So - finally I'm posting so I guess I must be serious. Here's the deal:

 

I'm nearly 24, and currently drive a saxo VTR which I've owned for over 2 years - the car handles beautifully, and has been a joy to own. However, I feel the time has come to change it for something with a little more power. I don't want to spend a fortune changing the car and can't see that there's a more value-for-money sports car than a used Z when you combine performance and good looks (other options: fiat coupe 20V turbo = not sure about looks, fiat reliability, Scooby turbo = non-coupe looks and higher price).

 

So I'd love a zed, and I figure a 90-92 Z won't cost much more than the sale price of the VTR. So why not go for it? Well...

 

1) I only drive about 2-3 miles to/from work every day and am worried about any effect this may have on the turbos of a TT not warming up (except at the w/ends!:D). I have given a lot of thought to going for a NA model, but obviously that's not what I'd REALLY want to do [and see 4) below]!

 

2) Unfortunately, whilst my knowledge of facts, figures and models of cars is good, my 'under-the-bonnet' know-how is pretty limited. I'm willing to learn and get my hands dirty but am worried that when stuff goes wrong I'll end up taking it to the garage and being charged a fortune on a regular basis (I know you only hear the bad stuff, but it would be my only car and I can't bear the thought of it being sat in the garage for ages)

 

3) Running costs - Insurance: Will cost about 5 times as much (3 [and a half!] yrs NCB), repairs/cost (VTR has been v reliable), fuel consumption I can live with (otherwise I'd drive a diesel!!)

 

4) Finally, and importantly, I'm an enthusiast so it has just got to be a manual (I realise about 80% aren't). Pref not (performance) modded and also I'd love a grey/silver/poss black so I'm really limiting myself on choice.

 

Apologies for the length of post. I've really given this a fair bit of thought already - I've even opened an ISA which will have a £1K in it by the time I buy the car (if I do) to cover the poss cost of any big repairs which might come up. You guys on this site seem really helpful and I'd appreciate any advice you may have (especially on 1) above!!!).

 

Many thanks in advance.

OK, so I was wrong about Erik's thoughts on straight-line performance (posted my reply without realising he had just posted already!)

 

I would be surprised if the Saxo could keep up with the others after 60 (except Clio Willy perhaps), Erik. Unless the VTS I drove had a problem, anyway:)

 

Fcuk it - I'll own a Z soon anyway so the comparison won't mean a thing then!!!!!!!!!:D :D :D

Hi bud

Thank you for coming to my aid.

 

I don't over estimate the performance and handling of cars generally, I'm 30 years old not a spotty 18 yr old with a backwards baseball cap, FCUK T-shirt and burbery shirt!

 

The VTS Does do very well against any of the above cars peformance wise to 60 (the other cars with bigger engines will overcome the weight advantage of the Saxo after then.), and in the right hands can do well on the twisties.

It will also keep up with a Williams above 70 in the right hands.

Check out VTS Vs Williams

This is from a guy who owns a Williams and VTS.

 

When all said and done the Saxo is a very capable car in it's class.

Hatchbacks are supposed to be small, light and cheap but have a good power to weight ratio.

They are all about having a laugh behind the wheel, throwing a car around and nipping in and out of traffic, whilst being easy to park and drive in traffic with good fuel consumption.

 

Last time I checked this is not in the same class as a Z! ;)

 

The Z is more like a comfy Porsche, and it just oozes class and power.

So I would never compare the Saxo with the Z, oh and the Z has two and a half times more power and nearly three times the torque!

 

And by the way I went out in my first Z today...

It was a White L-reg UK TT Auto.

And my verdict.........

 

 

 

 

 

 

............I'm in love!

 

Pulled up outside the guy's house and there it was, in the drive...

I started to dribble....:D

We went for a little drive in it, he took it easy and put his foot down a couple of times, but I think he got a little scared, he wasn't much of a tarmac terrorist! :p

First impressions were,

Interior....Leather....mmmm...So nice....

Seats.....mmmm....I could live in those seats they were so comfy

Exterior....mmmmm.....I wanted to lick it clean!

