I'm a college student, alternatives?

280z/300zx

If it were me, oh wait it was, I would go with a S30. At 17 I bought my 84 300zx (back in '99). Loved it so much but it was auto. Rather than sell it I kept it and bought a 77 280z when I was 18yr. From then on I've loved and driven both my Z's. Now, just this last weekend I got my 370z. Yes I had to wait and all those years in college having to wait sucked, but now it's paying off. At 27 I'm done with med school and crusing in my new 370z, BUT I started with old school Z's. Just buy your time for now. Nothing like having 3 Z's, except maybe having 4, hmmm

Why a S30 over a 240sx or 350z? Because you don't see them very often, especially in good condition. Sell your current 75, take that money and what ever other money you have to buy a car and find a good condtion S30. Honestly with very little money you can make an S30 fun and fast. Simply spend 500 on a 280zx turbo motor swap with another 500-1000k in mods and you have a 13 sec car. Spend another 1k on suspension and you have a Z that is rare on the roads and will be faster/corner better than the 350z, all while costing less.

Thats just my opinion. I like driving cars that you don't see very often. It never fails when driving my 280z that peoples necks snap trying to take a look. You won't get that with a 240sx or 350z.