Hi everyone.

 

I'm looking for a bit of advice of whether or not my cousin's car is worth buying. Here's the (rather long) description from when he originally advertised it as for sale way back in July last year:

 

 

Hi mate,

 

My car may be suitable but it is in black. I have 1990 (G) SWB Manual Twin Turbo Targa Top 300zx in black and its currently for sale.

 

I am looking for a quick sale- which means you could land on a bargain because there are a couple of faults with the car- all is detailled below. Let me know what you think :-)

 

It has totally standard engine which has been recently replaced due to the old one dying- i had a leak on the radiator and as many zed owners know they tend

 

to get hot very quickly, sadly it got too hot and warped the heads and apparantly also damaged the block so i was advised to have the engine totally replaced

 

so i did.

 

The new engine is excellent only done 60k Miles and the car has done 120,000km total or 75,000 Miles if you prefer :-)

 

When the engine was fitted i had the cambelt replaced, you can never be too carefull and since the engine install the car has done less than 1,000 miles.

 

Other things to note are that i have both the standard Nissan wheels that came with the car when new and also a set of 17" Stern Split Rims which are powder

 

coated Anthracite Grey centres with polished chrome rims, they are currently on the vehicle and to be honest look fantastic.

 

The Stern wheels are -

 

Rear - 255/40/ZR17

Front - 235/45/ZR17

 

The car had a respray just over 12 Months ago, it was originally black but it was looking a bit tired so i thought it would benefit and look a lot better if

 

it had a fresh coat of paint and it looks much fresher and brighter now :-)

 

I have also had some suspension fitted to the car which is Koni Sport, really firm and makes the car handle even better but wont break your back and you can

 

still negociate most speed humps- even those annoying traffic calming ones ;-)

 

The car also has a non standard rear spoiler which looks like an extended version of the foam standard one you got on the 300zx out of the factory. It also

 

has a non standard front bumper which looks great, i am not sure which one it is because it was fitted to the car before i brought it.

 

It has the cloth/tweed interior so unfortunately no leather there, and there is only one slight wear on the drivers side lumbar support. I also have the

 

original targa bags and the original targa blinds for the roof panels which i understand are diffcult to get hold of.... not sure?

 

The only other non standard things i need to mention are the front brakes which the discs and pads have been replaced for ferrodo premier instead of the

 

standard ones and the exhausts are also non standard. The standard exhausts have been replaced with two single pipes- sounds really nice too, but not too

 

loud when you are cruising on the motorway or whatever, and the Cats are still fitted so they could be removed to gain more performance if you wish.......

 

The car is obviously a jap import. Also forgot to mention it has remote central locking with full closure and alarm/immobiliser with original master code so

 

duplicate fobs can be ordered should you need any extra, i currently have one fob and one immobiliser key- also i am quite pleased that i still have the

 

original Titanium 300zx key ;-)

 

Down to the nitty gritty. The reason i am selling the car is because i am changing jobs and buying a house so unfortunately its not cost effective for me to

 

keep the zed and do all of these other things- i don't want to sell it but needs must and all that.

 

Faults with the car- there is a slight rust bubble over the drivers side rear wheel arch. Also there are 2 little dents on the metal panel between the rear

 

window glass and the roof top targa panels neither of these are very big, all of them about the same size as a 50p peice but if you are looking to make it

 

look perfect then they will need attention, other than that the body work is in very good condition :-) The last and final thing i need to mention is that

 

the car has recently blown a PTU and i replaced it and the car ran fine for a month, then another PTU went down- i haven't replace the PTU again and

 

personally i don't know if this is the result of a more serious problem or simply coincidence but i simply don't know and with all the stuff i have going on

 

at the moment with work and the house move i just don't have time to pursue this anymore so i have reluctantly decided the best thing to do was advertise the

 

car as is and try and sell it. I also understand that i wont get the best price for the car at the momenty as its currently not running and needs a little

 

attention, but i am open to offers and also open to advise if anyone has any idea's what the problem may be so i can advise prospective buyers :-)

 

I was originally looking for offers between £4300-£4500, obviously with the fault listed above i am now open to SENSIBLE offers lower than this.

 

I will arrange photo's of the car ASAP but i am having ome issues hosting them so the easiest way is to perhaps email me then i can email you the pictures.

 

I have been as honest as possible with the description to avoid disappointment in the long run, in my opinion there is nothing worse than being misled.

 

If you or anyone else are interested then please either :-

 

Email me on vernos@gmail.com or

 

MSN me on el_v_man@hotmail.com,

 

If you would like to call me then please email me for my mobile phone number :-)

 

Thanks for reading and please get in touch if you are interested.

 

Cheers,

 

Vern]

 

I've been to see the car a couple of times now but I'm still in two minds about whether the car is worth buying or not. At the moment the car has been standing since July last year when my cousin placed the advert above on the forum so it's not been driven or run for around 6 months so as you can imagine it doesn't look it's best at all. A couple of things that I've noticed myself in addition to the problems that my cousin has listed above are: it will probably need new tires all round (probably will end up being part-worns if I can get hold of some) because of them being low on tread anyway and they have perished from being static for so long. The front bumper is not fixed on the driver's side - it is worrying tie-wrapped to the intercooler :confused: but it's cracked anyway from when the car was put on a tow truck after a breakdown. The handbrake desperately needs adjusting as it gets to the end of the lever travel and still doesn't appear to be fully on. Also there is excessive play on some part of the steering but I can't find out at which joint(s) yet because as yet I've had no chance to have a look underneath it. I have posted on the forum in the hope that someone in the Stoke area with good mechanical knowledge of zed's and if possible a pretty much standard zed-engined that they could at least take me for a drive in so that I can at least get an idea of how well a standard zed engine should pull. Also if somebody would like to test drive my cousin's zed for me (when it's running after this ptu problem is sorted) to check it performs and drives as it should that would be great.

 

Also, any seventeen year old driver's on here got a zed? If so how much did you pay for your premium and who were you insured with? At the moment I'm looking at paying £5k for TPFT level insurance but that's in my name (as opposed to being a named driver with someone older as the main driver) so I can earn NCB :)

 

I look forward to any replies,

Cheers,

James

Well best of luck matey i hope all goes well with you! If you do buy a Zed in the Near Future be sure to drop me a PM as im only a few miles off ya :)

 

Munny

markstevens - I keep asking the same question because I've had no offers from anyone to come and look at the car for me. I don't really see how you can tell more or less than me about the condition of the car from sitting at your computer - no offence :) The idea was to encourage someone to come and look at it and to be honest most of the replies I've had are people telling me that I shoudln't by ANY zed - not particularly this one- because of their own opinions of what I might be like at driving and the fact that I'm spending too much money on getting one. This wasn't the main question I asked and I seem to have had most responses on this. Although it's useful and I can see where people are coming from it kind of just makes me want to prove myself to you guys even more - I want to show you that I will be fine driving a zed and that I can afford the running costs etc.

 

Munny975 - Oh yeh Munny975...never noticed your location! Are you actually in Stafford then or closer to me or further away? I don't suppose you'd be interested in/have time to come and look at the car with me? You must be about 20 minutes away or so?

 

Cheers,

James

When would you be looking at me coming over? Might be free later on will let you know! Maybe 6ish! Just wondering whats your Budget on buying the actual Car???

 

Im not a great Tech minded guy but id be happy to have a lookie and give you my opinion! will bring the Camera and make some more pics n vids and if need be can post up here for Others opinions!

Well lets look at some facts about the car.

So far there have been lots of opinions and most of them relate to the driver not the car. i dont give two hoots how old you are or how much/little money you have.

THE CAR. Its one of the earliest made and now showing signs of rust in the body. If you can see rust externally then there is FAR WORSE hidden in double skinned panels. Expensive to repair.

Just been sprayed in the last 18 months and rust coming thru already!!! Not a good sign. Time to get that magnet out to look for filler I think. just deduct a minimum of £500 to rectify. Could be more unlikely to be less. The magnet will tell all.

Needs four tyres 235 and 255 17s. That will be £400 off the asking price to start with. FORGET part worns. Those that arent from "accident damaged" UK cars are imported from Europe without any history so assume they have been thrashed mercilessly down the German autobahns. After all why did the original owner part with them if they were any good.

Its already had one replacement engine. Not a great sign of a well maintained car. Replacement engine of unknown history and condition(unless your cousin has a written warranty on the engine which is still valid. I doubt it.)

Rear Hicas steering faulty?? Well if it looks like there are problems then there deffo will be problems. Minimum figure of £400 to fix( new hicas eliminator, new end links, new end bushes etc) So deduct another £400 from asking.

Its a non runner at the moment. Great!! I buy non runners for spares at £500 maximum.

Non standard bumper ... and its damaged. Deduct £250 to cover cost of obtaining good s/h stock bumper and get it fitted/painted.

Hand break u/s. probably means the rest of the brakes are similar

MOT failure then.

Non runner, no MOT , no road tax, no insurance. So nobody can test drive it to see what else is wrong can they.Gearbox?? clutch??? Turbos??? Prop vibration, diff whine etc etc

Im always willing to look/ drive cars and give an opinion but not ones that are illegal to drive.

If the seller gets it legal to drive then I will come and have a look. No point otherwise cos as has already been said in its present condition its a SPARES/REPAIRS project car.

Im off to Spain on Monday for a bit. You can get me on 07778 411568 before I go if you want to discuss.

Lastly.... a personal opinion. .... SWB TT Manual in black??? Yes ... very nice... G reg?? ... bit old for my liking

But never mind. In good allround fully working MOTd taxed condition... PRICE £3500 MAX

Are we listening yet?

The car has issues, if you are prepared to put the time and money into restoring it, then thats your perogative but do not pay over the odds!!

 

As for insurance, 5k is 414 quid a month. Very expensive but only what i spent at 17 going out, getting wasted and buying clothes, so if thats how you would rather spend your cash, thats your choice and your enjoyment.

 

You could just buy a 2+2 in good nick, for less, if your heart is set on a zed and keep your eye out for a good swb??

 

Its your money and you should spend it on whatever you would enjoy but if the car is going to be undriveable for a while, youll not get the enjoyment you crave!!

Well done pete , well put .

Munny975 - I'm waiting on my cousin's mechanic at the moment to get it running cause it would obviously be a wasted trip just to come and look at it but as far as I was concerned it was supposed to have been fixed by this mechanic yesterday and apparently has not been. Will keep you updated and cheers for the offer.

 

Slick Pete - THANKYOU! This is the sort of advice I need!!!!!! Will take your advice and check the bodywork with a magnet.

 

Part worns are a bad idea then - will take on board. I'll ask him about documentation for the replacement engine.

 

With regards to HICAS - why a HICAS eliminator? Is eliminating the HICAS a common mod?

 

The car does run (if it's battery was charged/a booster pack used) but my cousin has been advised not to run it until this mechanic can check out some connectors that he thinks may have been causing it to blow PTUs.

 

The brakes are alright disc and pad wise as far as I know the handbrake just needs adjusting.

 

I will be getting the seller to get the car MOTd anyway because there is no chance I am buying it without a fresh MOT and I could get hold of a trade plate for a day so getting it legal won't be a problem.

 

Would I be better off with a stock bumper then? I thought of just getting the one on it repaired if I buy the car?

 

I am looking for a SWB Twin Turbo Manual in black if I have a 300zx because these are my personal favourites.

 

markstevens There's no need to be funny with me - all I'm after is a bit of advice so if you haven't got good advice to give me like everyone else that's posted in the thread then don't bother posting IMO

 

Fairladyzgirl - Fortunately I can afford the car and the going out, buying things I want, and getting wasted as well. If I buy the car it will definately be fixed into a driveable condition by my cousin first :)

 

Cheers for the advice,

James

If money is no problem at all and you have the cash to spend out on all the insurance,maintenance etc then why not buy a zed thats in much better condition than this one :confused: and if its the zed that you have fallen in love with why not buy a N/A :confused:

N/A=less insurance,less power,less to go wrong,same looks,less chance you will stuff it into a wall

jimjitsu - Like I said before the only reason I've shown an interest in this 300zx is because the seller is my cousin so I know the history of it etc :) Surprisingly, for an N/A the insurance isn't actually much less which is the only thing that would make me consider buying an N/A - I've reasearched it so I thought I may as well go for the twin-turbo :)

 

Next time I speak to my cousin I will let him know what Slick Pete said and see what he says about getting it into better condition :) or about letting it go really really cheap. I'll keep you guys updated though.

 

Cheers,

James

Trade Plates, they only mean the car does not have to have road tax, AFAIK, and not just anyone can use them.

 

You can lead a horse to water, but you cant make them drink.

from what I have read on all of these posts it seems to me like you dead set on buying one car your cousins.Not really much point in anyone trying to give you any advise on the car or on anything else what if someone from here takes the time to come look at it for you and tells you well its a shitter which is what it sounds like from the description you still gonna buy it? even if its really really cheap?

markstevens - The car will have an MOT but I was under the impression that a trade plate allows for no road tax and no insurance because how could you just go and test drive a car with trade plates on otherwise? You'd have to arrange it with your insurance etc wouldn't you. And I'm not sure about note everyone being able to use them - will check both these issues though.

 

jimjitsu - not the case at all. I am dead set on having a 300zx which as far as I'm concerned in the only conclusion you could draw from most of the thread with my replies to people telling me I shouldn't have a car this powerful and this expensive :) It's not necessarily my cousins I want to buy. Of couse I wouldn't buy it if someone from here genuinely said it was a piece of crap and was only worth selling for spares. I just feel that from the description I've given it seems like a really bad car - and like mrogers said at the beginning of the thread

Its a SWB Manual, its dont sound too bad, their are a few little jobs there to do but it is a old heavy car.

 

Regards,

James

I'm in Leyland lancs but not for very much longer. Its the best part of a 200 mile round trip but if you're prepared to pay for my time (I have my own business working solely on 300s) then I'm more than happy to go and have a look. I'm not, however, prepared to drive it if its not road legal so you will need to make provisions for that if you want it test driving. LMK :) andy@zxtreme.co.uk

 

Cheers,

 

Andy

Hi andy. What do you mean that you're not there for very much longer? Where are you going? Closer? lol. My cousins mechanic doesn't seem to be very reliable and still has not fixed the car yet but I'll keep the forum updated on what's going on :)

 

Regards,

James

I'm moving to Rotherham in about 2 weeks, so further lol ;)

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