Friday 13th May 2011

SOTW: Nissan 300ZX

It might be a Nissan, but we'd rather have this than a Bluebird...

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One of the things we like more than anything else on a good Shed of the Week candidate is a decent, well-written advert. It shows that the sender cares enough about their motor to give it a proper sell, and generally (we reckon) that they're an honest enough sort.

We also reckon somebody punctilious enough to bother about a spot of speeling, punctuation and grammar (as well as a well-crafted ad) is also more likely to be the type to bother about a spot of regular servicing, care and general maintenance for their motor.

We have no hard data to back this theory up, of course, but shedding is all about going with gut feelings and intuition, isn't it?

This week, however, we are throwing our 'well-written advert' theory out of the window in favour of this Nissan 300ZX, spotted by PHer Ian Bond (only1ian) and suggested as a squint-and-you'll-get-it ancestor to our new PH fleet Infiniti G37 S (in as much as it's built by Nissan and features a naturally aspirated V6).

But, as tempting as £999 is for so much early 90s Japanese GT metal (tempting provided you like that sort of thing, of course), you do have to be prepared to look past the, er, eccentrically spelled advert, which features such gems as '11 moths MOT', an 'emobilizer' and a 'kenwood sterio'.

We are prepared to overlook the odd advert copy though - well, I am, because I have a well-known soft-spot for performance cars from the far east (and I don't mean Norfolk) - because this 1991 Z32 looks pretty clean.

Okay, so it's not the mighty-quick twin-turbo version, but it's unmodified (except for, from the sound of it, the exhaust), it has plenty of tax and ticket, and it's a rear-drive coupe with a not-unreasonable 222bhp and a manual gearbox. Heck, it's even the T-top version, so you can get yourself suitably sunburned while enjoying your large, fast (ish) Japanese coupe...

Of course, that lack of detail in the advert would mean you'd definitely need to give the car a good inspection, and find out if there's much paperwork with it but, on the face of it, this 300ZX looks like it could be a fine car. So who cares if the vendor isn't a fan of full stops, capital letters or the use of the word 'now' as opposed to 'know'?

Advert is reproduced below

300zx black (n/a manual) **£999** (1991)
90,000 miles £999

know reduced for quick sale formy 300zx, in very good condition, engine and manual gearbox are in very good condition,full electrics, seat mirrors windows, new disc pads all around 11 moths mot 5 months tax car is in every day use for short journeys, no knocks no problems, starts first time, toad alarm n emobilizer,kenwood sterio, full stainless twin exhaust sound beautifull must see

[grahamw48]

I presume the owner is looking for a smaller car.

[300bhp/ton]

Great shed. Still think these look modern. Nice to see one without some disaster of a body kit too.

That said, I do prefer the z31 visually....

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Friday 13th May 11:13

[STW2010]

These have interested me in the past. I personally think that they look very dated now though

[300bhp/ton]

STW2010 said:

These have interested me in the past. I personally think that they look very dated now though

What sort of pace are the non turbo ones? I know they are a bit portly, but I'd have thought they should still be hottish/warm hatch pace with a better top end??

[Riggers]

300bhp/ton said:

What sort of pace are the non turbo ones? I know they are a bit portly, but I'd have thought they should still be hottish/warm hatch pace with a better top end??

0-60 in 7.1secs, if Mr Carfolio is correct...

[Baffled Spoon]

Cut the guy some slack - I reckon by the time he finishes school, he'll be spelling like a champ.

[GKP]

Punctilious. Lovely.




But what's not to like about cars from Norfolk? Harrumph...

[SSBB]

It's a nice machine, but I suspect that if I had one, I would always regret not having bought the turbo model.

[mnkiboy]

Baffled Spoon said:

Cut the guy some slack - I reckon by the time he finishes school, he'll be spelling like a chimp.

EFA

[DickSkruttock]

Wouldn't want that plate... **** PRX

[gforceg]

I'm trying to picture seat mirrors.

[shouldbworking]

ad said:

car is in every day use for short journeys

Now, underline the key words in that sentence.

And now add the missing words 'because it brews up if you try to do long journeys'

[Riggers]

Baffled Spoon said:

Cut the guy some slack - I reckon by the time he finishes school, he'll be spelling like a champ.

quite. Presumably he's happy to part exchange for a Cozee Coupe or a Kettler pedal kart...

[mig25_foxbat2003]

Hmmm.... Complicated early 90s Jap electronics, shed money, badly-written ad...



I'm oot.

[6potdave]

Good shed! Looked at these before albeit the twin turbo version, didn't realise the NA gave 225bhp!

[diluculophile]

An emobilizer- It disables kids with floppy hair, bad taste in music and a tendency to cry...

[300bhp/ton]

SSBB said:

It's a nice machine, but I suspect that if I had one, I would always regret not having bought the turbo model.

Guess it depends on budget and running costs though. As Riggers said above, low 7's 0-60mph isn't too shabby (IMO).

So if you really don't need the practicality and don't mind the lower mpg I'd much rather on of these over something like Pug 306, Astra SRI, etc, etc.

[Trusty Steed]

Sorry, not my cup of tea. Plastic jap crap!

[RenesisEvo]

mig25_foxbat2003 said:

Hmmm.... Complicated early 90s Jap electronics

The very reason a good friend quickly got rid of his twin-turbo variant bought for little more than shed money. There is plenty to go wrong if it hasn't already.

[captain ash]

Big 6 cyl engine, RWD, convertible (ish), big road presence.

Whats not to like? Top shed! (despite the crap advert)