I caution you, this is long.
Well I guess I should induce myself. I would like to say I was a long time lurker, or been following the community and finely got a 370z. In fact this was real quick and to be honest 5-6 weeks ago I would have laughed at the idea. So let’s start from the beginning.
5-6 years after college I was finely on my feet and had been dreaming of a 350z. I signed up for the major forum and had it all planed out. I went to go test drive a 350z and omg I didn’t fit, all was lost. But I fell in love with a CPO 2005 BMW 330CI ZHP and got it at a killer price. It was almost like an M except for the motor/cost/insurance. All was good until in 2009 an early 90’s F250 rear ended me at 60mph when I was at a stop. I walked away my BMW had 24k in damage and they quit counting as they didn’t make it to the end yet. I paid 25 for, they paid 28! That’s 2 yrs and 30k miles later
Sadly now it’s early 2009 and a new dream vehicle came to pass as the 350z was out of my mind, and the 370z just came into production. I didn’t even try it due to my experience with the 350. But the Pontiac G8 GT was out. I found one in white, with all the options I wanted. Also picked it up for under 26k. This car was fun, it was a blast and the engine tune, CAI, HFC, catback solo exhaust was just insane the amount of power it had.
Problem was getting any work done to the car. I always did get it done, but it always took an arm and a leg to make them fix the car. Corporate had to get involved with my car so many times it wasn't funny. About 4 weeks ago I was pushed over the end when they screwed up a transmission fill and wanted me to pay to correct it. Did get them to finely do it, but this lit a fire.
I go to transport my parents to the Nissan dealership as they are looking to replace a totaled vehicle (months ago). They are in the buying process (signing paperwork) when I get a hair up my rear end and want to test drive a 370z.
Mother of god I did fit, and it was better than expected. Ride wasn't as harsh or the ride as loud as I expected. In fact it was damn near quiet all things considered. Now the 370z is down on power vs the g8 I had, but it just felt more spry and eager. The brakes will try to toss you out of the seat, and can take a corner on a dime. It was my BMW back with more ponies basically.
Then the back and forth on the car. I didn't want to pay the price being commended on the car as I had a perfectly working one. I didn't want cloth as my g8 was loaded, and well seat warmers for my pack after the accident on some days is a blessing. Well they found one in my range, one that was a 2012 and not a 2013. So we drove to a lot in they had it sitting in and my god it looked rough.
It was a 2012 370z touring A/T (not sport) and looked very sad. Here it sat in a field of new shiny 2013 370z and it was caked in dust. Open the car and try to start it, doesn't even start. It has sat in this lot for 8-12 months since the last person was in it. Also had no fuel. Needless to say a deal was struck, and I got a deal.
Thankfully they got the old fuel out before starting it, and grabbed a battery out of one of the new 370z’s . No bird poop on the car and it seems most of the mess was on the clear bra which they replaced. Now it does have 2 flaws which I’m working with on fixing but they are minor really. I've had it 3 weeks and put 50 miles on it. I have been using my 2001 Ford Focus ZX3 as my beater car until this thing is fully bra’ed (Friday).
Looking forward to this community though. The G8 will be sorely missed, and so will the power plant behind that thing. But there is something to be said about a car that’s like 700 pounds lighter.