There have probably been a number of these threads over the years, but let's have another one anyway. :biggrin:

 

My Zed was in use yesterday - topless, no less! - and she's currently parked outside the house. So I'm looking out of the window and finding myself asking "So what is it about her...?"

 

Personally, there are a couple of reasons:

 

I always loved the shape as a kid... they were just so sleek and almost space-aged. I remember being in the car with my parents and there being a Zed behind us and it was like being trailed by a shark! When an opportunity arose for the driver to overtake, I watched it go past (it was a nice day so the driver had the roof off) and I just thought "That's the coolest thing I've ever seen!"

 

Fast forward to a few years ago and I'd grown used to the power of my old Beams Celica so decided to start looking for a different car. A Celica GT-Four was an option, but I quite fancied some open-top motoring again (after owning an MR2 for a while). Plus I could have two turbos instead of just one... ;)

 

So I started looking at Supras. But an Aerotop TT was waaaaaay out of my budget and, to be honest, I wasn't convinced by the look with the roof off. Perhaps an MR2 Turbo then? Nah - I'd owned an MR2 before and, whilst it was fun, I wanted something different and that had a little bit of exclusivity. :)

 

So a Zed then. Ideally a 2-seater TT, but again out of my price range at that point. So I arranged to buy Baz' old white LWB and I got very excited at the prospect! Sadly, the deal never happened and, if I'm honest, I was a lot more gutted than I ever let on.

 

Long story short; I travelled to Norfolk and picked up a black LWB auto... and loved it. It was just as space-age as I remembered and riotous fun to drive!

 

Fast forward another 18 months and those rear seats were starting to niggle at me a little, so the hunt began for a SWB. Which, obviously, I found. :)

 

So today. I look at her out of the living room window and ask "Why this car?" Well, here's why:

 

For starters, she's like my childhood fantasy given form. She looks like no other car around here... an ocean of bland, generic hatchbacks and suchlike... and there's my Zed, standing out!

 

But, for all that obviousness (possibly a word I just made up!), she's subtle. There are no lairy wings or bumpers on display - wheels aside, she's pretty much as Nissan intended - but she just looks impossibly cool. Whilst driving around yesterday, heads were turning everywhere and quite a few thumbs-ups as well, and I could see a lot of people thinking "What is it??" I like that confusion :)

 

In comparison to her stablemates of the day (Supras, GTOs, RX7s), I think she's nowhere near as brash or vulgar. Supras look big and powerful in comparison, but (in my opinion) a little dated now as well - the big headlights and circular taillights are very much a 90s styling choice. So again, subtlety. Which I like.

 

There's a local "car club" I'm a member of and someone has recently joined with a silver Supra Aerotop and people are fawning all over him, saying things like "Nicest car in the club!" and suchlike. And it's a nice car... a very nice car... but it's incredibly obvious. There's another member, a friend of mine, with a Ferrari 355 so that pretty much automatically prevents a Supra from being the nicest car in the club, but that's by the by. :lol:

 

Subtlety. I think that's what I love about my Zed. It doesn't hide it's light, but then doesn't shout it from the rooftops either, but can still play with much more modern machinery and surprise plenty of people.

 

As I look out of the window this morning, I simply can't imagine a time when I don't own this car. To me, it's the perfect one: a SWB manual TT with the targa roof. It's almost like I'd been waiting for this very car since one drove past my parents all those years ago... :biggrin:

 

So, your turns now. Why a Zed for you?

Always liked these sort of cars, but more likely wanted a Skyline or GTO. In the end though, none of them are out of the reach of the Z, and the Z is probably the best looking. In addition, the Z is so much cheaper than pretty much all of its competitors, so why settle for less?

 

I wonder about that last point though, is it just due to production numbers?

Very slick shape, wealth of technology 'before' it's time; and as Keith told me, there is hardly other car that can go 160+mph, 0-60 5.5 and 280hp that you can buy for under £2000.

