So my intention was to get my old 300ZX ready to sell, sell it, and bask in the glory of car shopping for the next few months. Go on test drives, haggle with and get insulted by salesmen, get spoken down to by the salesmen’s managers, study endlessly, compare my notes from test drives, read reviews here and there endlessly, bench race, magazine compare and do all that for like 6 months and then eventually pull the trigger and write up a thread in here in the fall.
Honestly, I had been window shopping for nearly 3 years and it really boiled down to 4 or 5 cars in my mind that would fit the bill. In my mind my budget was 40k but hopefully I wanted to spend less. The cars I had in mind, all for various reasons, but the main reason being on my bucket list. So the cars were a 997, Corvette w/LS3, Mustang GT, 370Z and Z4 M coupe.
But you know it all happened so fast, in fact, it's hard to believe that just two weeks ago I was still window shopping. I test drove 3 of my bucket list cars, talked myself out of the 997 (for now) and really never got to the Z4. I ruled the 370Z out because at high rpm, the 370Z is seriously offensive to my ears. I find the 370Z, otherwise, to be a spectacular car it's just that personally when I wind it out, I find that it just sounds terrible. As far as the Mustang GT goes, it would be in my garage right now if fate or whatever you want to call it hadn't stepped in.
So three weeks ago I tell my wife "I'd like to get the clutch fixed on the Z, sell it and buy something else." She said "no problem, get what you want, be happy." I made the appointment and immediately saw "it" or "the one." I actually had seen it a week before and I couldn't stop thinking about it. It was, in my eyes, the right color, right car, right price, right miles, right everything but I thought it would have been gone by now.
However, the seller listed his car, with the price, got responses and said he was sorry to get hopes up but he's going to sell it to a local dealer, so long and thanks for all the fish or whatever. I took that to mean that it wasn't exactly sold yet. I sent an e-mail, told the seller I wanted the car, I would make it a good home but more importantly, I'm ready, willing and able now.
The seller responded back with terms, I agreed to them, and by Monday we pretty much worked up a deal but I still had some loose ends and an extra car. Monday I sent out two e-mails to a couple of buddies asking them to ask around to see if anyone they knew wanted an overpriced old car that's been pampered. I also listed the car on a Z forum for sale. My close friend I hadn't seen in 17 years replied back saying "I'm seriously interested in your car." I replied back with the price, a spreadsheet full of receipts, full pictures and what not. The next e-mail I got was "I want it."
I was seriously in a state of shock at how quickly all this happened. Honestly, I thought this whole deal would drag on for months. I really was going to sell the car (figuring it would take months to get what I wanted) and shop for those long 6-9 months. It damn near seems like it was all just meant to be kinda sorta.
So the new car was located north of Detroit, I'm in Indianapolis. My brother was AWESOME enough to take last Friday off work, drive up with me 6 hours, wait around for paper work and new tires to get installed and drive my other car back to Indy another 6 hours all after having food poisoning the day before. Seriously, I have no idea how to begin to pay him back for that.
I purchased the 300ZX in Cincinnati years ago and coincidentally my buddy that bought it lives there (in Cincy) so two Saturdays ago my wife, son and I drove separately down there to drop it off and trade paper. It drives better than ever, honestly, it wasn't "mint" or "perfect" but it felt damn tight, very responsive and I gave it to him in the best condition I've ever had the car in. Over the past few years the car has had new tires, brembo brakes, brand new clutch, full tune up, new timing belt, hoses, I rebuilt the t-tops, replaced ALL the exterior trim, etc. I'll tell you, it felt and looked amazing plus I put two coats of wax on it, shampooed the carpet and mats and cleaned/conditioned the leather for him.
