Hi

 

I'm looking to get a Z in the near future and was wondering what the difference is between UK and Import? I think that Import has 300bhp and UK 270bhp??

And you're less likely to get leather and all of the gadgts with the UK?

The insurance difference is massive so I'd rather get a UK but a few companies that deal with imports say thatI'd be wasting my money and once it's one about 60k miles it gonna go wrong pretty soon??

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

 

Dave

no both have same BHP, Japs measure BHP slightly differently, you may see a decrease in performace in J-spec as our petrol is a lower RON level than in Japan whereas the UK-spec is designed for use with 95RON fuel

 

I think you are more likely to get leather in a UK spec, ive never seen a UK-spec without leather but have seen plenty of j-spec without leather.

 

it depends on how the car is treated as to how long it lasts, craig's has done 150,000 miles and is still running on a stock engine and turbos, whereas mine was rebuilt at 60k,

 

I had to get UK-spec to get cheaper insurance.

Cheers for your reply Mike, I've spoken to a few importers and they stay well clear of the UK models guess they were just trying to make a sale!

How much does it cost you to maintain with servicing and repairs?

Also, are they really bad on petrol, I've heard people get as little as 18mpg??

 

Lastly, are you happy with your UK model? I'd be gutted if I spent so much on a UK and was then disappointed.

of course they would say that heh....

 

urm, in one year ive spent about £1500 on servicing, thats for new brakes all round, new master break cylinder, mot, B and C service.

 

I get abut 16mpg, basically I worked it out £1 gets me 5miles heh but as some people say I just potter around town hehe.

 

20p a mile.

 

I am well happy, beautiful car and runs nice, I got a good one thuogh, there is a bit of rust and i need a new sill or two but it is 11 years old now

I get abut 16mpg, basically I worked it out £1 gets me 5miles heh but as some people say I just potter around town hehe.

 

!!!!! Are you joking!! My god, is that normally or just when you're booting it?

 

Have to agree with you they are a beautiful car. Do they all come with aircon and cruise control etc?

I got my uk car about 6 months ago now, it,s fully loaded with leather,climate,cruise etc etc, no sign of rust, just needs a new spoiler, only had little niggly problems so far (nothing exspensive) MPG again about 18 but i dont care about that, i only use it at weekends. Looked at a couple of imports myself but the INSURANCE swayed it for me.

Some differences in the two :

 

J-Spec more likely to be NA

J-Spec more likely to be automatic

J-Spec has front indicators on the side, instead of in the middle

J-Spec does not have front bumper washers

J-Spec rear number plate square, not rectangular

J-Spec has better body work (usually)

J-Spec less likely to have Service History documentation

It's more expensive to insure a J-Spec NA than an UK TT

J-Spec has electric fold in mirrors

UK Spec is more likely to have leather interior (Series 2 onwards)

UK Spec has heated seats

UK Spec turbo gauge goes from -14 - +14, J-Spec is -7(funny symbol) - +7 (funny symbol), I think

UK Spec designed to run on 95RON fuel, J-Spec does better on 97RON although it is designed to use 100RON

J-Spec more readily available

 

That's about all I can think of at the moment.... :)

 

Anita.

You'll find some info here :- http://www.300zx.org.uk/mod_comp_1.htm

yep they are thirsty buggers, but u soon get used to not worrying about that its worth it for the sheer fun of driving the beast.

 

if your not gonna do a lot of mileage try get a capped policy, i paid 438 quid fully comp for 3000 miles pa. that on a j-spec no mods tt auto. the was with footman james.

 

theres usually some on this forum for sale in the for sale bit,

 

they are a helluva lot of car for not much money, i always find myself taking the long way home, also when uve got the roof off and some decent tunes kicking out its such a great feeling, be prepared for lots of stares and people pointing tho :D

UK Spec has heated seats

 

I haven't got heated seats in my UK spec, I don't think, but then again my UK spec doesn't have leather!!!

 

Regards,

Peter

J specs usually have done less mileage, by quite a way.

Less or no rust.

 

As for insurance NU Direct DO NOT discriminate against imports anymore, as I have just found out.

 

My premium just gone down from £750 ( last year ) to £389,

plus excess cut from £350 to £120 and it is now protected as well.

 

Good hunting, you wont be dissapoited whatever model you get.

 

Just make sure you have it checked over first before parting with any readies.

 

Direct imports have there problems, but there is plenty of advice is available here.

The 300bhp are the US versions i think, but theyre all left hookers so not alot of use over ere

 

Also stock J specs have a warning chime for over 110kmph and wont allow cruise control at over 74 mph

 

The jspec autos beep in reverse

 

j specs have slightly different bulbs

 

j spec has lower but softer suspension

 

j specs are more likeley to have extra goodies that you didnt expect, tv's, turbo timers lighty up bits and stuff

 

j specs sometimes have odd parking ariels drilled into the front bumper

 

Heres the biggy J SPEC AUTOS DO NOT HAVE A DECENT OIL COOLER FITTED AS STANDARD AND THE BOX IS MORE LIKELEY TO GO TITS UP WITHOUT ONE, UK SPECS DO. (I cannot recomend strongly enough getting one if you gt a j spec and it doesnt have one!!!)

 

uk spec has no hi level brake light in the spoiler

 

j spec parts are generally no more expensive than uk

 

and finally none are particularly economical mine can do upto 27 to the gallon, but then again it can do as little as 11 !!! (and thats stock)

 

And if your wondering what colour to get go for red as everyone knows thats the best colour!

 

Happy Hunting.

 

Oh and a bit of buying advise when dealing with importers;

 

There iS A HILL in Nottingham that you should not go up, and be carefull in Birmingham that you dont slip over if you should go down a GRAVEL DRIVE

Thanks for the help, it's so hard to find out specific info without forums like this.

I managed to speak to a guy on Sunday that owned an Import and he couldn't sing it's praises enough. I've got my eye on a few for sale at the moment, I'd get an AA/RAC check done but how much would you expect to pay for an older UK G-J reg in good condition?

Some are as little as 3.2k and other are going for double that for the same year!!

Also, the guy I spoke to said that the autos tend to have clutch problems around the 60k mark, is this a general rule and how would I be able to tell if I was to have a test drive in one??

 

Thanks again

Originally posted by Ajay

Some differences in the two :

 

 

UK Spec has heated seats

 

Don't think mine has !

I thought that's 'cos you'd ripped 'em out an replaced with 2xcanvas chairs, in an effort to reduce mass, Nelson ...

 

It's a bugger getting that heating element in canvas!!:D :D

 

Also, I reckon those tiny switches must weigh a good 20 grammes, not to mention the additional fuse required!;)

 

Sorry mate .. couldn't resist it ...

they are heavy seats.

 

I'd be interested to know how I know whether the seats are heated or not.........

I believe it was an option.

 

Originally posted by Nelson MainFella

I'd be interested to know how I know whether the seats are heated or not.........

my uk spec doesnt have heated seats

Mine was just special then. :p ;)

Don't go thinking you're the special one, Neet!:p

 

Both of my UK spec cars had heated seats .. so I must be double special!:p :p :p

 

Only now I have a J-spec with leather do I suffer the frozen arse in the depths of winter!;)

Mwahahahah! :D :p

 

*must scrub brain of images of that...!!!*

 

;)

It's not a condition to make light of, believe me .. can be debilitating at the best of time:D :D

 

:red-face: - Take your point about the mental image though - too much information again!;)