Firstly I apologise if this is the wrong place for this but it seems the most appropriate.

 

So I'm totally new to this idea of buying a 300zx, up until a week ago I wasn't even considering it. I've loved 300zx's since I first clapped my eyes on them many, many years ago but until the recent apparent massive drop in price I never considered the idea of owning one. (and until the wife said "they look nice")

 

If I *were* to take the plunge I'd be looking at an NA manual for around £3-3.5k, what I need from you people is to tell me the truth, tell me how expensive they are to run, how completely impractical they are and how you wish you owned a simple runabout.

 

A little background, I'm 25, it would be my only car but I don't rely on a car for transport, it's be used daily for a short work run and some random trips,, really not a huge number of miles. Insurance quotes are coming in at £1500 which I can deal with. I'm trying to convince myself under the idea that I can throw some money at a zx for a year, if it gets too expensive I'll cut my losses and sell.

 

I just want a chance while I'm still young.

 

But! It's your job to convince me this is a stupid idea, tell me just how expensive these things are to run.

If you want convincing NOT to get one, I'm keeping quiet :x: ;)

£1500 insurance? Blimey, I'm only a year older and I'm paying £500 a year fully comp.

BUY ONE! :D

 

The NA's from what I gather are reliable, and also parts can be aquired cheaper if you buy them from the traders on this site! As for running costs....well fuel economy may be an issue, although if you only want to do a few miles then this may not be such an issue.

 

For £3500 you should be able to pick up a very tidy NA, have a look in the cars for sale section, this might give you some ideas as to pricing / availability of different models of the car.

 

Also DONT buy a black or red one unless you like getting involved in weekly arguments about which is faster ;) Sounds silly I know but it happens :rofl:

 

This site is an amazing resource, many members are extremely knowledgeable on the z32's workings, and will always be more than happy to help out, so any problems you have will be sorted out soon and properly.

 

The usual wear and tear parts, brake pads, tyres, oil changes etc. cost no more than the rivals to the z32, i.e. the GTO and Poopra MK IV, although if you buy a GTO you will regret it and if you buy a supra you will look at it every day thinking, why am i driving a frog on a rollerskate :rofl:

 

HTH Bud

No no claims and only just over a year since I passed my test probably doesn't help :)

No no claims and only just over a year since I passed my test probably doesn't help :)

No, and the fact its RWD means the underwriters have £ signs in their eyes. Do a search for insurance on here mate, this has been discussed and rediscussed and stupendeous length....you should be able to better your quote.

Christ, get some experience of driving less powered vehicles before you get behind the wheel of a TT. Or maybe start off with an N/A

An N/A is exactly what I want, I said so in my first post :)

 

There's no way I'd touch a TT for a good few years believe me.

Christ, get some experience of driving less powered vehicles before you get behind the wheel of a TT. Or maybe start off with an N/A

He said he wanted a N/A :confused:

 

 

GO ON, GO ON, GO ON, GO ON,

I have had my ZX since last friday and i in luuurve with it. Its the real deal sports car. Performance is awesome. It looks awesome. What goes with the ZX territory is 150 miles for £30 of fuel and i assume some expensive maintenance.

You dont make decisions about owning a sports car with your mind, its with the heart.

As you have one years driving experience a ZX may kill you. If you dont fear it, it will bite your balls off.

 

Says me with 4 days experience of ZX *noob klaxon* !

I want to say I appreciate peoples concern for driving such a powerful car after only a year of full driving experience but I'll say in defence of that I'm 25 and way older than my years, I'd respect the power of the Z more than you can imagine :)

 

Also my wife would be with me most of the time and there is nothing in this world I would do to endanger her life.

I want to say I appreciate peoples concern for driving such a powerful car after only a year of full driving experience but I'll say in defence of that I'm 25 and way older than my years, I'd respect the power of the Z more than you can imagine :)

 

Also my wife would be with me most of the time and there is nothing in this world I would do to endanger her life.

 

 

I don’t know you or your driving abilities, but I would strongly recommend geting a few more years behind the wheel before heading into the realms of cars of this power + rear wheel drive. They can catch you out VERY VERY easily.

 

If you do take the plunge (which one day I hope you will) you'll get the best advice and support from this place.

 

Like I stared with, I don’t know you or your driving abilities. You may be able to out drive everyone on this forum for all I know. But from experience I doubt very much you could. I will say wait and don’t end up one of the posts on here about some poor lad who's bitten the bullet by losing control of his car.

I don’t know you or your driving abilities, but I would strongly recommend geting a few more years behind the wheel before heading into the realms of cars of this power + rear wheel drive. They can catch you out VERY VERY easily.

 

If you do take the plunge (which one day I hope you will) you'll get the best advice and support from this place.

 

Like I stared with, I don’t know you or your driving abilities. You may be able to out drive everyone on this forum for all I know. But from experience I doubt very much you could. I will say wait and don’t end up one of the posts on here about some poor lad who's bitten the bullet by losing control of his car.

Agreed, I have been driving for 10 years, and sometimes i still get caught out by RWD. As much as it pains me to say this, you would be better off getting a mid-power 4wd car such as....such as........nooo......a.... scoobie.....runs......

