As you know I have listed two quite amazing zeds over the past few days, and I have received some incredible comments from the members here regarding my cars and indeed my position about becoming a trader here. I have also been asked to source cars for individuals which I am already on the case. However no one as yet has made any noises about buying or even looking at the two I currently have for sale, maybe I am just being impatient! The whole project for me relies on turnaround to obtain regular cars, so if I have placed myself in the (too perfect ) category for cars then any feedback would be gratefully appreciated. I mean would I be better off getting lower priced cars that are not as pristine as the ones I have already got. My initial thoughts are that everyone seems to want manual TT vehicles over and above anything else. Is that true or am I just presuming? The people I trust the most are the people on this forum, you are all in love with this car and like me most of you have had these forever. So your comments I value. I really want to make a go of this and I even have thought about a name for the trade business ' The Z Shed ' What do you think?. My future as a trader will rely soley on being able to sell cars. Help me with your thoughts please..Garry

I would agree that most people seem to want to pay peanuts for a good one. The other thing might be that those of us that would pay more are very particular about what we want! I'm not sure the cars you've shown here so far would be exactly to my taste, but I know if I was in the position now of importing one I'd probably ask you to do it on my behalf. You've got some excellent cars but you might have to sit on them for a bit.

Good thought, but there in lies the problem. Sit on the cars no revolving cash fund to buy more cars. I can probably get another 2-3 but no sales after that and there will be a problem. I am probably just getting worried, and I am sure the purple TT auto which arrives end of August will get the ball rolling

Hi Garry. You have indeed shown us two fine examples of Zeds, but you are aiming at the very top end of the market on price, when the rise in values of the Zed range has only just started showing positive movement.

 

I don't know what research you did before deciding on the import models, but as you have now realised the preference in the UK is generally for Manual TT LWB models, which is why you see so many cars with gearbox conversions. The cars you have whilst immaculate are the leased desirable or have a narrow following, Normally aspirated cars are limited in their appeal because of the performance and modification factor and convertibles are a bit like marmite for many Zed enthusiasts, probably due to our climate where the benefits of a Targa almost meets that of a convertible but more beneficial as a year round drive (although many cars hibernate).

 

If you going to look for a more specialist area then Slick tops and SWB manuals have a good appreciation in the UK, but as a new business your model should be based on supply and demand, supply good clean popular model cars, well priced and you will get the demand, but maintain specialist or least desirable models, no matter how clean and you will struggle to move them quickly especially at the top end of the price range as you seem to be targeting.

 

As for the name, " Z Shed" anything in motoring containing the word "Shed" has it's own connotations whether its a double meaning or not, perhaps this should have been considered as part of your business plan before you started, but it may work, again depending on how you want to reflect the standard of cars and the service you want to deliver as a business.

 

Get back to mainstream models and maybe look at moving the cars you have at a more competitive price, firstly to maintain your cash flow, establish your reputation as a trader for good quality, value models and then you can create a stronger demand for the models that would move quickly for you.

 

For what it's worth, don't always presume, fancy alloys, body mods and upgraded interiors are the way to go. I can assure you there is a strong trend for stock high quality cars as the market values rise and a large number of Zed owners prefer the standard factory look with a few cosmetics.

 

Good luck with your venture and don't lose faith...but don't sit on stock either, it will convey the wrong signals to your market.

My thoughts are like this:

 

The majority of members (and prospective customers) here would be looking for the TT variant, preferably in a manual. If I had a few grand burning a hole in my pocket and was in the market, that's what I'd personally be looking for.

 

There is absolutely no denying that the two Zeds you've listed are stunning machines. The convertible, I feel, is a bit of an acquired taste generally. And the 22k mile targa is something that a serious collector would buy, rather than an average member on here.

 

That Shortie is the sort of car that would get taken to a proper classic car show for the public to drool over, rather than a car that would be bought as a going concern.

 

My thought is that they should both be advertised on a classic and collectors website as I think they'll get far more interest there.

 

Yes, we love the Z32 here, but we predominantly want to drive and tinker with them. Altering anything at all on the 22k miler would be tantamount to sacrilege and I don't think we have any real collectors on here.

Appreciate your thoughts and the length of your reply. Thank you. Shed may be wrong so I will rethink that one. I agree wholeheartedly with the modification senario. I believe the closer to stock the better. again thanks

My 2 penneth, been in the Z game for a good few years now.

 

The pick of the crop, the spec that everyone wants are twin turbo manuals. This is pretty much where the money is and where the interest lies. Anything else, you're going to struggle to shift as quickly as you want it.

 

The purple TT you have is a lovely car, if it were a manual, you'd likely have double the interest and some.

 

In addition, most people on here that are on the website already have a Z32. Sure, if you're looking for one specifically, then you might come here to view those for sale. Surprisingly, those that are new to the Z game, won't, so you're probably going to be waiting a bit longer for the right person to buy the right car. Most of the noobs we have here generally start of with 'hi, I'm new here, just bought my first Z32' having found the owners club after purchase.

 

Get your cars up on Pistonheads and Autotrader.

 

I also think that you need to focus on sourcing rather than just bringing over and if you're doing that then it either needs to be a TT Manual, some sort of tuner special from someone like Tommy Kaira, Impul, Pentroof etc and also some of the later cars. 99-spec TTs, although appreciate these still have quite high residuals in Japan.

Edited June 16, 201510 yr by Funkysi
Grammar!

some sort of tuner special from someone like Tommy Kaira

 

I would absolutely love to see an M30Z! Still haven't even spotted one at auction :(

The Z32 in the UK is a rare car. In the Uk Jap scene its not a popular choice

This is a very small club and 99 out of 100 members already have a Z32.

The vast majority of members are "clubmen" owners and own club type cars.

That makes it a poor place to market any Z32 let alone the top end examples you are bringing in..

 

There has never been any "volume" in the quality of vehicle you are importing in the last 10 years.

I personally dont see that changing any time soon given how rare the car now is even in Japan.

My advice would be get them to a few shows and let people actually see the cars.

There was a grey TT rocked up at the Trentham Gardens show on a stand with a £4k sticker price which was strong at the time.

Within an hour of the show starting it had a sold sign on it.

On another note I recon the purple one you have coming priced between £4-5K will sell without too much trouble.

Its a tough market to judge the "asking" prices are going up weather the "sold" price is close to that remains to be seen.

On the positive side i'm being asked by more and more people about the car but as Pete said its a slow poke at the moment.

I hope the market picks up for you and believe me if I had the cash floating about I would not hesitate to take that black NA off you its superb.........and id convert it to TT.

Hi

I am new here, but I thought I would chip in.

Some really spot on comments above and people are obviously really trying to help.

The cars you have shown are stunning, but they are the aspirational standard and not many will have the budget to buy outright.

As mentioned by others most people on this forum will already have a Z32 and will really appreciate the quality, but won't necessarily want or be able to afford a second or third car.

The amount of time and money that people pour into their cars on here means that they won't normally sell theirs.

The classic websites and shows are where you need to be.

NEC last year was incredible and a vast amount of vehicles sold.

Two minters for sale on a stand and a deposits taken on imports and I think you would have a profitable business right there.

Everyone one on here wants specific things (normally TT manual for peanuts - I did lol)

At the motor show there were an awful lot of people who collect shiny things with cash burning a hole in their pocket. My best mate included and he is dangerous at motor shows.

Maybe the Minters become your showcase vehicles and if they sell all well and good, but meanwhile I would think good solid TTs at £4K to £6K will be your core market.

I really hope it works for you as we could do with some more on the roads.

Top drawer 300zx's could sell in a few day's or take a few months you just have to hit the right customer at the right time. Most will want the TT manual's but there is also a market for N/A's. Gio here is a prim example who has had TT's but now drive's a mint 99 spec N/A and as Membership Sec. I see a lot of new members listing their cars as N/A's in there profile to me.

Another point is that 99% of us have 300zx's so do you offer a good trade in policy? Stick with it and you have some good advice above.

If you ever find a Tommy Kaira 300zx then let us know.:thumbup1:

For me, you need to look at your market a bit more. Bringing in top money cars in the wrong spec is your main problem.

 

The cars you have brought in are stunning, no other word for it, but does the market you're selling to want what you're bringing in?

 

1). The N/A Convertible is expensive (and rightly so), but you will need someone looking for a convertible with top money to pay and who wants the best out there. Not an easy find and won't be a quick sale.

 

2). The N/A SWB is expensive (and rightly so), and you will need someone looking for an N/A with top money to pay and who wants the best out there. Not an easy find and won't be a quick sale.

 

3). The TT Auto is a lovely car at the top end of the money (not cheap but not expensive) but it's an Auto. People don't wan't to pay money for Autos (generalization but true on the most part).

 

4). Most people on the 300zx.co.uk forum already own Zed's, so chances are 90% of members won't be in the market for another.

 

5). Prices for Zed's are not great at the moment and although we here on the forum know what they should be worth, and what a good car V's a bad one looks like, it doesn't mean people are willing to pay more for a shiny one.

 

My advise would have been to import as good as you can TT, Manuals, with leather, Targas, that you can sell for £4500 and make profit. That is your biggest market and top price point, over that price you will struggle no matter the condition or spec, purely because of the market, not that the car is not worth more, people just wont pay it.

Oh and thought's for website domains that are available.

 

zshop.co.uk

 

zimports.co.uk

 

zximports.co.uk

Not much to add to the well considered and worded replies above. Perhaps consider Zed Zone instead of Shed. Would love the low mileage swb you have listed but unfortunately my budget dictates otherwise. I wish you all the best in your venture.

 

Daffy.

Not much to add to the well considered and worded replies above. Perhaps consider Zed Zone instead of Shed. Would love the low mileage swb you have listed but unfortunately my budget dictates otherwise. I wish you all the best in your venture.

 

Daffy.

 

Name is already taken by a Z32 specialist in japan I'm afraid!

I think the market is better than £4.5k for pristine freshly imported manual TTs....as there are rarely any on the market (plenty of NA and Auto models though). I think the purple one is actually keenly priced considering year and condition, it just might take time to sell due to it's drivetrain.

I think the market is better than £4.5k for pristine freshly imported manual TTs....as there are rarely any on the market (plenty of NA and Auto models though). I think the purple one is actually keenly priced considering year and condition, it just might take time to sell due to it's drivetrain.

 

Looks about right to me?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-300zx-Twin-Turbo-Manual-/131535965307?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1ea0278c7b

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-Nissan-300-3-0-ZX-Targa-Fairlady-Z-Twin-Turbo-Rare-Jap-Import-/331580565723?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4d33bde8db

 

And neither have sold (yet).

 

Garry needs to shift cars to make money, selling one a year waiting for the right buyer doesn't help him. I hope I'm wrong I really do, but sale prices don't add up to much more than £4.5k at the mo.

Looks about right to me?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-300zx-Twin-Turbo-Manual-/131535965307?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1ea0278c7b

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-Nissan-300-3-0-ZX-Targa-Fairlady-Z-Twin-Turbo-Rare-Jap-Import-/331580565723?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4d33bde8db

 

And neither have sold (yet).

 

Garry needs to shift cars to make money, selling one a year waiting for the right buyer doesn't help him. I hope I'm wrong I really do, but sale prices don't add up to much more than £4.5k at the mo.

 

In all fairness, they aren't that great.

 

One has a rusty wheel arch and the other looks like the sills have been compressed on both sides. I am talking good rust free, dent free examples. Neither have engine bay photos, so you can't see if they're both original manual cars and/or the state of the engine bays. The one at JKImports has almost no information on it...AND they're both on ebay...and the other is a private seller so would generally be slightly less than a bonafide trader.

 

Ebay pricing on 'ok' cars is not really indicative of quality fresh imports in top condition.

Well provide the guy examples of actual sale prices over £5k (for any condition you can find) and prove to him he can make those sale in short time frames.

 

It's easy to say "They will sell for more money" when it's not your cash on the line Si.

 

Your car is one of (if not THE) best zed's around, and even that would struggle to get really good money. Not because it's not worth it, but because people are not parting with good money for them. All cars over £5k I've seen for year have not sold or taken ages to sell, Garry clearly needs quicker sales and over £5k it's just not gonna happen.

Just a thought for business name and web site availability.

 

zhead.guru :bow:

 

Is out there.

Well provide the guy examples of actual sale prices over £5k (for any condition you can find) and prove to him he can make those sale in short time frames.

 

 

That's because quality cars seldom come up. Garry is in the business of supplying better than average cars....but the issue is, in the right spec generally.

 

There's a good reason those 2 silver ones haven't sold and I think the silver one with the rusty arch is worth less than the asking price, so I do agree with you.

 

I agree with the fact that there's a limited market for the higher value cars, but if Garry wants to stay supplying higher value cars, then spec adjustment is the main issue IMO.

 

Lower value, say grade 3 imports, yeah, I am sure he could drop the pricing to between £3.5k and £4.5k...but those cars, the 'OK' cars are the ones that aren't selling IMO. The reasons Garry's I don't think are selling are more than just pricing, it's mainly on spec. Grade 4 cars (grade 4 Z32s are few and far between - as a TT Manual) do command a higher premium and will likely sell (they also go for considerably more at auction in Japan too)...but that's my opinion, but I have seen higher value ones in top condition sell at or above the £5k mark, I know of one recently that went for £7.5k, but I am not going to divulge.

.but the issue is, in the right spec generally..

 

Completely agree.

 

I have seen higher value ones in top condition sell at or above the £5k mark, I know of one recently that went for £7.5k, but I am not going to divulge.

 

And again this comes back to spec, people wanting to spend £7.5k on a Zed will look for one exactly how they want it, colour, wheels, interior, ride height etc etc. These customers would be better to buy on order for rather than have in stock, unless he stocks one of each colour/interior combination because you know it will come down to "I love it but I just wish it were black or red or blue" etc etc

 

I'm sure there is a good market for quality Zeds, but what the real world pricing for them would be, where he can run as a business and get the turnover he wants I'm not so sure about?

 

Hopefully us bouncing off each other gives him some bits to think about, you should PM him the info on the £7.5k one for his own info.

Completely agree.

 

 

 

And again this comes back to spec, people wanting to spend £7.5k on a Zed will look for one exactly how they want it, colour, wheels, interior, ride height etc etc. These customers would be better to buy on order for rather than have in stock, unless he stocks one of each colour/interior combination because you know it will come down to "I love it but I just wish it were black or red or blue" etc etc

 

I'm sure there is a good market for quality Zeds, but what the real world pricing for them would be, where he can run as a business and get the turnover he wants I'm not so sure about?

 

Hopefully us bouncing off each other gives him some bits to think about, you should PM him the info on the £7.5k one for his own info.

 

I agree, I suggested in my first post about spending time buying to spec/order. ;) :)

Yeah but no one listens to what you're saying :tt2:

Up yer bum! :p