350z or used Porsche?

[ZGarage]

I need to purchase a new car and for new cars the 350z seems like the best fit in my price range.

I am wondering if in the 25 to 30k price range a used porsche boxster or 911 would also work. I don't neccesarily need the newest thing out there but need the car to be reliable for everyday use.

What do you guys think?

Thanks for your help.

[Derkbarrington]

I went through the same decision when I bought my Porsche 964 C4. Prior to the Porsche I owned a 300ZX Twin Turbo and was seriously considering the 350Z. The decision was fairly easy for me... I've wanted a 911 since as long as I could remember. Although, the 350Z would have been a great car, IMO it doesn't compare to my 964. The 350Z looks great, has a super cool interior etc... but it'snot a Porsche. I will still probably have my 1990 964 C4 10 years from now but I doubt I could say the same if I had bought the 350Z.

[Schuey]

the 350Z will be worth HALF of what you pay for it in 3-4 years...the 911 you buy (if properly maintained) will probably be worth the same...or little less/more...

you should be able to find a very nice 92+ 911 C2 in the $22k-26k range and keep the rest for "improvements" or maintenance...

Remember to get a PPI on the 911 and you'll be fine...

Kevin

[Leland Pate]

Good lord, big guy. For $30K you are in 993 territory.
Do not, I repeat, do not buy a 350Z.

I owned two (2) of them. I cannot even begin to go into the problems I had with those cars ('03 performance and a '04 touring.) Crap, crap, crap-crap-crap.

The 993 kills the Z in every catagory. And to this I can attest to from personal experience.

Warranty? HA! Meaningless.
Looks? You be the judge.
Performance? Fairly close, although I'd say the Porsche out-brakes and out corners the Z.
Maintenance? Z-with warranty = 993 with no warranty.
Insurance? Z= $156 a month (USAA) 993= $74 a month
5 year old kids peering at your car everywhere you go? 993


I will do anything to keep a good guy from buying a 350Z. Please email me if you want more details. Or do a search.

Best of luck,
Lee

[InTheAir]

I definitely agree with Lee--for 30K you are getting close to the 993 range. Although, you will need to accept a higher mileage car to get it ~at~ 30K. For 35K, you are closer to the 40,000 mile cars....

Good luck with the search.

[Leland Pate]

40,000 P-car miles is roughly equivalent to 3,000 Nissan miles.

[GaryR]

How can you stand the funky door handles on a 350Z, to say nothing of the fact that you have to look at the seats to tell which end is which!

[Porschefile]

My manager has a 350z. After riding in it and driving it, It is better than I expected. Cosmetically the car doesn't do anything for me at all, and I would say is bordering on ugly. Though it's still a decent car. Leland Pete, what problems did you have? My manager beats the absolute living crap out of his and couldn't possibly be any harder on it, however it hasn't had a single problem yet.

For a very short period of time I considered getting a 350z. Though, I'm a Porsche enthusiast first and foremost. I realized that I do not yet own one of every single 911 model produced so there are far too many 911's for me to buy to even think about buying a different car! Seriously though, if I had a choice in the same price range I would choose either a Boxster, 964, or 993.

[Leland Pate]

Let's see...
On the '03, I had squeeks and rattles throughout the cabin; especially the rear hatch. Tire feathering in the front that no one could correct or take responsibility for. A sway bar mount that creeked with the slightest bump (very loudly) -dealer told me it was "normal chassis flex." Sticking power windows and a keyless entry system on the fritz. Hmmm... what else... oh yup... how about 1st and 2nd gear synchros going south in 7,000 miles.

Then, the wife convinces me to buy her an '04 Touring. This car had the same squeeks, rattles, and general lack of quality throughout. We didn't own it long enough to tell if there was a tire feathering issue emerging because I could not put gas in the car to drive the f'ing thing. Two gas tank assemblies and several trips to the dealer yeilded no positive results. They thought somewhere in the fuel system a check-valve had malfunctioned which caused the fuel pump nozzle to automatically shut-off. It took 20 minutes to get 10 gallons in the car. "Pump-click, pump-click."

(NIGHTMARE)

Dealership bought it back because NNA wanted to take a look at the car. I was through. Never again.

I feel bad for the poor sapps driving by me in their Z's. Sometimes one of them will indulge in the "revving of the engine in front of a Porshe" routine. I smile to myself and say a silent prayer for their soul.