RE: Nissan 300ZX: Spotted
Discussion
coldel said:
I was really keen to get a 300zx a couple of years ago but the amount of rot-boxes I saw was unbelievable. The sills rot because the drainage from the targa roof goes down to an exit point in the sills which of course gets blocked up so the sills end up full of water. I ended up getting a Celica GT4 which has been a stunning car and very happy.
I would say these are less a sports coupe and more of a GT car like most of the later Nissan Z cars. The turbo engine is an utter nightmare to work on, it literally fills the entire space no chance of getting access to anything without serious time put in to remove stuff first.
£15k for this? No way. Minter TTs were going for £5k-£7k max 2 years ago, if you go on the bay now you can see a couple of almost identical cars, lower mileage, stunning looking condition, at £8k and £9k respectively.
They are certainly appreciating, but you have been utterly robbed if you pay £15k for this car.
Its overpriced by some margin but manual, UK cars command a premium over import autos, not sure how much but need to compare like with like, like the Supra, the UK versions got a different spec, leather vs cloth and quite a few other details.I would say these are less a sports coupe and more of a GT car like most of the later Nissan Z cars. The turbo engine is an utter nightmare to work on, it literally fills the entire space no chance of getting access to anything without serious time put in to remove stuff first.
£15k for this? No way. Minter TTs were going for £5k-£7k max 2 years ago, if you go on the bay now you can see a couple of almost identical cars, lower mileage, stunning looking condition, at £8k and £9k respectively.
They are certainly appreciating, but you have been utterly robbed if you pay £15k for this car.
I had one....for 6 months.
Fabulous car,on the road, rubbish on the track,not surprisingly.
In my short ownership I got through a pair of rear tyres,a gearbox and numerous little bits n bobs.Not a sturdy car,at least not when you're prone to doing burn outs and donuts lol.
Those were the days.
My 1 lasting memory is a fit young woman coming up to me whilst I was parked outside a nightclub chatting to my pal who was the doorman and saying it was the sexiest car she'd ever seen....and then toddled off with her boyfriend 😀
Fabulous car,on the road, rubbish on the track,not surprisingly.
In my short ownership I got through a pair of rear tyres,a gearbox and numerous little bits n bobs.Not a sturdy car,at least not when you're prone to doing burn outs and donuts lol.
Those were the days.
My 1 lasting memory is a fit young woman coming up to me whilst I was parked outside a nightclub chatting to my pal who was the doorman and saying it was the sexiest car she'd ever seen....and then toddled off with her boyfriend 😀
I had one of these back in 2005-2007, even back then most of them were butchered monstrosities. I always liked the 300zx and at the time managed to pick mine up with about 20k miles, 1 owner (Jim Marshall no less, RIP), always garaged, FNSH, no mods.
Even so, the car did suffer corrosion, as mentioned by someone else, the sills would corrode due to the targa drains, and factory rust proofing is just a bit crap (from what I can tell GTRs are no better).
As mentioned elsewhere - this was Nissan's global sports car, the GTR was JDM only. Also the Mk4 Supra came out some years after the Z32 (Z32 = 1989 at its earliest, MK4 = 1993 IIRC).
I focussed on handling so I fitted a set of KYB AGX Shocks, Eibach Springs, Whiteline ARBs, Nismo bushes all round, R33 GTR Brembos, 350z Rays Rims, and finally the 1999 Spec 300ZX bodykit (imported at great expense!) - Yes Nissan made these right through to about 2001 - I think the 1999 kit updated the cars looks without losing any character - and after all is OEM so fit and finish is perfect.
In the end the car was run into while parked one evening in london and got written off. Shame.
Even so, the car did suffer corrosion, as mentioned by someone else, the sills would corrode due to the targa drains, and factory rust proofing is just a bit crap (from what I can tell GTRs are no better).
As mentioned elsewhere - this was Nissan's global sports car, the GTR was JDM only. Also the Mk4 Supra came out some years after the Z32 (Z32 = 1989 at its earliest, MK4 = 1993 IIRC).
I focussed on handling so I fitted a set of KYB AGX Shocks, Eibach Springs, Whiteline ARBs, Nismo bushes all round, R33 GTR Brembos, 350z Rays Rims, and finally the 1999 Spec 300ZX bodykit (imported at great expense!) - Yes Nissan made these right through to about 2001 - I think the 1999 kit updated the cars looks without losing any character - and after all is OEM so fit and finish is perfect.
In the end the car was run into while parked one evening in london and got written off. Shame.
Bladedancer said:
Looks like someone's trying to cash in o perceived classic status of 90s jap sports cars.
TBH this is pretty common across many mainstream brands now as they all try to cash in on increasing values of older premium cars. Most just don't sell unless absolutely mint and next to zero miles. 
The young IT boy at the agency I used to work for had/has one of these. He was a nice guy but a bit odd (hence the role in IT). He was obsessed by it and it was his only topic of conversation.
Thanks to still living at home he had plenty of money to throw at his and he did just that; he spent thousands and thousands and thousand on it. Being 10 years ago the original car cost a fair bit and as he was in his early 20s at the time the insurance was sky-high too.
He bought special bumpers from Japan, numerous handling mods and most expensive of all, some sort of über-turbo–supercharger set-up which give it at least 500bhp if I remember correctly. The car spent more time in garages being fettled than on the road.
Finally it was finished and one Friday he told me he was going to take it to a local meet that weekend. Monday morning came and a very dejected Chris sloped through the office. It transpired that he'd blown the thing up due to oil starvation. The engine mod people blamed the garage who supplied the turbo, the turbo suppliers blamed the garage that did the work to the engine.
In between these two waring factions was a fried Nissan and an owner massively out of pocket. The issue was never resolved during my time there and I wouldn't be surprised if the car is still holed up in a garage somewhere.
