My name's Alain, and I am considering the purchase of a Nissan 300zx.
I've always liked Nissans, especially the 300zx for the way it looks
and sounds, but I have no idea what they are like to own, drive, etc.
Which brings me here to this forum.
I've already got a daily driver, which is a 2001 Saturn SC2. Its good
on gas, fully loaded, and is a very nice car, and while I love it do
bits, it is by no means a performance vehicle! I find myself craving real performance.
Anyways, I'm hoping that through browsing this forum and talking to all of you, I'll be able to make an educated descision on the purchase of a 300.
My name's Alain, and I am considering the purchase of a Nissan 300zx.
I've always liked Nissans, especially the 300zx for the way it looks
and sounds, but I have no idea what they are like to own, drive, etc.
Which brings me here to this forum.
I've already got a daily driver, which is a 2001 Saturn SC2. Its good
on gas, fully loaded, and is a very nice car, and while I love it do
bits, it is by no means a performance vehicle! I find myself craving real performance.
Anyways, I'm hoping that through browsing this forum and talking to all of you, I'll be able to make an educated descision on the purchase of a 300.
Cheers!
The Z is a great icon of the 90's. Which Z are you looking to get a TT (TwinTurbo) or a NA (Normally Aspirated)?
And do you have a cash reserve to do all the maintenance?
I think ideally I'd like the twin turbo. The n/a car would be nice, but doesn't have to power figures I'm looking for. I wanna be able to put down a serious amount of power without getting too far into aftermarket stuff.
I'm not exactly a do it yourselfer when it comes to cars... unfortunately I dont have the time or the mechanical prowess to be able to do much more than bolt-ons...
I guess one of my bigger questions is how much cash should I have reserved, presuming I can find a late generation with lower milage (which shouldn't be too hard based on a few searches I've done)
Nissans are supposely pretty well built, and I've read that the engines should last an average of 250,000 miles if properly maintained.
What are more common failure points of a 90-94 300zx TT?
I've read alternators might be problematic? What about transmissions and engines, or other things like that?
The last thing I wanna do is get stuck with a lemon!
If it's a TT then you'll need to have the motor checked out along with the turbos. I won't lie the Z32 cost a lot to maintain because the VG30dett is cramped in the engine bay.
Also have patients when looking for a TT they a very hard to find in good shape.
IMHO, the 90-96 Nissan 300ZX is the best car ever! I have owned two of them. Once you drive one, it's difficlult to go back to anything else (including brand new cars of today). Sit in one and take it for a test drive...you'll likely be sold right there!
Like it's been said, the car is expensive to work on! The engine is crammed with a huge motor. If you're cool with expensive maintenance, then you'll be fine. They also don't get the greatest gas mileage, either. Just a head's up.
I know what you mean about wanting a TT. I would much rather start out with a 5-speed TT (300hp) or even an automatic TT (280hp) as opposed to getting a non-turbo and doing the aftermarket stuff. Check Craigs List often as there are numerous Z's on there all the time. I drove a TT and it was difficult to go back to my non-turbo!
Both of my Z's have been a 1990 2+2. My first was an automatic, cloth interior, and over 200,000 miles. The one I have now is a 5-speed, upgraded features/leather interior, and only 83,000 original miles. I absolutely love the car. You just want to make sure the t-tops don't leak before you buy it, since it's totally normal for most t-tops that old to develop leaks.
Even if you settle for a non-turbo like me, you'll probably still be really happy. I decided on my non-turbo since it was extremely clean and I got a great deal on it. Take your time looking on Craigs List (or wherever) and you should eventually find one you like. Good luck!
I hope maintenance doesn't cost too much. I am waiting to buy until I find a nice clean one with low milage. They are out there, I just gotta be patient. I dont wanna have a project car, but if it needs some work to get it up to spec, I wont worry too much.
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