LOL

Power....Smooth and pretty pokey, not the mad adrenaline fuelled rush I was expecting...But enough to make you think "Oh oh there goes the scenery..." This I would put down to his gentle treatment of the loud pedal.

I'm sure it sure had some serious power though, just needs the right hands to allow to be free!

 

All in all I love it, the car had massive Nissan history, even the original diary supplied with the car and the receipt for £35,000 odd! :eek:

 

The minus points are he's a private trader so not much backup if things go boom, the car had a slight fuel leak (understandable as it's been garaged for the past year and only done 500 miles) and there is a problem with the immobaliser/ignition that stops the car from starting sometimes.

The car has done 97,000 miles but had a timing belt change at 90,000 miles (At the cost of £700 from Nissan :eek: )

 

The car reminds me of my 2.9 V6 Scorpio (don't laugh!) Very comfy and powerfull with all the toys.

The differance is the Z can corner, looks lush and goes faster.

 

 

I'm still in love, so going to check out some Garage traders as they'll offer a warranty.

 

What do you think is a good price for a L-reg, 97,000 mile, UK, TT, Auto with leather?

He is advertising it for £6500 but will negotiate on price.

 

Still want to have a pop at a manual, but I do all town driving and can't be arsed with a heavy clutch in traffic, so I may go auto anyway.

 

 

Sorry for the world's longest post but I'm defending two cars here! :p

Glad you liked it.

Look and drive as many as you can find!

 

Good luck.

There's one thing I can't stress enough when you're looking at a car to buy - run an ECU diagnostic.

 

I'm willing to bet that about 80%, if not more, of the cars for sale out there will be showing a code 34. That's the detonation sensor circuit - it fails due to heat and time, and means the car will be in "Safety Boost".

 

It'll only be boosting 7psi instead of 9psi, and the timing will be retarded. Unless you've driven a lot of Z's, and lived with one for a fair while that's running right, you WONT be able to tell from driving it (or the worse than useless boost guage!). In fact, you'll certainly think it's a really quick car - because it is, even in SB, but it should be quicker. I learnt this the hard way - my car was in SB from before I bought it - a world of difference when it wasn't anymore - and I was no stranger to fast cars.. So do an ECU diag.

 

If code 34 comes up, walk, or factor it into the purchase price.

Thanks for the advice.

I'll take that into account on the cars I view.

Oh if it does have this problem, how is it fixed and how much should it cost to fix?

 

TBH, I don't think he was pushing it that hard, he was only hitting 4500-5000rpm in a short burst so that may be why it didn't seem that fast.

Although it was starting to get fun once, but we ran out of road :(

Check this out LOL:rolleyes:

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6876&highlight=Saxo

Just seen your post icecool.

 

I know that VTRs are great. My wife and my daughters have Saxos and they are great to drive.

 

David

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N/A ZX

7.5?

[/b]

 

"Road & Track" magazine tested the less powerful (200bhp US vs 230bhp jap spec) non turbo manual 300Zx z32, and recorded

0-60mph 6.7secs/ 0-100mph 18.6secs with a top speed of 150mph!

The more powerful Jap spec car hasn't any official figures quoted but will give most warm/hot hatches a good pasting in a straight line, especially over about 50mph, once their greater weight inertia is overcome!

;)

I never realised the N/A Z was so quick!!! :eek:

respect to all N/A drivers! :D

Eric, the figs jeff 300 quotes are also repeated in the numerous nissan literature i have also, i never took offence at the later posts you submitted, as im sure you genuinely thought you were correct nd were all pals on here anyway even if our opinions sometimes do differ, one of the guys i work alongside has a vts, (which i drive often too)and frequently tries to overtake/race on way home and i know first hand the difference from any speed between not only my 17.5 to fourty mph(tee hee) zed but other such cars as you mentioned (i sell exec cars) and all joking aside its quite staggering, although i did have problems getting past a 1.1 saxo east coast at asda the other day, oh and by the way PAUL C, when you raced me the other day in my f1 mclaren, it was unfair as id a lemon meringue on the back seat