New Member saying hello! (Southeast Florida)

[JupiterBMW]

Well, I'm finally getting to my introduction post... Anyway, first off, many thanks to the admin here for welcoming me into this close knit club. Also, thanks to the member from *ahem* another forum that helped me get approved over here. I've heard so many people say "Oh yeah, the Mafia is so much more family like... no drama like the ________ forum"... That's good to hear!

As for me.. My name is Jon, I'm 31, married for just over a year now, and about 2 weeks away from our first baby, a girl... My wife and I live in Southeast Florida and I've been there for about 3 years, having come from CA before... I'm a marine engineer, currently working on a large crude oil tanker transporting crude oil from the Alaskan Pipeline down to West Coast ports in Washington and California. I work typical 2 months on, 2 months off... So, I have a hard time staying active in social groups (such as local car clubs), but I will slowly become a fairly regular presence on the board... Of course, I will make meets and get togethers when I'm home...

As for cars! Currently, I'm trying to sell my '05 Nissan Altima SE-R and get my hands on a ZHP... I've been relentlessly searching for my ideal ZHP car; an '05 AW/Alcantara sedan, 6 spd, black cube trim, low miles... Well, I found just that, but the car is across the country. So, hopefully I can sell the Nissan soon and fly out to purchase the ZHP. I actually had a couple friends searching online boards, forums, and craigslist for me to find just that car... I have been looking THAT hard... :D Aside from my Altima, my wife and I just bought her a 2012 X3 M-Sport... She needed a new car and wanted an SUV, especially with baby coming! :)

Anyway, I used to be pretty active in the import car scene/drag/road racing, but I got out of it when I 'grew up' and got married. Now I spend more time working on the house, but I miss having a really fun car. :) I miss driving a proper manual transmission! :D

Ok, well, I look forward to meeting some of you and getting my hands on a ZHP very soon. Until then, I will be doing research, asking questions, and adding input where I can. Thanks again for the welcome and I'll talk to you soon!

If there are any South Florida members, post up... I'm coming home from the ship (at sea right now) in about 10 days and would love to meet some people...

[M3TA5IN]

Welcome Jon, hope you find the zhp you are looking for.

[brettbimmer]

Hello Jon & welcome to the mafia. Good luck with the Alpine White search as they can be tough to find! (In case you didn't already know this). Enjoy some sunshine and warm temps in FL for me!

[SoarinZHP]

Hi. Welcome. I hope you enjoy it here. Good look with search!

[WOLFN8TR]

Welcome Jon! You will like it here as much as your ZHP when you find it.

Congrats on the girl on the way! I have a 1 year old little girl. Awesome life changing expierence. Get your diapers from Amazon, use the Prime membership to get free shipping. It will save you some coin.


Sent from my 1982 Commodore 64.

[imola red zhp]

Welcome and hope you find your ZHP.....

[johnrando]

Welcome! Hope you find your perfect ZHP and congrats on the wife/upcoming baby girl, very cool.

[Hermes]

Welcome Jon and good luck with your search

[danewilson77]

Welcome.

Sent from SIGFest 2012, via TTv1.5.4

[kayger12]

Welcome to the Family. Glad to have you.

[jayjay_dee]

Welcome to the family...

[Oli77]

Hi John,

Oh it'll be a proper manual transmission all right. It'll be finicky and a bit hard to gauge at time, especially at low rmps. But with higher rpm's things get in line a lot more cleanly I find.

Good luck and where is the one your are looking at across the country?

[ranger]

Welcome - I found a clean 2005 Alpine White ZHP Coupe that is my daily driver here in Atlanta. Good luck!

[Johnmadd]

Welcome

[JupiterBMW]

Hi guys and thanks for the replies! And many thanks for the advice with the baby coming! We will be looking to pinch pennies wherever we can, that's for sure... Heck, the little squirt isn't here yet and she already got a brand new BMW to ride around in! Spoiled brat! Hahaha...

