40th Birthday Present, Or mid-life crisis?

[ksheets]

Well the ghetto Mitsubishi Eclipse finally blew it's head gasket, so I decided to reward myself with an early birthday present. Bought a one-way ticket to Florida to go car shopping (I've heard that's what people from Ohio do).

Anyhow, I ended up with this 350z and very happy with the purchase so far. Nothing like buying a car, then hopping in it and driving it home 1200 miles the next day! This thing was a dream driving home, like need for speed IRL

We'll see how it does this winter, but it has traction control so....no worries right??

 

[LTC8K6]

Put some winter tires on it if you are actually driving it in winter.

 

[nakedfrog]

Put some winter tires on it if you are actually driving it in winter.

Wholeheartedly concur.

 

[boomerang]

Better jack it up too. It looks like it's going to function as a snow plow. Three to four inches more ground clearance should do it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

That car will be horrible in the snow. I'd garage it if possible and get a 10 year old Corolla for beating through the winter months.

 

[ultimatebob]

Heh... why do people in Ohio go to Florida to buy a car?

If it's a tax trick, it wouldn't work in Connecticut. You would have to pay the taxes on the car before you can register it here.

 

[Insomniator]

For some reason I really love the idea of flying to a car and driving it back, I just don't know how I could ever buy a car without actually seeing/being in it first.

 

[Viper GTS]

Heh... why do people in Ohio go to Florida to buy a car?

If it's a tax trick, it wouldn't work in Connecticut. You would have to pay the taxes on the car before you can register it here.

It has nothing to do with taxes, it's about finding the right car.

Sports cars and particularly convertibles are not distributed evenly across the US. Lots go to California, Texas, and Florida. Ohio? Not so much.

Also the lack of road salt would be enough motivation for me, road salt is evil.

To the OP: Do yourself a favor and park that until spring. Snow tires will get you around OK after you've shoveled your way out and the plows have done their work, but don't destroy that car with Ohio winter.

Viper GTS

 

[jlee]

It has nothing to do with taxes, it's about finding the right car.

Sports cars and particularly convertibles are not distributed evenly across the US. Lots go to California, Texas, and Florida. Ohio? Not so much.

Also the lack of road salt would be enough motivation for me, road salt is evil.

To the OP: Do yourself a favor and park that until spring. Snow tires will get you around OK after you've shoveled your way out and the plows have done their work, but don't destroy that car with Ohio winter.

Viper GTS

Pretty much this.

When I was in AZ, I flew to Reno, NV to get my LX450. I flew to Albuquerque, NM to get my GX470.

Your options are much more limited when you are particular about what you want. If all you want is a driving dishwasher, then sure - you can buy that wherever.

 

[z1ggy]

That car will be horrible in the snow. I'd garage it if possible and get a 10 year old Corolla for beating through the winter months.

Meh, I had a 350hp Genesis Coupe that I drove in a Northeast winter. I slapped some good snowies on it and put 400lb of sand bags in the trunk. I had no problems at all.

Obviously it won't just truck through 6 inches of deep snow... But it was manageable. If I had the money, I'd get a beater if my summer car was expensive.

 

[Midwayman]

Meh, I had a 350hp Genesis Coupe that I drove in a Northeast winter. I slapped some good snowies on it and put 400lb of sand bags in the trunk. I had no problems at all.

Obviously it won't just truck through 6 inches of deep snow... But it was manageable. If I had the money, I'd get a beater if my summer car was expensive.

Yah, I drove my C5 through the winter was well. Plenty doable if you're not an idiot.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Meh, I had a 350hp Genesis Coupe that I drove in a Northeast winter. I slapped some good snowies on it and put 400lb of sand bags in the trunk. I had no problems at all.

Obviously it won't just truck through 6 inches of deep snow... But it was manageable. If I had the money, I'd get a beater if my summer car was expensive.

I've seen people ride motorcycles in the snow... doesn't mean it's a good idea. Personally, I'd rather not subject my fun vehicle to the harsh winter extremes nor the salt if I could help it.

Spending $1200 on snow tires (I looked it up) and having to have them mounted and balanced for a few months and then removed and stored for the rest of the year I think I'd rather just drop a couple grand on a beater I could drive when the weather was crap. Less risk of getting in an accident in your fun car that way too.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Snow belt states likely to have more wear & tear on cars vs hot weather states due to road salt. Im in IL and potentially may decide to fly down to SC to visit a friend, then buy a car, and drive home, because I can find a better car there for the money, and it would be an excuse to go visit my friend

 

[ksheets]

Viper is pretty much spot on for the reasons of going to florida. There were literally 4-5X the choices for the cars I was looking at in the Ft Myers/Orlando/Miami area and none of them have seen snow.

I'm not really too worried about getting around (my work is literally 4 blocks from my house- I drive about 2000 miles/year). I also drove a mustang for 8 years with no problems.I AM however worried about the top and lack of clearance in the wheel wells- i could really see it causing a problem when snow gets up there. The car will be garage kept otherwise, but that doesn't do me much good at work.

Actually getting a beater might not be that bad of an idea- cheaper than another set of rims/tires and i can just keep the car in the garage....

 

[HitAnyKey]

Nice car for an old guy ;-) Now be a wise old timer and get yourself a Winter beater. There is a reason you went to Florida to buy a car. Kinda ironic you want to drive it in the snow now...

 

[master_shake_]

obvious brag thread.



nice car. very very nice.

 

[ksheets]

Hey it's not that I WANT to drive it in the snow, if you have some way to have all the snow somehow skip Ohio this winter PM me and we'll talk

I think I might just hijack my Dad's '97 F150- He's in Florida so, F him hahaha

 

[SparkyJJO]

You might get lucky this winter regardless. They're calling for a strong El Nino which means a warmer, milder winter for Ohio typically. Doesn't discount the possibility of snowstorms but if we do get that El Nino we shouldn't be buried and frigid for weeks on end.