There's A New Kid In Town
 

This intro is probably one of the more interesting postings you'll read. Bear with me as this story is leading somewhere.

To say that events of my life over the last 3-4 weeks have been hectic would be an understatement! My lovely wife of 23 years passed away on Jan 11th from breast cancer. It was with bitter sweet resolve that I told her that I'd be alright and that she could go walk with God in his kingdom...we shared a lot memories. We're from Tucson but she was visiting her family and passed away in Denver, I was blessed to have arrived less than a day before she died in my arms, a blessing I prayed for God to grant me. I was staying at my sister-in-law's house during the ordeal and on the Saturday after Debe's passing I decided to get out the dam house for some "fresh air". I had placed my life on "hold" over the last 2 years, selling everything and the farm to help support her fight against this dreaded disease...now it was time for me!

I own a 2004 350Z Touring Roadster (Daytona Blue). Debe and I flew out to Pasadena, CA and drove it back. I love the car, it's an icon of sportscars and its' handling inspires me (and a couple of speeding tickets - I love my Passport 9500ix radar detector). I bought the car in 2007 with 3100 miles on the clock. Barely broken in and $5K under KBB...sweet deal indeed.

I've had my eye on the 370Z since it's release and knew that I would have another Z. So I've paid many a visit to our local dealerships to drool on them, we were on a first name basis!

So there I was in Denver standing in front of an Arrest-me-Red 2010 Nismo 370Z (Debe always liked hot-red sports cars). I had a wonderful conversation with the sales manager, told him of my recent circumstance and he offered a test drive. I'm thinking, maybe it was time. What a sweet handling car, I drove it for 25 miles and knew I was in trouble. I remembered the "line in Batman Begins...."I gotta have one of these" (maybe not the exact quote but...)! I thought, are you crazy...your beloved wife just died and your thinking new car...they have medications for this behavior I told myself (I'm a pharmacist). Any hoot, I placed the whole thing in the back of my head for a rainy day.

Well, yesterday the rain was a down pour. I told the shysters at my local dealership, no deal and wrote seething 3-pg letter to the owner of the dealership (he has several dealerships in Tucson) that I didn't appreciate the unethical practices of his Nissan dealership's staff....totally unprofessional. But that's another story. Yeah, they were back strokin' after they read the letter because they knew I had them dead-to-rights and squarely in my sights but for me, it's all about principle...not the money. Money I have now but trust is everything to me.

So yesterday I called the dealership in Denver, Go Now Nissan SW, and signed the paperwork to purchase a 2010 Red Nismo! Steve Kern and Jeff Baker have treated me with respect and that has gained my trust.

So today I'm going to visit a custom stereo shop to talk about installing a Pioneer AVIC-Z110BT (Nav, iPod, BT, etc.) with speakers upgrades, amp, and a back up camera...the full monte!

So that's my story fellows (& gals) and I'm sticken to it...glad to a member of the forum. Live for the moment, Love with passion and laugh until it hurts...those were the virtues my Love swore by...let's hope we can all live our lives with such meaning.

Kind Regards
Steve:tup:

:tiphat:

I lack any kind of social graces to know the proper thing to say to your story, so I'll leave it at: Welcome aboard Steve!

Congrats! Glad everything worked out

Don't worry about Frost, he kinda grows on you after awhile.

I'm like, the clap.

Welcome and congratulations. I'm sure the last 2 years have been a mental and financial strain on you, and this sounds like the perfect drug.

Just make sure your dealer knows to take all the spring spacers off before delivering the vehicle to you or you will have a rough ride home, some of them may not be obvious.

http://www.the370z.com/new-nismo-370...uspension.html

Congrats and have fun with your Z.

Enjoy your Z! Your wife would have wanted you to get it and be happy. Name it after her :)

Cool idea.

Thanks
 

Hey everyone, thank you for your well wishes and postings. I never under estimate the healing power of friends. Here's to a prosperous 2010.:driving:

Cheers
steve

Welcome Figtuna (Steve)
 

....and thanks for sharing the story -- thoughts are with you in your loss, but I agree, the NISMO will be great medicine. Welcome to the group -- I'm a "newbee" to both the forum and the Z community but my impression is there are some great folks here.

As a Roadster owner, I'm jealous of you living in Tucson as I know you will have more "top down days" than I'll have here in the D.C. area -- I used to live down in the Sierra Vista area back in the early/mid 90's - spent lots of weekends in Tucson.

Thanks again & welcome to the group.

ssf

Very sorry to hear about your loss, Debe sounds like she was a great woman, and would have wanted you to be ok like you promised....... to that end, I would bet she would have wanted you to have this NISMO!!! I agree with the other poster, you should name this car after her/in her honor! Be strong, keep the great memories close, and continue to live your life as she would have wanted, honoring your promise to her.

John :tiphat:

Yo John
 

Your Avitar depics a nice selection of Fender axes, are they yours?

Steve

Congrats and enjoy in good health sir.

That is an awesome intro. Sounds to me like you did the right thing in every respect and probably did yourself good by getting the new Z.

