Am i dumb? retarded? OBSESSED?

[Z.Lover]

Well i was wondering after reading a few posts here about insurance and things concerning that, but am i crazy to get a Z at the age of 16? I am gonna get a good job to cover the monthly payment and insurance, but like is it a bad idea to do it soon? I have a 280zx but i cant make it my daily driver because of all its problems with smog/engine. What do i do? wait or go for it?

[zack240man]

you sound just like me. Took a loan out in my fathers name at 16 to buy a 240sx hatch. Age 17 took another loan out in my fathers name again to rebuild the engine. Age 18 took another loan to turbo my 240. To this day i only drive the car to work, which is like a 10min drive. Do i regret it, NO, it what i wanted i knew it wasnt going to be cheap or easy but i got what i want. Well the morel of this story is, if you want it and it is within your reach go for it. (that if your talking about a 350z, then your crazy. It was hard for me to afford insurance and payments on a 240sx when i was 16.)

[NSRsheets]

Unless you have a real nice paying job I would avoid a 350z for a couple of years. I f you get a used one your payment will be $300+ dollars a month plus insurance at that age is really high. For a 16 yr old you're probably looking at almost $200 a month. Not to mention the money for gas. I'd wait untill your at least 18 yrs old.

[redtop91]

Where is the "All of the Above" choice?

[shar75]

age of 16? I am gonna get a good job to cover the monthly payment and insurance, but like is it a bad idea to do it soon? I have a 280zx but i cant make it my daily driver because of all its problems with smog/engine. What do i do? wait or go for it?

Start simple you could do a lot more to the 280zx and not have that high of insurance cost and not have a payment. There are a couple different options you could do for performance and still stay legal. For starters what year exactly do you have? Some states have different laws on smog checks for older vehicles. You could do a engine swap from a newer car and use the emisions for that setup if your worried about staying legal. Check your local laws pertaining to smog checks. If your crazy enough to get a 350z and your parents will let you. Take some driving course's. Learn to drive the car responsibly don't be another statistic you are 16.good luck.

[Z.Lover]

thx for the opinion everyone. Kinda knocked some sense into me lol, and about the 280 i will see what i can do with it.

[evildky]

sorry kid,m there is a reason your insurance rtates are high on sports cars, you are an inexperienced driver and have a pretty good chance of hurting yourself and others, not a personal attack just what the statistic's prove

[zoomie]

My first car was a Pinto at 18...go figure.

[S13SR20]

If you can handle the responsibility of having a car EVERYONE wants to race, and the payments go for it. Just be sure not to put it in a ditch or into a tree.

[Z.Lover]

wow, there are some really good opinions out there which is why i didnt want to include some information lol so i can see what everyone will say

Some people say im inexperienced because im 16 and yes that is true for most teenagers, but ive been entrusted with driving since i was 12 so i can go out on my own and drive like an experienced driver. I do know that the insurance companies dont know that so the rates will be insanely high, of course they will. But yea as for $ i am gonna get a decent paying job that will give me money to pay 400/month for the car and 400/month for insurance so that my parents wont be losing cash for my obsessions, but yea is it still a bad idea to go for it? Any more suggestions? Still too young/obsessed?

Thx for the responses so far you guys are great

[zack240man]

why dont you get a 240sx, that was my first car and still is. insurance was cheap when i got it with a clean record. Or you can get a old 300zx. Their pretty quick and with it being a 1980's car insurance is pretty cheap.

[bmike818]

So you have been driving since 12, have you been in traffic out there in the streets? dont think so.

driving since 12...sounds like Initial D

honestly, you need to start with a car with way lower horsepower. All I can say is do you know who Nick Hogan is? I'm not saying you will be stupid like him, but it's the perfect example of what happens when an inexperienced driver gets behind a sportscar. c'mon he was a proffesional drifter and he still crashed

if you don't know Supra Nick Hogan

[Z.Lover]

lol initial D those were the fun days, but no i've driven on the street street by 12, you dont have to believe me and i understand lol, and yea im not saying i am getting a 350z im just asking to see what everyones opinion would be if i got one at 16. And Nick Hogan sounds like some guy who loved to showoff on the streets, i mean i dont believe thats inexperience in why he crashed, but just his ego that caused the supra crash.

