the Z cars are cheap now. even though they might not be under 10 grand, they are still cheap.
I am a Z owner as well as an evo IX owner. If you want a better driving experience, get an evo. HANDS DOWN a better drivers car. I bought my 04 Z new and just picked up my 06 evo last fall. My Z is slightly faster overall (twin turbo'd -> APS @ 15 psi), but the evo just goes. No worrying about wheel spin, no BS, just point and go (FP red @ 28 psi)
the Z will hold a soft spot in my heart. Always wanted a Z and was basically my first new car purchase. I have wrenched a lot on, and spent a lot of money. it is a sexy car and has a good/great feel to it. It pains me though, that some boy racer, big winged, 4 door car is more fun to drive. It is the way it is, and I have come to grips with it.
to the OP, it seems like you got a decent buy. the HR motor is better than the DE, but not by leaps and bounds. They had their issues, but they do take to bolt-ons better than the DE -> but that ain't saying much. Regardless of the DE or HR, the Z is kind of a dog in stock form. Sure it has power, but the car isn't a featherweight, and the power is pretty linear, especially with the DE. As a result, the car can feel sluggish. Sure, right now with the novelty of a new ride still present, it feels peppy/powerful/fun, but the power 'feel' will begin to fade and the car will feel sluggish...... then the itch will start and you will start with some more bolt-ons, only to be disappointed in the hp gains in the 10-30 hp range. Next thing you know here you are building the motor, putting the best components, only to be bested by some 4 door boy racer with an upgraded turbo and an e85 tune on a stock ecu:
I hear ya, but I don't think we are on the same page.
I bought the car to have a fun RWD toy to take care of and have around for a number of years. It is not my daily, well it is for 6-7 months a year.
I'm in my 30's, have a kid, own a home and could give a shit about some boy racer car being able to take me in his 4 door with a big stupid wing. BTW, I have an 02 wrx aswell and an 02 4motion passat
I had a fairly good idea what I was looking to buy when I got the Z. I just got rid of my boosted GTi vr6( which was a faster car).
I had and built a spec'd out rx7. I rocked a mustang GT for 3 years and used to have a nicely setup Daytona Shelby Z. I did *not* want another turbo car. NA is way easier to live with on a daily basis.
Furthermore, If I choose to actually want to go really fast I'm not gonna get in any of my cars. Yeah thats right, fast cars are still slower than the Hayabusa thats chilling in my shed =)
So as you see, I am and will continue to be quite content with the Z
p.s. the Z a dog? HR Z's are capable of near 5 second flat 0-60, and 13.1-.3 quarters. Again, dog? Sure it's not the lightest car out there but with performance figures like that, i don't think it matters.