I'd like to do a quick poll of opinion.

 

Someone told me this week that they didn't think the zed was the 'right image for me'. (!!)

 

This comment was based upon the following facts/opinions:-

[*] I am the director of an architectural practice that specialises in designing houses for the MEGA-rich (ie £2M upwards)

[*] the Zed is an old design which looks dated.

[*] it's a very fast and very LOUD car (this offends some people apparently :D )

[*] you'd only run a zed if you couldn't afford a 'quality sports car' (ie Porche, Aston, Ferrari etc)

 

They went on to say that I ought to drive a BMW or, if I had to have a fast 2+2 (which I DO!) maybe a DB7?

 

When I appeared insulted (!!!) he suggested that there wouldn't be many successful professionals out there driving zeds.

 

So come on, tell me, what do you all think. Are any of you old enough, sensible enough and wealthy enough to know better, but still drive a zed BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE CHOICE?

 

or am I the only one????????

Well, speaking for myself, I am a director of my (admittedly small, 4 people) consultancy company, dealing in Health and safety, management and training. I do drive a Volco S70 to work most of the time, due to the distances involved, but also take the zed and my custom bike. People do give me looks when I turn up, but they usually do, as they dont expect their "consultant" to be a six foot skinhead glaswegian, but if they cant see past the car, haircut, whatever thats their problem. Generally speaking, ,my clients need me a lot more than I need them.

 

Keep the zed, as for the opinions F*ck 'em if they can't take a joke

zed is an old design and looks dated.....

 

it is an old design, might look a bit dated today compared to todays jellymoulds, but it still looks fantastic, i'd go as far to say a zed looks better than an e type in my opninion. people rave about them being beautiful but am i the only one that thinks they stink!!

 

i can see where that bloke is comming from, it probably would be more 'professional' to drive a beemer, but hey lifes to short to worry about stuff like that.

 

jealousy will get him nowhere

porsches are far too common anyway..

 

 

another thing... yeah why dont we all buy 50-60 grand beemers so they can be worth half that ammount 2 years down the line.. hmm top financial sense if you ask me...foookin *****x

I flip burgers all day long at Maccies and all my co workers reckon I should bin the Z and get a kitted 1.2 corsa or saxo. Whaddaya think?;) :D :D :D :D :D :D

My zed is only a play thing, could afford something else but why?? for the money what other car looks better, can do sub 6 sec 0-60 (if required) has a targa top and can (where legal) do over 150 mph??

 

I have a company car but i do go in me Zed sometimes and go to see clients sometimes in it and the only one where i felt a bit stupid was when my client turned up in a dodge viper (bas***d)

 

and believe me if you went from a Zed to a saxo i dont think you'd be happy ;)

 

 

Kirbz

oops, missed of my tags for the list - sorry, should have looked like this.....

 

I'd like to do a quick poll of opinion.

 

Someone told me this week that they didn't think the zed was the 'right image for me'. (!!)

 

This comment was based upon the following facts/opinions:-

• I am the director of an architectural practice that specialises in designing houses for the MEGA-rich (ie £2M upwards)
  
• the Zed is an old design which looks dated.
  
• it's a very fast and very LOUD car (this offends some people apparently )
  
• you'd only run a zed if you couldn't afford a 'quality sports car' (ie Porche, Aston, Ferrari etc)
  

 

They went on to say that I ought to drive a BMW or, if I had to have a fast 2+2 (which I DO!) maybe a DB7?

 

When I appeared insulted (!!!) he suggested that there wouldn't be many successful professionals out there driving zeds.

 

So come on, tell me, what do you all think. Are any of you old enough, sensible enough and wealthy enough to know better, but still drive a zed BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE CHOICE?

 

or am I the only one????????

I gave this some consideration a while ago,

 

I could buy an Rx7, but why? its slower and less practicle, supra?? PAH

 

I could buy a porsche in a few years when I can get insured on it but running costs are astronomical and porsches just don't stand out these days.

 

BMW's? fooking boring

 

I would really like a ferrari or a lambo but I defiently can't afford one of them.