Old car : (1993 Sapphire Blue Pearl, 300ZX NA, 5-speed, 51k miles)
![Image]()
![Image]()
As far as the new car goes, it's a 2009 Corvette (LS3) with six speed manual, Z51 and NPP. It's Cyber Gray over Charcoal and, to me, I find it's even better than what I was expecting. . . and I had extremely high expectations. When I got to the previous owner's place, he had ordered new tires, I paid for them, drove the car with the old tires and couldn't agree more that the original tires were shot. Everything, to me, is impressive about the car save for the driver's seat bottom. It looks like a sumo wrestler had been humping whales on it. Problem is the previous owner was like 5'9 and 150 (if that) soaking wet. To be fair, it's really not that bad it's just that it feels like a seat cushion with 120k miles insead of 19k. The thing is (to me) is that the upper part of the seat is perfect and is like new with no wear at all. I don't get it. Fortunately there's a better seat bottom cushion out there, there's also a "seat bottom kit" and I will be replacing it shortly. The car has 19k miles, looks, drives, smells new. The guy babied the living crap out of it and fully excepts that I will as well and I will.
![Image]()
![Image]()
My brother in front in my Outback and me in the Vette driving off into the sunset.
![Image]()
Oh and to top it all off, an old guy accosted me while I was gassing up outside of Detroit. Seriously. This old guy comes up to me and says "hey buddy, is that there your Corvette?" I said "yeah". He said "well I bet you I just paid less for the house I bought at auction than you paid for dat caarrr." I said "well I doubt it, I bought this used and it wasn't very expensive at all." He said "ooohhhh, it's UUUUUSED!" I said "yep, it's just a used car, nothing special, but I want you to enjoy your new home and have a great day." I mean and meant that with all sincerity.
I think the best part of this whole thing was that I took our son Jake (he's almost 8 already!!!) for a spin in it. I cranked up the new Van Halen album and, really, you have to know Jake. He talks non-stop. From the minute he wakes up until the minute he goes to bed, he's talking, asking questions, etc. So I get him in the car, crank the tunes a little and he was absolutely silent. Not one word. Not upset, not afraid, just quietly taking it all in. I made sure I got on it to open the butterfly valves so he could hear the exhaust note. Priceless. The next day I took him to school in the 300ZX (this was the day I took it in to get the clutch replaced) and he turned to me and said "Hey Dad, does this car have the valves?"
Honestly, I had been window shopping for nearly 3 years and it really boiled down to 4 or 5 cars in my mind that would fit the bill. In my mind my budget was 40k but hopefully I wanted to spend less. The cars I had in mind, all for various reasons, but the main reason being on my bucket list. So the cars were a 997, Corvette w/LS3, Mustang GT, 370Z and Z4 M coupe.
But you know it all happened so fast, in fact, it's hard to believe that just two weeks ago I was still window shopping. I test drove 3 of my bucket list cars, talked myself out of the 997 (for now) and really never got to the Z4. I ruled the 370Z out because at high rpm, the 370Z is seriously offensive to my ears. I find the 370Z, otherwise, to be a spectacular car it's just that personally when I wind it out, I find that it just sounds terrible. As far as the Mustang GT goes, it would be in my garage right now if fate or whatever you want to call it hadn't stepped in.
So three weeks ago I tell my wife "I'd like to get the clutch fixed on the Z, sell it and buy something else." She said "no problem, get what you want, be happy." I made the appointment and immediately saw "it" or "the one." I actually had seen it a week before and I couldn't stop thinking about it. It was, in my eyes, the right color, right car, right price, right miles, right everything but I thought it would have been gone by now.
However, the seller listed his car, with the price, got responses and said he was sorry to get hopes up but he's going to sell it to a local dealer, so long and thanks for all the fish or whatever. I took that to mean that it wasn't exactly sold yet. I sent an e-mail, told the seller I wanted the car, I would make it a good home but more importantly, I'm ready, willing and able now.
