amount of metal they ground off.

My point is that the dealers have all types of tricks to hide flaws and defects on their used trade ins and lease cars, its just a new version of repainting the entire engine bay with tire black or under coating and putting saw dust in a manual transmission to make it run smoother for a while.

Once you own the car for 90 days , all the cheap touch up paint and dye fades away and problems start to happen.

nmjaxx9 · 11-05-2012, 12:08 PM

try to get certified used if you can

obito · 11-05-2012, 02:39 PM

When Im going to buy a Z, I will definitely looking for a Z !!!!

lol just kidding just as everyone said but I would say about the color

you said you are going to get AMS bodykit

Red with black rim = aggressive chick&cop magnet
Black with black rim= look bo$$
White with black rim= look slick and clean

pick one lol

nmjaxx9 · 11-05-2012, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obito

When Im going to buy a Z, I will definitely looking for a Z !!!!

lol just kidding just as everyone said but I would say about the color

you said you are going to get AMS bodykit

Red with black rim = aggressive chick&cop magnet
Black with black rim= look bo$$
White with black rim= look slick and clean

pick one lol

This is fact, I agree X20.

But not limited to just black rims.

TheMech · 11-05-2012, 09:46 PM

thanks for the good info guys. I'm sure when I get home and pick the car up you'll be hearing from me again.

And as far as the color goes I'm kinda leaning towards red or blue. Still undecided.

nmjaxx9 · 11-05-2012, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMech

thanks for the good info guys. I'm sure when I get home and pick the car up you'll be hearing from me again.

And as far as the color goes I'm kinda leaning towards red or blue. Still undecided.

two good choices but get the red. :cough:

( Click to show/hide )

11-05-2012, 08:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
TheMech Base Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 10 Drives: 180sx Rep Power: 12	What to look for when buying your Z? Hey all. I've been doing a bunch of reading on the forums learning everything I can and when I get stationed back in the states in 3 months I'll start my search for my Z! My plans are to get the amuse body kit, exhaust, rims and some other small mods then go for the GTM stage 1 TT kit. I'm looking to spend around 25k on a used Z with the least amount of miles I can find. What should I be looking for exactly? (I want to save as much money as possible on the car so I can use it on upgrades.) From what I can tell I should just pick up a low mileage Z with the a Sport package and that's it. Is that correct? That seems like the biggest thing to make sure I get. Anything else you guys think I should be looking for other then a mint car with a clean record? Thanks! Now my hardest decision is what color to purchase!

11-05-2012, 11:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
gsxr750 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: west Posts: 443 Drives: 2012 370z man. sport Rep Power: 13	You should tend to stay away from the ones owned by the young street dork crowd, with all the mods, painted accessories etc. This would give evidence that the car is probably driven hard and you don't know if the mods were done correctly. What you should try and find is a low mileage unmolested completely stock, latest yr. you can afford, from a mature male owner, with a good documented service history. Try and stay away from used ones from the dealers unless they are low mileage 1 yr old car etc. I recently went to a Mercedes dealer in Las Vegas and met the wheel touch up guy behind the dealership , that repainted one of my rays wheels. What really suprized me was all the mobile vendors that they had parked in backed of the dealership, set up outside in the early morning to fix and touch up all the trade ins and other dealer repair. 1. One painter was repainting the entire front end on a $100k Mercedes completely outdoors in 55 degree weather. Paint specs and flaws all over the front end. 2. car interior refinishers respraying leather seats and door panels with paint dye, and redying stains. 3. then you have the general detailers doing everything from interiors, exteriors and polishing out faded head lights etc. 4. Then you have the quick grind and sand wheel touch up, with wheels that if you watched them spin on a balancer would be wobbling side to side like the wheels on a beat up 20" bmx bike, from the excessive amount of metal they ground off. My point is that the dealers have all types of tricks to hide flaws and defects on their used trade ins and lease cars, its just a new version of repainting the entire engine bay with tire black or under coating and putting saw dust in a manual transmission to make it run smoother for a while. Once you own the car for 90 days , all the cheap touch up paint and dye fades away and problems start to happen. Last edited by gsxr750; 11-05-2012 at 02:40 PM.

11-05-2012, 12:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
nmjaxx9 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Middletown, Ct Posts: 5,853 Drives: 2011 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 25	try to get certified used if you can UNKNOWN_370 likes this.

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11-05-2012, 02:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
obito Base Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 94 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 12	When Im going to buy a Z, I will definitely looking for a Z !!!! lol just kidding just as everyone said but I would say about the color you said you are going to get AMS bodykit Red with black rim = aggressive chick&cop magnet Black with black rim= look bo$$ White with black rim= look slick and clean pick one lol

11-05-2012, 09:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
TheMech Base Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 10 Drives: 180sx Rep Power: 12	thanks for the good info guys. I'm sure when I get home and pick the car up you'll be hearing from me again. And as far as the color goes I'm kinda leaning towards red or blue. Still undecided.