Originally Posted by m4a1mustang (Post 2115634)

I'd let them repaint the panels and see how it looks. I know you're a lot more detail oriented than most so you'll be more likely to pick up on little tiny differences.

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 2115513)

I'm upside down, and I'm looking to buy land at the beginning of '14, and a house being built 2 years after that, or so. I think I would be best served to just keep my 370Z until I break even in it, pocket the personal injury and depreciation monies, and then trade the 370Z when I break even or come close or decide to put down monies to make up the difference. Less than a year in of ownership, that's not something I want to do.

When I break even, the '15 GT will be out, BRZ STi will be out if it ever will be, and I will have a new body-style of 370Z to consider, maybe.

I guess since a house and land are my goals first and foremost, this is the best solution. Using this accident as an excuse to downsize will just land me upside down in ANOTHER car. Mine may be dicked up, but I can rake them over the coals until they get it RIGHT, and it is still a $45K MSRP vehicle. If indeed I am $5K upside down, plus $5K in damages to resale value, that is a $35K car that I will owe $45K on, and that's BS. I would rather just keep this until it breaks even and dump it, or, if it's doing just fine by then and not giving me issues, just keep it until it dies of natural or irreparable causes.

Even if I radically down-sized into a $25K car, I would still be paying $35K for it when everything is all said and done is my guess, and that's opposed to the $43K or so I financed. I would be paying on a note that is $8K less, which is something like $100/mo which means nothing to me and wouldn't help me in any way other than I would hate my car and be able to save another $100 a month, which I am currently saving $2K a month, so another 5% per month, or $1200/year. Not worth it.

Thoughts/ideas?

Originally Posted by speedfreek (Post 2115741)

Just make sure wherever you take it has an actual paint booth. I had a Toyota previously that was in an accident. Took it to Toyota thinking they would be able to get the parts the fastest and match the paint since they deal with the cars and the bodyshop is located on the Toyota lot. Well after much back and forth over the quality of the paint job (there was a lot of debris in the paint, orange peel, etc..) It turns out they just paint the cars in the back of the bodyshop no paint booth nothing. The manager says we can paint the thing 10 times and it is going to come out the same that piece of debris may not be there on the fender and now over here but this is the best we can do. I was amazed. I don't see how someone can run a shop and not disclose this beforehand. I would have not taken my vehicle to them to be repaired. Anyways I tell you that story so you don't go through anything similar. I have learned it is best to ask questions up front to the tiniest detail than to hope and wish it turns out ok. After my ordeal and a similar one with the Z. I will be taking tours of the establishment working on my cars in the future. If it doesn't check out to my likings...then on to the next one.

Good luck on getting your car back close to 100% as possible.

Originally Posted by Red__Zed (Post 2115589)

In the context of comparing far upmarket, sure. I actually remember people bitching about the electric steering. A lot of those complaints are outdated at this point.


Far more feedback than the 370z, though, which is what he has as a reference...

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang (Post 2115608)

My thoughts exactly. It might not have as much steering feel as other cars, but it's still good. Better than the heavy but muted feel from the 370Z, IMO.

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang (Post 2116077)

We should get together and calibrate our sensitivity. :|

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 2114701)

I've had my complaints about the 370Z, but I would not rather own the Z06. Also, I am not considering very heavily getting back into a C6, either. Things I value are: Interior, Handling, in that order. The Z06 just fell on its face for interior. Now, instead of buying a new GT500 or something, I am wanting to stay at the $35K or under mark for the sake of buying land and a house later in the semi-near future.

Originally Posted by Davey (Post 2116075)

First, a Miata isn't upmarket, nor is an RX8.

Second, I owned an S2000, and own a 370Z, and IMO he Z has far more feedback than the S2000. Your opinion is the opposite. Isn't that fun? I guess we should start calling each other fanboys now. :p



:excited:

No comment.

Originally Posted by daisuke149 (Post 2115336)

bmw 135i M package CPO. should be in your price range. one of the better driving cars and nice interior and comfortable.

Originally Posted by Red__Zed (Post 2116141)

No fanboyism here, just subjective commentary that is largely considered accurate by folks that have driven both.

There's of course a major variable- what year s2000 did you have?

Originally Posted by lemon-fresh (Post 2116158)

Fixed. People get those words mixed up all the time.

Originally Posted by Red__Zed (Post 2116185)

I'm sorry to hear that.

Steering wheel feedback can be, has been, and will continue to be objectively quantified utilizing statistical methods. There's no way EPS systems would be as good as they are without effective methods for analysis.

Originally Posted by lemon-fresh (Post 2116208)

Crazy, what were they quantifying? Opinions? Is there a formula for measuring steering feel?

Originally Posted by ImportConvert (Post 2115793)

Charles Body Shop

This is who is doing the work. I demanded this shop, and since I get to pick by law...that's who's doing it.

Originally Posted by Red__Zed (Post 2116141)

No fanboyism here, just objective commentary that is largely considered accurate by folks that have driven both.

There's of course a major variable- what year s2000 did you have?

Originally Posted by Davey (Post 2116336)

I owned an AP2. I know you have an AP1, and the steering racks are different, however the complaints go back to the AP1 as far as I know.

The commentary about the S2000 is out there. All you have to do is google "s2000 numb steering" and look at the pages of results and discussions at a variety of motorsports sites. Have you done that yet?

Originally Posted by Red__Zed (Post 2116448)

Absolutely have looked at these complaints. If you read through most of them, I completely understand where the complainers are coming from. For many of them, the S2000 was their first EPS sports car experience. I remember the hoopla in 99--a lot of people felt no sports car could ever sell with EPS. The S2000 is very much "numb" compared to a traditional PS setup.

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang (Post 2116344)

Dan has limited experience with Hondas. He wouldn't know a thing. :p

I have an AP2. I find the steering to be very responsive. It does have good feedback, but it is muted. At the limit I am definitely relying on feedback in my buttocks, legs, feet, ears, eyes, more than my hands (except for when I reach over and grab one of six gorgeous, silky smooth gears :yum: ).

Regardless, the car is a rush of feedback even though it might not have as much from the wheel.

Originally Posted by Red__Zed (Post 2116497)

There are plenty of numb hydro setups. That by itself means nothing.

Originally Posted by Davey (Post 2116502)

There are even more numb EPS setups, though. :tiphat:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed (Post 2116504)

but we're talking about the excellent one in the S2000, not my mustang.:roflpuke2:

Originally Posted by Davey (Post 2116515)

:bowrofl:

If you honestly think that an EPS developed in 1999 (well, before then obviously, but close enough) has better feedback than the hydraulic power steering in the 370Z then you are entitled to your opinion, but I find it hard to believe.

The steering feel in the S2000 is better, it's certainly more precise in response. Maybe I focused more on the feedback aspect and got a negative vibe from it, and you focused more on the overall feel and got a positive vibe from it.

Originally Posted by Red__Zed (Post 2116523)

That's possible. It's also possible you are wrong and stupid and no one likes you.


:roflpuke2::roflpuke2::roflpuke2:

Originally Posted by Davey (Post 2116515)

:bowrofl:

If you honestly think that an EPS developed in 1999 (well, before then obviously, but close enough) has better feedback than the hydraulic power steering in the 370Z then you are entitled to your opinion, but I find it hard to believe.

The steering feel in the S2000 is better, it's certainly more precise in response. Maybe I focused more on the feedback aspect and got a negative vibe from it, and you focused more on the overall feel and got a positive vibe from it.

In any case I do believe that EPS sucks and I haven't driven a car with it that I like yet, but it looks like before long I won't have a choice. :shakes head:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang (Post 2116533)

I think people that prefer a tighter car (bias towards understeer) would rely more on the steering wheel than their butt.

Originally Posted by Davey (Post 2116655)

That makes a lot of sense. Since a typical street car is going to push a bit that is exactly what I'm looking for, and if I'm pushing and the front wheels grab I want to feel it right away in the wheel so I can dial out some steering angle and/or get read for the ***-end to start coming around.

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang (Post 2116344)

Dan has limited experience with Hondas. He wouldn't know a thing. :p

I have an AP2. I find At the limit I am definitely relying on feedback in my buttocks, legs, six gorgeous, silky smooth :yum: ).

Regardless, a rush of feedback even though it might not have as much.

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370 (Post 2116862)

:tup: Read Between the Lnes... :superghey:

Just messin. :roflpuke2: