Help Me Choose a Car...

[Porsche_997]

I am getting a new (yet used) car soon...and am really leaning toward either an '06 Altima 3.5SE or an '03 350Z.

My price range barely makes the 350Z, and I am concerned that the car will have been driven hard, and a bare bones model for the price. The Altima, on the other hand, is $2K cheaper and will probably be near loaded (leather, spoiler, etc).

Performance wise, the Altima SE has a 3.5L V6 with 250HP and 249 lb/ft torque. The 350Z is the same 3.5L engine, but tuned differently, putting out 300HP and lots of torque.

I am in college, so I can't decide which should outweigh the other: impractical (2 seater!) but badass 350Z, or a more common car with punch to it (0-60 in 6.0sec).

Advice?

--Porsche (and no I don't own a porsche sadly)

Altima





350Z

[cartboy519]

I had a 2 door 94' grand am gt for my first car, and it was cool yet impracticle. Now my suggestion is save the money(as you are in college) and get the altima. I have seen altima's and they are pretty nice cars for a 4 door, and as you said the 350Z however nice would be impracticle. I am on my second car and it is an 02' cavalier, it gets good gas mileage, and i got a good deal on it, and it only had 24k miles on it when i bought it.

So i say go with practicle!

[KilRoy]

As a car enthusiast myself, and I've owned a lot of them, go with the Altima.
The 350 Z is high performance. High performance =$$$ in repairs. When the "common" items start to wear, tires, brakes, etc. you have to replace those high performance parts to keep it running " bad ass". Have you driven the Altima? If not, it's a quick ass car, not to mention practical. Save up for the bad ass car down the road.

[GearedUp]

Altima would be the best bet. Would also be a more comfortable ride for the college chicks.

After college you could afford to get the toys ya want.

[petersapien]

Although the 350Z looks nice Id say the Altima is the better bet.

[Conscious*]

I have a 94 Altima and I jsut turned 18. It has 193k miles on it, and the only thing thats ever gone wrong is the transmission was replaced, but it didnt actually break it was a factory problem. The car also hit two deer and no other problems have happened since. My grandmom drove it until she left it to me, and its still running nice. I know two others with Altimas and they never have any problems, and they are more recent models.

[jenky33]

also consider what the insurance will be, sporty cars = big bucks to insure, specially for for college kids

[King]

my buddy had a '94 altima. It was a great car, saw a lot of the country, had a ton of miles and had a ton of wear to it. it took a beating and kept going... get it.

[Tchinnychin]

Altima=7 350Z=0

My buddy has a 03 Altima I have to say it's a nice looking and pretty roomy car.

Correction Altima=8 350Z=0

[Conscious*]

Let us know what you finally decide, I think by the looks of this thread your gonna buy the Altima though.

[Porsche_997]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I actually had the Altima as the first choice before this thread I just wanted to see the community's take on it. I agree, although the 350Z looks badass, it is a rough ride and as Kilroy said, expensive to maintain.

Thanks for the input guys...I'll post some pics during the summer when I buy it

[]DP[Nuckle]

Good luck porsche, I think you are making the right decision. On a side note, let me know if you get a 6 flat 0-60 out of it. I had a Infiniti G35 which was RWD vs. the altima FWD and the best I ever got out of it was around 6.3.

Nuck

[KDawg07]

I got a toyota supra MKIV while I was in college and truth be told I never brought it to my schools. I was afraid it would be stolen, tampered with, or just damaged in the parking lot. I just drove a old school blazer. The 350 is an amazing machine but unless you are working full time too and can afford to fix little things and insurance the altima is a better choice. Be careful with the 06's though, I think they have a factory defect that causes fires so you might want to ask the owner if they've addressed that problem. Insurance is probably going to be a just as much as the car payment with the 350 too.

[cartboy519]

Great point jenky and kdawg, i totally forgot the part about insurance. That was a big factor when i got my new car!

[PraiseA||ah]

WRONG!

350Z ftw!

Yes. I agree with what people say, except...

The women can't resist a sexy car. You'll have 'it' falling out of your pockets whith the 350Z. If you can't figure out what 'it' is, go with the family looking car.