HELP! Opinions needed on the 300zx Z32!!!

[JCgangsta55]

Hello all, I am currently considering selling my current car for a Nissan 300zx (the 1990-1996 model). I have looked into the car some in a generic sense, but wanted some expert opinions to aid my research! From what I gather, these cars are pretty durable/reliable, not too bad on gas, look fantastic (obviously), and don't break the bank. As a college student, budgeting is very important. I did some preliminary estimates for getting a Z32, and I'd actually be saving over $50 just on insurance per six month period. What are some tips and pointers that you guys recommend for a new guy trying to bust into the Nissan world? Do these cars work well for commuting? Are they pretty cheap to maintain? Most importantly, will I get my money's worth out of the car?

Just as an example, a couple of the ones I am looking at are about $5000 and have 130,000 to 140,000 miles on them, but I've seen others listed with as many as 190,00! Thanks for all your help, I greatly appreciate it!

[ezb57e]

Welcome.
Reality check here.
I don't want to throw cold water on you here but while these are great cars, and were ahead of their time the fact is, most have many miles they are all old and getting older everyday.
Just not what I would recommend for a college student with limited time and money and lots of responsibilities.
Buy a used Altima and save your money until after graduation.

[JCgangsta55]

Thanks for the tips. I take it they are a bit more expensive to maintain than I had been lead to believe then? I'd heard they might be a bit more expensive to maintain, but if it's pretty infrequent I think I could still afford it. I only have another semester until I graduate, plus I just got a full time job that pays well so I think I could get by provided that the mechanic wouldn't charge 2-3 times what he does now... But again, good tips, good things to think about!

[DCaff300ZX]

The car is pretty expensive to get worked on, especially the 120K service (mandatory) and many engine repairs due to the style of motor and the way Nissan went about building it.
That's before we get to the crappy electrical connectors we all know to clean/replace at will, and a few other things that tend to go wrong with most of them as they age.
GREAT cars as I have two, but you need to be able to do 80+% of the work yourself and still have options to have quality professional Z repairs done, whether dealer or a Nissan specialist.
So I'd say you'd better be graduating to suit and tie middle management or above if you think you can keep the beast alive as a newbie...

[Phan]

Hello all, I am currently considering selling my current car for a Nissan 300zx (the 1990-1996 model). I have looked into the car some in a generic sense, but wanted some expert opinions to aid my research! From what I gather, these cars are pretty durable/reliable, not too bad on gas, look fantastic (obviously), and don't break the bank.

If you are an enthusiast and very skill with the fingers then I would highly recommend this car. From what you gather is true but only if you put in the work and effort to make the z a reliable car. These car are very expensive to maintain if you are to rely on a mechanic to do all the work. With that said, the z32 is one of the sexiest looking car ever built.

and stay away from the early z models.

plus I just got a full time job that pays well so I think I could get by provided that the mechanic wouldn't charge 2-3 times what he does now...

"he charges 5-10 times what he does now" remember to bring a bank with you

[JCgangsta55]

Thanks for the info sir. A friend of mine actually races Nissans at the track, and builds his own, and has already given me a couple mechanics who he says are "super cheap" according to him. He's got nothing but encouragement to say about me getting the car himself. I'm still weighing the costs, but I got a similar statement from him. Take care of the car, and the car will take care of you.
The Z I'm looking at in particular has low miles and appears to be spotless on the interior and exterior, I want to check it out in detail before I'd make a decision on it. I take care of my current car, and I'd baby a Z, so I think that with all this advice from you guys that I could do it. I really do appreciate the tips everyone!

[ezb57e]

Parts can be an issue too.
Many things are no longer available from the dealer.

[JCgangsta55]

I would imagine they would be, I doubt many places sell or even make the parts for a discontinued 20+ year old car... Good point sir! I hadn't thought of that! Sometimes it's the simplest things that escape you!