Guys, I've been reading this forum for the last week ! Its really helpful and everything but purchasing one of these beasts, I just want to consult with the people who own one FIRST!

 

I propose 2 cars, and all you got to do is say which you would go for & why. Sounds simple, but I am having a real hard time deciding. They can both be found on the autotrader, I'll also give the links so you can check 'em out.

 

1. There will be 3 on the following link, I am refering to the black one at the bottom of the page

 

2. The third entry on the list from the bottom, there is only 1 300zx on this page.

 

I will be checking these two babies on Saturday, so please hurry in your reply !!!!

 

Cheers,

Ardy

I think both of the cars are very similar.

 

I'd look at both cars and have a good drive in them.

 

Check out the buying guide on here, theres lots of good info.

 

If i had to choose from the 2 it would be the first one cos its got lower mileage but there both imports so you can never be sure on the mileage.

 

Also have a look on the for sale forum on here there's a few for sale.

 

If in doubt walk away and try and take someone who know what there talking about(not saying you dont;) )

 

depending on where it is try asking one of the members to have a look, i'm sure one will.

 

Cheers

Kirbz

Kirbiz, Thanks mate, well I have read the buyers guide through and through. Like you say imports are not fully trust worthy with regard to Mileage, but usual signs of ratling, smoke, interior trim condition should make it easier.

 

Im looking for more oppinions though, so please keep 'em comin.

 

Ardy.

I can't decide from the pictures alone. You need examine both cars thoroughly and I strongly recommend that you should take someone with you who knows about Zeds.

 

Good luck

 

Van

 

PS However, at a push I'd go for the first as it has lower mileage.

Van, Cheers mate. I appreciate what you mean. I will be armed with the buyers guide :dance:

Ardy

 

If you want someone to go with you to look at the second one give me a shout. I don't live to far from watlington.

 

Robin

Robin, your a star mate, Well, im gona make a trip, see no.1 and then no.2, How do I contact you?

My e-mail is 300zx@ardavan.co.uk

Ardy

 

Sent you mail

 

Robin

Manual!

 

(Unless you will be doing a lot of town driving.

In which case, that's a waste of a Z.)

 

UK

 

FSH

 

Manual!

Simon,

Im too lazy and want the comfort of an AUTO box, Im not gona tune it to death ! I just love the shape of this car .... Thankfully Johny-Boy is gona hpefully let me have a look @ his car which is manual & well take it from there ....

you do know that if you get a black one it will be slow dont you???

 

The red ones are the fastest!!!;)

 

Best of luck

 

And if your getting an auto import, make sure it has an AFTERMARKET OIL COOLER on it, if it hasnt use it as a bargaining tool to get money off then if you but it buy a cooler ASAP.

B19RKS >>>> Whats the significance of fitting a larger intercooler on it & wats wrong with a Jap auto cooler ?? How much does it cost to upgrade ?

Tricky decision mate:confused: I'd look very hard at them both, BUT always remember this.....

 

Black is BEST!!!;)

 

Auto-boxes belong on Jags and Rollers or anything with wideload seats :eek: :p :D :D

now now PHaty, those sort of comments could start another debate :D he he.

Hi Ardy

seen both Zs look Nice!

I would definately take up the offer of help from these guys. Take someone with you.

IMHO Its price & distance & the car you want.at Zubi they have not put year, or have you found that out?

You need one thats sound otherwise it could cost you SLOM!

Good luck. Art

Art,

The Nubi one is late 90 model, lower mileage and cheaper. For those who have auto boxes, do imports have overdrive, or just an economy / sport mode? Or have I completely missed it all together?

 

Cheers all,

Ardy.

One question you MUST ask about the one with 65,000 miles - has it had it's timing belt changed recently. There's a BIG service at 60,000 miles (or is it 65,000?) where the timing belts and various other gubbins need to be done. It's a bit costly so bear this in mind if you can't find any evidence of it being done.

 

Course, with a J-spec, the mileage can often be questionable anyway - as you know.

 

You'll get weeks of debate about whether an auto is better than a manual - usually, after the tears, we all agree that it's a personal taste thing (I drive a manual, like a normal person ;) )

 

Best of luck - and let us know how you get on!

Russ.

Originally posted by Ardy

B19RKS >>>> Whats the significance of fitting a larger intercooler on it & wats wrong with a Jap auto cooler ?? How much does it cost to upgrade ?

 

Larger intercoolers are always better, but i didnt mention anything about intercoolers in my post:confused:

 

The auto box oil cooler on the jap cars cools the oil by putting the oil through a section of the radiator, which doesnt really do alot in terms of cooling the autobox oil.

 

An aftermarket one takes the oil into a seperate rad where it gets much better cooling.

 

Im probably a bit biased becouse first zed i had was a freshly imported one had no cooler, within 6 weeks the box blew.