 

350z? I prefer the looks of my z32

 

Everytime I try and think what I want out of a new car the zed beats it hands down. Im just going to spend the cash that was going to go towards an RX7 on my zed.

drive whatever the hell you want!!! :D

 

just show him the picture of the guy in the states with his 3 cars on the drive - a Lambo, a Ferrari & a ZED!! :D

 

I work for Mercedes & everyone always asks why I dont run a Merc!! nuff said! ;)

Yes, my partner has a similar problem with image in fact, as he drives a CL500 - which he doesn't like to use when he visits Jewish clients in case they're a bit sensitive about a german car! (In those cases he takes his Range Rover Vogue 4.6 HSE !)

The age of a design is irrelevant to its elegance. Concorde is an old(ish) design but probably one of the best things ever designed by man; Humber bridge; E-type jaguar (but drive one and see whether you would use it daily!).

The wheel is an old, old design.....

 

IMFFRHO, the Zed is a timeless classic - it'll still look good next century but beware too many addons!

 

It's certainly fast but need not be too loud.

 

The biggest problem with Zed is that it is by Nissan. Say its badge was Aston-Martin.....

 

I couldn't care less if some (philistine) doesn't like it; I think that it is an utter delight to the eye. There isn't an angle that jars. There are a lot of cars about that have one/two good profiles but are let down by certain views.

I had a garage built to house a new Cougar but bought the Zed instead - it's never been in because I love to see it as I wander about.

 

Nigel - if your clients have an eye for design, they will appreciate why you have a Zed! (If you drove an expensive car they might think that your fees are too high - mebbe they do anyway ;) )

TBH I if I could afford it I'd buy a Noble or a ferrari but the Z was the best thing I could afford and they are fantastic cars. Just got to be realistic about how good they really are.

Reckon you just have to look at what you want from it really, sure if you want it just for image buy a DB7 or a porsche if you want something that a bit more hardcore buy a ferrari etc.

Or just sod what other people think and keep it because you want to!

Thanks for all the support!

 

I must say I still think the zed looks good - and judging by the attention it gets (not just because of the loudest exhaust in the northern hemisphere) - so do a lot of people.

 

I like it because of the fact there aren't many left that look the same - they're all slightly modded and different - even if it's just a set of wheels. I think the comments were largely due to the fact the the car says "enthusiast" about the person driving it - you have to be to own one. A zed has to be partly a hobby - if you're going to keep it in top nick and so doesn't have the 'class' image of other cars.

 

But I have to agree - apart from the single exception of a Vanquish (£160+k) there isn't a car that looks as good, has usable rear seats and can get to 60 in under 5 seconds.

 

and I can't buy a Vanquish cos I have a mate who has one and everyone will think I'm just copying him! (plus I don't have £160k spare!)

When I went loking for a car to replace my westfield I considered the following list.

 

1. Nissan 300ZX

2. Porsche 928

3. Mazda MX5

4. Subaru Impreza turbo.

5. BMW M3

6. Lotus Elise

7. Nissan 200 SX

As the car was to be used as a second vehicle (everyday transport is a mondeo, zzzzzzzz........... oops soory dropped off there) I didn't need it to be practical so the subaru and BMW were quickly dismissed.

 

I'd always lusted after a 928 to be honest but finding a good manual car is difficult and the ones I did find were about twice the price of an equivalent Z.

 

If I had the money I probably would have gone for an elise but decent ones start at 12K and as such were quite a bit over my budget.

 

I needed a car that was insurable so classic status was a definite advantage.

 

That left the MX5, The 300ZX and the 200SX. All rear wheel drive, all japanese, all suitable for all year round use if only on a part time basis. The MX5 was discounted on the basis that it was a little slow and there are a lot of bad ones around.

 

The 200SX is a bargain make no mistake. Good ones can be picked up for £6K or less and with 197 bhp in a 1250kg body they're quick. Not impressed with the looks to be honest.

 

Anyway fionally ended up with a 300ZX TT manual. These cars are cheap to buy (relatively), still look great to my eyes in an authetically japanese way, very quick, comfy, handle pretty well, etc.

