Looking into low-mileage 09

jza · 08-30-2012, 03:32 PM

I'm looking at a 2009 Z Touring with the 7AT. The car has less than 7k miles, which can be a good thing or a bad thing. CarFax lists it as having 2 owners (each owned it 1-1.5 years and both low mileage drivers, go figure). First thing I'll do is check the tires to see if tread wear is aligned with this kind of usage (i.e. no ODO fraud). The first owner registered it as a commercial vehicle.
Only one service entry is listed for an oil change, which is a possible red flag since the owners may have though there's no need to change it if they aren't driving it much. But it's possible the owners changed the oil somewhere that doesn't log this information.
Any recommendations regarding general and/or Z-specific things to look for?
Thanks!

UNKNOWN_370 · 08-30-2012, 04:02 PM

With such low miles... it was probably registered as a commercial vehicle so the owner can pay insurance relative to vehicles in his small business fleet. (discount)

Get a high quality synthetic oil, consider an oil cooler(if needed?) and check for 09 tsb's in the tsb section. Steering lock, ecu whine, oil consumption etc...

hadokenuh · 08-30-2012, 05:30 PM

I'd pass but that's just me. Machines are designed to run. If they don't run regularly, they'll get rusty. The car is probably out of the 36K/3yr warranty anyway.

Mt Tam I am · 08-30-2012, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hadokenuh

I'd pass but that's just me. Machines are designed to run. If they don't run regularly, they'll get rusty. The car is probably out of the 36K/3yr warranty anyway.

I wouldn't buy it because it's an auto, not because of lack of useage in three years.

If the tires have flat spots it has not been moved, and must be deducted from price.

Eighties Meta · 08-30-2012, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jza

I'm looking at a 2009 Z Touring with the 7AT. The car has less than 7k miles, which can be a good thing or a bad thing. CarFax lists it as having 2 owners (each owned it 1-1.5 years and both low mileage drivers, go figure). First thing I'll do is check the tires to see if tread wear is aligned with this kind of usage (i.e. no ODO fraud). The first owner registered it as a commercial vehicle.
Only one service entry is listed for an oil change, which is a possible red flag since the owners may have though there's no need to change it if they aren't driving it much. But it's possible the owners changed the oil somewhere that doesn't log this information.
Any recommendations regarding general and/or Z-specific things to look for?
Thanks!

I just bought one same scenario a couple of weeks ago with 5808 miles on it, 7at. Been fine so far. Titled as dealer car twice. I'm not worried about it. Plus for an additional $1200 I purchased Carmax 6 year 100,000 mile pretty good warranty on it. Buy an extended warranty would be my advice.

PapoZalsa · 08-30-2012, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hadokenuh

I'd pass but that's just me. Machines are designed to run. If they don't run regularly, they'll get rusty. The car is probably out of the 36K/3yr warranty anyway.

Not always true! I have 4 car in my house with only one driveway plus I also have a truck, the other 2 are a SUV (old lady) & car (daughter).

My car is 09 and has a little over 10,000 miles. I have been 3 times to ZdayZ and plus different car events. However to get my car out of the garage I have to back up 2 car and then put then back in de driveway since I lived in a Cul-de-Sac where the parking is premium.

So most of the times I jump on my truck and go to work. I drive the car more often during the Fall, Spring and some mild Winters because they leave before me to go to work and school.

So my car is not rusty and gets regular maintenance, and at least I drive it twice a month. Is in better condition that some 10, 11 or even 12s models.

MattP725 · 08-30-2012, 09:08 PM

Cars built mid 10 and on seem to have better odds with oil consumption, ecu whine and other small issues. I'd consider trying to get something past a year one car. Lots of people have 09s that are flawless but it's still a crap shoot in my opinion. Plus most 2010s have a bit of bumper to bumper left. Something you might not have with an 09.

MMC Racing · 08-30-2012, 09:11 PM

I don't really have an opinion without knowing the price.

jza · 08-31-2012, 12:00 AM

Thanks for all the advice. I'm currently looking into the Z-specific issues. The biggest one seems to be the oil consumption, but I guess there's no way to tell if it has this problem from a simple test drive.
Price is $26k

IDZRVIT · 08-31-2012, 09:30 AM

Low mileage, eh? 1/4 mile at a time? J/K. If drives ok and the price is right, then buy it. Any warranty left?

jza · 08-31-2012, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDZRVIT

Low mileage, eh? 1/4 mile at a time? J/K. If drives ok and the price is right, then buy it. Any warranty left?

haha, yeah. I'm hoping the fact that its 7at means it was a cruiser. My understanding is that the powertrain warranty of Nissan is fully transferrable, so I'd have a little over a year of that.

TypeOne · 08-31-2012, 09:45 AM

I bought mine as a low mileage 09 and I've been driving it for nearly two years now. I have never had an issue with it... As long as it has been taken care of, I don't see what the issue would be.

My car has only had like 2-3 dealer services and none have been from me. So, I wouldn't put that has it not having the oil changed.

Ask the person that is selling the car for more information on it. If the car has never been wrecked and looks as if it's in good overall shape, I don't see what the issue is.

Montez · 09-01-2012, 02:02 PM

If you get it make sure that you pull the fuse before you have the steering lock issue (or check to see if it has been done) that alot of 09ers have so it does not leave you stranded, there is a post with a write up on how to do it.

Jimmyusmc · 09-02-2012, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montez

If you get it make sure that you pull the fuse before you have the steering lock issue (or check to see if it has been done) that alot of 09ers have so it does not leave you stranded, there is a post with a write up on how to do it.

jza · 09-02-2012, 08:29 PM

Thanks for the replies. I checked the car out. It drives great. The tire wear seems in line with 7k miles worth of use (i.e. they are half bald

). Another thing I noted is that the average MPG is at 23 MPG, which I think suggests it was driven conservatively. Haven't decided whether to get it or not yet...

08-30-2012, 03:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
jza Base Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: USA Posts: 10 Drives: 05 tiburon Rep Power: 13	Looking into low-mileage 09 I'm looking at a 2009 Z Touring with the 7AT. The car has less than 7k miles, which can be a good thing or a bad thing. CarFax lists it as having 2 owners (each owned it 1-1.5 years and both low mileage drivers, go figure). First thing I'll do is check the tires to see if tread wear is aligned with this kind of usage (i.e. no ODO fraud). The first owner registered it as a commercial vehicle. Only one service entry is listed for an oil change, which is a possible red flag since the owners may have though there's no need to change it if they aren't driving it much. But it's possible the owners changed the oil somewhere that doesn't log this information. Any recommendations regarding general and/or Z-specific things to look for? Thanks!

08-30-2012, 09:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
MMC Racing Track Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 661 Drives: 2015 GT-R Rep Power: 17	I don't really have an opinion without knowing the price. __________________ 2014 F150 Raptor, 2014 Mazda 3, 2015 Nissan GT-R

08-31-2012, 09:30 AM	#10 (permalink)
IDZRVIT A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Halifax Posts: 1,659 Drives: '13 CTS-V, '76 Vette Rep Power: 27	Low mileage, eh? 1/4 mile at a time? J/K. If drives ok and the price is right, then buy it. Any warranty left? __________________ "America.... still builds rockets!" Vette: 355 cid, 400 rwhp '13 CTS-V Coupe: 6.2L LSA, 556HP

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08-30-2012, 04:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
UNKNOWN_370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: ny'r livn in tx Posts: 8,687 Drives: well over 130m.p.h. Rep Power: 14858	With such low miles... it was probably registered as a commercial vehicle so the owner can pay insurance relative to vehicles in his small business fleet. (discount) Get a high quality synthetic oil, consider an oil cooler(if needed?) and check for 09 tsb's in the tsb section. Steering lock, ecu whine, oil consumption etc...

08-30-2012, 05:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
hadokenuh Base Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Houston Posts: 186 Drives: 09 370Z 6MT Rep Power: 13	I'd pass but that's just me. Machines are designed to run. If they don't run regularly, they'll get rusty. The car is probably out of the 36K/3yr warranty anyway.

08-30-2012, 09:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
MattP725 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: Toms River, NJ Posts: 1,904 Drives: 2010 40th Rep Power: 17	Cars built mid 10 and on seem to have better odds with oil consumption, ecu whine and other small issues. I'd consider trying to get something past a year one car. Lots of people have 09s that are flawless but it's still a crap shoot in my opinion. Plus most 2010s have a bit of bumper to bumper left. Something you might not have with an 09.

08-31-2012, 12:00 AM	#9 (permalink)
jza Base Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: USA Posts: 10 Drives: 05 tiburon Rep Power: 13	Thanks for all the advice. I'm currently looking into the Z-specific issues. The biggest one seems to be the oil consumption, but I guess there's no way to tell if it has this problem from a simple test drive. Price is $26k

08-31-2012, 09:45 AM	#12 (permalink)
TypeOne A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 2,682 Drives: BSM 370 Rep Power: 1851	I bought mine as a low mileage 09 and I've been driving it for nearly two years now. I have never had an issue with it... As long as it has been taken care of, I don't see what the issue would be. My car has only had like 2-3 dealer services and none have been from me. So, I wouldn't put that has it not having the oil changed. Ask the person that is selling the car for more information on it. If the car has never been wrecked and looks as if it's in good overall shape, I don't see what the issue is.

09-01-2012, 02:02 PM	#13 (permalink)
Montez Track Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Manhattan Beach, Ca Posts: 604 Drives: 16 LEX GS,09 Z,03Max Rep Power: 17	If you get it make sure that you pull the fuse before you have the steering lock issue (or check to see if it has been done) that alot of 09ers have so it does not leave you stranded, there is a post with a write up on how to do it.

09-02-2012, 08:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
jza Base Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: USA Posts: 10 Drives: 05 tiburon Rep Power: 13	Thanks for the replies. I checked the car out. It drives great. The tire wear seems in line with 7k miles worth of use (i.e. they are half bald ). Another thing I noted is that the average MPG is at 23 MPG, which I think suggests it was driven conservatively. Haven't decided whether to get it or not yet...