Hi, new member here. Ive been reading through the forums for a little while collecting information and so on. Come to the point where id like to ask some questions on buying a 300zx (TT pref)

 

Also had a read through the buyers guide which was very useful and the service manual.

 

1) What is the minimum you should spend on a TT? (Ideally id prefer not 'the most you can afford, since i know this is the best way, but id like a minimum amount to aspire to)

 

2) What are the easiest ways of telling whether it is a UK or Jap car? Is it easy to tell from pictures in say autotrader, or is it more of one of those things where you have to get a good look up close

 

3) Id prefer a white car, but would settle for something different. What are the more desirable colours?

 

4) Id prefer not to buy a 90 car, ideally as new and low mileage as i can afford, are the 1990 models really as much trouble as people suggest?

 

5) How easy is it to find a totally standard one? This is something im most interested in, since id like to restore it to factory new condition

 

Ta

 

Stuart

Hello Stu. Welcome to our club mate. Firstly you have come to the right place.

On the subject on buying your 300ZX well its basically up to you. I know this might not help but to be honest you can almost be sure you can buy what ever you want. from a stock car to a fully customised one. you should first decide what you want from your car and where you would like to go with adding bits and bobs? You mention a stock car and getting it back to original condition. Good idea. You are only restricted by your taste and your wallet. Good luck anyway.

Have a look here.

Vince

Hi, new member here. Ive been reading through the forums for a little while collecting information and so on. Come to the point where id like to ask some questions on buying a 300zx (TT pref)

 

Also had a read through the buyers guide which was very useful and the service manual.

 

1) What is the minimum you should spend on a TT? (Ideally id prefer not 'the most you can afford, since i know this is the best way, but id like a minimum amount to aspire to)

 

2) What are the easiest ways of telling whether it is a UK or Jap car? Is it easy to tell from pictures in say autotrader, or is it more of one of those things where you have to get a good look up close

 

3) Id prefer a white car, but would settle for something different. What are the more desirable colours?

 

4) Id prefer not to buy a 90 car, ideally as new and low mileage as i can afford, are the 1990 models really as much trouble as people suggest?

 

5) How easy is it to find a totally standard one? This is something im most interested in, since id like to restore it to factory new condition

 

Ta

 

Stuart

 

Welcome mate. For what it's worth here's my answers to your Q's

 

 

1. 4k plus I would say

 

2. From the rear a Uk one has fogs in the bumper and UK size number plate.

If it's a Short Wheel Base (2 seater) and/or non-turbo then it's an import.

 

3.Blue :D

 

4.Any car that is the age you're looking at could potentailly be trouble, turbo's more so IMHO

 

5.Should find a reasonably unmodified one without too much bother. Mine was when I bought it. :)

 

Good luck in your search and check out the Cars for Sale forum

cheers for that. Thats an interesting thread about the 50¥ coin jammed down the back seat. My mate imported a pulsar and they have an umbrella slot like the skoda superb and RR phantom, but instead of the umbrella his has a baseball bat. Spose it was an optional extra for security

Just thought of a couple of other things. Are the UKs all VVT? I remember reading somewhere that theyre direct injection, which i thought was a reasonably new technology, Mitsubishis GDI engine, Renaults IDE, and Audis FSI.

 

How rubbish are the Bose sound systems? Is the HU the same in the UK version as the jap one apart from the frequency expander to pick up UK stations or did they use a different HU?

 

When a jap car is imported and converted to miles, do they convert the exisiting kilometres covered into the eqiv mileage, or just make it so from that point it clocks up miles not km? So a 60k km car converted at 50k km, would have only travelled 41k miles, but shows 60k miles on the clock?

Hi, new member here. Ive been reading through the forums for a little while collecting information and so on. Come to the point where id like to ask some questions on buying a 300zx (TT pref)

 

Also had a read through the buyers guide which was very useful and the service manual.

Welcome :D

1) What is the minimum you should spend on a TT? (Ideally id prefer not 'the most you can afford, since i know this is the best way, but id like a minimum amount to aspire to)

Hard to put a price on condition. Most 3k cars are going to be rough, thats not to say somebody wont have seen them prices for this and put there better example at this price. Its also not to say that one for £5-£6k is'nt going to be overprice tat either. But if I had to give a price, I would say £4k minumum, ideally £5k+

 

Try and buy one from an Enthusiast on here.

 

2) What are the easiest ways of telling whether it is a UK or Jap car? Is it easy to tell from pictures in say autotrader, or is it more of one of those things where you have to get a good look up close

Japs have Square rear number plates, UK's have fogs in rear bumper. Thats perhaps the easiest way to tell from a picture(of the rear). If its an Non-turbo or SWB(2-seater) then thats also Jap only.

3) Id prefer a white car, but would settle for something different. What are the more desirable colours?

Red and Black are the more "popular" choices. I wanted a Black one, but I'm looking to move to an non-stock colour next.

4) Id prefer not to buy a 90 car, ideally as new and low mileage as i can afford, are the 1990 models really as much trouble as people suggest?

The first model year was 1989. I would'nt worry about 1990 model. Late 92 onwards (series 2) has some changes to the Interior trim, seat belts and Climate control system.

5) How easy is it to find a totally standard one? This is something im most interested in, since id like to restore it to factory new condition

Mine was completley standard when I bought it. I viewed 6 cars. 3 were modified in some way, 2 were compltetely stock.

Just thought of a couple of other things. Are the UKs all VVT? I remember reading somewhere that theyre direct injection, which i thought was a reasonably new technology, Mitsubishis GDI engine, Renaults IDE, and Audis FSI.

 

How rubbish are the Bose sound systems? Is the HU the same in the UK version as the jap one apart from the frequency expander to pick up UK stations or did they use a different HU?

 

When a jap car is imported and converted to miles, do they convert the exisiting kilometres covered into the eqiv mileage, or just make it so from that point it clocks up miles not km? So a 60k km car converted at 50k km, would have only travelled 41k miles, but shows 60k miles on the clock?

 

Yes, all are VVT. Up to 1995 on imports, when they dropped it for emissions.

 

Not sure about the Direct injection bit.

 

Bose - Very few will still have the stock headunit or sound system in. Better than most cars of same age, but not as good as you can get now ofcourse.

 

The KPH/MPH conversion depends on how they did it. Many wont even be converted as they go through the MOT without it.

Always useful to know. If they havent been converted to miles then will the dials still be kph? Id assume UK models have dials in mph and mileage. How many imports are there that still have the speed limiter on them do you think? Id imagine one that hasnt been above 115mph would be in better nick than one which has been pushed to its limit. UK ones are limited to 155mph arent they?

 

Is the HICAS something you can feel while driving?

 

Does anyone know why nissan used cambelts on the VG30DETT rather than chains like most of their engines? Is there actually any advantage to using a belt over a chain?

Always useful to know. If they havent been converted to miles then will the dials still be kph? Id assume UK models have dials in mph and mileage. How many imports are there that still have the speed limiter on them do you think? Id imagine one that hasnt been above 115mph would be in better nick than one which has been pushed to its limit. UK ones are limited to 155mph arent they?

 

Is the HICAS something you can feel while driving?

 

Does anyone know why nissan used cambelts on the VG30DETT rather than chains like most of their engines? Is there actually any advantage to using a belt over a chain?

 

UK cars are limited to 155 and j-spec to 112mph. UK cars have speedo just like any car with readings in MPH but smaller KM/h figues also. UK odo would read miles. J-spec cars are generally in better condition as the Japanese do not drive the speeds and distances we do here, though having said that an engine may be restricted to 112mph but the Japanese owner could still have nailed it in every gear up to the limiter. Just pay your money and take your choice - buying any used car is a gamble. There are some nice low mileage clean UK cars out there but they are rare now and this is reflected in the prices.

 

You can occasionally feel the HICAS but for a big rear wheel drive car the ZX handles pretty well. Some disable it, I like the car as Nissan designed it.

 

Cam-belts are lighter and quieter than chains and don't require the extra lubrication. Most cars from the last 20 years use belts.

 

HTH

 

Richard :)