350Z finally in Oz

[Gav240z]

Alpha I've noticed alot of people don't know what the 240z is here in AUS. I believe it's because we didn't get many here in Aus and it makes them quite a rarity I find that it's often mistaken for all sorts of other cars.

I'm not suprised the Nissan guys didn't notice the 240z most of them are probably too young or too uninterested to know what the hell it is.

It's sad really but it should be a much higher regarded car more so than a Ford Mustang.:classic:

[Gav240z]

Well I didn't like it much at first. Actually I thought no what are Nissan doing it's not like the 240z bring back the 240z. Anyway I got used to the style the weight of the car put me off but I've come to realise nobody wants a "True Sports car" by which I mean nobody wants a period race car of the 60/70's except for people like us. People are getting lazy and as such come to expect things like power seats power steering a/c etc etc etc.... Whilst I'm still young and enjoy the 240z for what it was and for it's primative creature comforts. A higher roller would not like it..

However the new Z has much more power than the early 240z and it's a well balanced car. As such the weight is only a minor issue at least it's RWD not FWD trash.

I truely believe Nissan have a winner with this one and it's bargain price is something that Subaru's WRX and Mazda RX8 and as the article above states the Porsche Boxter will have to try very hard to squeeze out.

Good Luck Nissan.

PS: Let's not forget a new retro modern car could reflect it's older brother and raise the value of earlier Z's.

[Mike]

Originally posted by Alfadog

Yeah, Mike, it's all about the exchange rate mate... didn't you notice how you suddenly became very rich when you visited Melbouring?

Oh sure... I was loving every minute of it. Roughly half price on everything! But, if that price was doubled... no biggie.

But, consider that I'm making US money. What if I was making AUS money? I don't think the salary comparison is double in AUS for the same position. So, anyone living in AUS has to pay a lot of money for a car.

Let's say an American moves to AUS and takes a job for roughly the same salary. Suddenly, the budget for a car payment goes from $250/month to $400/month so they can drive the same car!

I'm not trying to make anybody feel bad. But, that's something I noticed when I was down there last year. Living in a country like AUS shouldn't cause car prices to double just because of import fees. That's totally outrageous.

Our government is totally screwed. I imagine this is a result of a pretty shoddy Australian government as well. Shafting the people they rely on.

[Alfadog]

Originally posted by Mike

But, consider that I'm making US money. What if I was making AUS money? I don't think the salary comparison is double in AUS for the same position.

Are you sure? What do you base this on?

You think you've got it bad when you come here! Think about this: what about an Aussie going to live in America. They come over with a lot of their good AUD but once converted they're a porper!! I found that when I went to Europe last year - the prices were the same as they are here, except in EURO.

[halz]

Cot of living my friends... My brother lived in London for 4 years and the only way he didn't get seriously depressed at the cost of living was to pretend that AUD=GBP. By that he meant that if the weekly grocery shopping cost him AUD$100 in Australia, it would cost him GBP 100 in London! At that time the Aus/UK exchange rate was 2.5:1 so his London groceries cost would convert to AUD$250!! Now... the other side of the story is high salary (or hourly rate) which was also about 2.5 times higher than he would have made in Australia.

As I said, he was there for nearly 4 years and only money he really 'made' was that which he sent back to the 'Land of droughts and flooding rains' which benefitted from the generous exchange rate (in the reverse direction it is very generous!)

So...what is the cost of living in the US? I'm sure that you'll find the difference in salaries can be accounted for there Mike... Besides, As I keep telling my expat friends who live in Perth, even if they 'take a pay cut' and work for local dollars, there are still lots of intangible benefits to living in Australia: Miles of unpopulated beaches and countryside, clean, safe cities, low gun-related death rate, better than even chance of seeing blue sky on most days, low chance of dying in a blizzard, etc, etc...

just a pity the cars are so expensive :tapemouth

[Ben]

I'll second that Alfadog.

I've been to the US twice in the last 5 years - once as a SoCal tourist & the second time to work in Portland, Oregon for a month.

Even in the 'burbs of Portland I found that the cost of goods was dis-proportionate to the exchange rate.

Eg - a full-strength beer was ~$5USD in a restaurant. I can buy an import beer for that amount in AUD here (a local full-strength is generally $4). A meal in a non-chain restaurant here is between ~$15 & $22 AUD (the seafood would be at the high-end, Beef steaks in the middle), I was paying the same in USD for the same. Apart from vehicles, which do appear to be 5-10% cheaper in the US (but some of them are real crap:cheeky: ) I've genrally found that living was the same in $$ count as it was here, which meant that I was paying 40% more!

Mike, what's a salary comparo you could give to help us out with the Aus equivalent?

PS In order to keep this message even slightly on-topic - I eagerly await the delivery of my local dealerships' first 350!!

[Zedrally]

Oh Mike, you stirrer, have you been taking lessons from Alan T?

ROFL

[26ounce]

My mate at work is getting a 350Z, he is going for the silver one with the auto box. Apparently you can't get the 6 speed manual till April in W.A. He has also taken pity on me and agreed to let me test drive it as soon as he gets it. Should be fun.

There are some demo models floating from the nissan stores, I might drop by Nissan Melville tonight and have a look.

I can dishonestly say I've always liked the new 350ZLOL

[Alfadog]

I thought it was you cant get an auto for a while... :-/

[26ounce]

Just going on what he told me Alfadog.

Maybe they sent one boatful of autos to WA and another boatful of manuals to the east coast?

[Ben]

The auto is already available in the Touring model, but not yet in the Track model.

i've just come back from my local dealer (picked up an engine gasket set for my FJ20ET) and they have just received their demo 350Z Touring. It's bright red & I really want one (more so now that I've crawled around this one from front to back!), but cant afford it

They've sold 4 pre-release. I think that they were all Track's.

[zedhead]

ey all,

saw my first 350z today, was cruzin round st kilda. I recon that they look better when you see the car on the road. the picturs you see just dont do it justice. not so sure were nissens headin with thoses lights though. My uncles suppost to go and test drive one soo so ill see if i can tag along:classic: