No doubt the topic of much discussion, spring is coming and im thinking about another Z. I know the hassles involved in having a TT so am considering a NA. I cant find a thread comparing the pros and cons though -(my fault not good at using the search probabaly)

Can anyone convince me to go for a NA? Whats the pickup like? I have never driven an NA and am wary it may feel slow. Not interested in big power just close to stock TT would be good so what could I do to up the NA's power?

Are you looking at speed, handling or drivability.

 

I've had both SWB NA and LWB TT.

 

The SWB held the road better than the TT but was also excellent for drifting. A stock TT with standard boost will always be faster than an NA unless you spend a fair bit of money on the NA.

 

Things like induction, exhaust, Headers and intenal engine work will give you more power along with lightweight engine components.

 

But then you have to ask yourself what do you want in a 300zx, once you tell us that we can reccomend TT or NA.

Youve got less to go wrong with an N/A, hence less expense! :D

you will always want a tt if you buy an na lol

I'd agree, if you've had a TT there will always be something missing

I have an N/A and dont feel the need for a TT at all! more to go wrong, thats the way I see it. Car is a fantastic looker whether TT or N/A and people still think its a Lamborghini!!

not sure why people slag off the n/a though?

I too have an NA which I've had for 4 years and it's never let me down. Performance is good and I am now pushing out 243 bhp with a few easy mods. With headers and lightened pulleys still to fit there's a bit more to come as well. :D

 

Oh and I've never felt the need to go for a TT - too many horror stories regarding turbo failure, expense to put right etc etc

NA's are great !! I loved my previous NA. (I had a TT before that, and a TT again now).

 

Make sure you get a Manual, a NA Manual is much more fun to drive than a TT Auto IMO !

 

They like to be revved, more responsive, lower weight, much easier to chuck about and sound great.

 

As for reliablity, have to keep in mind that you do have to rev an NA a lot to make the most of it, so an NA that is driven hard can have had a harder life than a TT. The NA engine failures I have seen have been pretty castrophic with a Conrod through the block! - But generally yes an NA will be more reliable than a TT becuase of the lower Heat and stress from no forced induction.

 

Downsides

Speed - You have to work them harder, whereas TT power is more effortless. They are by no means slow, but you will find yourself struggling against moden hothatches on the street and you will notice the power difference the most on the Motorway. Its the the lower Torque that is most noticable.

 

Tunability - Not very tunable in comparison to a TT. It will cost thousands to get near to stock TT power and thats about max tuning limits of the engine.

 

Image - The NA gets looked down on a lot, compared to the TT from both zed fans and other car owners, as you an see above.

 

but....Best advice anyone can give is to go testdrive one for yourself !

NA's are great !! I loved my previous NA. (I had a TT before that, and a TT again now).

 

Make sure you get a Manual, a NA Manual is much more fun to drive than a TT Auto IMO !

 

They like to be revved, more responsive, lower weight, much easier to chuck about and sound great.

 

As for reliablity, have to keep in mind that you do have to rev an NA a lot to make the most of it, so an NA that is driven hard can have had a harder life than a TT. The NA engine failures I have seen have been pretty castrophic with a Conrod through the block! - But generally yes an NA will be more reliable than a TT becuase of the lower Heat and stress from no forced induction.

 

Downsides

Speed - You have to work them harder, whereas TT power is more effortless. They are by no means slow, but you will find yourself struggling against moden hothatches on the street and you will notice the power difference the most on the Motorway. Its the the lower Torque that is most noticable.

 

Tunability - Not very tunable in comparison to a TT. It will cost thousands to get near to stock TT power and thats about max tuning limits of the engine.

 

Image - The NA gets looked down on a lot, compared to the TT from both zed fans and other car owners, as you an see above.

 

but....Best advice anyone can give is to go testdrive one for yourself !

 

Good points mentioned above and an impartial statment! I must say, if there is one thing I disagree with, and it is only one, it is struggling to keep up with modern hot hatches? Must say, I have never found that, still tend to beat everything off the line, if they try to test me!?

I test drove a TT auto and an N/A manual before buying my N/A. I found the N/A much more fun to drive, and the reliability is a bonus. At the time it was the look of the SWB slicktop that sold me, but I have never regreted buying the N/A. I own a GSXR1000 so even a modified TT will feel slow to me. What I love about the 300ZX is it's looks and handling and you can enjoy these benifits without a 300hp (or 500hp) engine. And to be honest I have never had trouble keeping up with the TT's on the street, it's only at high speeds where the TT can strech it's legs that it will pull away. In 1st through 3rd gears you can stay right with them. At the end of the day it's your choice, and there are great examples of each available for stupidly low prices.

you will always want a tt if you buy an na lol

 

 

ERRRR.... NO... WE wont. :nono:

Lots of us bought NAs cos its exactly wot we wanted :nana2:

 

End of debate :D :D :D

ERRRR.... NO... WE wont. :nono:

Lots of us bought NAs cos its exactly wot we wanted :nana2:

 

End of debate :D :D :D

 

absolutely!

