Help me decide! Trying to find a good n/a Z32 to buy!

[skydragoness]

So I'm living in Tejas now. McKinney to be exact.

So my boyfriend isn't going to let me keep just borrowing his 350z (he has a motorcycle too) whenever I need it, and personally I don't like driving it too much since it's way too big for me and I can't see behind me because I'm 5'1 and the blind spots suck a**. I like the power though I've driven a Z32 before (ex had one) and I enjoyed it while it lasted (he blew the engine up somehow).

Anyway, I've been lusting after Z32's for quite a while. I don't want to deal with TT maintenance and drama and it's going to be a DD until I have some dough to get a Miata again (or a motorcycle!)

Here are the two I found that I'm having a hard time deciding to go after:

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/4548944623.html

and farther away:

http://fayar.craigslist.org/cto/4525145643.html

The Dallas car looks like it was re-painted by two drunk cows in a barn. Engine sounds smooth and quiet, cold a/c. Mis-matched tires, front tires are dry rotted. On the test drive, it grinded into 5th at 3/4 throttle..suspicious synchro? The shifter didn't feel sloppy. The owner has had it from 120k to 142k and has NO records of his own or from the previous owner. I got the story "previous owner did the 120k service at 100k" and he's supposedly had no issues in this time (doesn't drive it much) and he's selling it because he has a TT that he's working on and it will fund its repairs. He didn't know what kind of oil he puts in it. He's a lot more flexible on his steep asking price.

Arkansas car: owner doesn't have any records of 120k service/parts receipts either (why would you throw that s*** away? It's not like it's a Camry). The story I got from him is that he has to get a four seater car for his new job and he bought the Z off of his friend and he works at Nissan so all the t-belt/parts/etc it has needed were OEM parts and they worked on it together. It is also his daily driver (allegedly). This guy says he's "pretty firm" and to shoot him a offer.

So should I just go with the Dallas car even though it's ugly and dirty since he'll probably give me a better deal and I'll have to do a bunch of preventative maintenace on it right away? (Since it's local I plan to take it to a Z car enthusiast/mechanic to have them inspect it)

Or should I pay more for the car in better overall condition and gamble that it's in better shape mechanically? It sounds like it is. It will get inspected right away but I would have already purchased it at that point.

I'm leaning towards the black Z32 in AR just because it's in better overall shape.

[Z-owned]

Out of those two options I would go with the black one and just know it needs to have the timing belt service done to it as soon as possible.

[budget300zx]

first off what do you plan to do? just drive the car after maintenance? if so the dallas car is defiantly the way to go. project car would be the blue one with more room for upgrades.

[skydragoness]

Ace2cool is my personal Z32 consultant and he gave me a ring after I made this post.

The blue one in Dallas is the ugly one. It's funny how they're both 95 models, both have 140k, and both don't have any receipts or proof of work done. At least the guy in AR with the black Z knew his stuff and the car looks nicer/cleaner. I'm going to make an offer on the black one but remind the guy that as a buyer, I'm going to have to assume the 120k service hasn't been done yet. Do you guys think $5500 is pretty high for that mileage? My plan is to have it as a daily driver/cruiser. I'm going to get a Miata as a autocross car later next year

[RubyRed300ZX]

The black one, or ...

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/c ... 68033.html

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/c ... 22206.html

[punkncat]

Although I will likely get burned at the cross for saying this....at your height, go find a 1st gen Miata with a Jackson supercharger in it. In all honesty if weren't so tall I would be riding one right now. Super fun and great power to weight ratio...

[DCaff300ZX]

Ace2cool is my personal Z32 consultant and he gave me a ring after I made this post.

The blue one in Dallas is the ugly one. It's funny how they're both 95 models, both have 140k, and both don't have any receipts or proof of work done. At least the guy in AR with the black Z knew his stuff and the car looks nicer/cleaner. I'm going to make an offer on the black one but remind the guy that as a buyer, I'm going to have to assume the 120k service hasn't been done yet. Do you guys think $5500 is pretty high for that mileage? My plan is to have it as a daily driver/cruiser. I'm going to get a Miata as a autocross car later next year

That's a good thing having Ace for advise, he'll steer you straight for sure.
Not knowing your pricing in your area, I'd still say that $5,500 seems maybe a TAD high for the car, not necessarily the mileage. If as you say the PO was knowledgeable and cared for the car, and you are satisfied with all of that plus of course it runs right, I'd try for $5K final price mentioning 120K as you said, and go from there if you feel the need.
I'd also press the PO for ANY info he can give about such items as any connector replacements, replaced/repaired high-wear and normal deteriorating items such as the clutch fan, idle control valve and PCV's, and any/all hoses...the more done the better, and more worth the price.
Good Luck!