Oh and the rareity also attracted me. I never ever see them. The first time I saw a Z in the flesh was the first car I bought no less. And before I was looking, I had never heard of them.

 

If it isn't a supercar of the 90's... I have no idea what is.

Edited April 22, 20169 yr by Alic

I read all of that and wasn't greeted with the picture from your window and the end [emoji34]

I got my first 300zx TT 9 years ago but did not set out to buy one. Like you Si I was after a Supra Aerotop but there was none about in N.I. for sale at the time but there was a black 300zxTT for sale near me. I knew sod all about the 300zx and it was never in my radar but the pictures jumped out at me so made arrangements to view it. I met the owner at Belfast's Titanic area and while waiting for him I could see this black low stand out from the crowd super car heading towards me with a deep rumble from the exhausts. When it stopped beside me I said to myself I'm having this car so that was it and the rest is history as they say. An impulse buy that will hunt me for the rest of my life.

Edited April 22, 20169 yr by Gaz 300

I've always liked these cars since I was a kid. There was a guy that owned one round the corner from me in white, I just loved it! I also have a memory of one setting off from the lights in front of my parents car, it set off with speed and the rear end stepped out... It put a huge smile on my face just watching it.

 

Last year, I was just relaxing with a nice brew in bed... I was flicking through dream cars on auto trader, and the Mrs was looking at dream houses on rightmove. I looked at 300zx's and saw mine... For some reason I had to see this car in the flesh. Like Gary, I hadn't got a clue what to look for in a 300zx but I rang the guy and arranged to see it that day. It was a 3.5 hour drive to get there and when I arrived the guy wasn't in. I rang him and he was on his way back from the petrol station in it... I sat and waited until finally I could here the rumble of the engine as it was approaching. As soon as it appeared from round the corner I knew I was going to buy it.

 

I put a deposit down after test driving it and then went back to pick it up the following day.

 

In the first year of owning it, I have learnt a hell of alot! I would probably make sure I did my research next time as most of you will know my initial problems with it, but every morning when I open the curtains it brings a smile to my face. I can't believe I own this car.

 

Looking back at last year now, I'm kind of glad it had issues... The journey I've been on with it to get it to where it is now has seen all the emotions you can imagine which has made me love it more.

Because their beautiful! :)

Because their beautiful! :)

 

Short and sweet... You can't argue with that though;)

I first saw one in 1990 or 1991, which was given to Dave Price as a company car when he was Nissan Motorsport team manager. I think it might have been the first one in the UK.

 

We were at the wedding of one of his daughters, as he is a long time family friend of my mum.

 

The design was just light years ahead of any other production car around at the time, I wanted one from that point on, and bought my first one in 1998.

Edited April 22, 20169 yr by craig

The year was 1990 - in the road next to my parents' sat a brand new pearl yellow Z32. Occasionally on my way home from school I'd see it come flying up the hill. I was transfixed and fell in love with the car instantly. From then on I knew I wanted one one day.

 

Wind the clock forward 10 years, fresh out of uni, I started work for the Ministry of Defence and moved to Malvern in Worcestershire, one of the scientists on the site had a red one and decided then that I should start looking for one. I struggled to find a nice one and didn't get mine until 2005.

 

I love the car just as much as I did then, probably more so as it's become like an old friend. Through the thick and thin in life, it's always been there to raise a smile, it's also been a great social thing too and a real hobby and has resulted in some awesome friendships being forged from all over the world.

 

I could never sell it.

Edited April 22, 20169 yr by Funkysi
GRAMMAR FAILLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad my shitty iPhone 5's days are numbered. Worst screen and shittest keyboard!

Gran Turismo got me into the Z32 originally. I had a few in my garage on the game because they were cheaper to buy than the other stuff on there

 

I bought my first one after ditching a slow GTO after owning an MR2 Turbo I wanted something cheap and with similar performance

 

I've had 3 since

 

H647 BYF - My black TT SWB

N300 SWB - I put the number plate on this one - 1995 SWB Slicktop TT

and my current 99 spec NA

For those of you who remember the TV series Spender with Jimmy Nail

Saw it - wanted it - didn't know what it was

Couple of episodes later

Wanted one ever since

Quite simple really

Like me!

:thumbup:

Edited April 22, 20169 yr by Pebkau

I used to love Spender, but I confess to only remembering his Sapphire Cosworth.... :(

I used to love Spender, but I confess to only remembering his Sapphire Cosworth.... :(

He never drove the Zed.

The orange one was scenery and the black one driven by a baddy.

I remember clearly as it was mentioned as one of the few things faster than the Cossie

:laugh:

I used to read fast lane magazine when I was at school. Then they did a review of the new 300zx and they had a red uk spec manual car. Several years later I was passing a dealer arguing with my then partner and I caught a glimpse of a red uk spec 92/j plate 300zx and I decided she had pissed me off so much I pulled over took it for a drive and bought it. I'm now on number 4.5 and love it just as much as I always have. I love rare cars and you don't see many of these about which is a big plus for me as it is with my daily driver.

I saw my first zed, must have been soon after they were released, parked in Muswell Hill. It was Yellow. Bright Yellow

 

It was about 70 Yards away and at first I thoght it was a road going GT40 with those rear lights.

 

Then I walked up to up and saw it wasn't and saw a Z Badge on the front so knew it must be a Nissan/Datsun. I fell in love with it and wanted one from then on.....

 

A Dolomite Sprint, 2 x 3 litre Capris and a 2.8 Capri, 3 Granada Cossies and then I got the Green One

 

Tony

I used to love Spender, but I confess to only remembering his Sapphire Cosworth.... :(

 

My auldfella still has his, hopefully get to drive it when it's back on the road :p Think it was making around 300-350 BHP before engine rebuild.

Don't like them, I tried to order a Citroen but messed up my online order - had to deal with it. Will probably get rid of it soon.

First saw them in Silicon Valley in the early nineties and thought what a great looking car. Back in the UK got a copy of

 

 

and was hooked and decided I'm going to own one of those one day. Started looking seriously in late '97 and finally

found the one for me in Spring '98 at Howards Nissan in Weston Super Mare. A '94 UK spec manual in great condition

and in my favourite colour. It also just happened to have been owned by Nissan UK from new which I thought was pretty

cool.

 

18 years on I still love the car and can't see myself replacing it with anything else. Beautiful lines, sledgehammer fast

and a car you wear rather than just drive in. It still gives me a sense of occasion every time I drive the car, turning heads

and receiving generous compliments wherever I go. I've meet some great friends through my ownership of the car and

the Club. Job done Nissan!

 

Edited April 22, 20169 yr by AndrewG
spelling!

18 years of ownership Andrew that is total devotion to the Z32 :bow:

Riding through Jacksonville on a fully dressed Harley in the mid 90,s and had one on the freeway in front of me for about 30 mins with straight through pipes..fell in love right there and it took till 2003 or it might of been 2004 before i bought my 1st one after a serious spell with American muscle cars.

After owning a 260z and a couple of 280zx, I then buggered off to Africa, not the place for a Z32. I married, settled down and raised kids, then came back to Blighty.....settled and got the usual family daily run around and company cars, I know..boring. Then....last year I was diagnosed, underwent surgery and endured 3-4 months of pure hell and eventually recovered from the big C. To keep me sane, focused and positive, my bro and my missus advised me to get a car, any car to have some fun in when I recover, my bro had just re-built a 240z and I started looking/researching the 300zx and its provenance whilst lying in my hospital bed ....it worked. I love that goddam car and I am glad and so friggin grateful I have such a terrific motor to enjoy whenever I want, plus I am meeting some really cool peeps along the way as well which is a bonus. My zed got me through and keeps doing it every time I look at, sit in or drive her, she's special alright.

After owning a 260z and a couple of 280zx, I then buggered off to Africa, not the place for a Z32. I married, settled down and raised kids, then came back to Blighty.....settled and got the usual family daily run around and company cars, I know..boring. Then....last year I was diagnosed, underwent surgery and endured 3-4 months of pure hell and eventually recovered from the big C. To keep me sane, focused and positive, my bro and my missus advised me to get a car, any car to have some fun in when I recover, my bro had just re-built a 240z and I started looking/researching the 300zx and its provenance whilst lying in my hospital bed ....it worked. I love that goddam car and I am glad and so friggin grateful I have such a terrific motor to enjoy whenever I want, plus I am meeting some really cool peeps along the way as well which is a bonus. My zed got me through and keeps doing it every time I look at, sit in or drive her, she's special alright.

 

No better reward than that :)

After owning a 260z and a couple of 280zx, I then buggered off to Africa, not the place for a Z32. I married, settled down and raised kids, then came back to Blighty.....settled and got the usual family daily run around and company cars, I know..boring. Then....last year I was diagnosed, underwent surgery and endured 3-4 months of pure hell and eventually recovered from the big C. To keep me sane, focused and positive, my bro and my missus advised me to get a car, any car to have some fun in when I recover, my bro had just re-built a 240z and I started looking/researching the 300zx and its provenance whilst lying in my hospital bed ....it worked. I love that goddam car and I am glad and so friggin grateful I have such a terrific motor to enjoy whenever I want, plus I am meeting some really cool peeps along the way as well which is a bonus. My zed got me through and keeps doing it every time I look at, sit in or drive her, she's special alright.

 

Thats great. :')

I am working back in time. My jap craving started back in 2001 with an s15 spec r, 350gt, r33 gtr, Legnum vr4 before I started looking for something that would be a rare sight on the roads. So it was a day at Japfest and an old friend who had a black na that convinced me it was the way forward. Now on my second TT.

I've had a 89 corvette, a Porsche 911 with the whale tail, A fiesta turbo, 2 VW beetles, a ford 100E with V8, a ford orion 1600E with a MKI escort turbo engine conversion, an XR2i, a MKI escort, Smart fortwo & forfour, Saab 9-5 aero and now an Audi A4 quattro s-line.......

 

I bought my Z after being asked to have a look at an electrical fault on her back in 2000. She was a complete wreck after the previous owner spun her on a motorway and took out a large double poled road sign sideways.

The N/S sill was totalled, the door was folded in, the roof was destroyed, but the chassis was still straight...... as she was spinning it must have spun off the posts.......

She wouldn't start when I looked at her and spent a day with no wiring diagram trying to trace the fault. The owner a family friend had enough and offered to sell her to me for £1000....

I thought for about 30 seconds and said yes..... I had her running the next day....after finding a relay had no ignition live..... I bypassed with a piece of wire and she started.... Wire is still there!

I had the MAF fail and went into a Nissan specialist in Maldon, whilst there someone removed loads of parts from her as they mistook it for a breaker.

They fobbed me off for months until I gave up and bought replacement parts.... I didn't even get a sorry....

 

Due to the amount of parts and damage to repair I imported a full veilside C1 kit from Japan. It then had the kit fitted, all bodywork straightened and sprayed in the Porsche amethyst she wears today.

I had a full stainless exhaust system made, decat pipes and full leather in grey and black.

And I fell in love with the looks and had so much fun going for a drive.......

I still love just driving her, when she actually runs...... and I have no intention of ever selling her...... For me it is all about this one Z..... she's mine and I try to learn how to do what ever I have to to keep her on the road....

For me another Z wouldn't be the same. She has kept me sane when everything else has gone pear shaped. More than just a car....... some people think i'm mad..... sorry most people....

Especially my family...... lol