I have been looking around at 300s for a while now with a view to buying one in the near future. If possible I would prefer a UK car however all of the ones I have seen advertised, without exception, are imports. How easy is it to find a UK car? or is it better to buy a cheaper lower milage jap import?

 

Cheers :)

Bloody hard, it took me 2 1/2 months and in the end instead of a UK, Black Manual, I ended up with a UK, Red Auto....well, at least she was an auto....and is still red for now.... ;)

 

Keep looking, one WILL turn up eventually......

 

Jap cars tend to have less rust issues, downside is, imports hardly ever come with any history, u dont know whats been done. A car off here however will more than likely come with bags of history...

 

Good luck and be patient....

If Insurance is your concern, in choosing a UK over Jap, there are many insurers that ask only a neglidgable higher premium, or no higher at all for Jap over UK.

 

There are less Uk's, becuase the production was only until 94, and less were sold here, but there are still plenty about.

 

I would look at Condition, transmission type, colour, spec..etc rather than UK or Jap when choosing.

The history issue is what bothers me the most. Just looking at issues raised on the forum over the last few weeks leads me to the conclusion that these cars can work out very expensive if you don't buy one that's been looked after.

The other thing is jap imports all tend to be modified. Now don't get me wrong I don't have anything against a few tastefull mods but insurers might do. Also I had heard that jap cars are limited to 112mph, are not undersealed and things like brakes tend to be lower spec then the equivalent UK car.

Brakes are the same, both uk and Jap are undersealed, and there are many Stock Japs (mine was), and most others only have the sort of Mods you will want to add anyway (Alloys, Exhaust - saving about £1500 instead of buying after). The Limiter is very easily removed.

 

The Jap Imports have no oil cooler for the Autobox, if your after an Auto. £100'ish to add. Not an issue with manuals.

 

Jap regulations on Maintence are far stricter than the UK and in general most Jap spec cars tend to be in better condition becuase of this and becuase they usually have half the mileage that Uk cars have.

 

Nothing wrong with Either UK or Jap, they are identical except minor spec differences (Indicators on bumper in different location, Electric folding mirrors on Jap, need to add rear fog to Jap, speedo in KM on Jap(most already converted))

 

Good luck with the purchase.

Legrath, thanks for the info. I'm not 100% decided yet. The 300zx is on the shortlist along with E36 BMW M3, Skyline (single turbo, RWD) and Porsche 944 S2/Turbo. I'm still saving so I have a few months to make my decision.

Fine choices. I was in a similar position before I bought mine. Had Bmw's for years, and was going to go for the M3. Its declining image problem was putting me off, started looking at Japanese instead.

 

checked out a few Skyline GTST's, but their Interiors were a let down to me, pretty much like a typical Nissan primera, and you can tell money had been spent developing the GTR engine and 4WD system, and skimped elsewhere so the GTST really lucked out. Its not as powerfull or as fast as the 300zx and did'nt look half as good especially without the GTR bodykit.

 

The Porshe 944 Turbo was a great Sports car, in fact it was rated as the No.1 Sports car in the US Market until the 300zx knocked it off its spot on its launch!. The 300zx was designed with the 944 Turbo and Corvette in mind. Faster than the 944, with equaled Track lap times, but with the Comfort and quality of the 928.

 

In the end the 300zx was the car I had wanted ever since I was a kid. More development and money had gone into all aspects of the car, faster and with more tuning potential and in my opinion the far better looking car.

 

When I realised I could finally get one, there was no looking back.

As Legrath said,

 

Plus looks and value for money really swing in favour of the ZX. You can't get a decent E36 M3 for £5000, plus if you have the M3 no-one with average car knowledge knows the difference between that and the 318i :o

 

A decent low mileage 944 turbo is pretty rare these days too and since the 968 came out has started to look dated IMO. Still a great car though.

 

Good luck with whatever you get.

 

Richard :smw:

A British Manual 300 Zxtt Full Service History Good Condition,rocking Horse Shat But They Are Out There ,it Took Me 6 Months,and My Cousin 3 Months ,just Got To Be Patient,also There S A Lot Of Crap Out There Aswell,mind You What Ive Done To The Car Since,body Wise Didnt Make A Difference

mr devil

its a piece of p155, your in the north east and so is my mate who also had a uk spec tt manwel m bro direction for sale.

 

rich

There S A Lot Of Crap Out There

That's the trouble I had when looking for my 328. There is nothing worse than driving 100miles to look at a so called mint car only to find that it's a heap.

mr devil

its a piece of p155, your in the north east and so is my mate who also had a uk spec tt manwel m bro direction for sale.

 

rich

 

How much? how many miles? any pictures?

 

I need to wait a couple of months before I go spending cash. My wife has just started a new job and has to work a probation period beofre being given a permanent contract. Until then I aint spending a penny, just in case.

check out ebay item no4569636768

check out ebay item no4569636768

Cheers. I'll have to wait till later, the IT police won't allow me to access ebay at work. :(

I found mine quite easily but I'd avoid dealers as that's where the imports tend to be. I found mine in Autotrader. UK TT Auto White 68000 miles £4500 (that was the asking price) and to be honest it was in good condition.

The only thing really putting me off at the moment is the fuel consumption. I can cope with high maintenance costs and expensive parts. Insurance isn't a problem. It's just 18mpg is really going to pi55 me off every time I have to fill up. Also with petrol prices not looking like they are going anywhere other than further up at the moment do I really want to be spending £250 a month on optimax......

 

The sensible person inside me is saying that I should go for a 200sx. For the same cash I could get a much newer car, still with plenty of tuning potential, much easier to get a UK car and with servicing cost and mog a bit more down to earth.

Took me around 3months....but unfortunately mine was in Southend for a number of years and that sea air didnt do it any favours!! So much so i dropped it in to have a bit of damage repaired after an accident and a full respray and as they started strippin the car we found holes everywhere and i'll be lucky to get it back within the next 4wks now!!

 

Sayin that it all worth it once u get it back and blast her down the road ;)

Keep looking, one WILL turn up eventually......

 

Jap cars tend to have less rust issues, downside is, imports hardly ever come with any history, u dont know whats been done. A car off here however will more than likely come with bags of history..

 

Your telling me Mark I'm thinking about writing a novel based on the trials, the downs, the even bigger downs, the 300zx suicidal tendancys and those fleeting moments of joy. That as soon as you think you got it sorted your are dashed with bitter disapointment

 

The main secrect is don't let anyone who claims to be a secialist anywhere near it.

took me 15 mins to buy mine off me uncle !!!!!!!