Morning gents.

I'm on the lookout for my childhood dream car, 300zx, needs to be a manual TT and needs to be 2+2 seater.

After a couple weeks of searching I've realised you get a better deal on the imports, but is there any reason to avoid a jap import?

I've seen a nice looking manual TT LWB, it's an import and has some rust on the offside rear arch but I'd be happy to have this repaired.

 

Also, the car is listed as a 1991 (imported in 2001) yet is on a G plate. Can this be right? G reg cars are usually 89/early 90. Is there anyway an imported car if manufactured in 91 could be on a G plate?

 

Thanks for any advice or tips in advance, all are welcome and appreciated.

Cheers

Welcome to the club Akita and if you are looking for a nice Z then have you seen this one http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?181506-Anyone-Interested-1998-auto-TT

When buying 300zx's buy on the condition of the cars dont worry about miles or what year it is. If there is a link to the Z you are looking at then put it up and we could give an opinion on it.

Thanks for the welcome :-)

 

That looks in lovely nick! But i really would rather a manual car.

 

The one I'm currently considering is:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=131535965307&alt=web

 

Any opinions would be invaluable! I love the look of the car from the pics but as it's 300 miles from me, a nice little viewing is quite some journey! Would hate to go all that way and find its not what I'm after.

 

What do you think of it?

I am currently in talks with the owner. Any questions worth asking aside from service history etc.?

Thanks for the welcome :-)

 

That looks in lovely nick! But i really would rather a manual car.

 

The one I'm currently considering is:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=131535965307&alt=web

 

Any opinions would be invaluable! I love the look of the car from the pics but as it's 300 miles from me, a nice little viewing is quite some journey! Would hate to go all that way and find its not what I'm after.

 

What do you think of it?

 

I am currently in talks with the owner. Any questions worth asking aside from service history etc.?

 

From what I can see and read it looks good. Nice to see the owner has owned it for 6 years and keeps it garaged and that rust on the rear arch is due to not cleaning the dirt from the inside lip of the arch. Maybe some of our members know this Z so lets wait and see and as for the auto's dont right them of as it is a great box, I had an auto in my first Z and I loved it and that was over seven years ago and its still going strong in the club with a new owner.

Ask him about the timing belt, any smoke from the exhausts and any known faults. Good luck and keep us updated :thumbup1:

From what I can see and read it looks good. Nice to see the owner has owned it for 6 years and keeps it garaged and that rust on the rear arch is due to not cleaning the dirt from the inside lip of the arch. Maybe some of our members know this Z so lets wait and see and as for the auto's dont right them of as it is a great box, I had an auto in my first Z and I loved it and that was over seven years ago and its still going strong in the club with a new owner.

Ask him about the timing belt, any smoke from the exhausts and any known faults. Good luck and keep us updated :thumbup1:

 

Brilliant, that's somewhat reassuring so thanks.

I've just asked him those questions so we'll see what that throws up.

When he says turbos from the turbo centre, what does that actually mean? Reconditioned? New? Not actually owned a turbo car before!

It's not a bad thing right?

Also, do decat pipes not cause issues come MOT day?

Can you tell from the pics if it is indeed a 1991? Seems odd being on a G plate.

Can you tell from the pics if it is indeed a 1991? Seems odd being on a G plate.

 

The only way to tell on that Z is to look at the tag on the seat belt and the year of manufacture will be on that so maybe ask the owner to check it out for you.

Good stuff, thanks! Would it matter if it was a 90? Obviously the age doesn't worry me, just figured the first year production cars might be more problematic... But could be wrong.

Brilliant, that's somewhat reassuring so thanks.

I've just asked him those questions so we'll see what that throws up.

When he says turbos from the turbo centre, what does that actually mean? Reconditioned? New? Not actually owned a turbo car before!

It's not a bad thing right?

Also, do decat pipes not cause issues come MOT day?

 

Do not know of any "turbo center" but yes probably reconditioned which is not a bad thing if they are done right so ask where this place was. As for decats they should be ok at mot time as it is an early z and wont have to be tested at the higher level of emissions.

Good stuff, thanks! Would it matter if it was a 90? Obviously the age doesn't worry me, just figured the first year production cars might be more problematic... But could be wrong.

 

Wouldn't matter at all. They were first produced in 1989 and had no great issues. There were some updates on PTU's and other parts but these can be got for early Z's if you need them.

If you're willing to travel - and you'll probably need to be unless you import from Japan - there's currently a surprising number of cars for sale in Ireland.

 

http://www.donedeal.ie/find/all/for-sale/Ireland/300zx

http://www.adverts.ie/for-sale/q_300zx/

Dvla car check says it's a 1990. So suppose that answers that!

 

Ideally I would not be travelling to Ireland... Never been, but 300 miles north of me is far enough for me lol.

Dvla car check says it's a 1990. So suppose that answers that!

 

Sadly, nope. DVLA make many mistakes on import cars they don't know anything about. UK dealers and manufactures have direct computer links into DVLA database - but importers don't so it's all done manually by clerks. The only sure way is to get someone with Nissan FAST system to look at the VIN from your car. That will tell you month / year of manufacture.

 

Gary's tip on belt tags is a good 'un, here are others http://www.300zx.org.uk/import_dating.htm

Might be going for the silver one I posted this morning. However there is also this red one :

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/fairlady-z-1994-series-2-z32-300zx-manual-3ltr-v6-twin-turbo-22-targa-top-jap-import/1121354082

 

Thoughts on this one anybody?

Might be going for the silver one I posted this morning. However there is also this red one :

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/fairlady-z-1994-series-2-z32-300zx-manual-3ltr-v6-twin-turbo-22-targa-top-jap-import/1121354082

 

Thoughts on this one anybody?

 

IMO it would be the silver one :yes:

Red one looks good but the seller mentioned (on Facebook) being banned from the club!

Thanks for the input guys!

Guys I need a favour, can you click on this Facebook link and look through the album on this car? Let me know your thoughts. The current owner is a mechanic and did some serious work on the car in 2012, but you can see other details too, like rotting sills?

 

Thoughts ASAP please

 

Thanks

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Guys I need a favour, can you click on this Facebook link and look through the album on this car? Let me know your thoughts. The current owner is a mechanic and did some serious work on the car in 2012, but you can see other details too, like rotting sills?

 

Thoughts ASAP please

 

Thanks

 

This link: https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3706906874769.2166990.1338453697&type=3

Nothing untoward in those pictures. 'Looks' like a well cared for Z, you'd expect a mechanic to get stuff done whatever needed doing and it would have been on a ramp more than most Zeds due to the nature of his career. Only way of knowing for sure it get across to look at it and have a bloody good poke about.

Thanks for the welcome :-)

 

That looks in lovely nick! But i really would rather a manual car.

 

The one I'm currently considering is:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=131535965307&alt=web

 

Any opinions would be invaluable! I love the look of the car from the pics but as it's 300 miles from me, a nice little viewing is quite some journey! Would hate to go all that way and find its not what I'm after.

 

What do you think of it?

 

Nothing untoward in those pictures. 'Looks' like a well cared for Z, you'd expect a mechanic to get stuff done whatever needed doing and it would have been on a ramp more than most Zeds due to the nature of his career. Only way of knowing for sure it get across to look at it and have a bloody good poke about.

 

Thanks Baz! Will be making the journey up north :-)

Did you buy one? I keep thinking of getting rid mine. I love it though. Always wanted a v8 1970s muscle car and I'm in position to get one. The worry is I sell my 300 tt manual 66k miles! For around 4000 and have to put another 10000 to it. I honest believe here is no better car for 3-4 k than the 300, mines 420 bhp really tidy.my worry if I sell it and realise I didn't want to it would be so hard to replace it grrrr cars and stress

Did you buy one? I keep thinking of getting rid mine. I love it though. Always wanted a v8 1970s muscle car and I'm in position to get one. The worry is I sell my 300 tt manual 66k miles! For around 4000 and have to put another 10000 to it. I honest believe here is no better car for 3-4 k than the 300, mines 420 bhp really tidy.my worry if I sell it and realise I didn't want to it would be so hard to replace it grrrr cars and stress

 

Hello mate. Yeah I'm travelling 300 miles today to go and collect the new Z. :D providing it's clean and I'm happy with paperwork (pretty sure I will be).

What car is it you want? Sounds like a lot of money to me!!

Sound you can't fail to enjoy the 300 awesome bit of kit for the money , I want an early 70s transam not v practical but I wont be happy till its out my system lol

Sound you can't fail to enjoy the 300 awesome bit of kit for the money , I want an early 70s transam not v practical but I wont be happy till its out my system lol

 

I've always had a hankering for a "Smokey & The Bandit" era Trans Am!

 

Completely impractical, shockingly slow (comparitively) and superbly vulgar, yes... but I still want one. Doubt it's an itch I'll ever scratch though...

Hello mate. Yeah I'm travelling 300 miles today to go and collect the new Z. :D providing it's clean and I'm happy with paperwork (pretty sure I will be).

What car is it you want? Sounds like a lot of money to me!!

 

Hope all goes well for you Akita and dont forget some pics of your new Z :thumbup: