I knew this would happen.

Ubetit

Sounds like you could pay for one but you can't really "afford" it. When you have these types of thoughts, you can't afford it.

NYBladeZ

I wouldn't mortgage my financial stability for a GT-R. There is a big gap between cars as a hobby and cars as a liability. If you find yourself having to cut this or that and squeezing out every penny to get a GTR I wouldn't do it.

I would definitely take a GTR over a Z and I don't even like the GTR because it is "souless". Comparing the 2 is impossible, you're talking about Nissan's elite bargain supercar v. a $25-30k mass produced sports car. The Z is great but Nissan doesn't put it in the same class as the GTR so neither should you.

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2009 Carbon Fiber/Red 370z aka Trish: Sports Package, Meisterschaft full catback, Fast Intentions Longtube Headers, Injen Long Tube Intakes, UpRev Tune: Sold
2008 Lotus Exige S Club Racer aka Bella, always leaves me smiling

6MT

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Andrew

2009 370Z Sport/Touring 6MT sold
2013 Honda Civic Si coupe D/D

BGTV8

TR is not a good daily-driver ... too hard, jiggly, transmission shunt blah blah blah .........

But press hard with the right foot and find some twisty road, mega-grin factor.

So the question is can you live with it between "push-hard with right foot/twisties" - thats the real question.

kfull

would the gtr be your only car? I wouldnt get one unless I had another for bad weather/long trips or whatnot. I'd still drive the hell out of it but I wouldnt want the GTR to be my ONLY car.

Coon-azz

This is the best advice I can provide. Most purchases like this are "impulse" buys that can set you back for some time. The best sound advice I can give you is, "if you have to ask, you can't afford it". Not that you really can't do it, just that the costs of ownership might not be worth the totality of the ownership of such a car. Look at the cost over say 5 years.

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I don't care how slow you want to drive; I encourage it. JUST GET THE HELL OUT OF THE PASSING LANE YOU TUCK FARD!!!

ZBro16

I'll go ahead and elaborate on my situation so you guys don't think I'm being a dumb kid contemplating an impulse buy.

My Z is not currently my daily, and should I buy a GT-R, it will also not be a DD. I have a Mazda 3 wagon for my daily so I can carry my drums and hockey gear. It is still financed.

Basically, I have a fixed monthly cap on car expenses. I have a separate savings for any surprise maintenance costs, etc. (Which I occasionally dip into for modifications, hence the recent addition of an Ark exhaust to my Z). I have studied maintenance, et all, on the GT-R and given I drive it how I drive my Z, the maintenance will fit into my budget for that.

My two year plan for a GT-R would start the day my Z is sold. The money from the payment of the Z would be pushed into accelerating payoff of the Mazda. In two years or less, the only monthly payments I would have would be my house and its related expenses (utilities, internet, HOA). No other debt. That is granted my annual income is unchanged from my current situation.

The money isn't going to be a problem as long as my preparation for the financial responsibility of having a GT-R will not impact my lifestyle, retirement investments, emergency savings, etc. I can do that in two years.

My fear is going through all of this and being disappointed in some way. Is it THAT much more fun than my Z? The only way I will feel comfortable doing this is to offload my Z. I'm not sure I want to do that. I'm more of the mindset that I would like to pay it off, recondition it, and bring it to car shows in 20-30 years and blow people's minds like the all-original 240z owners do around here.

I drove my Z for the first time in two weeks today and it honestly gets me to the point of "I don't need a GT-R to have my fun... the Z is my car." I kind of just wanted to hear from anyone that went from one to the other and what they think.

Mt Tam I am

How much would you use the GTR vs how many more years will you need to work before retirement.

You could fix your 370 up and drive it at the track every weekend for years* or buy the GTR and then budget for track events once in awhile.

Bragging rights can be expensive.


* and become a better driver.

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Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

NYBladeZ

I consider the GTR to be a very fast car but you seem to be looking for a great "driving experience" and I don't think the GTR fits that need. I car is blazing fast but it does so with as minimal driver involvement as possible. If you want more than speed then I don't think the GTR is for you.

I'm in the same boat as you, the driving experience and fun factor are the biggest factors when I buy a car. For that reason alone I prefer my "fun car" not to be paddle shift because it is far less engaging that a traditional manual gearbox. For 3 years the Z satisfied my fun factor hunger, I drove a 1M on numerous occasions and while it was built better than my Z it wasn't much more fun although it was faster.

The funnest car I've driven is my current ride, but I put the Honda s2k high up there as well. I guess it comes down to this, do you want to have a fast car or be a thrilled and quality driver.

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2009 Carbon Fiber/Red 370z aka Trish: Sports Package, Meisterschaft full catback, Fast Intentions Longtube Headers, Injen Long Tube Intakes, UpRev Tune: Sold
2008 Lotus Exige S Club Racer aka Bella, always leaves me smiling

speedfreek

I remember someone saying recently they would never sell their Z. Asked if I would do it I know you remember my answer. But everyone has different preferences. But my answer was not in its entirety and halfway joking. Would I trade in my Z (or sell it off) for a GTR? Yes without thinking twice. Now with more thought put behind it the answer would be "No" unless I had the kind of money to drop on the car to pay it off outright. As I would void its warranty from day one modding it to become the likes of the Alpha Omega GTR. So at that point it isn't feasible to own as the GTR to me isn't some beauty to the eye. It is a playstation on wheels that can go very very fast. While that is fun in the short term I know I would grow to hate it in the long term. If I was saving my pennies to purchase the one car I would need something that is amazing to drive and also to look at years down the line. Right now the cars on my list that fit that bill are the 458 Italia and the all new SRT Viper.

Maybe one day I will be in the position to purchase one of these vehicles.

Finally I say get that GTR cuz I want to ride in it!

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Cmike2780

I dunno, I'm biased to the Z. The GT-R is all sorts of impressive, but the feels more like a blank canvas. I say don't think about it until you're 100% ready to switch. Enjoy every bit of the Z. From a performance aspect, the GTR has few competitions, but if rolling in something nice is your thing, there are tons of new cars coming soon. Personally, if I were in your shoes, stuck in between price ranges, I'd buy a Porsche.

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[09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R]

bigdog1250

Having never driven a GTR I can't say how it'd make you feel driving it, but based on the countless reviews of "Holy **** this is fast" - I'm sure it's a blast. That being said, keep it on the back burner. Fix up your Z like you said you wanted to (that will help keep the ADHD surpressed for some time) then once your done, drive your "new" Z and enjoy it. Once that wares off, hopefully it'll be a few years from now and you'll be ready for your GTR.

No need to rush into a purchase. Of course you can probably afford it, but if you still are loving your Z, then keep up the mods/refurbishing process.

I've had my car for almost 2 years now and LOVE it still. But I came across a Z06 and was like... oh I'd leave the Z for that. But if I had the cash and the space to store 2 cars, I'd absolutely want both. But I'm in no rush to get rid of my car, I still love driving it on the weekends when weather permits.

If you're really curious about the GTR go to a meetup and try to get a ride in one

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350z / 40th 370z / C6 Z06 / BMW M4 / V10 R8 / C7 Grand Spot / 997.1 GT3 / S2K / Camaro ZL1 / 718 GTS / 991.2 GT3

NYBladeZ

I hope its not just me who realizes that the GTR is by no means a good looking car. The best analogy I could think of is that it is the fat girl who is decent looking trying to spar with supermodels. Thing is this girl is a freak in bed and fux like an animal. Haha I like that one.

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2009 Carbon Fiber/Red 370z aka Trish: Sports Package, Meisterschaft full catback, Fast Intentions Longtube Headers, Injen Long Tube Intakes, UpRev Tune: Sold
2008 Lotus Exige S Club Racer aka Bella, always leaves me smiling

Mannysrt8

If buying a GTR will change your lifestyle keep the Z,buy the GTR when you know that nothing will change for you,for me initially a GTR was 1.5 to 2 years away,more I got thinking of it i would have to change my way of life a bit to achieve the GTR,which i am not willing to do at this point...5 year plan..GTR will be mine.