Need Advice from 370Z Owners - Buying My First!
 

In the market for a 370 Z Roadster - preferably a Touring/Sport under $25k.

So, I love this combo (Graphite/Persimmon/6spM)
2010 Nissan 370Z Touring, $22,867 - Cars.com

I know it's not Sport (I can add spoiler - casual driver - no track so prob don't care about big brakes) - presuming the car is as clean as it seems - my questions:

--Seem like a decent deal? (presuming I can buy for $1500-$2000 less)
--Should I be concerned about 41k miles?
--Wheels seem different - can anyone tell if they are OEM or aftermarket?
--What questions do I need to ask before considering? (Top/clutch/etc?)
--Any special costs of ownership for these cars that I need to consider?
--Any additional thoughts?

Newb thanks you in advance!

Looks pretty stock.

Sport roadster would not have a spoiler. Just sport brakes, SynchroRev Match® Mode, 19" rims with wider tires and (I could be wrong) an LSD.

ask to see the Car Fax.

The wheels are OEM
Ask if any major repairs has been done like the CSC or clutch slave cylinder.
Commonly breaks in a manual.
Check as well if the brake fluid has been changed if im not mistaken its recommended by Nissan to have it changed at 25k or 30k miles.

You can check the service booklet.

Other than that you should be fine.

If your in FL private msg me if you have other concerns.
I can be even your devils advocate in modding your new Z!

Decent price. Check as much of the car's maintenance history as possible, check CarFax or similar report, and if all checks out, go for it!

Enjoy!

Nice car! Good luck!

That does not have the sport package FYI

Yup he knows its not a Sports package!
But thanks for the reminder. :tup:

read about the canvas issues in the roaster section and learn all about it.

I'm not a big fan of the persimmon interior. Non sport model too, which I personally wouldn't get. But everyone has their own tastes and needs. The price is decent, well below book value so you know as long as the car fax checks out and it was well maintained you're getting a good deal. Honestly if this is the one you want you already know it. The Z is a great car, and the roadster is pretty slick. Keep us posted! Good luck!

Not sure but looks like a base with upgraded wheels and leather.

1. Seats are not heated/air conditioned

2. Single disc CD player

3. Base petals (BK rubber)

Does it have a homelink mirrior? Can't remember if that was a touring option.

Bluetooth?

noticed that also.

features section says it's got bluetooth and homelink. from the pictures you can't see the rear mirror though. and you can see no signs of it having bluetooth. i thought all the touring models came with bose standard?

Not a touring model
 

Be Careful- I don't think this car is a Touring model.

The Touring option includes three items this car does not have:
Satellite radio
Power seats
Heated seats

It looks to me like someone added the persimmon colored seats and doors panels. If you notice, the seats do not have the built-in indentations on the forward side of the thigh bolsters next to the console that house the power seat controls.

The Touring model would have the heated seat controls on either side of the power convertible top switch, which you can see are blanks in the pictures.

Also, the radio is not the satellite radio. I doubt someone actually removed a satellite radio from a touring model and replaced it with the base radio.

Also, the wheels look like model year 2013/2014 wheels, not 2010 Touring wheels.

Seems to me like a prior owner "customized" a base model.

If you call a Nissan dealer with this car's VIN number, they can probably tell you if it is indeed a base model or a Touring, which I doubt.

Good luck, and you might not want to pay a "Touring model price" for a base model car.

is it the tourist model with brembos? :confused:

:iagree::iagree::iagree:

He is 100% correct

After more careful inspection of the vehicle in question I have no doubts that andy is correct. This is a base with a leather seat upgrade. Take VIN to Nissan dealer to confirm. Sorry mate, hope you didn't buy already. If you're still planning on taking it make sure they fix that price up for you. It's still not bad, but make sure you aren't overpaying for a pig wearing lipstick and a dress.

Just noticed that this car is for sale at a Nissan dealer!!!??? Yikes

All great advice - thank you SO much - although I've never owned - I do pay attention and something just didn't 'seem' right about it being a Touring model - but, I didn't know all of this detail - so THANK YOU ALL! I will def check VIN - and yeah, the fact that it's at a Nissan dealer is kinda scary - although, I've shopped a few local dealerships - even driven a few - and it's amazing how little the salespeople - and in some cases - the sales managers - know about these cars. I've been told wrong years, trim levels, crazy stuff like '…I think it's a 6sp manual - but it also has those cool paddle shifter-things…' Scary. I'm a newb, but I have internet access and some things seem pretty simple/common sense!

All correct, except that the same wheels for that model year could be for either the Base OR Touring models. The Touring/Sport models would've had the 19'" wheels instead. Source: I still have the 2010 and 2011 Nissan 370z brochures from the dealership from when I bought my car new! :)

gr8-wrx is correct. The wheels pictured are for the 2010 Touring Roadster

But it is most definitely not a touring.

So all the points already made about missing options and

no Bluetooth.

Frankly, one of the coolest features of the sport is the syncro-rev-matching. It matches both downshift revs and upshift revs. Just found out about the upshift revs. It will make it much easier for the wife to drive. Not sure when I will tell her ... if ever. But if you are not going racing ...

Definitely do not let them con you on the touring thing. It is not listed correctly.

I Agree.................................

:tup:

Didn't know this. But yes looking at pictures of 2010 Touring roadsters for sale on Autotrader, these look like the same wheels.

Thanks for pointing it out.

Question: are there 2010 Touring wheels the same as the 2013/2014 base/touring wheels?

Dealership keeps emailing me to 'come drive/try the car' - I keep emailing back 'I don't think it's a Touring model (citing heated seats/bluetooth/etc) - please run the VIN and send me confirmation that it's a Touring or confirm it's a Base with seat upgrades - and then adjust price accordingly - and maybe I'll come drive it…'

You guys think $17k would be a good offer if it's a Base with seat/door insert upgrades?

Thanks again for your patience and advice!

I would say 17k is lowballing a bit. 18-19k is a good starting offer if you still want to go on this one. I wouldn't take it for more than 21k though. KBB fair price is suggested at 24k. I think you can get it for around 20k if you pull some strings. As far as emailing the dealership, they aren't going to respond. Go down there, refuse a test drive on it until they get you some hard facts on the trim level, talk prices, drive it, and make your choice. That's how I usually go about buying and I find it works the best. Don't let the sales guy lead you on anything. You're the buyer, call the shots on how you want to do things. Again, good luck and don't ever feel pressured on buying a car you don't like. Wait for the right one to come along.

If you still want to deal with this dealership and/or pursue this specific vehicle, then I would suggest that you send them one more email, asking them again to verify whether it's a Touring or a base and asking them to answer your specific questions, otherwise, tell them that you are not interested and not to send you anymore emails. Might as well begin the negotiating process now, and not allow them to "control the deal" by not answering your questions and by getting you to do what they want you to do, which is to come in before you're ready. Tell them you're not going to waste your time if the car is not what you want, and you're not going to go to the dealership to find that out.

Also, I always try to have more than one car researched (car fax, already talked to dealer, questions answered) and on my list when I go to a dealership to look and drive a car. That way, I am less likely to make a bad deal since I won't feel like a particular car is my only option, and it makes it easier on me to walk if I don't like the deal.

To value the car for an offer, in addition to KBB I would look at Edmunds.com.
In my experience, dealers cite Kelly values to customers, and Kelly seems to me to be usually higher than Edmunds (for some reason I don't know). Here are the Edmunds numbers on this car:

'10 conv 42k miles manual BASE model:
trade 19012
private party 20596
retail 22058

Same car TOURING model
trade 20782
private party 22472
retail 24031

If the dealer says "well we use Kelly not Edmunds", I would say "well I use Edmunds not Kelly". Then you'll find out whether they want your money more than their car, or visa versa.

More great advice! Thank you!

andyj,

Question: are there 2010 Touring wheels the same as the 2013/2014 base/touring wheels?

I don't remember the exact year model...but...I remember that after a couple of years of ownership they started offering the 2010 Touring Roadster wheels on the coupe. I thought it was for the Touring only and not the base.

Well - the dealership confirmed - it's a Base with leather upgraded seats, door inserts and wheels - they '…listed it incorrectly and will change the listing immediately…' (emailed me this morning and listing still not updated) Thanks all! I may still take a look at it - I'm not a track guy, so the Base doesn't bother me too much - do I REALLY care about some of the other Touring options that will be missing? (bluetooth, heated seats, etc?)

Thanks again!

in other words................ BUSTED.


now they're covering their tracks.

glad to hear another potential Z'er knowing and gaining the necessary knowledge to ask specific questions and getting to the bottom of it.

if you don't do your homework, these places WILL take advantage of you.

they thought they could jack the price up , someone wouldn't do their homework, and they'd get away with more money.

I say again..... BUSTED :roflpuke2::roflpuke2::roflpuke2::roflpuke2:now they are running for the hills , " oh we made a mistake " hahahahahahaha

Watch the top open from outside the car and ensure it clears the deck lid without rubbing. If it does then run. It will look like the actuators are not operating properly however for me it was that the convertible top frame was bent and will cost 12,000 to replace.
The top has a habit of tearing down the vinyl lining in its cubby hole. If u buy it repurchase all the clips that hold the lining in place and additionally superglue the lip of the lining to keep it from falling forward. This will prevent the top from catching the lining lip when it opens. I think that was the reason my top frame was bent from repeatedly tearing down the lining. Luckily i caught it under 3yr warranty.

idk... the heated seats keep my butt warm, i don't think i could live without that.

in all seriousness the lack of those features may not matter to you, but what is important is that you know what this car is now so you don't overpay and get taken advantage of by shady dealerships.

This is one great example how useful this forum is!!!