Tell me about the 300ZX please?

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Soldato
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My girlfriend is after a 300ZX and i would like to know as much as possible about them.
So any and every detail about them would be great as i know bugger all about these cars:)

Also out of interest whats the different in Performace between the NA model and the Twin Turbo?


Thanks all:)
 
Zefan said:
Heavy.

That's my lot :p
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No heavier than an M3 and nobody goes around calling those heavy barges :confused:.

Performance difference between the NA and TT is night and day, even though the 60bhp difference may seem trivial. NA lacks the Super HICAS system but that's no biggie lots of people don't like it anyway. NA is generally more reliable, obviously no turbo's to fail, less stress on drivetrain, less engine bay heat means less perished/cracked rubbers and plastics. Despite the lack of power it's the view of many that the NA offers the better/more enjoyable driving experience due to the NA responsiveness. My opinion however is that these cars are in their element going fast in a straight line, so get a twin turbo.
TT engine can be taken up to about 380bhp easily with just free flowing intake and exhaust, re-mapped chip and boost-up. Manual box will blow the clutch quickly at this power though so you'd need an RPS street clutch or similar.
Autoboxes can prove to be unreliable, aftermarket oil cooler is essential for them to prolong the life. Not such a problem with NA models though.

Anything specific you want to know just ask, I know a good bit about them.
 
Clarkey said:
Anything specific you want to know just ask, I know a good bit about them.
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How easy is it to apply racing stripes ;)

Honestly I would consider one just for the stupidly low price they demand, and their fantastic 'Get outta ma way' presence :D
 
Tired old 80's Jap cars, once good but now the glory has faded. A pain to keep running becuase everything about them is getting so old, a poor choice for your girlfriend.
 
Heavy, probably disinteresting to drive, NA's sluggish, TTs expensive to run, are the first few things that jump into my mind...probably not that engaging, either.
 
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yer, quick in a straight line, turbo gaskets a common failure point at highish milage which is a engine out job (unless your mechanic has stretch armstrong's arms...)
Better off with a tuned 200sx in all honesty
 
Lashout_UK said:
Heavy, probably disinteresting to drive, NA's sluggish, TTs expensive to run, are the first few things that jump into my mind...probably not that engaging, either.
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Weren't you on about getting a Supra not long ago? :confused:

Siliconslave said:
yer, quick in a straight line, turbo gaskets a common failure point at highish milage which is a engine out job (unless your mechanic has stretch armstrong's arms...)
Better off with a tuned 200sx in all honesty
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Wrong, I've never heard of a case of turbo gasket failure in all the 7 years i've been a regular on the owners club forum. Rear oil seal failure is common, often triggered by the reduction in back pressure after fitting de-cat pipes. Yeah turbo work is an engine out job, expensive but it's not like a daily occurance. Not being funny but a 200sx is no substitute for a 300.
 
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Yea, I went off the idea for the majority of the same reasons :D - part of why I engaged that discussion in the first place to see if that was the general consensus :)

Supra's still a good looking car, though ;) (all personal opinion mind!)
 
Would much prefer a 200SX / Supra / Older Skyline, out of all the jap cars around this era i think the 300ZX has aged the most.

But mind saying that i've never been a huge fan, looks far too Fat American GT to me.
 
Got to stick my nose into this thread.

There's been mention of it being a heavy car. Maybe if you pretend that an M3 or a Vette weigh less. So what are you comparing it to? A hot hatch?

Secondly comments such as 'probably disinteresting to drive' WTF does that mean? How can you know if you've not driven one lol? FYI the 95 Vette feels very very similar to a 300zx in handling.

Looks are I suppose subjective. Personally for me I get turned off by the relentlessly boring BMW look. Something like a Trans Am does it better for me. Because this is my personal opinion it means that all BMW's are tired, old, boring & crap. FACT...

Tuning is like any other Jap car. Expensive in the UK but not in the US or OZ. There's a massive 300zx following down under too. When you compare tuning to a Skyline or course working on it is going to be more difficult. You have a V6 in a smaller engine bay with twice as many turbos lol. You have just got to deal with it.
 
Nice looking car, the back looks wicked with the twin exhausts and style like no other car but apprently costly to maintain.

If i had the money to maintain one i would buy one :cool:
 
Dublove said:
Got to stick my nose into this thread.

There's been mention of it being a heavy car. Maybe if you pretend that an M3 or a Vette weigh less. So what are you comparing it to? A hot hatch?
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E36 M3 1460kg
300ZX 2+2 1610kg

No pretending. The M3 of the same era weighs 150kg less.
 
And dont forget the M3 figures are taken in the ridiculously irrelevent time honoured BMW fashion of a load of 2 adults, full tank of fuel and luggage. Why they do this I will NEVER know becuase I dont know about you but if I'm interested in performance its not when I've filled the boot with crap, brimmed the tank and am about to set off with the girlfriend in tow..

I actually weighed my 5 Series and it was some 100kg short of the BMW figure for it. No wonder, given I didnt have a boot full of crap and a fat bloke sat beside me.
 
Dublove said:
Got to stick my nose into this thread.

There's been mention of it being a heavy car. Maybe if you pretend that an M3 or a Vette weigh less. So what are you comparing it to? A hot hatch?

Secondly comments such as 'probably disinteresting to drive' WTF does that mean? How can you know if you've not driven one lol? FYI the 95 Vette feels very very similar to a 300zx in handling.
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I made no comparisions, it was just an observation more than anything else......Either way a C4 is 100-220kg lighter depending on variant and what version of the Z32 you're comparing to :)

And yea, I found the '95 C4 not that interesting to own. That's why I sold it. Nice to drive though and excellent handling but just a bit soulless and lacking grunt. That's down my opinion and taste, however :)

I say 'disinteresting to drive' because it's a big, ~'90s Japanese coupe, stuffed with luxury and through general experience they're about as involving as......well, a not very involving thing :p Again, just personal opinion mind! Usually very well sorted cars though, regardless.
 
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