 

 

 

and getting used to that power first, and then progresing to an NA zed, around the same power with a couple of mods, but laying the power down only on the rear wheels.

Welcome :D

 

Expense

- Well parts are more expensive that a Ford mondeo, but there is an excellent resource of Suppliers in the Club.

- Fuel economy is never going to be conservative. With my TT I can get Low teens when playing, but as much as 30mpg on a long motorway run. The NA will be more economical when playing and around town than the TT.

- It will eat more tyres than regular cars, and they are more expensive. Although if your not doing high mileages, its not really a concern.

 

Praticality

- Loads of room for Driver and Front passenger, and conformtable too. But forget about rear passengers, unless they are children or amputee's.

- Luggage space - Better than you would think. Its a shallow boot, but still pretty large. Plus as your not using the back seat, there is all that room too.

 

Wish I had a cheap runabout instead ? Like a of zed owners, I do...as the Zed is just a 2nd car...and the Wife, 2 kids, Dog and luggage cant all fit in at same time (could get away with it without the dog)

 

I've had my zed for over a year, its cost me very little in Maintenance/repairs...they do tend to cost a lot in Modifiying though....its addictive.

 

You will naturally hear horror stories of expensive repair bills and unreliablity, thats pretty much what you will get posted on any forum about any car.

 

However they are inherintly reliable, strong cars but like any High Performance car, they do demand regular Servicing, care and attention.

i'm 24, had the zed since i was 20 and never lost control of it, I don't think they are that bad really.

they are fun and will give you plenty of grins but the cost of them plummeting is down to the fact that they are not a cheap car to run in any way shape or form.............fuel gearboxes and the inevitable toys you will want are no cheaper now than they were 5 years ago in fact running a z now costs a lot more than it did then

Oh I don't know, probably be fine with an NA and a bit of respect. Don't go near a TT though!

 

Some costs:

Tyres: minimum £100 a tyre, more like £150 if you are sensible and buy good ones

Fuel: Don't know, I have a TT that likes to drink

Brake pads: £60 upwards

Automatic gearbox recon: £1000!

 

NA's are generally very reliable if you have a decent one. For the money you are talking about you should get a very good one. Often NA's have had lots of money spent on nice alloys and stuff like that because the owners havn't had to worry about the expense of the turbos going!

 

Saying that it'll probably still be a very expensive car for a 25yr old to run. You can't just buy one and have it sitting ready to go. You HAVE to spend money on these cars. They may be very cheap to buy but they still cost the same to run (probably more) than when they were a new 30k car, or whatever the NA's used to cost. Its probably not an exageration to say that you should have access to a £1000 for maintainance or emergencies. You'll probably need new tyres at some point in the first year which will be £500 at least, then other things like pads ,filters, etc. The fuel bill is very high (3l engine after all even on NA). There are other people of your age on here that could give you the low down I'm sure. The missus probably wont like it so much when its sapping the bank account so don't bother unless you've got spare cash every week. On the other hand its an amazing car and you WILL fall in love with it. Very much a drivers car and better then its obvious rivals.

could get away with it without the dog

Did you see topgear last night? There was a car with a built in dog carrier in the dash :rofl:

PMSL!!!!!!! Big dash or small dog?!

Did you see topgear last night? There was a car with a built in dog carrier in the dash :rofl:

 

I tried that. Managed to get his head inside the glovebox (although it would'nt shut) but could only fit one paw inside the ashtray. :(

if your gonna go for it then just get a TT IMHO! you *will* get used to the power & wish you got a twin tubbie version!! even us TT owners are on that never ending search for more power!! ;) :D

 

running costs aint gonna be that much cheaper :)

I want to say I appreciate peoples concern for driving such a powerful car after only a year of full driving experience but I'll say in defence of that I'm 25 and way older than my years, I'd respect the power of the Z more than you can imagine :)

 

 

 

Well ya dont need convincing either way, buy one or dont buy one simple as !!

I tried that. Managed to get his head inside the glovebox (although it would'nt shut) but could only fit one paw inside the ashtray. :(

Hmm, maybe you can store the rest in the map book holders :rofl:

bah, 4wd, NA? whats happened to the real men on here!? Get a TT i say, and lets not mess around either, get straight on the phone to some of the traders and have that nice exhaust, decat, filter, chip and boost controller while you're at it ;)

Also my wife would be with me most of the time and there is nothing in this world I would do to endanger her life.

 

AAWWWE.

 

Enjoy it while it lasts. It'll go sour soon enough. Then you'll be modding it with a quick release Targa and ejector seat. :slap: (cynicle old git)

 

 

 

If You live long enough. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

 

 

 

 

You'll be just fine with an N/A. it's only 220 bhp and weighs I.5 Ton. There are girlies going out and buying Audi TT's at 225 bhp and 0.9 ton and some buying Lotus Elise with 190 bhp, rear wheel drive and weighing 0.7 ton and they manage O.K.

 

The Z is a nice car. The TT is very expensive to run. The N/A is more reliable can comfortabley make 300 bhp with afew mods and that is a proper sports car then.

 

Get one and have some fun.

I cant remember which film it was in, arnie film though maybe? Demolition man maybe? But the cars fill with expanding foam protecting you on impact. Unfortunately it suffocates you instead :rofl: