Been a while, but still here and looking into a Z

bboytaktix

Hi all,

Been quite a few months since I last made an intro thread about getting a Z. I've been working now at my job for about 10 months, I'm just about settling in, although I still have a LOT to learn.

I kind of put the 370Z search on hold for a while, ended up taking my motorcycle license this past summer (which is very tough here in Quebec, Canada) and then bought a new 2013 Ninja 650 which is a TON of fun. That is now my summer vehicle.

I still have my 2.2 turbo'd cobalt and it has been decent to me, but it now has over 100k kilometers on it, has had a few problems, which I was able to repair on my own and save tons of money (replaced front passenger side axle, fixed oil leak which was oil feed line to my turbo). Still need to replace a passenger side wheel bearing this spring.

I have been debating several different cars, as I do not want a summer car and daily any more, since I have my motorcycle to ride in the summer. I now want to soon get rid of my cobalt and buy a year-round vehicle. I thought about a Subaru WRX or STI (so pricey), or maybe the new BRZ, and even went and looked at what my Chevrolet dealer had to offer me. I saw nothing that caught me like the 370z always has. I feel like for the price I could get one as well as the look and the performance, the 370Z would still be my best bet. Not to mention I have ALWAYS wanted one and still do.

My only concern is that I would be driving it all winter long. I don't see this as a huge issue. However we do tend to get decent amounts of snow here in Qc some winters. The main months of winter really would only last from mid-December to mid-March (3 months). Of course, I would make sure to keep the car very clean and probably would be a good idea to spray it for rust, to make sure no salt gets to it.

I guess the other small concern would be that it only seats two, but it is rare that I have a third person in my current car, maybe a couple times per year. I currently have a girlfriend, I'm not married or anything, live on my own, so I think that it would be the best time for me to enjoy a sports car like this, since I feel that if I wait too long, I may never get the chance (settling down, kids, etc...you never know)

Just wondering all your thoughts on this (especially driving the Z year round). My dad is friends with the guy who owns the biggest Nissan dealer in my province and he said he could get me one at cost. Obviously I would like to buy a slightly used, clean, low mileage 370Z so I'm sure he could get me a good deal on one. Looking to start test driving this summer.

Thanks for all of your opinions and thoughts!!!

lemon-fresh

If you want to dd in Canadian winter and not be constantly stressed out about your car acting as a snowplow and getting ****** up I'd grab an STI. You can probably find a decently priced used one, I don't think they are much more expensive than the Z.

In a climate with less snow I could see the Z being a lot of fun with a good set of winters on.

nmjaxx9

id keep that cobalt for a backup daily Z wont be good in the winter unless you slap some winter tires on it.

bboytaktix

there are absolutely no good STI's here for cheap...I know because three of my friends have them and had to go outside of Qc to find anything half decent. The ones that are cheap are all abused by young kids or wtv. Only decent ones are more expensive than a Z would cost me and they just aren't as fun or as nice looking. Also my current car is lower than a stock Z, never had any issues with plowing. I'm only worried about the whole RWD thing. But have read mixed reviews (most ppl say slap good winter tires on and go for it)

bboytaktix

all cars by law have to have winter tires here in Qc between Dec.15th and march 15th so whichever car I would buy would need them anyway.

lemon-fresh

I hear ya on the STI, people love to beat the crap outta those cars. If you don't think snow plowing will be an issue, a Z with good winters will be a ton of fun to drive in the cold. If you are really worried you can also get studs put in.

nmjaxx9

Oh you from canada but still keep the cobalt.

bboytaktix

keeping the cobalt is not an option though. I do not have any room, and for what I could sell it for (plus the performance parts I will be removing from it) will be a good down payment on the Z.

nmjaxx9

True, well if you gonna have winter tires, and run the Z, then by all means go for it!!! Good luck

bboytaktix

yeah, I think I should be okay with the Z...took the time to read this thread that I found on here too;

My Winter Rims/Tires Setup: TRMotorsport C2 + Blizzak LM-25 w/TPMS w/pics (AK370Z)


That gives me some confidence about winter driving. Obviously if there's a huge snowstorm, I can probably arrange working from home for a day :P

Just doesn't make sense to keep a second car to use for less than 3 months a year when I don't have enough space and I could be using it to put towards the cost of a nice Z and winter tires for it.

nmjaxx9

Yup, blizzaks are the way to go, me personally I have a beater handy always the Z is too pretty to scuff up

But everyones situation is different whatever works for u!

dP3NGU1N

Do you have a friend with an RWD car? Doesn't necessarily have to be a sports car but it would be a better comparison for stiffer suspension behavior in snow. I'm from cali so no personal experience but there have been a lot of members in the past who had to get rid of their Zs because it's too difficult to handle if there's a lot of snow.

See if you can get that comparison because it's going to be something you'll have to deal with for several months out of the year and if it's your only vehicle you might just regret it.

bboytaktix

lol yeah, whatever car you drive, especially here, it's going to get a little beat up, even if you only summer drive it. Trick is to keep it clean and waxed properly. Even though my cobalt has quite a few knicks and scuffs, I try to wash/wax it every few weeks in the summer, and when it is clean it looks pretty damn good for a 3.5-year old car that has been through it all :P

bboytaktix

I have a friend who has the 2.0T genesis coupe and drives it year round. Maybe I'll ask him to try his car on a day when there's a lot of snow. I don't think he has MUCH issues, only one or two times he told me he was swaying a little on the highway in a crazy snowstorm.

bboytaktix

UPDATE: After going back and forth about the Z being a decent winter car, and also the price of the Z's around here, I decided against one. They are great cars if I lived in a summer climate, but since I drive up north almost every weekend in the winter for snowboarding, it just didn't make much sense to me.

So I purchased a 2011 WRX STI sedan last friday, I pick it up tomorrow after work Only has 30,000km's on it and wasn't a big price difference over the used Z's I've seen around here. I think I made a great choice. Thank you all for your input, at this point I won't really be sticking around since I'm already on like 4 other forums for my cobalt (which will be traded in) and my new STI. But thanks for the warm welcome, and I will always have a thing for the nissan Z's, they are sexy rides!! You never know in another 10-15 years I may own a future Z :P