Nissan 350Z thoughts..

Hookey

But the oldest UK spec 350Zs are at most four-five years old, and the thing about interior build quality stands; thanks to premium German companies Europeans have a higher expectation of interior build-quality, and actually, European-built Japanese cars usually have a higher standard of fit and finish than their Japanese equivalents (the Sunderland Nissan plant for instance builds the best finished cars in the whole company). You may be right about standards of older second-hand grey imports, but new European spec Jap cars are almost always better made, no matter which plant in the world they come from.

ION08

galwaytt wrote: »

...if you're worried about running costs: tax, insurance, fuel, you don't any of the cars mentioned, you need a Micra.

I love the Z, but the two-seats only confines it to one step beyond useless for me. I'd say on balance, the extra tax etc is offset by the better economy compared to the RX-8, so it'll be much of a muchness, really.

But you'd need to use it to get value. If it's going to spend a lot of time parked, the Eur 1500+pa. will really, really annoy you. I have an MX-5 that's a lot cheaper, and irks for that reason. That's why I don't mind the tax on the 968 so much - gets used everyday, and the 2 small people fit in the back. I'll never need 3 seats in the rear - damhik.............

The Z sounds great. In the right colour - say, electric met blue - it's a stunner.

I'll get one, eventually. But I'll probably end up with an RX before that, though !

Oh, and as for the 'in a year' it'll be unsaleble - if that's what drives your choice of car..........see the first sentence. Whatever these things we desire, are......they ain't transport........

"if you're worried about running costs: tax, insurance, fuel, you don't any of the cars mentioned, you need a Micra." ..... what???!!! :rolleyes:

I dont recall saying that those factors are a worry for me, but surely if they were there would be other classes of cars inbetween micras and 350z's??

Also, surely worrying about the re-saleability of a car is a common and high enough ranking factor of consideration - reasonable enough I would have have though when it comes to buying a car

galwaytt

you're misinterprating what I said.

With cars of this ilk, in this financial climate, with fuel cost skyrocketing, and more taxes in the pipeline, you need to assume the worst. That is, that it will be expensive. That it will be limiting in it's usefulness. That it's of limited appeal to most people.

Those factors will have a great influence on the likely resale value. So, rather than get deflated then, after the money is gone, gird your loins for the worst-case-scenario now, and then see if it's still what you want. Worst-case scenario is that you can't sell it at all, best case is at a big loss. Think sterling prices - and less (without VRT).

Unfortunately, the issues that affect your purchase are actually mostly nothing to do with the car itself............unfortunately.

Ronanom

I've just put my 350GT up for sale. Had it for nearly a year and enjoy every minute of driving it. Unfortunately, getting made redundant a week before xmas means it has to find a new home.
I had originally considered a 350z but for practicle reasons I went for the GT for the back seats and the rarity of them.
Exact same engine / parts etc as the Z but looks better imho.