Just wanted to say Hi, after joining you for the first time.

I am currently driving a Saxo VTS which whilst it reasonably nippy it's not powerful enough for me now nor does it feel much fun, so from the research I have been doing on the net it looks like I have found a perfect car in the Twin turbo ZX! :D

 

I just wanted to ask you guys a little about the car as you are all experts.

Hope you don't mind :)

 

1)

I have been told to avoid Imports, due to insurance and to make sure any car I get has a turbo timer, is this correct?

 

2)

What should I look out for when viewing TT's?

 

3)

What are the running costs like, is servicing madly expensive or can a non millionaire afford to run one? ;)

 

Sorry about all the questions, but I don't want to make an expensive mistake :eek:

 

Thanks

 

Eric

1) Import insurance is higher, depends on age though, 25+ and you will be better than a 21 year old. One with a turbo timer would be handy, but i don't have one and still respect my turbos my letting her cool down.

 

2) most stuff you would look for on most cars. When the engine is running it should sound like a sewing machine with a beuatiful purr, any knocking then walk away. Also look for smoke under boost and under idle it could mean problems down the line. Check transmission is fine and do a ECU diag, http://www.300zx.org.uk has details on doing this.

 

3) £40 of petrol will get you just about 200 miles, if you get it serviced at a garage then expect to pay around £500 a year for servicing before anything goes wrong, if something goes wrong expect bills in the £20 - £3000 range. You need to service every 6 months and i try to change my oil every 4000 miles.

 

 

Buying is cheap, maintaining is costly.

My costs so far have been

 

Petrol: About £25 a week :(

Tyres: Gone through 4 tyres already in 18months. Probably about £800 on tyre so far.

Cluch: Cost of the cluch fitting, skimmed flywheel, new rear crank seal has cost me £680

Recon Rad: £100

Bushes: £80

 

There are bits and bobs that I have spent on my car but its too much to list.

 

Stuart

i hope you do find your dream car but if there is one thing that winds me up is that people that are misled in to thinking that imports are all dodgy motors....the facts speak for themselfs....it is impossible to actually buy a stolen car from japan as every car imported has to go through interpol and is checked there and then.....that is not to say you can't buy a dodgy motor,as you also can down your local garage.....people are slowly waking up to the fact that japanese cars are of a higher quality and spec with usually low miles on the clock...the only problem lays with finding sombody you trust in japan to source good cars for you.......luckily i have...;) sorry for that i feel a bit better now...back to your request.....just find a good one:D