370Z replacement...suggestions?

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

s2000 lacks feedback? not sure if serious

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Yeah I'm not sure on this one either.

Originally Posted by Davey

Yes, I'm serious. You could google it, there have been several threads at S2Ki if you want to see some intelligent conversation by people who have also owned S2000's (as well as E30 M3's and Boxsters and a variety of other sports cars they compared it to) who complain that the S2000 has a lack of feedback from the wheel, and potential solutions.

I'm sure you've never noticed the issue, though. Some people just don't have much sensitivity to it or care about it. Enjoy your car.

Originally Posted by Mike

Like you said, financially, you are best off keeping it.

Find a great bodyshop and have it fixed right. I know if it was mine, the body shop I use here in Atlanta would have it fixed and you could never tell it was ever hurt afterwards.

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

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 A lot of those complaints are outdated at this point.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 ImportConvert

I'm having Charles Body Shop here locally fix it. They are currently in the process of becoming a Nissan certified repair shop, and they are who the local Nissan dealership uses. I have talked with people, and everyone recommends them. I don't know of any better feasible options.

Mike, how much do you think this will de-value my car? How hard is it to match GM paint color/shade/quality/etc?

Parts are parts...they bolt on and come off and you adjust them.

Paint is something else entirely. Not sure how I feel :/

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

In all honesty I'd be worried about the parts of the car that don't need to be painted. I bet you'll end up with a few panels with much higher quality clear than the untouched factory panels!

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Well, unless they have access to Nissan clear, you're probably going to have good clear on some panels. :|

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

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

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

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.