After test driving both a 300ZX and Fiat Coupe, and considering the horror stories about keeping a RX7 on the road, I am leaning towards buying a Zed.

 

I received this from Jason at Bonsai cars...

 

Make Nissan 300ZX

Model Twin Turbo Manual

Year 1991

Mileage (KM) 79,000

Mileage (Miles) 48,980

Autcio Grade Grade 4

 

 

Vehicle Cost In Yen 497000

 

Cost in Sterling At Todays Rate (£) 2588.541667

 

Shipping Cost Approx (£) 500

 

10 Percent Import Duty (£) 308.8541667

 

17.5 Percent VAT (£) 594.5442708

 

Customs Clearence Fee (£) 70

 

Sourcing Fee (£) 500

 

MOT (£) 40

 

MOT WORK (£) 80

 

SVA (£) 0

 

SVA WORK (£) 0

 

Vehicle Registration Cost (£) 115

 

Cost Of Number Plates (£) 20

 

Total On The Road Price (£) 4816.940104

 

 

............................................................................................................................

 

Make Nissan 300ZX

Model Twin Turbo Auto

Year 1991

Mileage (KM) 91,000

Mileage (Miles) 56,420

Autcio Grade Grade 4

 

 

Vehicle Cost In Yen 315000

 

Cost in Sterling At Todays Rate (£) 1640.625

 

Shipping Cost Approx (£) 500

 

10 Percent Import Duty (£) 214.0625

 

17.5 Percent VAT (£) 412.0703125

 

Customs Clearence Fee (£) 70

 

Sourcing Fee (£) 500

 

MOT (£) 40

 

MOT WORK (£) 80

 

SVA (£) 0

 

SVA WORK (£) 0

 

Vehicle Registration Cost (£) 115

 

Cost Of Number Plates (£) 20

 

Total On The Road Price (£) 3591.757813

 

 

What do you reckon, should I import?

The insurance isn't a problem as I own a Saxo VTS (One of the most over priced insurance cars on the road!) so it's only £100 or so extra for an import on my insurance.

I know imports don't have S/H, but if they are as pukka as people make out, they sound like a bargain!

 

 

 

P.S. Nearly a Zed owner, then I'll stop asking annoying questions :P

I got an import 2 yrs ago and I have not stopped loving every moment. You pays your money and takes your choice!

Looked into this myself and it`s quite a saving although be carefull as I`ve heard many stories of cars suffering minor damage in transit and also many parts being stolen at the docks (including wheels). Living in Hull and doing work on the dock in the past I`ve seen a few cars missing certain items so check the security on the dock in question.

Thanks for the advice guys, I think I'm going to import.

It looks like you can get a much better car with loads more choices with an import.

 

Just have to sell my Sax.

 

 

Anyone know anyone that wants a nice lowered Saxo VTS for £5000? :)

 

I use Southampton, and so far have had zero probs from the docks. I have heard that Tilbury is bad.

don't forget the cost of a decent service when it gets here and you'll probably have to add a CAT 1 alarm for the insurers... and does the MOT work include kmh to mph conversion?

 

happy hunting :D :D

 

PS don't forget it'll seem like forever waiting for it to arrive :(

Eric,

I like your Saxo,it's got similar design wheels as the stock Z ones.

As far as importing,then I'm afraid that I personally couldn't do that.

You only see pictures of the cars and I've found by experience,as I'm sure other people will agree,that a car can look lovely in a picture but is very different 'in the flesh!'

Also how can you test drive it and give a good going over if you haven't got in front of you.

Saying that the prices seem good, if and only if the cars are as good as they seem.

Sorry if I seem a bit negative about this but as the saying goes 'once bitten twice shy'.

Cheers and good luck,

F.T.;)

Did you have a bad expirience with imports then mate?

How long so you have to wait for imports.

 

I agree you don't know what they are like before they arrive, but then you can't always tell what's about to go wrong with a car you have driven.

 

 

 

The stock VTS wheels do look like Z wheels don't they ;)

good choice of car no doubt about it, but a blind date with a zed, hmm im not so sure, just think of all the holiday brochure pics and what its like when u get there, again not meaning to be negative, but a 4k zed can turn into a 7k zed overnight, i my self have just spent 500 on tyres, gonna need a cambelt and some other engine work 300+, new front bumper 340 plus paint, maybe rear shocks needed, no previous history, so thats a grand up on the 4k i already paid, and my import was bought in the uk

 

but as the l'oreal advert says, its worth it

You could do what I did and buy a 'freshly imported' car. I just bought from an importer, rather than asking them to import for me, that way I got to see the car, test drive etc before stumping up the cash. Costs a little more this way, becuase you're not taking some of the risk out of the importers hands and you're not giving them an interest free loan for 2 months.

Originally posted by AndyP

You could do what I did and buy a 'freshly imported' car. I just bought from an importer, rather than asking them to import for me, that way I got to see the car, test drive etc before stumping up the cash. Costs a little more this way, becuase you're not taking some of the risk out of the importers hands and you're not giving them an interest free loan for 2 months.

 

That would be a bit safer and I wouldn't have to wait so long...

 

Trouble is even imports are few and far between in TT manual. :(

Im not starting anything here (he he) BUT just out of interest considering most imports are low mileage compared to UK Zeds, is it my imagination or do forum members with imports have more problems than members with UK cars? And how does this breakdown ( mechanical, electrical, body) wise?

 

Ive got a client that spent most of his working life in the motor industry in the far east and he states that cars there are designed with a short life span due to 3 year testing laws and are built with inferior quality components compared to european counterparts due to this? Is there an element of truth to this or is it old japanese wives tales?

 

Im off to bed before it all kicks off!:D

F***in' hell Roy, I hope not as my Jap car is 12 years old!

