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which car to buy

  • 2002 camaro z28 6spd

    Votes: 4 7.4%
  • 2003 nissan 350z 6spd

    Votes: 21 39%
  • save $ and wait for g37 price to drop

    Votes: 14 26%
  • save $ and keep eclipse

    Votes: 15 28%

Debate between 2 cars

7.5K views 92 replies 26 participants last post by  3g_bishi  
#1 ·
Ok I am posting this as i can not decide which I like better.

2002 camaro z28 6 speed manual

2003 nissan 350z 6 speed manual

the camaro has cheaper parts and is faster in a straight line from the factory so i would never mess with the engine.

the 350z is lighter, has what I think is perfect handling stock (nice on bumps and great on corners) and enough power for what it is.

the camaro has more space (rear seats, trunk), but the 350z has a smaller steering wheel, tighter turning circle, perfect gauge placement, cup holders you can actually use (camaro is same as a 3g)

so essentially if i got the 350z i wouldn't mod it at all, the camaro i would probably sink $3k into suspension mods to get close to the 350z. also my last camaro couldn't make it up my 30 degree driveway that the jackass that made it fucked up. theres too much overhang off each end

also, both cars suck in the snow, but at least the 350z i can put in a quaife differential to help out (did wonders for my 3g)

as for insurance i just checked, both cars are exactly $20 a month more for me

the camaro runs on regular gas but i really don't care about that. i would probably have it tuned to run on premium anyways.

the 350z from the factory runs staggered tire widths it appears but i think i could throw 235's up front to make it even. camaro is 245's all the way around

both have identical brake setups: abs 4 channel with front and rear vented and dual piston calipers up front.

the camaro has one of the largest aftermarket supports available should i get the urge (keep in mind trying to use as a daily)

if i can't make up my mind i will just wait until the g37 coupe is cheaper and save in the meantime.
 
#3 ·
vote for it!
 
#12 ·
the camaro i am looking at is basically the 35th anniversary. i liked how my v6 handled but not nearly as well as the 350z. i know the 350z with the vq35hr engine has oil consumption, i don't know about problems with earlier ones but i will look into transmission. i have thought about how my 3g is worthless and keeping it but it has it's ups and downs. that and over time i get tired of cars. that and if i finance a car my credit goes up. that's what i debate about. an a4 for me would not be right. stock it's a turd and if you mod them to the point you can go fast enough you have understeer like a front wheel drive car because audi likes mounting their engines too far forward. the whole reason i like the 350z is because it is a perfect car for me from the beginning. i wouldn't mod it. the camaro is fast enough but it doesn't handle anything like a 350z. there in lies the debate. i sat in a g37 at the autoshow and loved it. most comfortable car i have ever sat in. i would love to test drive one when they become more affordable.
 
#17 ·
F bodies suck.
Agreed, for the most part. Stupid easy to make fast, but not so good for a daily driver.

350z's are for bandwagon tool bags.
Bold statement for where you are. :blush2:

Save some cash while you wait for that G37! That's some class and attitude.
I lovelovelove the G37, but when I started comparing it to the 335i, I just couldn't do it. I think a lot of the reason is that I would have to have the 7-speed, which is 2009+ - and that's $30Kish for a Sport. At $30K, I'm buying a 335xi or 135i with the M Sport package.

:dunno:

Just saying.
 
#18 ·
neither.

and the oil consumption issues were not prevalent on early model Zs. Transmission problems are EXTREMELY prevalent (my transmission went out at 23,000 miles). Adding to that problem was that even though a new transmission was often installed under warranty on many early Zs, it's very possible that the new unit that went in was the same junk transmission. CD009 is what you will want, which is what came on the 07+ models IIRC.

I had all sorts of problems with my 350Z, just little things like power windows not functioning correctly and tire feathering, and a few major things like the transmission crapping out and some incredibly shit paint. The tire feathering problem is probably a bigger deal to those buyers that kept their cars stock, but I swapped out the suspension so the new A-arms took care of the camber issue (factory does not have any camber adjustment...I'm not joking). I really wanted to like my 350, but at the end of the day I found it uninteresting, slow, and constantly pissing me off. Sam really enjoys his though, so maybe I just got a lemon. I still think it is a great looking car, and I like the styling more than the 370 that replaced it.

I had an 04.5. 06 was the worst year for oil consumption. I don't think the 350Z truly got it right until the HR/07, but judging by the two cars you are choosing between, that's probably not within your budget.
 
#20 ·
35th Anniversary z28, ftw.
 
#26 ·
The 350Z is a much more pure sports car.

The Camaro is a great drivetrain in a mediocre package with quite a few comprosmises.

That said, the Camaro will likely be more reliable (not much goes wrong with them aside from blowing up the rear with that 6 speed and some abuse, and window motors crap out) and get better mileage (0.5:1 6th FTW). Also the LS1 does require premium. Mods are going to be cheaper for the Camaro. Rear seats are virtually useless and trunk is poorly laid out so don't let that be a determining factor.

Honestly as much as I love Fbodies if you do not either plan to modify it, or take it down the 1/4 mile the 350 is likely going to be the more enjoyable DD. Though if there is a preferrable year to get, '01/'02 are it.
 
#37 ·
the only reason i don't go with the GTO is in my area a cheap one with high miles is still $16k. 16k fro a high mileage car? no. also, insurance is ridiculous for them (for some reason they are classified the same as a corvette/gt500) and that turns me away. the 350z and z28 are both a mere $20 more a month. honestly i am looking for a car that i like stock and the camaro just doesn't handle well. i like taking turns quickly everytime i get a chance and i am working towards participating in a road course event. but the 3g even with a lot of suspension mods is still an understeering Front wheel drive car. you cannot make these handle like a WELL setup rear wheel drive car. i owned a 1998 v6 manual camaro and it was fun, but hardly performance. i dorve a 2007 nismo 350z and it was literally my idea of perfection (other than a 360 modena). the 350z has a small steering wheel, small turning radius, more stable at higher speeds, better handling. the only thing that is turning me away is the horror stories int his thread which is why i made it. i want to hear experiences from people who have owned the 2002 camaro z28 6spd long term and 350z long term. as much as i hate to hear the complaints about the 350z i am happy to hear it from owners rather than a sales guy who knows nothing and will just spoon feed me what i want to hear. when you want to hear the truth about a car you have to turn to owners.


Now, if i take the save route i will either save for 2 years and do a trade in plus $5k down on a 350z or i will save for 3 years and by then g37 coupes should be down in the 14's hopefully and i will put $7k+ down
 
#42 ·
Well I'll disagree that f-bodies suck :D

Depends on what your long-term plans are. I'd follow something along the lines of what skinnyGT said above- keep the eclipse as a daily driver (it's paid for right?), and make your second car your project car. Whether that project is a drag car or a canyon-carver, you probably don't want to drive it in wet weather, or in snow, or park it at the mall!
 
#48 ·
As long as you don't drive like an ass a rwd V8 is fine to drive in any weather. I daily drove my 6 spd SS for a year in all sorts of weather. With traction control enabled I could drive in any amount of snow or ice. With it disabled however, I couldn't move from a dead stop. :lol:

Don't get caught up in paying for a 35 anniversary addition though. Way over priced. I hunted for a black SS 6 spd for over 3 years and finally settled for one with a tan interior. Only had 68K miles and I paid less than $9K for it.

Ain't no way in hell that I'd ever trade this for some import.

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