[504 350z]

wow, there are some really good opinions out there which is why i didnt want to include some information lol so i can see what everyone will say

Some people say im inexperienced because im 16 and yes that is true for most teenagers, but ive been entrusted with driving since i was 12 so i can go out on my own and drive like an experienced driver. I do know that the insurance companies dont know that so the rates will be insanely high, of course they will. But yea as for $ i am gonna get a decent paying job that will give me money to pay 400/month for the car and 400/month for insurance so that my parents wont be losing cash for my obsessions, but yea is it still a bad idea to go for it? Any more suggestions? Still too young/obsessed?

Thx for the responses so far you guys are great

i'm 40 yrs old, i bought a new 2007 4 months ago. my note is 439.00 a month and insurance 163.00 a month. on top of that you have to add gas and incidentals (oil changes etc). and sooner or later the upgrade bug is gonna bite you, it's just a matter of time. will you be happy with a stock car or are you going to figure aftermarket parts and shop labor in that equation? i know having a 350z at 16 would be the sh*t! but just make sure you consider ALL the options. i'm guessing this is going in one ear and out the other, it would be if i was 16 and wanted what i wanted! whatever you decision is, don't get in over your head, you're 16 and have all the time in the world....

[NSRsheets]

Just either work on your 280Z or maybe try a 300zx tt. They are decent on insurance. Only problem is you can't finance them.

[CABhc4life]

If it was my kid, I'd say no. Just for the simple fact of safety and also telling him to put some of that money into a savings account or something. If I was 16 and wanted it bad enough and could afford it, I'd go for it. My first car was a 1985 ford tempo...super POS. A few years later, at age 17, I had a brand new 1996 ford ranger ext. cab and thought that it was so awesome to have a brand new truck...drove it for 10 years...spent thousands on it eventually putting rims on it and bagging it...wasted a lot of money in my young age, but I have no regrets...it was part of growing up and having fun. I'd honestly wait though...put some of that extra cash in savings...you have no idea what kind of debt you can accumulate as you get older...you're pretty much throwing money away on insurance...cars are definitely the opposite of an investment. If you save now, you'll have a leg up 10 years from now and you'll be able to get that nice house or car. easier said than done though man...takes a lot of discipline. Good luck.

[flyguy2618]

I agree with what Cabhc4life has to say except for the top part because although it can be viewed as a dangerous car the Z is also a very safe car expecialy with the side air bags. It has a 5 star crash rating and ive seen 2 videos that show a Z crashing into a brick wall at 100 MPH and within a minute or two the people in it just get out and aside from being a little shaken just walk away. Its not a great car for wet or winter conditions but as long as your not an idiot its a pretty safe car.

[chow]

Hah.. 300$ a month for insurance on a Z? Im paying close to 400$ on my 3.5 Altima Coupe in Ontario and im 20.

BTW, What kind of part time job will give you 800$ a month? I think you should just go to school, wait it out come out of school then get a job that'll pay you 1000000$ a week.Then you will be sitting pretty.

[jakex1]

im 1month from being 18, so i guess i can relate with you on this. Before i got my '05 lexus es i was looking at the 350z but im actually pretty glad i didnt get it at 16. There were 1 or 2 times i almost got into a pretty bad accident, (highway too) only thing that saved me was the FWD. (and i actually am a pretty cautious driver, dont like to goof off or race friends on highway, it was the damn blindspots)Without prior experience driving i wouldn't recommend it. Get a fwd/awd first drive it around for like a year or 2 and get a 350z like im planning to do in April (when i turn 18)

and to reply to Chows comment. As a lifeguard working 4-5 hours a day (28-35 hours a week) you can easily make 1120-1600$ a month lifeguarding. Like i am
Modified by jakex1 at 4:47 PM 2/18/2008

[Anthonysflying]

Wait until you have that good paying job. save up and make a serious down payment. by the time you have a bit stacked up the newer models will be cheaper too. Nobody can gauge how responsible you'll be behind the wheel except for you. Im sure you had to be careful when you didn't even have your license. just think about how you drive now and throw in a Z. Good luck man

[BlackSmoke]

Look Z lover everybody wants a sports car when they are young. But do you really know what you are getting into. I doubt it. Take some time think about it and buy you a civilized car for the next couple of years. And in the meann time read and understand the technology and understand the engineering that goes into a car like the Z. I believe there was a post on the age and such of Z owners. I promise it is no where near 16. Good luck on your purchase and although we would like to see you with a Z, I would rather you do the smart thing and appreciate it later.