As for the ZHP... Yeah, I've been looking an insane amount. There were 4 AW ZHP sedans online, but one of them seems to have disappeared. One in Texas, Colorado, Washington, and the one that disappeared was in California. Of the 3 that remain, they are all 6 spds, and have mileage ranging from 37K to 114K... The one I mentioned before is the Colorado one, 67K miles, firm price at $16,3xx... Thoughts on that? It looks really clean, and KBB says its a pretty accurate price...

I just need to sell the Altima... Pass the link around if you know anyone interested! Thanks!! http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/cto/2941191790.html

[mimalmo]

Welcome

[elric]

Welcome to the family. Congrats on the 'soon to arrive' new member to your family.

[Johnmadd]

I've driven a altima ser, fun car...

[Newjack]

Welcome!

[Nomar06]

Welcome!

[JupiterBMW]

Thanks again for all the replies. As for the Altima, yeah, its a fun car, and gets a lot of attention, but mostly because people never see that Altima I suppose... Much like a ZHP version of your otherwise everyday E46 BMW...

The rated power on the ZHP is less than the Altima, but I'm not really concerned with power. I'm more looking forward to getting into a RWD car and getting a clutch pedal again! This does mean I'll have to teach my wife to drive manual... Geez... I'm guessing shortly after I'll have a great opportunity to do a clutch upgrade and do the CDV delete..

Anyway, I will keep you all posted on the ZHP purchase!

[static667]

Welcome to the Mafia, Jon. I hope you find that AW you want. I'm kinda partial to that color myself.

[Newjack]

Thanks again for all the replies. As for the Altima, yeah, its a fun car, and gets a lot of attention, but mostly because people never see that Altima I suppose... Much like a ZHP version of your otherwise everyday E46 BMW...

The rated power on the ZHP is less than the Altima, but I'm not really concerned with power. I'm more looking forward to getting into a RWD car and getting a clutch pedal again! This does mean I'll have to teach my wife to drive manual... Geez... I'm guessing shortly after I'll have a great opportunity to do a clutch upgrade and do the CDV delete..

Anyway, I will keep you all posted on the ZHP purchase!

Power isn't everything. It's all about torque, and when you have it. A stock 04' Infiniti G35 sport coupe with a 3.5l V6 @280hp only makes it from 0-60 in 6.1 seconds. Most Japanese cars boast high horsepower numbers, but their torque suffers, and your revs have to be sky high before you can tap into all of its power.

Plain and simple, BMW's are a much more refined driver's car.

Swag vs Class IMHO


Either way, all cars are great in their own rights. I don't see many AW ZHP's, so I really hope it works out for you! Good luck!

[Ryans323i]

Welcome to the mafia. Baby girls are the best! Ok, I'm partial. I've got an eight year old baby girl myself. ;)
Best of luck with the AW ZHP. Hope you find the exact one you want!

[JupiterBMW]

Power isn't everything. It's all about torque, and when you have it. A stock 04' Infiniti G35 sport coupe with a 3.5l V6 @280hp only makes it from 0-60 in 6.1 seconds. Most Japanese cars boast high horsepower numbers, but their torque suffers, and your revs have to be sky high before you can tap into all of its power.

Plain and simple, BMW's are a much more refined driver's car.

Swag vs Class IMHO


Either way, all cars are great in their own rights. I don't see many AW ZHP's, so I really hope it works out for you! Good luck!

Yes absolutely, I completely agree. As for those numbers, I'm guessing that's because the G was a bigger more cushy luxury car. My car came stock with about 260hp/250 lb-ft and was advertised to do 0-60 in 5.9 seconds.. I actually went to a dyno meet back in the day and it put 244hp down to the wheels... Surprisingly quick for such a big car. I never tested 0-60, but bone stock it ran a 14.5... Not too shabby... Regardless, I do totally agree with you. The BMW is a much more refined car, and honestly, I am tired of driving a Japanese car.

