I am thinking of buying a 300zx '91+ TT manual, although I have been told to steer clear of manuals as the gearboxes are weak, is this true? Also, I am worried that spares for an import may be difficult to find, and expensive if available.

Is there anything specific that I should look out for?

i have 140k on my manual gearbox, and only justing starting to show any signs of wear.

 

more auto boxes have been rebuilt than manuals, we did a survey a little while ago.

 

there is no truth in what you have heard, in my opinion.

Import spares are not difficult to get. The main dealers will get you the parts but you can usually get uprated spares cheaper from a specialist (lots to be found here)

Import insurance may cost you more but not if you try the right places.

There are very few differences between UK and Jap cars. In many ways the Jap ones are better - better auto box, front fogs, electric mirrors etc I think.

Depending on your modification charter, NUD will insure 300zx jap imports for the same premium.

They allow three mods, and they offer the fairest premium in my experience

Glen

there is no probs with the greaboxes, not sure where you heard that.

 

I know where that has come from, me and my Bro always read about that in the Parkers Used car guides and just about every review of the 300 says the same.

 

Quote: "Shreds manual gearboxes!"

 

I must admit and tend to agree with Craig and Warren, the auto does appear to be the weaker of the two. Says me with mine in for a rebuild even as we speak!

 

Don't believe everything you read in the reviews about cars, keep an open mind!

FWIW I have read of a lot of manual boxes with syncromesh probs on 2nd and 4th.. *BUT* I only seem to read about them in the states..

 

Maybe it's just that they can't drive properly over there (sorry kszx, Phuong et al.. Lol)

 

Of course there is the clutch in a manual - when you up the power they dont usually last long, whereas a well cared for auto box can take moderate power increases for longer.. But then it costs a lot more to put big power through the auto box than it does to put a heavy clutch into a manual..

 

Swings and roundabouts

Horses for courses

And all that

 

IMHO, E&OE, JFYI, etc

There is a nice Red Manual Twin Turbo in the For Sale Section of the forum Buko!!. The gearbox is fine on that one!!!!!!

 

Simon H

There is a nice UK spec Red Manual Twin Turbo in the For Sale Section of the forum Buko!!. The gearbox is fine on that one!!!!!!

 

Simon H

Mine was an Auto & the box went bang whilst I was driving along the A55. I'm in the middle of converting it to a manual because the way I see it is that if anything does go wrong with the manual box, it's gonna be cheaper to fix than an auto!