Power upgrades -

 

Induction

Exhaust

Headers

Chip

Decat

Lightweight Pulley

Lightweight Flywheel

 

- I would guestimate the setup above on a healthy engine could net an extra 20-30 horses at the flywheel.

 

or going more extensive/expensive :

 

Head porting/polishing

Cams

High compression pistons

 

May see somewhere up towards 270-280hp (again just a guess, not looked into it myself). Would be quicker than a TT because of the lower weight and rear gear ratio.

 

There there is Nos.... (which is probably the best power per pound upgrade on an NA)

there was an LOL at the end of my post, no need to get ya knickers in a twist

 

this post is meant as a joke, as was my previous one, please leave ya soapboxes in the corner whilst replying please :D :D

absolutely!

 

exactly right

 

Power upgrades -

 

Induction

Exhaust

Headers

Chip

Decat

Lightweight Pulley

Lightweight Flywheel

 

- I would guestimate the setup above on a healthy engine could net an extra 20-30 horses at the flywheel.

 

or going more extensive/expensive :

 

Head porting/polishing

Cams

High compression pistons

 

May see somewhere up towards 270-280hp (again just a guess, not looked into it myself). Would be quicker than a TT because of the lower weight and rear gear ratio.

 

There there is Nos.... (which is probably the best power per pound upgrade on an NA)

Just remembered, there is a NA tuning forum - http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=108 (Members only)

Stellaz: I know mate, what gets me is that a lot of people do slag off the N/A, when in reality a good example is generally in much better condition than the TT’s as most from what I have seen (not necessarily club cars) have been abused and the engines are about to give up the ghost! My N/A engine runs like new!

Just a side note from my limited experience (as I've not owned either yet!) but I'm getting far cheaper insurance quotes for a TT! In fact a NA would be twice as much to insure for me, as I can get the TT on a classic insurance deal. It is for that reason alone that I am looking for a TT, as personally I'm not interested in the speed, mearly the looks :)

Just a side note from my limited experience (as I've not owned either yet!) but I'm getting far cheaper insurance quotes for a TT! In fact a NA would be twice as much to insure for me, as I can get the TT on a classic insurance deal. It is for that reason alone that I am looking for a TT, as personally I'm not interested in the speed, mearly the looks :)

 

That's the spirit!

its because an NA is import, you will be getting an insurance quote on a 300zx which is a uk car, fairlady's are imports

there was an LOL at the end of my post, no need to get ya knickers in a twist

 

this post is meant as a joke, as was my previous one, please leave ya soapboxes in the corner whilst replying please :D :D

 

And you didnt see my three :D :D :D ?????

Its all a joke mate. :D

Life is too short to get serious :D

I've got a TT and 2 NA's at the moment 1 NA needs some minor front end repairs.

 

I've got to say that the TT and the NA have very different charecters. I think the NA is a better car for agressively hurling about than the TT because the power is more progressive and less likely to throw you into the field. It is much easier to control powerslides with the NA for the same reason. Both my NA's are SWB which make the handling quite good straight out of the box without and Chassis upgrades, but with upgrades it's seriously taut and loves tight twistys. I don't know if it's because mine is chipped or just because i drive it like a whore, but I seems much greedier than my TT which is quite extensively modifyed with bigger injertors etc.

 

The NA has lower gearing and so you cannot compare the TT and NA as like for like on power and the 225 standard BHP only feels about 20 bhp down on the Turbo and can nip up to 60 quicker. It's no slouch up to 130 either , but from 60mph on the TT has effertless power and steams to trebble figure speeds in a manner that beggers belief till your used to it. The TT will propel you past most things and burn your licence faster than a box of matches, so too will the NA.

 

The TT needs a bit more respect and is little less rewarding for every day driving than the NA. Wet weather and the TT can be a killer. Wheels spin will induce large dollops of power when less is required and you have to ajust to being fast off the gas or you wont collect it, but on those hot sunny days it is the smile factor the TT delivers when you catch a Beemer or a Scooby doing 60 to 70 and the road opens up and you gun it. The monster grunt means you fly past regardles how hard they try. Awesome.

At the same time a good NA is unbeatable in the twistys and I'm glad I have both.

Hi,

I've owned a couple of Z32 NA manuals and both were decent examples that went quite well.I dare say that a poor example may not feel very fast, but then a poor TT running in safety boost probably wont either!

You can still leave most modern cars behind in an NA, but some of the latest TDi style hot hatches may give you a hard time!

Cheerz,

Jez

Hi,

I've owned a couple of Z32 NA manuals and both were decent examples that went quite well.I dare say that a poor example may not feel very fast, but then a poor TT running in safety boost probably wont either!

You can still leave most modern cars behind in an NA, but some of the latest TDi style hot hatches may give you a hard time!

Cheerz,

Jez

 

So, what do you think could beat an NA? Are we talking Golf GTi's TDi's etc? Cos never had a problem! Just curious what we definately CAN'T take on?

probably a clio 197, astra vxr, renault megane 225, there are more but i cant think, there are some quick hot hatches knocking about at the moment