Hi guys and girls,

 

Well, i'm about as green as they come, I just registered today. In fact I don't even own a Z... But I want one real bad, which is partly the reason i'm posting this thread.

 

Basically, I love Jap cars and I've been looking to into getting a different car for a while now (I currently drive a 100nx... I know I know). You name it, if it's Japanese and it's good, I've looked at it.

The thing about the 300zx is, I've always classed it as 'out of bounds' as they're notourious for high upkeep costs. Not to mention the high insurance group.

 

Well, last night I got quoted £370 pounds for insurance. I was very surprised.

 

Needless to say I'm already scouring the net for 300z's. However, I'd like to hear from you guys, the owners, the veterans, the tech heads, about the sort of things I should be looking for in a used Z and more importantly, what I can expect from owning one?

 

Things like;

How much does it really cost to keep one on the road on a daily basis (I don't have to drive far)? In other words, typically, how much cash should I set aside quarterly, for maintainence?

 

Where would be a good place to buy one (ebay, autotrader, this site)?

I'd be looking to spend roughly £3000 on the car itself.

 

I'm probably being pretty vague, I bet there's so many things to take into consideration. To be honest, browsing through some of the threads on this site has actually humbled me considerably, kinda like i'm an imposter - there's so much I don't know and I respect the time and knowledge that goes into all this.

 

Anyway, if you've got this far you've done an awesome job, cheers.

 

Regards,

ZX hopeful

Well best place to buy one is off here, have a look in for sale then if you see one you like have a look at the sellers previous posts, that should give you a good idea of any problems they have had and what work has been done. Best way of finding the history of a car.

 

Bob

hi first of all check out the quote you have got. for a uk z that sounds reasonable for a jap spec expect to at least double it.

Jono......

 

As hellraiser has said, it depends a lot on whether the quote was for UK or JSpec.

 

Well a couple of cheap JSpecs in out Cars For Sale section.....

 

A 1991 Twin Turbo, automatic 2+2.... >> Click >> http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=86988

S13girly knows her stuff when it comes to Jap metal :bow: (Location, Suffolk)

 

And a 1992 Non-Turbo, Manual 2+2.... >> http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=86805

A fairly well known, and very tidy Zed (Location, Worksop)

 

Just a couple of examples, both of which are attracting a fair bit of interest already.

 

 

BTW, whereabouts in Lincolnshire are you?

Thanks guys, already that's helped a lot.

 

I had no idea about the UK/Jap difference. I'm guessing it was probably a quote for a UK Z, although I'll double check later today.

 

Also Dave, cheers for the links. I'll give them a good look over too. You see I have a week off work coming up very soon, which is an ideal time to get some ideas about what i'm looking for and perhaps get a list of possible cars to go check out.

I'm right in the center of Lincoln town, at the top of the big hill.

 

Once again, cheers for the advice

Hi jono and welcome to the nut house.

 

There is a buyers guide on the forum and you can find it here.

 

http://www.300zx.co.uk/tech/BuyingZ.htm

 

In general the Z is more expensive to run than any 3 litre tin turbo in my case.

 

I get around 15 to the gallon as a daily drive.

 

There are of course other expenses involved. The cam belt may well need doing. A good idea to try and get one that has already had it done.

 

The brakes are not all that either so it is a good idea to upgrade those or again try and get one that has had it done.

 

It's also a good idea to service it more regularly than you might a regular car. Oil change, filters etc.

 

It deepends what you are wantingto do with it. If you want to start running extra boost and going for bigger BHP then you start to run into more running costs etc.

 

Good luck with the purchase and take your time to get a good one.

 

Darrell

A car like the 300zx you own with the heart and not your head. Its more than getting you from A to B. When your cruising on a sunny A road with the engine burbling away its pure heaven, i feel king of the road in mine :) When the buggers brake down its a pain. But as far as fast sportscars go its Japanese engineering makes it fairly solid. If you rag it all the time it will brake like any car. Though i think if you tootle around and give it some welly now and then it should be fine.

 

Main thing is to get a good un. As its a huge false economy to get a bad cheap one. Myself i got one import from Japan for £5500 with a 6 month warranty. You should be able to get a sound one for around £4000.

 

Oh yes dont do anything remotly fancy in the wet :wack:

Hi jono and welcome to the nut house.