 

The image thing doesn't really bother me. I'm a Chartered Civil Engineer and regularly turn up to meetings in the Z. They are sure fire future classics. It still turns heads. This probably because they look great, there aren't that many on the roads now, they're bl**dy massive and with a s/s exhaust pleasantly loud.

 

I'm not one for bodykits and add ons to be honest so my zed is stock apart from the exhaust and the 17" rims the car came with when I bought it.

 

Anyway I'll stop rambling............

 

All the best.

 

Martin.

Drive what you want to today, stuff what other people think, you are a long time dead!

Just to ask a question.!!I know that nobody on here likes 3000 GT Mitzy,s but what is really wrong with them??I have just sold my Z32 and am looking at replacing it.I got rid of the Z because there was something forever going wrong with it,and lookin at the posts on here i aint on my own.Yes i know Z,s are old,Yes i know that there fairly complex.But does this excuse the alarming regularity that these cars go wrong?I am gonna give another brand a try i think,although i will not dismiss owning another Z.

Like many people though,im on a budget that doesnt extend to cars i really want

 

 

I realise i will probably get slated for this post,especially askin about a GT on a Z forum,but i reckon if there,s any dirt to be had about the motors,you fella,s will be the ones to ask!!

Thanks

Gary

-----

There's no comparison. Sure on paper they look fine, the actual looks of the car is a matter of opinion, but the true test is go and drive one - they're crap!

 

OK the 300 isn't the best handling car on the planet, but the 3000GT is one of the worst! It understeers into a bend like an old ladies motorised shopping cart, you have to back off to get it around the corner and then it zips into massive oversteer and the back end goes out. This can be corrected, but the response from the suspension and steering is so remote you need help from mystic meg to know where the damn thing is going to end up. Then --- no don't get me started on braking under lock!

 

urgh! like stirring porridge!

 

 

 

 

 

:D

Sorry about your reliability woes, but it sounds like you got a bad 'un. Doesn't matter what you buy, it might turn out to be a lemon.

 

I'm on my second Z now, and have not had any major problems with either of them. My current one is a 1991 Jap import with 130,000KM on the clock. I've had it for nearly 2 years and done 40,000KM. I had the cam belt changed when I got it, as a precaution (it was fine but I changed it anyway).

 

The only problems I've had were a small split in a water hose, which I had repaired for £8 part, plus £45 labour, and a new set of discs.

 

I change the oil and filter regularly and that's about it. It's a great car.

 

As for the 3000GTO, they are a striking looking car at first, but I don't find them as 'elegant' as the lines on a Z. A colleague had a 1998 GTO and I found the interior VERY cramped. I find the Z to be quite spacious. Personal opinion.

 

Good luck with whatever choice you make, but I'd give a Z another go.:)

Nobody here considers a GTR as a viable alternative then??

 

I wonder why, as they are also a very useable 2+2, and have at least as much grunt as a zed.

 

I think you should drive whatever you want Nigel, especially if you can afford most cars.

 

Alternatives to my liner would be a DB7, a 355Spider, an audi S8 (or s6), or maybe a nice porsche 964 turbo2. But none of them is really on terms with the gtr for pace, and I guess its the same if your zed is quite modded.

 

Happy motoring anyways........

 

James.

Thanks fella,s.Well i have driven a few GT,s and have to agree that the Z does handle better,albeit in a somewhat antiquated way to what the GT does.I suspect ya create ya opinion as i did.I prefer rear wheel drive and all the sidewards,tailsliding that prevails.But i have to say that i have been driven on a track and on a private road in scotland in a GT with a real driver behind the wheel and it was blindingly quick,entered and exited bends at a pace that a Z good only dream of[traction and adhesion!!].

Dont get me wrong here,im a better than average driver myself[modest eh!!]and have driven in many varyin types of motorsport,mainly rally driving and club events,so i know how to peddle a car!I can only think that the understeer and oversteer characteristics that ya encountered were due to ya drivin style!! No offence intended of course,im probably wrong!!!

And just to close,the Z i owned had less than 60 k on the clock and i could go on all night about the faults that the car had!!

Of course the looks between a GT and a Z are purely personel i suppose,i think they both have + and - points,equalling the pair out in my eyes.

