I was given a trade in value for the car which included the Volks wheels - the least I can do is replace them with like-for-like OEM Rays as far as wear/tear/tread is concerned otherwise it could cause problems if I swap over tires/wheels worth £2800 for a set of minging Rays that has seen more kerb than tarmac and running barely legal tires donncha fink?
It does not matter now anyhow - I pick up my new car tomorrow - could not wait 'till Thursday which means the z goes with the Volks - shame - someone could have picked up a hell of a bargain but then it is xmas and luxuries like this are not top of most people's xmas list - I knew this was a long-shot right from the beginning and I was not relying on selling them. Thankfully, I bought one of the last Zs in the country and the discount I got reflected that so I have not taken much of a hit overall as far as depreciation and trade-in price is concerned. Im going to miss the Z, I have been lucky (or just plain stupid with my money ) to have owned all 3 variants of the 350z, and I love the car. I have never been tempted with the 370z, although I like the looks, it just did not solve the two main niggles I had with the 350z - road noise and practicality. Although the former can be addressed and the latter Nissan tried to address, im just fed up with having to plan shopping trips - will what I have bought fit in the car - a bit of a pain especially around this time of year?
All the zs have been sound as a pound - never had to go back to the Stealer with warranty issues. Nothing has broken. I love the decisive, solid gear shifting. I love the exhaust note - I wind down my window to listen to that sometimes - but not when it's raining - another niggle I have modified the car mechanically, and it has stood up to what I have thrown in it - Nismo clutches/lightweight flywheels, Nismo exhaust and de-cats - that last car was awesome I have driven it at times like it was made to be driven, and has every reason to hold it's head up high against some of the cars that it has been against that are considered 'better' or 'faster' by some people.
All-in-all - a class act. I dont see the S3 Sortback getting the ame looks by pedestrians as I pass by like I did with the z. But is is a quality piece of automotive engineering - the s-tronic gearbox is awesome and the ride is planted, and I know it will give me the praticality i need plus every now-and-then a thrill driving down some B-road. An end of an era me thinks