I'm coming to a bit of a turning point in my zed ownership, at the end of September I'll have had it a year. This isn't a long time to have owned it I realise but I've hand plenty of ups and downs already. For a first car it's been awesome but it's already falling apart a bit and needs at least grand spending on it. So do I go for it and sort the old girl out or do I move on to greener/younger pastures such as an S2000? Do I spend the money on the 300ZX or on getting a fresher car with less miles and years on the clock?

You get an absolutely brilliant 300zx for the price of a shabby S2000.

I'm coming to a bit of a turning point in my zed ownership, at the end of September I'll have had it a year. This isn't a long time to have owned it I realise but I've hand plenty of ups and downs already. For a first car it's been awesome but it's already falling apart a bit and needs at least grand spending on it. So do I go for it and sort the old girl out or do I move on to greener/younger pastures such as an S2000? Do I spend the money on the 300ZX or on getting a fresher car with less miles and years on the clock?

 

trouble with these cars are theyre getting on, and theres always going to be something to replace as the years go buy, from little niggles to major issues wear and tear.

 

it all depends if you can justify spending huge amounts, or would you go for a newer car and spend the same.

 

what im trying to get is no matter how much you spend the Z is always going to be worth 3-5k where as if you bought a s2000 theyll always be worth a bit more but not as special as the zed due to road presence and the turbo Rush.

 

what other cars are you thinking of?

It's just the S2000 at the moment really, it's good value for the age and specs as far as I can tell. Plus the 300 feels pretty heavy sometimes so I'm liking the idea of something a that's a bit lighter and nippier. Are there any other cars I should be looking at? I thought about the 350Z but they're more expansive than the S2000 and seem to be common as muck and pretty drab inside.

On the "common as muck" side alone, how many S2000's do you see? Then ask yourself how many 300ZX's do you see? I bet you see a hell of a lot more S2000's than 300's ;)

I very rarely see any Zeds these days (apart from the one I walk past every morning)

The S2000 will probably be more reliable, but then it's a lot newer than a Zed. You can't really compare the two as they are totally different cars for different markets.

 

You've got to look at it from the point of what YOU really want out of the car!

It's just the S2000 at the moment really, it's good value for the age and specs as far as I can tell. Plus the 300 feels pretty heavy sometimes so I'm liking the idea of something a that's a bit lighter and nippier. Are there any other cars I should be looking at? I thought about the 350Z but they're more expansive than the S2000 and seem to be common as muck and pretty drab inside.

 

how about a SWB 300ZX?

Stick with the Zed,

 

But if the rot has set in, don't go throwing good money at it. Sometimes its best to cut your losses. I had a sierra Xr4x4 which was immaculate when i bought it and i spent another 3k modifying it.. I used it for work and did 30k in 2 yrs in it. But then it started developing drivetrain problems - trouble was it had started to rot quite badly, in the end i sold it for scrap.

 

Probably best you invest in a decent one from the off.

 

The S2000 is a decent car, agreed. But its as different as chalk and cheese. The performance is ok, but going from a big cube turbo, to a small engine fizz pot would leave you feeling short changed IMO. Top end power is alright, but there is no torque whatsoever. And... although it handles reasonably, Honda never really nailed it, the later versions were an improvement on the originals, but still managed to miss the mark.

 

Best thing you can do is make a short list of 5-6 potential cars (i would also consider the 200sx, Skyline gts-t, mx5 - mk 1, MR2 - mk2) and drive them all befor you part company with your money. There are so many good RWD jap cars and a few german ones - so shop around. If you still fancy a S2000, then dive in.

 

But ultimately, I'd say get a TT manual and stick with a proper car!:wink:

I'd say go buy the S2000, live with it for a month and see what you think.

 

Prefer it to the zed then keep if not then sell and buy a better 300zx :)

 

Big fan of the S2000, wicked, fun, VERY relaiable, well built cars for not much cash.

It's just the S2000 at the moment really, it's good value for the age and specs as far as I can tell. Plus the 300 feels pretty heavy sometimes so I'm liking the idea of something a that's a bit lighter and nippier. Are there any other cars I should be looking at? I thought about the 350Z but they're more expansive than the S2000 and seem to be common as muck and pretty drab inside.

 

If its something lighter and nippier then how about a later model slicktop TT manual. Makes the LWB feel big, heavy and wobbly.

 

S2000 has never realy interested me personally. Im sure its a great car, but its uninspiring.

Edited July 29, 201015 yr by Yowser

Commonness wise I don't see many S2000's really, where as I see 1 or 2 350Z's every day regardless of where I am. I'll admit that I barely ever see a 300ZX but on the other hand the rarity of the car has bit me in the arse when it came to fixing things before.

I sold my car a few weeks ago and was looking around the market to see what was around i had just over £4500 to spend, the choices was a RX8, shabby RX7 or a good 300zx

As you might of guessed i went for a 300zx and no regrets its my daily car and already had a few problems but shes worth it. people ask what is it "ive never seen a car like that" others point at it as you drive past because as someone else said you just dont see them.

stick with it bud or your miss it when its gone :)

If I could find a clean SWB blower for reasonable money it does sound along the lines of what I'd really like from my car.

If I could find a clean SWB blower for reasonable money it does sound along the lines of what I'd really like from my car.

 

Was just trying to find a link for you, but it would seem the car has sold. There was a silver slicktop on autotrader or pistonheads, but not there now. Think they were asking 3.5k - but can't remember the spec.. Doesn't matter...

 

Did you have the auto or manual?

 

Two very different personalities. Both have their respective good points, but a manual will make the car feel more athletic. It is a big car though, so if you've not had much experience handling things with 'real girth' its probably best you wimp out and buy a Honda...

 

Nissan motorsport = NISMO

Honda motorsport = HOMO

 

:whistling:

Was just trying to find a link for you, but it would seem the car has sold. There was a silver slicktop on autotrader or pistonheads, but not there now. Think they were asking 3.5k - but can't remember the spec.. Doesn't matter...

 

Did you have the auto or manual?

 

Two very different personalities. Both have their respective good points, but a manual will make the car feel more athletic. It is a big car though, so if you've not had much experience handling things with 'real girth' its probably best you wimp out and buy a Honda...

 

Nissan motorsport = NISMO

Honda motorsport = HOMO

 

:whistling:

I have a manual LWB blower currently, and it's the only car I've ever owned so I'm as used to driving the fat arse as much as anything. The only other car I've driven much is my mum's Volvo 940 which ain't exactly dainty...

 

In the end though I'd kind of like to get a car from 2000 onwards, just for the peace of mind and the only cars of that age in the right kind of price range are the S2000 and 350Z and a few German cars.

 

Don't be too harsh on Honda, the NSX is sexy as hell...and £20000....

My friend has got an S2000, we test drove one when he had his skyline gtst33, he wanted it imediately. So he went and bought one for £8K and loved it, until i took him out in a turbocharged car again, hes now looking towards s15's and rx7's

Basically the car was mint and never ever broke, amazingly reliable, but as already said, you will miss turbo power :D

I have a manual LWB blower currently, and it's the only car I've ever owned so I'm as used to driving the fat arse as much as anything. The only other car I've driven much is my mum's Volvo 940 which ain't exactly dainty...

 

In the end though I'd kind of like to get a car from 2000 onwards, just for the peace of mind and the only cars of that age in the right kind of price range are the S2000 and 350Z and a few German cars.

 

Don't be too harsh on Honda, the NSX is sexy as hell...and £20000....

 

a 2000 300zx Slicktop Manual TT :)

I have a manual LWB blower currently, and it's the only car I've ever owned so I'm as used to driving the fat arse as much as anything. The only other car I've driven much is my mum's Volvo 940 which ain't exactly dainty...

 

In the end though I'd kind of like to get a car from 2000 onwards, just for the peace of mind and the only cars of that age in the right kind of price range are the S2000 and 350Z and a few German cars.

 

Don't be too harsh on Honda, the NSX is sexy as hell...and £20000....

 

Worthy of praise indeed. The NSX is truly a supercar. If I could afford one I'd have one for sure. As far as 'Halo' models go, the NSX was bang on the money.

 

Variety is the spice of life though, so - while you're extremely lucky to have had a Zed for a first car, its probably best you sample other pleasures. I mean, you didn't marry your first girlfriend did you? Best to sow some oats befor you settle down and spoil things..:biggrin:

 

So yeah - bang one out in an S2000 for a bit. I have a mag with an article on turbo charging them - apparently someone ran 600bhp on stock internals while on a test bed when developing the turbo package. Tried to break it, but couldn't.. I have the magazine - Banzai, i think - if you ever need it, give me a shout.

Having to spend a grand to sort a 300zx out is nothing really and a good repair on a S2000 isn't going to be cheap.

If your car is a tired example, with old shocks, poor brakes, tired bushes etc, then it ain't going to feel good, then there's the general condition of the exterior and interior. Again, if shabby, which many will be, it won't feel good to own.

I've spent a fortune on mine, overalling it and it feels and drives great! Its excellent inside and out and so feels good to drive & own.

So you could make yours really good, or buy a really good one from say a forum member thats spent a fortune, but it sounds like you just fancy a S2000 now and thats fair enough.

But selling your Zed and buying a good S2000 is still going to be a costly affair.

 

Best of luck.:)

Edited July 29, 201015 yr by turbocraigy

Oh i forgot to say that yeah, you can turbo and supercharge easily, stock internals, theres one on youtube, s2000 from hell or something like that killing superbikes on stock internals, to me that is very impressive.

Well I could always get a turbocharged S2000.....I've seen a few

As you can tell I didn't read the second page before typing that reply. When I say my car needs a grand spent on it I'm just guessing really. It needs a new exhaust, new bits of trim variously, the spoiler needs repainting/replacing, needs a new undertray thingy, it's making some crunchy clunky noises on the front suspension area and it recently started blowing blue smoke when I start it. There's other things I'm sure so it could well cost more than my estimate to fix nicely.

 

I think what I like about the S2000 is that it's meant to be pretty damn bullet proof, with all those good survey results etc.