New or used?
 

I was thinking when I get back from deployment the 2010 models will hit the used lot or the new 2010s or 2011s will be cheaper since the 2012 models should be hitting the lot.

I was leaning towards a used 370Z, but my sister told me the idea of having a used car in the long run isn't as great even if you save some money. So I am now leaning towards getting the 2010 or 2011 models that dealers would be getting rid of. Unless there are improvements with the 2011 or 2012.

appreciate the info!

:happydance:

No real improvements. I say get a low mileage used. Let someone else take the depreciation hit. It's not like these cars are Mitsubishi Evolutions or Subaru STi's where all it takes is like a $100 cable to tune and increase boost to go nuts with the car.

hmmm ok...always getting a low mileage vehicle was my pick. I guess we'll see how much of a difference it is between new and used. I saw some near my area and not much of a difference in price.

I bought my Z with about 4k miles on it, and paid about $7k under what the original sticker was. It had 30 months left on the 36 month warranty.

Why buy new if you can find a Z you want at a good price?

hmm I guess i'll have to try and find one with low miles...

I wonder why some would be on sale used with low miles.

They figure they can't keep a high expens car .

It comes down to whether you trust used cars or not, but I personally would never buy a new car again. You can let the previous owner take that 20-30% hit in lost value after it is driven off the lot, and many low mileage examples are basically for all intents and purposes like new.

Buying new cars is constantly listed as one of the biggest financial mistakes a person can make in various financial articles.

like one member said it's a matter of trust... if you buy new you take the hit.

but if you buy used check out the car good... everyone who's had one has at least kicked on it a few times. the question is how many times??

yeah I did read that when you take the car out the lot is is greatly depriciated.

Did you guys buy your cars used?

Seems like a lot bought it new.

What are the differences between each year models? I am thinking if I come back next year I can look into the 2010 or 2011s since the 2012 will come rolling in.

Could be anything. For one, they could have leased it and decided to get something else when lease was up. Or two, there was buyer's remorse. The test drive was great but maybe they didn't like the stiffness of the ride after a while. I would just spend the extra for a CarFax on used cars to check history. I've seen a couple Lotus Elise around my city that have very low miles even though they are like 4-5 years old being traded in dealerships such as: BMW, Audi, Jaguar, etc. See the pattern? Just find the best deal available to you. I don't think anything was changed from 09 to 10. 11 had a minor change but I can't remember it at the moment.

I prefer to buy my car brand new, however it is true that once the car is driven out of the dealer you take a hit on depreciation. I have never bought a car as a form of business investment, because 99.9% of the time you will lose money.

However, I always put down a good down payment plus I get a pre approved low rate (APR) loan before shopping or going to the dealer.

Props for your service bud. I say consider these thoughts:

How long do you intend to keep the car?
Are you going to mod it?
Is i going to be your primary car?
Can you afford to take the hit if you bought new?

If you intend to keep the car for a long time, I would buy new.
If you're looking to mod, and keep for a few yrs, maybe just buy used.
DD - refer to my first question...
If you can afford to buy new, I say do it. Nothing like being the first one to fart in your own seat and especially after your deployment :) All kidding aside, chances are if you buy used it's been beaten a little. And depending on the previous owner it could be a little more than you would think... Just search youtube for 370Z and take a look. Some downright idiots out there beating the piss outta their cars...

Hey bro,

My Z is the first "Brand New" car I have ever bought. I am stationed in Germany so I special ordered mine. I went on my 3rd deployment and came back to a brand new Z in my garage! I

was always against buying a new car because of the money you loose. But this is a sports car and I know that I am the only one that has ever driven it, (except the people taking it on and off trucks and boats).

If you plan to keep it in mint condition and it be your hobby car then get a new one. If you are going to make it your DD and run the crap out of it then just get a used one.

Good luck with your decision :rock:

PS- USAA has great rates!

Steveg makes great points. I tend to keep my cars for long periods of time and I'm very maticulous when it comes to cleanliness and maintenance. It's all about your personal preference. To some it is worth spending the extra money and to some it is not.