The seller responded back with terms, I agreed to them, and by Monday we pretty much worked up a deal but I still had some loose ends and an extra car. Monday I sent out two e-mails to a couple of buddies asking them to ask around to see if anyone they knew wanted an overpriced old car that's been pampered. I also listed the car on a Z forum for sale. My close friend I hadn't seen in 17 years replied back saying "I'm seriously interested in your car." I replied back with the price, a spreadsheet full of receipts, full pictures and what not. The next e-mail I got was "I want it."
I was seriously in a state of shock at how quickly all this happened. Honestly, I thought this whole deal would drag on for months. I really was going to sell the car (figuring it would take months to get what I wanted) and shop for those long 6-9 months. It damn near seems like it was all just meant to be kinda sorta.
So the new car was located north of Detroit, I'm in Indianapolis. My brother was AWESOME enough to take last Friday off work, drive up with me 6 hours, wait around for paper work and new tires to get installed and drive my other car back to Indy another 6 hours all after having food poisoning the day before. Seriously, I have no idea how to begin to pay him back for that.
I purchased the 300ZX in Cincinnati years ago and coincidentally my buddy that bought it lives there (in Cincy) so two Saturdays ago my wife, son and I drove separately down there to drop it off and trade paper. It drives better than ever, honestly, it wasn't "mint" or "perfect" but it felt damn tight, very responsive and I gave it to him in the best condition I've ever had the car in. Over the past few years the car has had new tires, brembo brakes, brand new clutch, full tune up, new timing belt, hoses, I rebuilt the t-tops, replaced ALL the exterior trim, etc. I'll tell you, it felt and looked amazing plus I put two coats of wax on it, shampooed the carpet and mats and cleaned/conditioned the leather for him.
Old car : (1993 Sapphire Blue Pearl, 300ZX NA, 5-speed, 51k miles)
As far as the new car goes, it's a 2009 Corvette (LS3) with six speed manual, Z51 and NPP. It's Cyber Gray over Charcoal and, to me, I find it's even better than what I was expecting. . . and I had extremely high expectations. When I got to the previous owner's place, he had ordered new tires, I paid for them, drove the car with the old tires and couldn't agree more that the original tires were shot. Everything, to me, is impressive about the car save for the driver's seat bottom. It looks like a sumo wrestler had been humping whales on it. Problem is the previous owner was like 5'9 and 150 (if that) soaking wet. To be fair, it's really not that bad it's just that it feels like a seat cushion with 120k miles insead of 19k. The thing is (to me) is that the upper part of the seat is perfect and is like new with no wear at all. I don't get it. Fortunately there's a better seat bottom cushion out there, there's also a "seat bottom kit" and I will be replacing it shortly. The car has 19k miles, looks, drives, smells new. The guy babied the living crap out of it and fully excepts that I will as well and I will.
My brother in front in my Outback and me in the Vette driving off into the sunset.
Oh and to top it all off, an old guy accosted me while I was gassing up outside of Detroit. Seriously. This old guy comes up to me and says "hey buddy, is that there your Corvette?" I said "yeah". He said "well I bet you I just paid less for the house I bought at auction than you paid for dat caarrr." I said "well I doubt it, I bought this used and it wasn't very expensive at all." He said "ooohhhh, it's UUUUUSED!" I said "yep, it's just a used car, nothing special, but I want you to enjoy your new home and have a great day." I mean and meant that with all sincerity.
I think the best part of this whole thing was that I took our son Jake (he's almost 8 already!!!) for a spin in it. I cranked up the new Van Halen album and, really, you have to know Jake. He talks non-stop. From the minute he wakes up until the minute he goes to bed, he's talking, asking questions, etc. So I get him in the car, crank the tunes a little and he was absolutely silent. Not one word. Not upset, not afraid, just quietly taking it all in. I made sure I got on it to open the butterfly valves so he could hear the exhaust note. Priceless. The next day I took him to school in the 300ZX (this was the day I took it in to get the clutch replaced) and he turned to me and said "Hey Dad, does this car have the valves?"
