^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^check out Gerweck Nissan in Monroe, MI ------ http://www.gerwecknissan.com/temps/index.cfm --------- He advertised on AutoTrader around invoice, so it's worth a look. Please let me know how your negotiation goes...If I can get this car under invoice from Tricky Dicky I'll buy it.

Michigan Drivers...
 

Have you guys in the Detroit area driven 350Zs through the winter? I'm reasonably certain that with a 2nd set of rims and snow tires, I can manage for most of the winter, but I'd like a "hell no" if any of you have had bad experiences.

I know, I know, a Z in winter is sacrilege but I've gotta have a year-round daily driver.

Coming from Buffalo, I would NEVER drive this car as a year-long DD...

Maybe look into a STi or Evo for that? I know people who LOVE them for that...

Eh, not too into those cars, though I'm sure they're great for bad weather.

Why wouldn't you run the Z year-round, assuming winter rims/tires?

One of my friends had a 350Z she used during the winter. She usually came in to school telling stories of how she avoided totaling her car. She said getting a manual helps, but is still very difficult to drive in the winter.

Plus consider the salt on the roads. Our winters and proximity to the great lakes makes a breeding ground for underbody rust! Get a cheap beater car for your daily driving.

Well, multiple reasons, but these are mainly personal.

First, I feel its far too nice of a car to drive around in winter and get salt all over, rusting it up.

Second, its not particularly safe. Yes, Ive heard of many people driving RWD vehicles in the snow, including big heavy boats like Caprices. But, personally, I wouldn't want to if I had the choice. Winter tires/wheels ought to help considerably, but I still wouldn't want to do it.

Third, ground clearance issues. If you get more than a few inches of snow, that front end w/ the spoiler will be like a plow, and furthermore, if you somehow get stuck, getting out of it is going to be tons o' fun. And by tons o' fun, I mean, you'll need to get pulled out if you get high-centered on some hard-packed snow.

Long story short, I dont see this as being a very good winter car at all if you get a lot of snow.

On the other hand, if you just get "cold" in the winter, and not much snow and ice? Have at it.

Thats what I did, before I got my new truck. It was a 1991 Dodge Daytona 5-speed. Paid $375 for it, and it lasted 2.5 years before I finally sold it. The best beater EVAR.

Drove my 330ci in the snow for 3 winters and only ever got stuck once, when we had about 9" of snow and the UPS truck ran me off the side of my street. Had winter rims and tires for it and had minimal trouble -- just had to adjust my driving accordingly. I live about 10 minutes from where I work, so I don't have a long drive, nor highway. We get about 3 storms a year for a total of 4-6 days where I'd keep the Z in the garage and bum a ride.

Ground clearance I'm concerned about with the Z. On the other hand, I compared clearance on the Z (about 4.8 inches per Nissan's stats) to the 135i (6 inches). I don't know how much practical difference 1.2 inches is going to make in comparing these two cars for snow duty. You're absolutely spot-on about exactly how these type of cars get stuck, though. Dug the bimmer out post-UPS and it sucked.

I guess what I need to hear is "Holy sh*t, no, don't even try, it's a spinning hockeypuck of death in the snow!" or "Give it a go, stupid." :rolleyes:

I don't have the resources (financially or storage-wise) to keep a 3rd car as a beater, so whatever I get next has to be a 365-day car. I'm willing to make some sacrifices to stable a Z in the garage.

Oh, and one last entertaining side note. Stopped off at Tamaroff Nissan today and got a semi-lecture from a sales guy there about how I need to realize that a car like the Z is going to mean a big payment of 500-700 a month unless I put down a big downpayment, and he's really not going to let me drive one unless I'm seriously ready to talk those kind of numbers. I laughed, put my name on the list, and told him to call me when they get an AT in. I must be giving out a clueless-noob-with-no-money vibe or something.

Why is this you? :)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...l/homeless.jpg

I drove my G35 year round, it was just fine in the snow with winter tires. I don't plan on driving the Z in the snow because I don't want the salt eating away my undercarriage. If you got nice skinny snow tires I'm sure you could drive it in the snow if you had to. The LSD on the sport would help you in the snow but then you would have a hard time finding beater winter wheels to fit.

I don't have that much hair on my head.

Fox Nissan in Grand Rapids just offered me $37,000 + tax, title for a 6MT Black/Gray Touring w/ Sport Pkg, Navigation, Illuminated Kick Plates. Thats just a little above invoice!

**** Scott let me test drive the red 7AT they have on the lot right now.
Dimitry was the salesman that I spoke with -- Nice guy.

Night with Nissan and Invoice Pricing
 

Two things:

1st -- I went to the Night with Nissan VIP thing at the design center in Farmington on Wednesday night. VERY classy reception and an up-close & personal look at the entire Nissan line (including the GTR and the 370Z vert). Did anyone else go?

2nd -- Though I (sadly) think I'm not going to be buying a 370 this summer, I got an offer of invoice pricing from D*ck Scott in Ann Arbor over the phone. Salesman's name is Demitry Ayoub. Granted, there wasn't anything on paper, but he brought it up, not me. Probably worth a call if you haven't made a deal yet.

Oh man I didnt know about that. Would definitely have gone though.

I am probably not going to buy this summer either. Thats why I started the thread about changes for the 2010 Z. The dealers I talked to said that if I ordered late April, I would get the car mid july. That leaves me with 6 weeks (5 probably will be break in) and then I go back to school and cant drive it.

Yeah, short season would definitely suck. After a lot of hard thinking, I'm likely to come around to the 370 when it's a 390 or whatever in a few years and I'm ready for a 3rd car as a weekend and good weather whip. Think I'm gonna pick up a 135i in the meantime.

Suburban Nissan sent me the invite to the VIP thing, as best I can figure out. All I did was give them my email address way back when I started looking for a Z and the invite showed up via email. Weird, but well worth it. If you get the chance to go next year, don't miss it.