Hi,

 

I've decided my current car ('97 Rover 214) needs to be changed and will be up for sale come June. So around then I'll be in the market for a nice little japanese number :cool:.

 

So far the 300zx has passed all my prerequisites. But There's a big list I've got to go through:

Mitsubishi

FTO (FWD, want 4WD or RWD)

GTO (xpensive, and not hearing good things about them)

Galant VR4

 

Nissan

180/200sx S13

200sx S14

Silvia S15

300zx Fairlady (looking good)

 

Honda

Civic

CRX

CRX DelSol

Prelude

Civic EP3

 

As you can see I've got a fair list, most will not be viable though. I've given myself a budget of £5000 and for that I expect a decent car (am I hoping to much for a '92+?) and at least a small smattering of performance/handling mods. I'd prefer to do the ICE myself.

 

Also, insurance will be a big deal for me (24 tomorrow, 2yrs NCB, no convictions etc.). Would I be better with the NA or a TT?

 

Are my expectations too high? What are the good points of owning one of these cars, and what is a 300zx SWB?

 

I apologise for the huge post and whean of questions.

Any help and/or advice you could give would be greatly appreciated though :)

Hi just my 2p.

 

I have a manual swb TT (very rare and highly desired so I'm told :D) and it has been fantasic. It is a import but I run as second car and insurance ~£300. It also has a wide kit and I fit it in my garage no problem. They do break and expensive to fix, mine still of the road needing another 1.5k but at the end of the day its fvcking great :D

 

Roll on the summer with the targas off ;)

 

Martinfa, you have one damn fine looking z m8, wish I had a swb.

Insomniac, your not thinking of getting a z for a while? Thats good. There is a Jap day at Crail on April 18th, could meet you there if you want?

That'd be ideal bud :) I'll remember to be in touch closer to the time.

 

I'm planning on going to look (not to buy :nono:) at a 1992 300zx this weekend, taking my pal who's also after a jap turbo of some sort, he quite fancies a 200sx so we'll probably go look at a sx I saw on autotrader too.

 

Might even see if I can get some test drives back to back for comparison. :D

 

The targe top does sound good Martin, especially as we're supposed to have a scorching summer this year. Just a shame it'll likely be winter again before I'm ready to dig into my pockets...

You dont get targa's with a 200!

Arthur

Had my auto tt 8mths now, was seriously considering

having it converted to a manwell, eventually found

someone with a manwell tt ( cheerz mtrotter!), had a blast

in it, didn't do anything for me (didn't even get a woody!! :eek: ).

Will stick with the auto, spend the cash on some BOV's & a

twin exit pipe instead, whatevers left i'll spend on optimax! :tongue:

Scottywill, what reg and colour is your Z ????

If you like manuals you will find an auto frustrating, it's as simple as that, so look for a manual. Manual UKs are pretty rare though. :(

 

Now I know this is a windup and MarkZX knows fine well... but...there are more kinds of gearbox than "auto" and "manual".

 

Auto Z in particular are a bad thing because:

 

a) they are missing a ratio

b) they have a torque converter, which are inherently poo.

 

(Footnote on [a]: Overdrive / lockup is NOT an extra gear, it just stops you pissing power through the oil cooler. That's power you have ALL THE TIME in a manual.)

 

Neither of these applies to racing "auto" or semi-auto boxes. A lot of recent high-end GTs with paddles or sequential now have TWO clutches so you don't even have any lag through the friction plate take up. How can a viscous TC ever compete with that?

Now I know this is a windup and MarkZX knows fine well... but...there are more kinds of gearbox than "auto" and "manual".

 

Neither of these applies to racing "auto" or semi-auto boxes. A lot of recent high-end GTs with paddles or sequential now have TWO clutches so you don't even have any lag through the friction plate take up. How can a viscous TC ever compete with that?

 

WHAT ME :slap: :tongue:

 

Hey I never said they were as good racing Auto's just that they're auto :rofl: :rofl:

 

Back on subject though I never thought I'd enjoy an auto having had manwells but I really love the thing now. My other drive is a Rica chipped T5 R 5 speed manwell 331BHP. Its no where near as much fun to drive as the Z which realistically is not much more powerfull running 1.2bar. So I'd say since no one took the bate, Buy what your comfortable with. By the way have you thought of adding a T5 to your list. You can pick one up from £2.500 for a 260 bhp front wheel drive to £4500 for a four wheel drive R. then add a Rica chip £450 =315 BHP + Induction kit = £331 BHP

 

How can a viscous TC ever compete with that?

 

But an auto can beat a manwell to 100MPH - how's that then ? :D

But an auto can beat a manwell to 100MPH - how's that then ? :D

 

:rolleyes: :mac1:

 

Auto AMG Merc SLK, manual NA diesel Pug estate, I presume?

Gavo, H, black.