If I didn't agree with you, I wouldn't be on this board relentlessly searching for my ZHP... :)



Welcome to the mafia. Baby girls are the best! Ok, I'm partial. I've got an eight year old baby girl myself. ;)
Best of luck with the AW ZHP. Hope you find the exact one you want!

Haha, thanks man! I'm super super stoked for the little one to arrive. I simply cannot WAIT to have her! Heck, she was the reason that Mommy let me go out and buy the new X3... I can't wait to get home and see that thing! As for the ZHP, if I get the one I'm hoping for, she'll be my 2nd baby girl... Hah!

[M0nk3y]

Welcome!

Best of luck with your searching. Patience will pay off!

[mLuMaN83]

Welcome! Patience! It WILL come. Stay in the hunt and wait for the right one.

[328ioc]

Welcome

[johnrando]

Yes absolutely, I completely agree. As for those numbers, I'm guessing that's because the G was a bigger more cushy luxury car. My car came stock with about 260hp/250 lb-ft and was advertised to do 0-60 in 5.9 seconds.. I actually went to a dyno meet back in the day and it put 244hp down to the wheels... Surprisingly quick for such a big car. I never tested 0-60, but bone stock it ran a 14.5... Not too shabby... Regardless, I do totally agree with you. The BMW is a much more refined car, and honestly, I am tired of driving a Japanese car.

If I didn't agree with you, I wouldn't be on this board relentlessly searching for my ZHP... :)




Haha, thanks man! I'm super super stoked for the little one to arrive. I simply cannot WAIT to have her! Heck, she was the reason that Mommy let me go out and buy the new X3... I can't wait to get home and see that thing! As for the ZHP, if I get the one I'm hoping for, she'll be my 2nd baby girl... Hah!

Ryans323i is actually a woman... but no worries as you didn't know. I have two girls, so I can tell you first hand that girls are precious.

[JupiterBMW]

LOL, whoops! My best man's name was Ryan... I just assumed! Sorry!

[danewilson77]

LOL, whoops! My best man's name was Ryan... I just assumed! Sorry!

No worries. She can take it. Trust me.

Sent from SIGFest 2012, via TTv1.5.4

[JAMFAM]

A big mafia welcome! You will find the right car if you are patient.

As the father of five girls, I have a little advice.....1) Buy the 6spd car of your dreams NOW. You may never get another chance. Just do it!
2) Don't ever teach your wife or children to drive a manual :-)

[JupiterBMW]

Hmm, not teaching the wife to drive it DOES definitely have its benefits! I'll have to rethink teaching her how to drive manual if/when I get my hands on a ZHP...

[Hermes]

He can teach the kids... there probably won't be many manuals around in 16 years anyways

[328ioc]

Regarding your past post Jupiter. 16.3k for a car with 67k seems a little high to me but it also depends on the area. Look through the "What did you pay for your ZHP" thread that will give you a better idea.

[JAMFAM]

He can teach the kids... there probably won't be many manuals around in 16 years anyways

Sad, but true.

[JupiterBMW]

Thanks for the info 328... I do intend to cruise that thread... The car is in Colorado.. We shall see what the condition is like...

[328ioc]

Thanks for the info 328... I do intend to cruise that thread... The car is in Colorado.. We shall see what the condition is like...


The only thing I would be super OCD about with a car out the is rust because of all the road salt and crap in the winter.

[JupiterBMW]

Yup, definitely going to pay super close attention to that. I have been trying to find cars in the lower region of the country to avoid that, but it seems most of the Texas/Arizona cars are loaded with dust! If it isn't one thing, its another!!!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Jon, welcome to the forum. I missed this thread the first time around.

[quikryptonite]

Welcome and good luck with the search. It's worth the wait to find the right one!

[WOLFN8TR]

LOL, whoops! I just assumed!

Ha Ha...Me too don't feel bad.

[JupiterBMW]

Thanks for the continued welcome guys... Tomorrow morning I check out the ZHP that could very well become mine. Very excited!