This is some really good advice for the op. If I had created a thread about this before purchasing my 40th, I might have done it differently. I am still happy with my choice, but often times I think about the 300 extra dollars I am giving up every month to be in this car over my accord. If you can afford it comfortably I say do it, but otherwise I would really think it thoroughly before making the purchase. If you have a good size down payment that will also help out with minimizing your payments. You only live once though, and if you're gonna do it I say do it while you're young.

Also where do you work? For me, going to work and leaving the workplace makes me nervous. I am an accountant which is a pretty conservative field. Only two of my co workers know that I bought the Z. My partners and some of my co workers would probably label me as irresponsible and a bad decision maker based on impracticality alone. I am an entry level accountant. Just started with a CPA firm about 7 months ago and am also seeing about 3k each month after taxes. I don't pay rent but I do live on my own. I also pay about 1800 for insurance per year which is only about $150 more than my accord. I have $400 student loans that I am paying off monthly. Do your homework and shop around for a reasonable insurance quote. Before I took my insurance quote offer, every other insurance company was quoting me at above 6k per year.

Make a monthly budget and try to minimize some of your expenses if you. It's not fun to have to watch what you order when you go out for dinner and drinks, but those are some of the things you will have to give up if you spread yourself thin with your salary. Hopefully you have room for growth and will be making a lot more then that in the near future.

It's not what you drive that is slow and boring, that can only describe how you drive it. It's just your ego and image that suffer in mom and dad's car, rightfully so. I recently had a great time driving through Italy in a Opel Supra, and I used all 80hp, most of the time, and it was NOT slow. In fact it was at least 5 times faster than I could run, and it could go further too. Staying ahead of the double decker bus, i.e. not getting run over, on the single lane twisties was NOT boring, and quite a challenge. But nobody was impressed, and that's really the most important thing when you're 20.

I am 40 years old, make over $100k, and can barely afford a new 370Z..ok I can afford it, but should I? 40 thousand dollars for a car is really stupid money, if I bought a well diversified portfolio for dummies instead, I'd have a quarter million dollars in another 25 years, instead of a very old memory of a nice red sportscar I had in my youf, and just in time for retirement...I didn't do that because I expect to make a lot more money with a high level of certainty, and you're stuck working no matter what, so why not enjoy what you earn, now? And your expenses are nothing now..you probably live at home or share rent for nearly nothing, BUT you will want a family some day, that is the most expensive hobby you will ever have, and you don't want to start that hobby being car poor, believe me, or lacking anything less than a Masters degree. I would find a much better bang for buck option, something like a well used mustang or camaro, maybe a 5 year old 350Z, put some new shocks on it, good tires, and go bonkers....when you're not studying 12 hours a day for that Masters degree. And good things will come. Good luck.

Im 19 and pay 1200, 8k seems a tad bit high...

Not for nothing but I think the notion of investing into your education with the expectation of getting what you put in, back - is not guaranteed. Plenty of well educated, under-paid, unemployed people out there. And the diversified portfolio...Depends which theory of the US/Global financial outlook you subscribe to.

I have NO degree and I make more money than plenty of my coworkers who have BA/MS/Phd's. I know that I am not an example of the "norm" but more an example of being passionate, driven, and constantly striving higher.

I don't want to derail the thread so carry on!

The other way to look at it is you don't get a Z now, you go to go school, get a job, get a wife, make babies, get a minivan, pay for college tuitions, then you sit on your rocker on the porch and watch a new 2040 520Z go by and mumble to yourself "I shoulda got that Z when I had the chance."

op - how about getting a job first?

OP makes about 3K a month.

Consider yourself lucky, drive will only take you so far unless your driving for a higher education.

yah, i mean a real job.

I think the point was that he intimated that his parents were helping him buy the car. If he doesn't need their help then he should do whatever he wants. But if he is living with them and they are helping with the purchase, it's only right that he take their opinions to heart.

Bottom line imo is if you can buy the Z and not strap yourself financially then go for it. But if you have to kill yourself to make payments then it's just a dumb idea. Especially for a car that is not what most would put into the "practical" category.

As far as young people driving hot sports cars, everybody's different. If you have good mental discipline you won't have a problem. But you have to respect what these cars can do, and realize your own limitations as a driver, so you don't kill yourself and others. If you are a hot head prone to road rage or have a reckless personality you better watch yourself because this car will get you into serious trouble in a heartbeat.

OP is not living with them and alledges that yearly income is approximately the cost of the car or less... that said, he really can't afford it right now -- period.

If the OP is hell bent to get this car, my recommendation is wait until the 2011's come out, and track down a low mileage, gently used 2009 model, which will be significantly cheaper.

Based on the 350Z, the 370Z should depreciate in value by as much as 10% of the original wholesale price each year... :icon14:

How much should one make in order for it to be considered a "real job?" He probably wont be making that much indefinitely. After all he is young and probably works an entry level position.