240SX vs. Z32 300ZX

Website · Post by **elbles** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

Hey guys,

It's been getting close to a year with the S13, which is still for sale if anyone's interested, but I'm ready for something a bit nicer, larger, and more of a GT kind of car, and staying in the Nissan family is always nice, so a 300ZX would seem to be the logical choice. :-)

Now, I know quite a bit about the costs of owning a 300ZX, and aside from those, can anyone offer any comments about the comparison of the 2 cars. I have driven both, and I like the 300ZX a lot better; it doesn't feel too different in driving than the 240, aside from a slightly better shifter, clutch, and "smoother" steering (just felt a little better to me, not sure how to explain it). The interior was a million times better than the 240's, with a nicer feel to almost all the controls, except for the hatch/fuel door release, which was curiously the same as the 240's. :-) The engine also felt a lot stronger down low, and overall stronger throughout the range. Once you get above 5,000 RPMs, the VG simply destroys the KA24E. :-) What a feeling . . .

If any of you have owned both, I'd like to know your feelings about each car. Yes, I know I could put a SR in the 240, and smoke a NA Z32, but that is irrelevant, and I couldn't really care about that. But if you have any other comments about the cars, I'd love to hear them . . . TIA.

Post by **Phax** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

The Z32 has more pimp appeal.

:pimp

Website · Post by **elbles** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

Hehe, indeed it does . . . my 240 is completely stock, no looks in that, but in relatively short test drive in the Z, tons of looks. Both a good and bad thing, I guess . . .

Post by **p00t** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

just be prepared to get more tickets if your the cashual speeder type. cops notice it much more.

Post by **S14-84** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

Website · Post by **lbrowne** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

I was dead set on a 300zx about 3 years ago, it was blue on blue, nice looking car. I'd like the twin turbo but for the rock bottom price of this NA 300zx it was too hard to not look at.

then i seen it was an automatic.

and then I moved on, very disappointed.

Post by **LittleBrotherSilvia** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

ive seen subtle body kits for the Z32 that look absolutly SICK and even stock theres just something about it that looks damn good, but i couldnt buy a 300zx if it wasnt TT, but thats just me...

Post by **krazy skwerel** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

Auto 300zx's suck. My friend has one and I hate it.

Website · Post by **lbrowne** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

I read that the fastest modded TT 300zx's in the world are autos. This back when I had looked at the car and asked around about them online.

I'd still rather shift my own gears though thank you!

Post by **krazy skwerel** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

Yeah auto may be better for drag or whatever, but damn is it boring driving a car like that with an auto transmission.

Post by **hmooblis** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

it's not just 300zxs, most high hp car are auto

Website · Post by **lbrowne** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

yup I'd say. Just not ment to be

Post by **LittleBrotherSilvia** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

i know i cant shift as fast and precisely as a computer, but i can sure as hell try

Post by **Mr1der** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

agreed, unless it happens to be a 1981 Imperial and you have funk playing.

I personally find the NA Z to be a rather boring car.

Website · Post by **lbrowne** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

Just making a point about the particular car.

Thats like for cars like my Fbod, stick with the auto if you plan on using it for strip.

Post by **itsRaine** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

If you're thinking drag, I remember reading somewhere that the Z32 rear suspension from the factory is great for road courses but VERY BAD for drag... because the stock Z32 suspension was designed for anti-squat, which is the total opposite of what you'd want in a drag car.

$0.02 cents everywhere!

Website · Post by **elbles** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

That's a problem; most of the Z's I see around here are automatics, and I don't know if I could live with one, I love 5 and 6 speeds way too much. A buddy of mine works with a woman who is selling her 93 Z, perfect condition, 82,000 miles, but it's an automatic . . . I don't even want to look at it, because I might like it enough to think I'd be able to live with an auto. ;-)

Oh, and BTW, a NA Z32 is quicker than a S13, at least with a KA24E . . . my dad had a 90 NA Z32, and my uncle still has a 89 240, and he happens to be a State Trooper. :-) They raced on the highway once, and the Z beat the 240, but it wasn't a complete walk away . . . they passed a cop too, hehe, my uncle just flashed his badge. If only I still lived in that state . . .

I looked at a 91 NA Z this past weekend, looked beautiful: black exterior (in good shape), with an immaculate black leather interior, perfect floormats, hatchmats, etc, I was in love. Then I started the car, or I tried to . . . the ignition was a little sticky and hard to turn. Once I turned the car on, I heard a ticking sound coming from what I thought was the head of the engine, not good. I got in the car, and put it in 1st, noticing the shifter felt awfully loose. Got that done, started to drive it around, lots of vibration in the drivetrain, the wheel was off-center when going straight, the tires were worn unevenly . . . all in a car the owner has owned since 1992. He wanted $7500 for the car too, unbelievable, and it made me sad to think someone could own such a beautiful car and let it fall to pieces like that. Sorry for the rant, I just hate it when good cars go bad. :-(

Post by **rco8786** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

ya z32's are definitely faster in pretty much every aspect then a stock 240...but then again they were designed to be.

Post by **GEO** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

lol not by much, I raced my buddies 300zx NA and he only beat me by a couple of feet... he has a 5spd 300zx and I have an auto 240sx.. hes a good *** shifter ....

Post by **Altiman94** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

MR1DER, stick to ford. Anyways, I think a 5 spd N/A ZX would be a very nice car to have. Definitely a step up from your 240 and it wouldn't as all that slow anyways. If you are just looking for the sex appeal, go with the n/a. IF you think you will have ANY intentions of modding it aside from wheels/suspension, go with a TT. If you wanna mod the n/a down the road, you will wish you had bought a TT instead.

Post by **nissanrcer240** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

Quote »IF you think you will have ANY intentions of modding it aside from wheels/suspension, go with a TT. If you wanna mod the n/a down the road, you will wish you had bought a TT instead.[/quote]

if you can find a TT get that whether sex appeal or modding is what you want it for, theres alot less of them and theyre more money but if you can find one i think it'd be worth it

Website · Post by **elbles** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:52 pm

Decent acceleration would be nice to have, and I've thought about looking at a few TT's around here, simply because they exist whereas the NA's are scarce, or so it seems. I'm happy with the 240's acceleration; yeah, it's not great, but I prefer curves to drag anyway, and the NA Z does fine there as well . . . it's certainly faster than the 240, and has the "feel" of a high performance engine, which the KA certainly does not.

Bottom line, the NA Z is a fast enough car; I like it simply because it's much more comfortable and more pimp than the 240; it pretty much matches or exceeds it in performance aspects, so I figure why not? :-) Now, I just have to find one in decent shape . . . NICO's Z community seems a bit weak.

240SX vs. Z32 300ZX

240SX vs. Z32 300ZX

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