 

There is a buyers guide on the forum and you can find it here.

 

http://www.300zx.co.uk/tech/BuyingZ.htm

 

In general the Z is more expensive to run than any 3 litre tin turbo in my case.

 

I get around 15 to the gallon as a daily drive.

 

There are of course other expenses involved. The cam belt may well need doing. A good idea to try and get one that has already had it done.

 

The brakes are not all that either so it is a good idea to upgrade those or again try and get one that has had it done.

 

It's also a good idea to service it more regularly than you might a regular car. Oil change, filters etc.

 

It deepends what you are wantingto do with it. If you want to start running extra boost and going for bigger BHP then you start to run into more running costs etc.

 

Good luck with the purchase and take your time to get a good one.

 

Darrell

 

"Welcome to the nut house" pmsl

 

Welcome bud

My advice - buy a good one (which doesnt necessarily mean you have to spend big bucks) - get one checked over by one of the more technical guys on this forum before buying.

Common problems I have had with the 3 zeds I've owned are:

Vibrating propshaft on both the 2+2's I've had. (SWB 2-seaters dont seem to suffer this)

Speed sensor problems

Dodgy speedo

Rust on rear arches

Idling problems

 

Make sure these things are ok...

 

I insure my Twin turbo on a classic policy (2nd car) for £200 a year plus breakdown cover..

 

Go for it!

Welcome mate

 

Learn aboug the different models:

TT & NA

LWB & SWB

targa & slick top

auto & manual

UK and Japanese import

 

And make sure whatever you go for you get a good one. A decent one won't cost a fortune to run. An bad one will.

 

TT & NA

LWB & SWB

targa & slick top

auto & manual

UK and Japanese import

 

 

...and cabrio.....my turn to be pedantic now...hehe ;)

Welcome mate

Decide which model you want and do lots of reading up on them

Hang around here a lot also I was a member for 7 months before I bought one best £20 I could spend

Good Luck

:cool:

for your insurance mate check out heritage classic insurance. they did my TT jap import for £350ish.

also if you do get a jap spec auto check to see if its had the oil cooler upgrade........mine didnt and i ended up blowing the box :mad:

dont rush into buying one (like i did), and good luck!

Thanks guys,

 

This is all gold dust to me. Especially the keys problems to check for when looking over a 300zx.

 

Bah, I'd like to spend more time on here but gotta leave for work now.

 

Cheers for the welcomes

Hi guys,

 

Any rough ideas how much I should expect to pay for this?

It seems like a pretty nice example to me.

Also, any ideas on weather it's a Jap or UK model? I think it's UK but i'm not 100% sure.

 

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=017&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=270087109911&rd=1&rd=1

 

Ta dudes

...and cabrio.....my turn to be pedantic now...hehe ;)

 

...and series 1,2 etc etc...my turn :p

Hi guys,

 

Any rough ideas how much I should expect to pay for this?

It seems like a pretty nice example to me.

Also, any ideas on weather it's a Jap or UK model? I think it's UK but i'm not 100% sure.

 

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=017&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=270087109911&rd=1&rd=1

 

Ta dudes

its jap.

 

european spec z's are all 2+2 turbo's

The best value one ive seen recently is the 1990 Swb 300zx TT Targa Auto in the for sale section.

If hadnt have got my GTO thats the Zed i would have bought.

its jap.

 

european spec z's are all 2+2 turbo's

i would say 3k is a reasonable price seeing as its had the tubular steel headers put on which is one of the best mods for a non turbo to release power. it looks a very tidy motor but for that price i would like to know if the timing belt has been replaced as its a £450 job (60k service) if it hasn't

Cool,

I sent a message asking about the timing belt but havn't had a reply yet.

Shame it's a Jap then, insurance would probably blow my wallet to pieces.

Cool,

I sent a message asking about the timing belt but havn't had a reply yet.

Shame it's a Jap then, insurance would probably blow my wallet to pieces.

im 25 with a *cough* few points on a jap NA 2 seater is £750 tpft and 3 year ncb

my only advice is this

Get a TT

Welcome mate, have a look on here.. http://www.300zx.org.uk

Loads of info & model comparisons etc...

Double check that quote was for a 300zx Z32, not a Z31, a

problem i had when searching for my 1st quote :headvswal