 

Second one i bought had been fine for alll the time ive owned it (over a year now)It had beeen in uk for 3 years but had an oil cooler fitted, this was done by the first uk owner becouse sure enough after a couple of months in the uk the autobox fried same as my old one, the recipts in my history for the new box in Jan 2000 totaled £1400.

 

Ive typed this out from a document in my service history from a company called Automatic Transmission Service Group

 

Technical ServiceInformation

RE4R01A

REPEATED PLANETARY FALIURE

 

COMPLAINT; RE4R01A transmissions found in Nissan Pathfinders, 200sx and 300zx vehicles may experience repeated planitary faliure.

 

CAUSE; Most Nissan vehicles which have what is known as a fin type cooler. This type of cooler becomes easily restricted causing poor cooler flow resulting in repeated planitary faliure. Cooler line flushing machines cannot flush clear this type of cooler.

 

CORRECTION; in times past the radiator would need to be replaced to update the cooling system. Nissan has now made available a spiral cooler replacement kit so the entire radiator does not need to be replaced. The part number for this kit is 21606-15V25.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I dont think by the picture that I have that particular cooler stated above on mine, but i do have one of some description!!

 

Cant recomend them enough!!

The one at ZUBI looks like the one I saw there about 8-10 months ago (they wanted about 5500 then).

 

Does it have a broken front spoiler and blacked out windows?

 

If so, it is. I personally didn't like this car, the engine sounded much rougher/harsher compared to others I looked at. Also the dash looked like it had been removed and not replaced properly despite the fact that it had NOT been converted to MPH when I saw it (I was told it had just arrived and awaiting prep).......

 

No disrespect to ZUBI intended, but it's just my opinion on this car.

Zubi one is to be avoided at all costs, loose screws from dashboard everywhere, the front bumper cracked, and all the pipes have coroded or split !!! Really poor condition effectively. The other i have yet to look at ...

 

Zubi have informed me that ALL 300zx this age are going to be in similar condition due to the age of these things and that they failed to inform me on the phone that its actually auction condition 2. I was told that its had the turbos and the cambelt done. I simply walked from this one...

 

No disrespect to Zubi, but this was a poor example in my opinion.

Glad you agreed - its not just me then!!:D

 

Seriously though, the car must be a dog as it has been for sale since at least November 2002.......no-one wants it!!

 

Nice wheels, though :D :D

Rich,

 

When I saw it, Saturday just gone it had been badly curbed and really scraped. I touched a bit of the rubber out the outside of the tread and it just pealed off !!!!

 

Well, what made me laugh the most was the fact that he was saying they are ALL the same because they are over 10 years old !!!! I saw Jon-Boyz and that was amazing. Well my search continues.... :p

Guess where I bought my Z from in August!

 

Here's a list of faults I mailed Zubi the day after I got home:

 

1) The speedometer reads in km/h, the odometer rolls forward in km. I have contacted the following company, who will convert the speedo and set the odo to show miles. This service will cost £170 + VAT. The £60 quote I mentioned on the phone was for reseting the odometer only. This bill I expect to be invoiced to you. The car is booked in for 16/8/03.

 

Protechnical Ltd. Tel: 01275 859995.

 

2) After driving for 10 minutes or more, the HICAS warning light comes on and the power steering fails.

 

3) The brakes (wheel bearing?) are noisy above about 30-40mph (grinding noise).

 

4) The nearside rear tyre is possibly punctured. During my 120 mile drive home it was at 9psi.

 

Zubi did cough up for ProTech to sort the speedo (which cured the HICAS) but the moral seems to be don't take assurances of full service's and mechanical inspections too seriously. The problem is they farm out all the mechanical work to a third party who is just not reliable. For instance, they fitted new front discs and repaired the temperature gauge on my car, but failed to notice a tyre at one third of its' correct pressure or a leaking master brake cylinder. The noise is probably the propshaft not the brakes.

 

Get an expert to look at the car and don't rush the purchase as I did.

 

PS. ProTech seem spot on.

Definitely 'Buyer Beware' but imagine you had bought from a

 

private seller, then you would be even worse off!

 

You do at least have some protection buying from a dealer.

 

I was lucky, I'm third owner of UK spec with fnsh.

Good god!!! I went and saw that car at Zubimotors as well!! I managed to more or less blow the thing up!! During the test drive I floored it repeatedly and found that everytime I did so the thing got slower and slower untill I heard a 'whooooooooosh pop'!!!! It then made a horrible clanging noise and felt like a 1ltr metro!! I nursed it back with the slightly embarassed trader next to me, and parked it up to find it was also pissing coolent all over the floor!

 

The interior was in terrible condition as well. I didn't like the trader either, he told me that the car had only been for sale for a couple of weeks. When I questioned why the previous owner sold it back to them he was very cagey to say the least.

 

It was truly a piece 'o' crap. I ran away from it as fast as my little legs would take me!!

Wooooooooosh pop'!!!! doesn't too good then eh ? sounds like this cars days a very numbered.