But i will have another Z if a good one comes along thats in my budget! I will certainly know where to look next time!!!

Its been a long expensive curve but at least i have now owned a Z which i guess only about 3% of the population can say!! ha ha!!

Thanx again

Interesting to hear what everyone thinks about the Z but in the end of the day, I don't give a flying F*ck what other think of it. I can blast 99% of what's on the road, I think it looks the cocks conkers, and for a design that is 15 years old, I don't think it's doing too bad.

 

If they want to slate you, then maybe they should stick their head in a porsche 924 or 944 or even a 928 which was from around the same time and the Z beats them hands down every time both in looks and performance. MOO

 

In the end of the day, you are driving home in a 300BHP+ beast and they are probably going home in their Renault megane. Which would you prefer.

 

 

 

Oh and one more point, you pay the bills on it so if I was I'd pull down my trousers and tell them to kiss your 2 half moons. :D

Just thought i would share this with you all,its true,happend today,metionend it in a reply earlier on a PM,Had a guy come over today,who was visiting his family,had met him at Billing,my wife is interested in a car he has for sale,(looks like she will buy it next couple weeks)any way while we were talking he mentioned he had a Super bike,etc etc,and was after a GTO,having driven one recently,asked me my views them,any way i was giving it the pros and cons and metioning the 300zx (which was parked across from us)but he was not having any of it,the GTO was the dogs etc etc,so mmmmm,fancy coming out for a spin in mine then,the conclusion,"fookin hell it sticks on roundabouts"fookin hell no way did i think you would get passed all them in time"fookin hell it pushes ya back in the seat"fookin hell we doin 120 that soon","fookin hell only 10psi too",got out of Z,not another fookin word about the GTO,plenty about the Z:D

well if you want to be a total faggot and mince around in a boxter or audi TT then so be it but expect to get slaughtered by 99% of Jap performance cars :D

i have a 95 pearl white TT manual and quite often go to cruises and stuff, and ive been quite pleasantly surprised at the amount of ppl that make comments as u go by, and random ppl giving u the thumbs up. u park up and get more random ppl coming up and asking questions about it.

 

a couple of times ive just parked up and some other random dude has come over and started taking pictures of my car, and this werent even at a cruise.

 

the zx is certiainly a head turner ppl obviously dont get to see em that much as many ppl have asked what it is, including some french bloke in a rather nice convertible merc that pulled up next to me.

 

i aint even dont that much to my car :

http://www.faceparty.com/lee-man for few pics.

 

peace out y'all

Whilst I appreciate the general tone here, I think you'd all have to admit there is a point to answer.

 

On friday I went to visit a client. His Porsche turbo (2 weeks old) was on the drive next to his BMW X5. His wife's Merc CLK drop top was there too and our project manager was there in his BMW Z4.

 

So I turned up in the zed, rattling everyone's windows and burbling like dragster whilst the turbos cooled. It was the oldest car there by 11 years, the fastest car there (by a midges dick!), the cheapest car there by 20 grand, and the loudest car there by about 40000 dB !

 

Now I like to be non-conformist and I have always know that the zed attracts attention, but after these comments I am starting to fell self-conscious of the opinions of others.

 

The more I think about it the only real alternative to comply with the company I keep, would be a DB7.

 

It's still a current body shape, has 2 almost reasonable rear seats and is probably fast enough (even though I traunced one a few weeks ago!). BUT I hear that the build quality is fairly poor, the maintenance costs are very high and I have to spend at least £40 k to buy one in the first place.

Well having read all the posts - yeh alot said already! The zed in it's original guise is starting to age, especially the f/bumper. I've modded mine with the 99' spec. f/bumper and the r/spoiler supra style, complimented by the up to date alloys. In my opinion and others, it now looks contempory but different than the usual stuff out there. With most of us guys who've modded their cars, we've spent alot and could have bought something newer. But we love the lines and power of the Zed and feel we're doing it justice!

 

If you work for a company and have to tow a certain line of behavior - well go out there and get the Merc, BMW, Porsche etc. and look the part! Keep your Zed for weekend and evening fun. My Zed is only used for recreation as I use a pick-up for work!

 

Geoff.