Yep been there done that. Can confirm everything said above is spot on.

Manfrotto Befree works for me! Light, compact, and under $200. Decent for car shoots, I think!

Hey! Consider a Benro TMA28A. Carbon fiber, around 3.5lbs, and decent vibration dampening. Check its load capacity against your Z fc + lens combo for sharp car shots.

Consider a Manfrotto. Stability is key; a falling camera is never worth it.

Skip fancy. An older Manfrotto tripod ($100 used) and a decent head will work great.

Hey! I've had a Manfrotto BeFree for 5+ years. Still works great for car shots. Not the *most* stable in high wind, but decent option within your budget, IMO.

Skip tripods, honestly. I’ve had issues with cheap ones. For $200, build a DIY camera slider. Much more versatile for car shots, especially panning. Check YouTube; lumber and some bearings. Not as good as a Manfrotto, but way more creative for the price and lasts longer than those flimsy tripods.

Manfrotto's popular! Market data shows great resale, even after years. Check used listings!

If you're in Arizona like me, forget carbon fiber – it bakes! For $200, consider a used Manfrotto aluminum tripod. They're tough, readily available used, and humidity/heat won't kill them like composites. Check Craigslist/OfferUp. Resale is good if you upgrade later.