Ok before I start, the club looks superb, I've had a good browse and the cars you guys have are a credit to yourselves! I am currently the owner of a modified Nissan Primera P11 GA16DE and have decided to stop sinking money into a slow car and get something beefy. After much thinking, I have set my heart on a 300zx twin turbo targa top. What I am asking is anything I should heartily steer clear of. I can't imagine driving an automatic but I know that the turbos spin constantly through the gears and therefore this is the better option. My realistic figure to spend will be around 5k but I have seem some nice ones for this money. Also how much do these things do to the gallon? I don't want it to race and thrash, just to cruise and look good! Thanks for any information you can give. :D A lot of my friends have P11GTs and I can't wait to roll up with 300bhp and command some respect! For me this isn't a weekend car, this will by my everyday drive to work car, so any information on practicality is appreciated even though it wouldn't put me off too much, the 300zx is a beautiful piece of machinery.

Must also add that I have been a member of the npoc for a long time now and have got valuable information from there about my current car which is why I've asked here. Nobody to get better informaion about a car from the people who care for it most.

Hi Si :D

 

firstly welcome to the site, its a bit quiet at the mo cos most of us are at Billing (im off tomorrow morning)

 

look here for some info on buying a zed.

 

dont ask about auto/man pros & cons here unless you wanna start WW3!!! most owners prefer what box they hav (get a manual ;) )

 

mpg? about 18-22 is prob a realistic figure, maybe a little more on a run

 

i use my car everyday without problems, although they can be very costly to maintain if things start to go wrong

 

let us know if you want any more info :)

What's all that b****cks about turbos spinning up through the gears!

 

Manuals are faster -so long as you know how to change gear. PERIOD!

Hi Si-Boy.

 

 

Firstly you can use a 300ZX as a daily driver, I did it for 2 years, but it eats petrol. You are looking at 17-19mpg around town and 25(ish)mpg on the motorway driving about 80. You would probably get more if you stay at 55-60mph but its really hard to do. For £5000 you should get a nice one. There are a few forsale on here at the moment, have a look on the forsale section.

 

Most Zs are Automatics which you said you are not that keen on, its 100% your personal choice, please dont ask people which is best, you will start a war ;)

 

Finding a manual is harder though as it is estimated 75% of them are Automatics.

 

Next you have to think about is UK or Jap. You probably know the advantages of each. UK, better suspention, cheaper insurance and also possiblity of classic insurance, more power? (questionalble), UK also has wider wheels on the rear (Stock wheels), you should get history with it too.

 

Japanese Imported Zs have softer suspention 225 tyres all round (opposed to 245 on the rears of a UK), they tend to have less rust, some having none at all due to not using salt on the roads in Japan. One major downfall, I feel, Japanese Imported Z and other cars I believe, dont have oil coolers or gearbox oil coolers which the UK ones do. Because of this Japanese Import Automatics do have a habbit of blowing. :( You may get some history with an import, probably from when it entered the country till now, but you may not get anything from when it was in Japan, and if you do, can you read Japanese? ;)

 

Many people put oil coolers on Japanese imported cars when they get into this country.

 

 

For your choices of Z, ALL UK Zs are Targa Top, 2+2 Seater Twin Turbo. So if the car is slick top, convertable, none turbo or 2 seater, it is an import.

 

Most Zs are 2+2 and 2 seaters are quite rare. Also the slick top is like rocking horse shit. I think it was only avaliable on very late Zs like 1998-2000.

 

I would advise you to try and get 2 cars. If you get a UK Z, you can insure it for very little depending on your age, and it leaves your NCB free to use on a 2nd car. I run a Corsa as well as my Z. I use the Corsa to go to and from work, friends, town etc and you notice the difference in money IF you stick to driving the Z for the weekend or some where special.

 

 

Any more info needed, just ask.

 

Stuart

Originally posted by SRRAE

 

I would advise you to try and get 2 cars. If you get a UK Z, you can insure it for very little depending on your age, and it leaves your NCB free to use on a 2nd car. I run a Corsa as well as my Z. I use the Corsa to go to and from work, friends, town etc and you notice the difference in money IF you stick to driving the Z for the weekend or some where special.

 

 

Any more info needed, just ask.

 

Stuart

 

naaaah, *****x to that! use it every day & put a smile on your face driving to & from work!! :D

It all comes down to daily mileage really, when I was doing 25K miles a year I drove a Saab turbo. Now I'm down to doing around 10K (or less) and I don't care about the mpg! There's no better feeling than sitting in traffic with a decatted ZX growling at all the pussies in their "2nd" cars!

 

(sorry STU, couldn't resist that!)

 

and if you want to save petrol - get on the bus!

Get the bus? How much money do you think I have? ;)

 

 

Bus from where I live into town. £3 return. I wont even use £3 of petrol driving the Z into town staying in 1st gear. ;)

 

 

Stuart

LOL

 

You're right of course - but it's the parking that's the killer - It's up to about £8 a day in central Manchester now - so glad I work out of town and have a private parking space!

Ahhh, nice thing about working in a town ;)

 

 

Work parking provided, and parking in town to shop is £1.20 for 3 hours. More than I need.

;)

 

Stuart

Cheers lads for the advice on what to look out for. As for the turbo spinning on the automatic, I read that on an owners site which I am now trying to find! Surely if the foot in constantly down with no changing gear manually, the turbo can keep raging instead of when you come off the power to change gear? Is that *****cks, I dunno. I'll have a good look for the one, I think when you see the one, you know it's the one! That mpg is a bit harsh but I would only use it for a few miles a day for work and then heading down the local meet on a saturday night. No doubt once I've found one I'll be back more for modifying help!

Manuals have larger turbos too. Forgot to say ;)

 

 

Stuart

Another thing is that I saw a review stating that the twin turbo was 300bhp standard whereas I've seen sites where the person says their extensively modified one is 250bhp. What is the real standard bhp and torque figures of the twin turbo manual? Thanks lads.

NA 225 bhp.

 

 

TT 300bhp.

 

 

It could have been a modded NA.

 

 

The power dropped to 280 in 1996 to conform with new emmissions laws and Variable Valve Timing was dropped.

 

Stuart

Thanks Stuart, your information is extremely helpful. I'll be sad to the primera go but I'm sure when I get my hands on a 300zx all that will soon fade! Damn, just remembered that I've got indiglo dials coming soon from a club group buy, oh well! That link above for the problems to look out for is very detailed, thanks for sharing it :D

What sort of insurance quotes can I expect for one of these? I am going to get a quote but I am 28, clean licence with 4yrs no claims. I hope it's not too high. I've seen the odd for sale on here with people giving up against the high running costs and they would have to be way high to actually get rid of such a fine car as this.

Originally posted by Si-Boy

how much do these things do to the gallon?]

 

about 19 lamposts

Ha! Good information, guys! I love my Z's!:)

Hi there.

 

I have some 300ZX Twin-Turbo's for sale... Although I am not sure if I am allowed to do this, but here is the website: http://www.japcity.com .

 

You will find one there in your price range of about £5000. It's just been imported, dark silver metallic (gunmetal metallic) 1 year MOT, 6 months tax. It has all the original Japanese auction sheets showing the auction grade 4 (generally excellent condition). As mentioned in an earlier thread by somebody, as it is an import, you will not find a spot of rust. It drives and handles superb (but you would have to be the judge of that when test driving).

 

Read here the pros as to why buy an import: http://www.japcity.com/import.htm .

 

There are some cons too... Some insurance companies can be a bit fussy, but I found that Tesco Insurance and Privilege had no issues with imports and offered some good quotes. I've been importing these for a long time now and I have had no comebacks, or unsatisfied buyers.

 

Regards.

 

Kent.

Originally posted by scoops

Originally posted by Si-Boy

how much do these things do to the gallon?

 

about 19 lamposts

 

 

 

LOL. Yeah, like motorway lamposts which are close together. ;)

 

 

Stuart

Skipping back to earlier posts - when comparing cars, don't forget that Autos are all 280bhp (I think) and also lose more power through the transmission.

 

And as for my earlier reference to B****cks - it's a simple matter of fact. Compare the acceleration performance figures for any make or model of car that is available in auto and manual, then make up your own mind.

 

Also Marty - I was going to PM you to ask what the wheels are on your car, but you've got PM switched off :confused:

 

They look good- and I've suggested in another post that we could do with a database of wheels that both look good and also fit the car! as many suppliers claim that many designs don't work on the z because of clearance of the brake calipers.

Originally posted by NigelBoyd

Skipping back to earlier posts - when comparing cars, don't forget that Autos are all 280bhp (I think) and also lose more power through the transmission.

 

And as for my earlier reference to B****cks - it's a simple matter of fact. Compare the acceleration performance figures for any make or model of car that is available in auto and manual, then make up your own mind.

 

Also Marty - I was going to PM you to ask what the wheels are on your car, but you've got PM switched off :confused:

 

They look good- and I've suggested in another post that we could do with a database of wheels that both look good and also fit the car! as many suppliers claim that many designs don't work on the z because of clearance of the brake calipers.

 

The wheels on my Zed are:

 

-18" Enkie NCT-03 Wheels with...

 

-275/35ZR 18 Yokohama AVS dB's (Rear)

 

-245/45ZR 18 Yokohama AVS dB's (Front)

 

I do seem to have my PM's switched on or enabled, maybe I missed something.....MM :)

Welcome.......

 

Dont worry about mpg........its a 300zx....admit it you wouldnt be worried about mpg in a 300 you know its going to be arse.....just hang on and enjoy the ride.................

 

PS

 

Immediately get onto your bank manager and ask for another £2000 on the overfdraft.........................at least!!!!

 

Regardz

Originally posted by Submarine

Welcome.......

 

Dont worry about mpg........its a 300zx....admit it you wouldnt be worried about mpg in a 300 you know its going to be arse.....just hang on and enjoy the ride.................

 

PS

 

Immediately get onto your bank manager and ask for another £2000 on the overfdraft.........................at least!!!!

 

Regardz

 

iv just got 300 miles out of a tank of optimax going to billing & back - thats around 25mpg if iv worked it out correctly! :D best ever that!

As an auto owner - yes - you are correct about the turbos spinning constantly as you dont need to let off the gas - the turbos arnt stressed as much as in a manual. The 0-60 difference is minimal - about 3 tenths......The reason being is that Nissan didnt just bung an auto box onto an engine like most manufacturers do - they changed the engine to match it. Hence the eralier post of smaller turbos - they spool up quicker than the manual ones. You will also find that the 0-100mph is a bit quicker than the manual. But the manual is easier to tune up as you only need to uprate the clutch whereas on the auto you need to uprate the whole box and its a bit pricey....Good luck