:hello:

I wish Steve! I have a 2001 '52 reissue with pick-up and electronic mods, looks like the real thing, but nowhere near the same value :p
A custom made Strat that was built to pre-CBS standards, and a 1975 Les Paul, that just hangs on the wall (once I adapted to the Fender maple neck, the Gibson just feels strange now). I play the Tele pretty much exclusively now, and through a 1979 Mesa Boogie MK II A, converted to simul-class.

John

Welcome to the forum Steve http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...01/welcome.gif

I know I don't know you but still very sorry for your loss. I know first hand how cancer takes it's toll on individuals and their families so it's great to see that you appear to be coping well.

Enjoy your Nismo, and be sure to post of some pictures when she arrives. (we love pictures!)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...01/plusone.gif I was going to suggest this very same thing. :tup:

John
 

I have a 3-tone sunburst American Delux Fat Strat (Blue), Gretsch Tennesee Rose (Rosie), Godin LGX-A (Godina) 3-Voice, 1986 Alvarez Yarari, and my prize beauty - 1988 Grafiti Yellow Eric Clapton Signature Strat (I bought it on E-bay in 2002 and it still had the protective film on the pick guards!). All played thru a Fender Hot Rod Delux tube amp (it goes to eleven). Shaaawing!

The Nismo is in transit from Denver to Tucson as I type and should be here by the end of this week. I tried working with my local dealer and what a bunch knucking Futs!

The 2010 Solid Red 370Z Nismo, Deb's favorite color, is #75. I'll be taking Monday off from work to pick her up at the Honda dealership...1/2 a block from where the idiots of the Nissan dealership are located!!!!

I plan on driving it around for a couple of days before I drop 'er off to have the Pioneer AVIC Z110BT, rear camera and homelink mirror installed.

I'll definately get some pics posted of the car and the customized audio.

I decided to keep my Daytona Blue Roadster....I just love the rag top!

Steve

Cool collection you have there, nice to meet a fellow "axe-man" :tup:

John

Thanks
 

My axes are like gems, beauties....everyone one of them. I haven't been too motivated lately since Deb's passing to pick them up...but I'll give it some time, I love playin' too much to let it go.

I plan to purchase a 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 sometime this year. I promised myself that I would take Deb's ashes back to Colorado for one last adventure on a motorcycle.

See ya
Steve

Man, hang in there dude! That would be a gut wrenching trip for me to make for sure ....... stay strong!!! I haven't played much lately either, but it's time to crank it back up again!

John

She's All Mine Now!
 

Much to my surprize, when I visited the bank today they said that the check I deposited a week & 1/2 ago cleared today! I called the Auto Nation dealership and they received the car from Denver last night and were detailing the car. Two hours later I was driving out in a new Solid Red 2010 370Z Nismo #75!

What an incredible car. I thought my 2004 350Z Roadster was fast but the Nismo is so much more. Both cars are night & day appart. The roadster is like a cruiser and the Nismo is a sportscar for spirited serious fun. I've had many comments just today...it turns heads. I'm speechless...I love this car because it's everything I knew it was going to be and then some!

I'm relieved that I paid it off from the proceeds of the insurance check so it's mine free & clear. What can I say? I love my Debe and I'd give all away if I could hear her say: "I love you Stephen" one more time.

Rest in peace my darling and I''l be brave.

Steve
2010 Solid Red #75 Nismo - Debe

Keep on keeping on Steve, and enjoy the car, she would have wanted that for you! :tiphat:

John

Congratulations on the purchase of your NISMO Z! As you may already know, the people here are great and you have a home here. I look forward to seeing pics of your red rocker!

welcome Steve, very moving story.

Thanks Guys
 

I will get some pics of the car posted as soon as:
1. The sun comes out and it stops raining (Yes...unbelievable that it has
been raining in TUCSON for 3 freakin' days!)
2. I can stop driving the Nismo long enough...other than tanking up, to
snap some photos.

I can't tell you how sexy looking this car looks in person. The Solid Red just sets it off perfectly. It looks and feels like a track car...PERIOD. I'll post some driving impressions soon.

Thanks guys for the postings. I have no family here in Tucson so I've relied on my friends to help me thru this difficult time.

On a side note: I re-activated my pharmacy License in my home state of Alabama a couple of weeks prior to Deb's passing. She knew that I'd need my family (my parents, 4 younger bros & their family's children) and wanted me to pursue my plan to relocate after her death. 3 weeks ago my company sold the pharmacy division to our competitor from...Decatur, Alabama! I was offered a position after the acquisition and signed the agreement.

I'm not one that believes in coincidences. She watching over me & still working miracles for me.

Steve

Welcome!

Yes great medicine indeed :icon17:

Oh and were you by chance at Ft. Huachuca? I've definitely done the same since sierra vista is right off post and I used to hit Tucson on the weekends

Welcome to the forums! and enjoy the Z! I'm sure you'll love it as much as we do ours!

Welcome and sorry for your loss and pain.. Hopefully you will have years of enjoyment
from your Z :)

Welcome, Steve..Your story warmed my heart...and I hope you enjoy your new Z!

Fixed! :tup:

Welcome! :hello:

PICs
 

Enjoy

Steve

Nice Very Nice!!! :tup: