I just picked up/leased a Juke for $204/month ($2k down - 36 months). It's quiet, comfortable and fun to drive. The gas mileage isn't great (getting about 24 so far) but it's better than the Z.

For what it's worth, having a DD only makes the Z that much more fun when I do drive it. And when it's raining or I know I have to park in crappy parking lots, I know the Z is safe at home in the garage.

:icon18: i know. that was just a joke. :tup:

(i hating toyota's is not a joke :mad: lol)

:tup:

i really liked how the SV (i think it was) drove when i test drove it. the clutch is light, 6MT, and just zipped around town. :) i also like the interior too.

but i have 2 kids and i need cargo space so didn't get it this time. also the dealer (which is the same nissan dealer that sold me my 370Z) was being an arse that day :mad: with new sales team and sales manager. maybe in the future.

I waited until my kids left home before I got a 2 seater. I'm going to drive my Z until it falls to pieces, fix it, and keep driving it daily until I die.
In your case OP a child needing a ride, I would get at least something with 4 doors. Just saying.

great advise.

from my experience, as long as the kid can buckle him/herself to the seat, a 2door would work. i speak from experience with my G35C.

things are fine on a sunny day. but in the rain, if you have to stand out there with the door open to buckle your kid into the rear seat in your coupe, that door could potentially short out from all the rain water. :ugh:

that's when i stopped using my G as dd.

but then my kids can now buckle themselves, so i use my G as my summer time dd. :) i have a hatch for winter and bad weather.

I plan on at least keeping my Z till I die. Just can't part with my Post-Iraq Deployment present to myself:rolleyes:

I have tried thinking about passing it down to my kids (if I have any), but the image of her totalled/broke down/in poor condition/sold just angers me:mad:

Thank you for keeping us safe Fonzo179.

I actually want one of these, but my wifey to be HATES them and she said she'd stage an intervention if I tried to buy one. lol. I do absolutely love my Mazda though, but those Nismo seats look way more comfortable for longer drives than the MS3 seats.

The z has the retarded fuel starve issue. I can fuel starve at half tank easily on my commute to work not going over 65

I don't need the extra car, but I can justify it if I don't have to get gas. I go thru 70 bux in gas a week now.

wat if your AA's run out of power on the way to work?

I can charge for free at work

Also ca offers h o v sticker on them !!!

Oh yeah this car is an excess, not a need lol.

:) lots of goodness with your leaf choice. :tup:

so the final decision is color. you must do the pastel blue or pink. does it come in other grandma colors? :icon17:

Actually the Juke has grown on my and that interior is nice

Arrg, DD something other than my Z is still frustrating because I know I have the Z at home.

Granted, my Subaru Forester is surprisingly fun, I got it in manual too and less stress about the road conditions since my Z is so low...but still it hurts me when I don't get to drive the Z..

My 19 month old is with grandma all week so its Z day every day! :driving:

Certainly! The Military is a family tradition with the men in my family lol. Thanks for the gratitude! :tup::tup:

I got back from the dealership. I have requested to borrow one for a full day test drive. I want to see what it can do on a 30 minute quick charge at a Public Station. I did some cost analysis. I think the Leaf will cost me about $100-150 a month, of course this doesn't factor in the wear and tear of the Lexus or the Z. It's definitely not a necessity, but it isn't a high priced gamble given the $2500 state credit to reimburse my downpayment. I figure the car can be share between my wife and I, I can also keep it as a second car to throw my kid in there as the new car seat might not fit in the Z. The basket carrier was great, but he is at the limit pretty much.

Leaf...NO!

Model S .... YES!

Your wife is a smart woman

its funny you live in california and doing cost analysis. :icon17:

if you want to save money like you mean it, live elsewhere.

Living in CA is extremely cheap. We just make up rumors to keep the productive away.

Relatively speaking, the salary makes up for everything except freaking housing is 3x more than most other states. Track days are cheaper though.

:icon18:


Not to forget the long average commute. But yah, if i was still single or married with no kids, i would definitely have stayed in socal. :tup:

:icon18::bowrofl:

Yeah, that's called housing tax for the great weather and the girls.
I don't mind

I am in not cal, I get the butch women on bikes. Commute here is 20 to 35 min on average

Hey cossie, not sure if you knew this but hauling a carseat in the front is illegal in cali. Just goin off of what you posted unless im confused. Why not get a sentra? Or Altima hybrid?

Nope, it's legal because my car has no backseat. Lets not get into safety here as I have more faith in my car than putting my son in some 10 years old sub compact. The reason for no front seat is because of the airbag. Since the airbag turns off on the z, it isn't a huge issue.

I had the leaf for about 60 miles today. The range is definitely a concern for weekend use, but it does do wonder going from point a to point b. the dealer is playing hardball with me, so I am going to wait until they give in. I think the deal is currently off by about 700 bux

Personally I can't see having a car that costs $35,000+ sitting in the garage during the week while I make payments, pay for insurance and gasoline just to drive on the weekend. If I wasn't going to drive it full time and didn't know what it would cost me I wouldn't have bought it, but that's just me.
As far as noise I had a sound level app on my android phone to check the noise level compared to my Eclipse during a test drive. Both were exactly the same.

Hey thanks cossie, I just looked it up and you are right. I didn't know that plus if they have medical problems they can sit in front as well. They didn't release all of that information last year in the driving handbook, just the short version lol.

Cop that leaf!!!!!! :happydance:

Got one to go with the 370

thats why you put the hoody on your woody, to not make
these tough choices.

Maybe I spoke too soon, I just walked out

You put the baby seat in the front seat....???? :eekdance:

Is that safe or even legal????

Get a second car as a DD. The Z is fun but I prefer something more comfy and roomy as my daily. I'm not a fan of the leaf but if thats the only car you're looking at then get it. I'm not home enough to justify having a new second car but if I was I'd be getting the new Accord sedan.

someone above is telling you to get a different car. like a G37 for $33K :icon17:

After gas saving and tax rebate, this car cost me 125 a month without a downpayment. Insurance is 66 a month, I think my tires for the z cost more

"I need something smooth and comfy to DD" Good God!! I'm 63 years old and I have NO problem DDing my Z.

:icon18::icon17:

I use my Z for DD and I like it a lot :)... so I said... save that money ;)

Good for you. How does that work for you when you have to entertain and take out clients? they just sit in your lap? How about going through a couple inches of snow to get to the office?

I'd much prefer to DD a loaded Honda Accord than a 370z. Everyone is different though

:bowrofl: Snow... what's that?

Also, he's in FLA, so no snow there either. :p

As far as clients - who's to say there is more than one? Or that there's not a company car? Hmmm???? ;)