Car Value Speculation

[gacook]

I have a 2003 Nissan 350Z (first model year of the 350) that is in excellent condition. Any educated guess on whether or not these cars will appreciate significantly in the future?

I ask because:
a) I absolutely love this car. It would be a "forever keeper" to me if not for "b."
b) It is promised to be my daughter's first car.

So, assuming my daughter does not ruin the vehicle, I'm wondering if it might be wise to get it back from her when she's ready to buy her own car for the first time. Current thought process would be to take it and give her some cash to help with a down payment on whatever it is she's looking to buy at that point.

Thoughts from the brain trust?

[kaisen]

Appreciate from its current value? Not in the next 20 years or more.

[mgatepi]

Not a strong track record of Japanese cars appreciating or becoming a collectable.......

[id10t]

With large production numbers, not likely...

However... do you have sales brochures, factory options listings, and other associated literature? Stores in a small space and can bring money in 25-30 years ... look at the value of 356 sales stuff, early 911 sales stuff, even early/mid 80s sales stuff....

[Evans, Marv]

You know how it is with your first car most of the time. They get whipped, dinged, wrecked, poorly maintained, etc. If you love the car, maybe considering another car for her first might be worth negotiating with her at the time (or before) she is ready for her first acquisition. Of course something less zippy, economical, and practical would be better and maybe more of a preference even for her. There isn't a lot of storage space, space for others, and the 350Z isn't all that great to see out of for a first car. It might be racy, fast and sporty looking, but I'd be more comfortable for the long term with a car that offered more options for freighting her friends around, economy, and early driver safety.

[gacook]

Actually, I specifically get small cars for the kids so they CAN'T cart a bunch of kids around. Less distraction inside the car makes for slightly more attentive driving (in my mind, at least).

mgatepi...I dunno. Z cars in general do relatively well as collectors (nothing like Porsche). I've seen many older 300, 280's, etc that go for more than some current 350's.

I guess the bottom line is I don't want to be kicking myself in the ass in 40 years when these cars are all of a sudden going for big $ (like a lot of you who had American Muscle back in the day).

[Seahawk]

I had the exact same reaction.

A lot depends on the young lady, but that is a lot of car for a newbie driver.

Concerning long term value, Keynes was right

Edit: In my first squadron, most of the single pilots had sports cars. At the time I had a 1972 911T. I remember a few of my buds bought Toyota Supras, which were just amazing cars for the era, 1985. The Surpas would shake my old T and even the new SC's, which none of us could afford. I remember thinking, hmmm.

But I kept screwing with Porsche's, bought a Ford Ranger as my daily.

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

You know how it is with your first car most of the time. They get whipped, dinged, wrecked, poorly maintained, etc. If you love the car, maybe considering another car for her first might be worth negotiating with her at the time (or before) she is ready for her first acquisition. Of course something less zippy, economical, and practical would be better and maybe more of a preference even for her. There isn't a lot of storage space, space for others, and the 350Z isn't all that great to see out of for a first car. It might be racy, fast and sporty looking, but I'd be more comfortable for the long term with a car that offered more options for freighting her friends around, economy, and early driver safety.

[gacook]

If her track record of the past 13+ years holds into her next couple years, she will prove to be a responsible driver. If she breaks from her current path, the car will be removed from the picture.

To put it into perspective, she is one of those kids who you sometimes forget isn't an adult.

[widebody911]

It is promised to be my daughter's first car.

Why do people do that? A kids first car needs to be a) earned with blood sweat and tears and b) disposable, because kids are idiots.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by gacook

If her track record of the past 13+ years holds into her next couple years, she will prove to be a responsible driver. If she breaks from her current path, the car will be removed from the picture.

To put it into perspective, she is one of those kids who you sometimes forget isn't an adult.

Excellent. My Daughter was exactly the same way, and is a really, really good driver...almost eerie in terms of her awareness, which we spent a lot of time on.

We went the used FJ route. Six years later no issues.

[stomachmonkey]

My worry with that car and a young lady is not so much her.

It's her boyfriend who's always going to want to drive it.

[gacook]

Originally Posted by widebody911

It is promised to be my daughter's first car.

Why do people do that? A kids first car needs to be a) earned with blood sweat and tears and b) disposable, because kids are idiots.

In my case...because she is an exceptional young lady. She's gotten one "B" in her entire life, and was devastated by it. She is far harder on herself than I would ever be. She is the most helpful, eager to learn person I've ever met. At 12, she was already planning out her activities and classes to ensure she can get scholarships to college.

Sometimes, people like that deserve a little something rewarding them for their hard work. Giving her a car that she knows I absolutely love...she's smart enough to understand what that means. And hell, it'll be a 14 year old car by the time she starts driving it...

[gacook]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

My worry with that car and a young lady is not so much her.

It's her boyfriend who's always going to want to drive it.

That thought has crossed my mind a time or two, Stomachmonkey; however, it's a stick. We know most kids these days are clueless as to how to drive anything other than a slush box

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by gacook

Sometimes, people like that deserve a little something rewarding them for their hard work. Giving her a car that she knows I absolutely love...she's smart enough to understand what that means. And hell, it'll be a 14 year old car by the time she starts driving it...

So true. My son has always been the first to help, has never complained about working on the farm, in fact embraced it. The pic below is from 2006. He was 11 and had been driving the Tacoma, stick, for about a year.

It is his now. He wanted it, I promised it to him if he stayed the course. He did. To stay on the OPs point, the Taco has held it's value rather well

[johnsjmc]

Originally Posted by gacook

That thought has crossed my mind a time or two, Stomachmonkey; however, it's a stick. We know most kids these days are clueless as to how to drive anything other than a slush box

Funny about being unable to drive a stick. Our daughter is an industrial electrician. During her apprenticeship she came home and announced she was driving the 5 ton boom truck "because she was the only one on the crew who could drive a stick"
.She has taught her husband how to drive one as well. Her mother taught her , not me I don,t have the patience.
All 3 of our kids had accidents in the first 3 yrs of driving their own cars. None of the accidents were judged their fault, but I think a more experienced driver might have avoided at least one or two of them.
I wouldn,t give her a performance car no matter how good /reliable she is. The boyfriends will either be intimidated by her better car or want to drive it.
A 4 cyl regular cab pick up like a Ranger (no room for passengers and a full frame ) or an underpowered car like a Prius would be my choice. NOT something cool like a Jeep, Z car etc.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

My worry with that car and a young lady is not so much her.

It's her boyfriend who's always going to want to drive it.

^^^ this X 10 (and don't kid yourself "dad")

Originally Posted by gacook

In my case...because she is an exceptional young lady. She's gotten one "B" in her entire life, and was devastated by it. She is far harder on herself than I would ever be. She is the most helpful, eager to learn person I've ever met. At 12, she was already planning out her activities and classes to ensure she can get scholarships to college.

Sometimes, people like that deserve a little something rewarding them for their hard work. Giving her a car that she knows I absolutely love...she's smart enough to understand what that means. And hell, it'll be a 14 year old car by the time she starts driving it...

When I was 15, only one of my friend's had his license, so we'd cram 7 people into his '74 Pinto and drive like a "bat out of hell" to lunch every day. We were the "exceptionally gifted kids" too...just as gifted at raising hell as we were taking tests
Point is, not matter how "book smart"...16 year olds (ESPECIALLY with peer (boyfriend) influences) can and WILL do stooopid chit regardless of high IQs or straight A report cards. Just damn lucky to still be here....choose carefully dad!!!

[gacook]

Believe me, I know. I was "that kid," too. She shakes her head very disapprovingly when she hears stories of my youth...lol.

Currently, peer pressure washes over her back. She's in Girl Scouts; all of her friends have quit because it's "not cool" anymore. She gets made fun of by some kids because she's still doing it. She continues because she likes helping the younger girls and because it can help her with college (scholarships, and what not).

That's now. At 16, it could be a completely different story, but I hope not

And as far as the boyfriends go...I'm kinda scary looking (or so I'm told). I plan to use that to my full advantage

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I sorta doubt it. I always found the 350Z (and 370Z) to be overpriced for what they were. They're good cars in their own rights but at their price point you could be into things that I consider to be way better (BMW 3 series, CLK, 996, Audi TT or S3, etc. - if you're willing to go 3-4 years old you can get a Boxster, M3, AMG or a number of other way better cars - and without the boy racer styling). I like the Zs and I test drove one when I got my SLK but I just couldn't fathom paying $4k-$5k MORE for the 350Z than the Mercedes (both similar mileage, options, condition, etc.)

Then again I think too much is made of making car buying a rational decision anyway. It ain't. It's an emotional decision. Accept it. You're GOING to lose money on it unless you're strictly buying a car as an investment (in which case you ought to have your head examined and are VERY knowledgeable about what you're doing) I say just drive what moves you. Passion is rare in this world so if vehicle choice is something you're passionate about and gets your mojo on then why deprive yourself? No good ever came from self-denial and IMHO anything that's not just another soulless beige (or silver) appliance-mobile on the road is a good thing.

Enjoy the car. Just don't expect to make money off of it. You'll only cut losses at best. Just enjoy it.

[gacook]

I can see that (and actually prefer the 350's to the 370's).

And soulless beige, it is not. Pic's a couple years old; everything you see in silver is now black.

[Gogar]

Your daughter will ruin the vehicle.

Doesn't matter if she's a great person, or has a great heart, or whatever.

She will.