[iowas300z]

I would have to tend to agree with everyone here. Im 24 and have two Z's. If you really want a z get a 300zxtt, you will actually be getting a faster car then a 350z. Cheaper insurance, licensing, and car payment, plus everything that happens that you dont expect. Trust me it happens. I have a 300zxtt, and a 350z. Im 24 which is older then you and my insurance with MULTIPLE discounts is still like 290 a month. Where my 300zx on full coverage is 60 dollars a month. Plus if you live somewhere where it snows you can not possibly tell you me you would actually want to drive it in the snow, Z's were not made for the snow. Or if you want the looks a 350z, trade down and think about the Altima Couple....fwd. A little food for thought for yah.....my first car was a 96 nissan hardbody pickup.

[leff522]

Just to give you a little perspective here...I bought a 2003 350z a couple of months ago for around $22KWith a 5-year loan to cover the cost, my minimum monthly payment is about $400.As a 19-year old freshman at Pitt, insurance costs me $232/month, and that includes discounts for my GPA, side curtain airbags, etc. And I do have a clean record.

This alone means I have to hold down a full-time job while also being a full-time student to pay for my car, rent, food, etc. Not easy. Especially around finals week. If you can afford it, go for it. It's a really fun car. But be prepared... it's going to take a huge time commitment, especially in your social life. I say you're only young once... don't sign your life away yet. Go for something cheaper for now. The Altima isn't a bad idea. My last car was an extremely reliable '95 Maxima. Not as fun as a Z, but a lot cheaper, and I certainly had a lot more free time.

[rmezz13]

I currently am 22, have 1 ticket that drops off in i think 1.5 years left on it. I pay $85 a month insurance FULL coverage. My payment is $475 or w/e but i pay $500 at least. I also pay $300 a month for my 99 mustang GT and $150 insurance on it. So i pay over $1000 a month in cars, i make good money, but it sux a$$ paying all this a month, so i am selling the stang and buying a beater to replace that beater (lol, junk fords). Honestly save up all your money for 2 years and have a huge down payment for a car so you won't have high payments like dum-dum (me). Then you will have your driving experience and maybe (at $1000/month saved) a $24000 down payment on a new Skyline GT-R.... Think about that.... I wish i would of.

Oh but it would be sweet rolling into the school parking lot in a 350Z, everyone would be looking at you, and that is why you would wreck your car, i bet it would happen at school or on the way home during "time to show off". Seriously though, i know how you think, i was you once, just take the advise given to you and SAVE your money and gain some more maturity and experience. Not a personal attack but your still pumped up 16 year old kid, with a car in his eye and no one to tell him no. Well what ever you do be careful, and make the best of it. BE RESPONSIBLE!!!

Example, got an e-mail the other day of pictures and an article of an 18 year old girl had a Porsche 911 traveling down the Highway at over 100mph crossing multiple lanes, really driving like a bada$$, well she clipped a Honda during the lane change, cuz the stupid honda was doing the speed limit in the way and all... The girl died. She spun out of control and smacked a toll booth. Car was demolished, she was demolished. Thats a perfect example of why someone without experience shouldn't have a car with power. Now it may have been a Porsche 911(rwd), and the Z you want may not quite match it, but still, its cool to go fast, but you have to know when and where to do it. Your not ready at 16. I don't care if you think your Nicky Hayden and you only want a 500cc ninja, your age group is not ready for this car. Thats why its targeted towards an older age group, thats why you don't see 350z comercials, you see mazda 3 comercials, and Civic comercials, heck get a Sentra SE-R Spec-V, those are fast enough and FWD or an Altima Coupe.....

And honestly, you wouldn't have asked the question if you didn't have doubts! Go with your Dad and test drive some cars more suite for you (FWD 200hp is plenty fast). There are plenty of fast cars that are also sweet looking. I would almost recomend an RX-8, if they were front drive. They have a sweet look, and enough power to impress, handle like they look like they should. Think about it. And while you think SAVE your money.