ETA: Turns out it's long gone and he now has an NSX.
Thanks to still living at home he had plenty of money to throw at his and he did just that; he spent thousands and thousands and thousand on it. Being 10 years ago the original car cost a fair bit and as he was in his early 20s at the time the insurance was sky-high too.
He bought special bumpers from Japan, numerous handling mods and most expensive of all, some sort of über-turbo–supercharger set-up which give it at least 500bhp if I remember correctly. The car spent more time in garages being fettled than on the road.
Finally it was finished and one Friday he told me he was going to take it to a local meet that weekend. Monday morning came and a very dejected Chris sloped through the office. It transpired that he'd blown the thing up due to oil starvation. The engine mod people blamed the garage who supplied the turbo, the turbo suppliers blamed the garage that did the work to the engine.
In between these two waring factions was a fried Nissan and an owner massively out of pocket. The issue was never resolved during my time there and I wouldn't be surprised if the car is still holed up in a garage somewhere.
ETA: Turns out it's long gone and he now has an NSX.
Edited by DrSteveBrule on Thursday 14th December 14:12
That Clarkson pic reminds me of the time Top Gear did an old v new challenge and a 300zx blew off a 350z
https://youtu.be/RrO-Phu3Hbw
https://youtu.be/RrO-Phu3Hbw
WCZ said:
V8RX7 said:
I always liked them, the reviews said they were more a GT car and when I've twice tried to find a good one - I couldn't.
Sub £10k they make a sensible choice IMO
did you try to find a good example using a search engine?Sub £10k they make a sensible choice IMO
When I read "..the 300ZX represents increasingly good value for money." I was anticipating £4-5k so seeing £15k means it'd be a no from me. To be fair I wouldn't pay that for a Skyline either but as much respect as I have for them, I have no urge to buy one.
I've always had a soft spot for the 300ZX though I will admit. I think because in my eyes it is the epitome of an 80s looking sports car. Just the styling and overall shape is what I'd have liked when I was a kid.
I think also, if anyone remembers the cartoon MASK, there was a purple 300ZX in that which turned into a plane. haha
I've always had a soft spot for the 300ZX though I will admit. I think because in my eyes it is the epitome of an 80s looking sports car. Just the styling and overall shape is what I'd have liked when I was a kid.
I think also, if anyone remembers the cartoon MASK, there was a purple 300ZX in that which turned into a plane. haha
stuckmojo said:
Nice cars, I always liked them. That was the golden era of Japan's sports cars.
They had a quirky looking key if I remember correctly.
Stil, £15k seems very ambitious. You can buy a newer 996 for that.
Have you researched the typical upkeep costs for a 996 assuming the motor isn't buggered? They had a quirky looking key if I remember correctly.
Stil, £15k seems very ambitious. You can buy a newer 996 for that.
A GOOD high mileage 996 will set you back £20k private, no warranty, sold as seen etc ...
@ £15k this would sell to someone who always wanted a get in and drive 300ZX, especially one that hasn't been in the possession of a 4 year old lad from Bradford.
Edited by TwinExit on Thursday 14th December 16:26
Alex_225 said:
When I read "..the 300ZX represents increasingly good value for money." I was anticipating £4-5k so seeing £15k means it'd be a no from me. To be fair I wouldn't pay that for a Skyline either but as much respect as I have for them, I have no urge to buy one.
I've always had a soft spot for the 300ZX though I will admit. I think because in my eyes it is the epitome of an 80s looking sports car. Just the styling and overall shape is what I'd have liked when I was a kid.
I think also, if anyone remembers the cartoon MASK, there was a purple 300ZX in that which turned into a plane. haha
If that 300zx has evidence of proper care, maintenance and no cutting corners of replacement parts - £15k for a car 2+2 big power grand tourer that retailed for nearly £40k in the 1990's is a good price. Same goes for the 928, 3000GT, Jaguar XJ-S, XK-R, Supra etc etcI've always had a soft spot for the 300ZX though I will admit. I think because in my eyes it is the epitome of an 80s looking sports car. Just the styling and overall shape is what I'd have liked when I was a kid.
I think also, if anyone remembers the cartoon MASK, there was a purple 300ZX in that which turned into a plane. haha
The problem is you are into budget French hatches, so its clearly not the car for you (nor for me either!).
James Junior said:
I watch the market for used nineties Jap stuff closely as I want to start collecting a few more next year.
Prices have been rocketing over the past two years and as Jacko says, it is very difficult to find cars that haven't been butchered by tasteless modifiers.
It may be pretty strong money but I bet this will be gone within a week or two.
She looks mint and the price for this will only go up. Its a ballsy buy but then it will make you money provided you don't stack it. I think you should buy it as a Xmas bonus present to yourself. Prices have been rocketing over the past two years and as Jacko says, it is very difficult to find cars that haven't been butchered by tasteless modifiers.
It may be pretty strong money but I bet this will be gone within a week or two.
TwinExit said:
stuckmojo said:
Nice cars, I always liked them. That was the golden era of Japan's sports cars.
They had a quirky looking key if I remember correctly.
Stil, £15k seems very ambitious. You can buy a newer 996 for that.
Have you researched the typical upkeep costs for a 996 assuming the motor isn't buggered? They had a quirky looking key if I remember correctly.
Stil, £15k seems very ambitious. You can buy a newer 996 for that.
A GOOD high mileage 996 will set you back £20k private, no warranty, sold as seen etc ...
@ £15k this would sell to someone who always wanted a get in and drive 300ZX, especially one that hasn't been in the possession of a 4 year old lad from Bradford.
'especially one that hasn't been in the possession of a 4 year old lad from Bradford.'
Take a bow
Edited by TwinExit on Thursday 14th December 16:26
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