My long journey to the 370Z NISMO

[torpedo2k]

I have had the car eleven days now and have no regrets. It took me four years to pull the trigger on a sports car. I consider myself a realist and very practical. It was never a cost issue. I had to overcome my own "practicality" to make the purchase -negatives being - fuel economy, insurance, comfort, etc. I really didn’t “need” a sports car. I “wanted” a sports car.
My list of cars was short:
-Mazda RX8
-Porsche Cayman S
-Nissan Z
I loved driving the RX8 and the Cayman. At the beginning of my quest I drove the 350Z. I liked it but it didn’t push any of my buttons. For some strange reason I really liked the RX8. I think my practical side was creeping in to my subconscious ... four doors… back seats… trunk space… (Yes, stupid I know but it’s my subconscious)
So 2011 arrives. We had no real plans for New Year’s Day. We live about forty five minutes from Hilton Head, SC. My wife goes there to shop about once every couple of months. I sometimes tag along because there is a great Mexican restaurant along the way in Beaufort. Also along the way is also an Auto Mall. How’s this for irony – the first three dealerships are, in order, Nissan, Porsche and Mazda. I had frequented all three. Porsche thought I was a groupie, Mazda a stalker. I always just cruised through the Nissan lot. But I digress…
New Years day. We head to Hilton Head. A little shopping, BBQ and head home. Passing through Beaufort, I swung in to the Auto Mall. Mazda first. Nothing interesting on the lot. Porsche, the same. Nissan- wait a minute- that 370 is nice. So I parked. It was different. I hadn’t been following the Zs because I had focused on the RX8s. I hadn’t seen the NISMO. Something clicked. I fell in love with the appearance. 2010 platinum graphite. Wow, I had to drive this one. I had no plans to drive a car that day, much less purchase one. The dealer checked my license and handed me the key. I won’t get all cheesy here and say that I had an automobile epiphany. I was hooked. It was solid, handled well, comfortable. Fit and finish seemed much better than the previous Z I had driven. This would be my car. I made an offer, they countered. I pretended to try and leave and they counter offered (I actually enjoy buying cars. I know, I have issues). I was very happy with the deal.

Practicality be damned. It is definitely what I needed.

See you all around.