Should be dead 4 times over!!

Considering the age of the car though I have had relatively few problems.(touch wood!)

Eric, I have come unstuck in the past,not from an import but from an auction(where I was unable to drive the car before buying it!!)

Also I travelled a long way to view a Z after the dealer e-mailed some photos of this immaculate car. When I got there as you can guess I wasn't very impressed!

Spend some time looking and you'll find the right one in the end.:D

Cheers,

F.T.

Certainly agree with FT there.....a bird in the hand is not always worth two in the bush. I waited 8 months, looked at over a dozen Zeds and did over 2500 miles round the UK before I found the Zed I have now.

 

I couldn`t imagine not getting an import really but then again, I was after an auto rather than a manual (had my left arm sliced off in a freak knitting accident you see;) ;) ). Just the difference in bodywork, mileage, maintenance with an import vs a UK car(generally speaking and in my opinion only).

 

You do not have to be a neurotic gimp like me to find a good Zed. I only paid Just over £4k for mine (1991TTauto) and with its 60K service, say just under £5k. I really would advise erring on the side of outright scepticism.

 

Anyways, as my Dad always says..."Steve, if it ain`t worth waiting for, it ain't worth having".....saying that, I`m still waiting for last years birthday card from him....that should be a great card!!

I bought a direct import based on 3 Jap Auction photographs.

 

I paid my £5K+ up front, about a month before I saw the car. Yes, it was a nerve racking time, made wose by the 5hr drive from Kent to North Wales to pick the car up. But, the purchase was on the proviso that if I didn't like the car I could ask for a full refund there and then without penalty.

 

I would say, nearly 2 yrs on, that I'd do it again. I bought a 11 yr old car without a speck of rust that really just needed a little TLC to bring it up to spec. How many of you UK guys can say that the tin worm hasn't taken a few bites?

 

I have recently spent less than £1K on a full respray, and refurbished wheels. I now have a car that I can truly be proud of, with a look and finish to rival any £25K Audi TT and with far more exclusivity!

 

As for breakdown/reliability, I would say I haven't noticed a proportionately high number of imports going US?

 

From personal experiences I'd say mine has been as reliable as any car I've owned, and a lot better than most, other than a few items such as FPCU, power steering pump and 60K service its behaved itself impecably and cost me very little in real terms.

 

I looked all over the UK for a decent car and just couldn't find an unmollested one or anything I considered to be worth the £6.5K that was burning a hole in my pocket. 2 yrs on and I've spent around £7.5K and its far better than any UK car I viewed 2 yrs ago!

 

You decide...

and yes, it was another blatent excuse to post a pic of my car :D

 

Tim

Someone said

 

"Ive got a client that spent most of his working life in the motor industry in the far east and he states that cars there are designed with a short life span due to 3 year testing laws and are built with inferior quality components compared to european counterparts due to this? Is there an element of truth to this or is it old japanese wives tales"

 

This allways amazes me, as if any manufacture has the time to design, make, stock and then fit two different quality parts.

GM saved 12 million dollars in one year just by fitting the same head light switch to all of its cars, the bit you dont see. can you imagine the cost of making a cheaper Z? It would end up being the more expensive Z

 

Mine is 10 years old this year so, mine too is on its third life.

I think we do tend to see more posts about imports.. But I also think I know why that is..

 

I'd hazard a guess that they outnumber the UK cars 2-1 on here.. And many times that on the roads - there just weren't that many of them brought into the country as UK Z's originally..

 

My import turned out to be a heap - and I bought that after seeing it and driving it.. So you can't always avoid a bad car, even if you see it :)

I bought mine from Japan, from 6 images on the net, it is better than I had hoped. I bought it 12 months ago now and have only just SVA'd it. Dont ask me why because it was simple to do.

 

It is a 1993, TT auto 50000miles, 17" split rims. Momo wheel, Nice aftermarket exhaust, paid 420,000yen inc shipping. And I am looking at a 93 manual now from the same people, but I am third in line so dont expect to buy it..

I think you were blinded by love though, not to mention your desire to get rid of the Renault 5. It was only afterwards you discovered just how difficult and expensive Zeds are to fix.

 

 

Originally posted by aaronjb

I think we do tend to see more posts about imports.. But I also think I know why that is..

 

I'd hazard a guess that they outnumber the UK cars 2-1 on here.. And many times that on the roads - there just weren't that many of them brought into the country as UK Z's originally..

 

My import turned out to be a heap - and I bought that after seeing it and driving it.. So you can't always avoid a bad car, even if you see it :)

True Andy - I did miss some blinding mechanical faults like;

 

A/C didn't work

Heater didn't work

Oil leak from front crank seal

Failing to shift up at WOT

PAS/Hicas unstable

Drivers door lock goes round.. and round.. and round.. and.. :)

Leccy seat adjuster knob was broken off

 

I'm sure I forgot a few in that list... :)

 

And lets not forget it blew up after two weeks..

 

'scuse me, I'm off to cry now! ;)

Tim, your Z looks luverly!

F.T.:D

I suppose I had better come clean. Within the first year I had to replace the brake disks, all 4 tyres and the alternator, the second year 3 new coils, new cam belt, new pads and a new battery.

 

But this is really no more that one should expect when buying a 10 yr old car.

 

OK the parts were more expensive, but not much more, but I went into Zed owning with my eyes open, and I am still smiling.

 

Overall it has turned out cheaper than my last car - a Vectra! I bought it for 10k and after 3 years is was only worth 3k as part exchange, (high milage), and the servicing costs we not much cheaper.

 

However since most of my miles are business miles much of the costs are tax deductable!

Just buy the thing - if it blows up you can always do what everyone else I know does - blame me!:( ;)