Advice on whether 370Z is the right car for me...

Adam_W · 01-03-2013, 08:06 PM

Felix - I've heard people recommend that school, and am considering that one - in addition to Ron Fellows/Spring Mountain (NV) and Bondurant - for later on if I still want to get a Z06, since those schools use Corvettes to teach. Those schools also tend to cost over a $1000 per day, so I wanted to "get up speed" with shifting comfortably, heel toe, finding "the line" or correcting early apex, etc etc before I attend those schools.

As for BRZ... I've seriously considered that, only thing is that they're all either new or being sold at near-new prices. I don't want to be the one to take the up-front depreciation hit when I sell it in a year.

I suppose I should seriously consider going the beater route... I guess I just had it in my head that if I bought used a 2007 350Z or 2010 370Z and drove it for a year (not really tracking per se, just one or two HPDEs where the guy sits next to you, and autocross a couple times) , that I could still sell it for maybe 3K less than I bought it for (e.g. pay $25K for a 2010 370Z now ---> sell for $22K at the end of this year), on top of cost of tires and other maintenance costs.

280z/300zx · 01-03-2013, 08:28 PM

The 370z is not HPDE ready. You will need to spend a decent amount on brakes, tires, fluids, oil cooler, etc. Auto-x is no problem. I've done multiple events in my stock Z. It's the HPDE where you are going to have to pay to play.

My thoughts are buy an old car, not a beater per say. You can buy a nice condition 240z/280z/280zx/300zx (80's) for 5k or less. Spend another 1-2k in prep work/parts and have a nice good to go car. Other options are older supras and corvettes. You can get a decent condition C5 Vette for less than a used 370z and for the same price as a used 370z you could get a C5 Z06. Vettes are a lot better preped track wise than the Z is but being that they are used brakes and tires will still be an issue BUT they won't require an oil cooler like the Z does. Personally I'd probably buy a C5 Z06. Vettes are cheap to maintain and fix (relatively) compared to other cars in it's class

That being said, if it were me I'd probably just buy the new car I want and learn driving it. It will have a higher learning curve but it will also be cheaper in the long run rather than buying one car now and another later. Remember, the money you spend on tires/brakes/fluids/oil coolers/etc won't be recouped when you sell.

01-03-2013, 08:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Adam_W Base Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Irvine Posts: 11 Drives: old honda accord Rep Power: 14	Felix - I've heard people recommend that school, and am considering that one - in addition to Ron Fellows/Spring Mountain (NV) and Bondurant - for later on if I still want to get a Z06, since those schools use Corvettes to teach. Those schools also tend to cost over a $1000 per day, so I wanted to "get up speed" with shifting comfortably, heel toe, finding "the line" or correcting early apex, etc etc before I attend those schools. As for BRZ... I've seriously considered that, only thing is that they're all either new or being sold at near-new prices. I don't want to be the one to take the up-front depreciation hit when I sell it in a year. I suppose I should seriously consider going the beater route... I guess I just had it in my head that if I bought used a 2007 350Z or 2010 370Z and drove it for a year (not really tracking per se, just one or two HPDEs where the guy sits next to you, and autocross a couple times) , that I could still sell it for maybe 3K less than I bought it for (e.g. pay $25K for a 2010 370Z now ---> sell for $22K at the end of this year), on top of cost of tires and other maintenance costs. Last edited by Adam_W; 01-03-2013 at 08:32 PM.

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01-03-2013, 08:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
280z/300zx Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Nevada Posts: 689 Drives: 280z, 300zx, Vette Rep Power: 274	The 370z is not HPDE ready. You will need to spend a decent amount on brakes, tires, fluids, oil cooler, etc. Auto-x is no problem. I've done multiple events in my stock Z. It's the HPDE where you are going to have to pay to play. My thoughts are buy an old car, not a beater per say. You can buy a nice condition 240z/280z/280zx/300zx (80's) for 5k or less. Spend another 1-2k in prep work/parts and have a nice good to go car. Other options are older supras and corvettes. You can get a decent condition C5 Vette for less than a used 370z and for the same price as a used 370z you could get a C5 Z06. Vettes are a lot better preped track wise than the Z is but being that they are used brakes and tires will still be an issue BUT they won't require an oil cooler like the Z does. Personally I'd probably buy a C5 Z06. Vettes are cheap to maintain and fix (relatively) compared to other cars in it's class That being said, if it were me I'd probably just buy the new car I want and learn driving it. It will have a higher learning curve but it will also be cheaper in the long run rather than buying one car now and another later. Remember, the money you spend on tires/brakes/fluids/oil coolers/etc won't be recouped when you sell.