Possibly a future 300ZX owner, help!

[Archie]

Hello, I'm new to this site, I wanted to ask for some advice.
Sorry if my english is bit difficult to understand at times (I'm Finnish).


I'm considering buying a '91 300ZX NA automatic... I'm just worrying is this going to be a economical suicide for me?
I have a steady job at the moment so I can keep it running, but I'm wondering how much money does this car need for maintenance and possible repairs per year?

The car in question is a black 1991 2+2 NA t-top with automatic, it has about 150 000 kilometers (or maybe miles, not sure which) behind it. It is all original except for the radio, and catback exhaust with dual tips.
The previous owner says it has a full service history, no rust, and it has new brakes and upper engine serviced about 10 000 km back.
Looks promising to me, if all this turns out to be correct?
I'm planning to keep it as stock as possible, only maintenance. Maybe try to fix the t-top if it leaks, and do some upgrades to increase reliability, if there are such. I know a bit about cars, but I plan to get it serviced at a shop rather than relying on my repair skills..



I'm probably not going to daily it, but I'm planning to use the car for long trips up north maybe once a couple months (that's about 1500kms there and back), and for some short drives nearby.

Is there any sense even considering owning a 300ZX, or am I just mad?

Originally, I was looking for a reliable car, but bit more special, like maybe a Supra or a Type-R of some sort, but good luck finding an un-molested one here.
Then I saw some affordable 300ZX's for sale and thought, yea Nissans they are reliable.. aren't they?

Oh why did I ever fall in love with the Z-car?

[Kyle.whitbeck]

I'm new to the idea of a Z, but with an N/A car, with service history and no mods, so long as all service was done right and compression is good the car should be fine, only question is what all is in that service history

[rgregoryb]

In Sept I bought a 92 na 2+2 with 170k miles, guy had owned it for last 16 years. He had service records all the way back to about 40k. Car had always been garaged and looked good.I had 120k service done, new Nissan AC compressor replacement. New tires, ripped leather seat repaired, clear coat was flaking in spots had that repainted along with a new bumper cover ,front. Car runs like a champ, it looks good get a lot of compliments on it. I've never had so much fun spending money on a car. Puts a smile on my face just to drive it.

Go for it!

[Archie]

I just might!

It's very tempting, I need to see the state of the car myself and check the documents first of course.
It has also been kept in a garage, and judging by the registeration info I looked up, only driven during summer.

[thatdudeoz_Z]

I've had my '91 na since October of 2013 and I've had to put about $1500-2000 into it to maintain it. I got mine with 107,000 miles on it and having only 2 previous owners. The Z32 is honestly my favorite of all the Zs and they're worth the investment IMO. I do want to say that they are an extreme pain to work on due to such little room they give you to work on in the engine bay. And if your planning to take the car to a shop to service be prepared to pay double what I did because what I payed was all in parts and me installing.

[Archie]

Thanks for the help
Yea I heard they are difficult to work on the engine. I might need to resort to a z-car expert, if i can find one, with repairs since I only have a parking spot and no garage (at least atm). It seems to have 120k service done recently but I need to check the service history for that.
I heard these are reliable engines if taken care of properly?
I actually found a review of the exact same car, by the owner who had it for 12 years since it was new, seens it has been maintained well.

Going to see the car later this week. Oh boy.
Future bringer of great pain and pleasure, here i come!

[Archie]

...or maybe I have to take the fast and easy route and get one of these.

They are fun cars too, I used to have a 1st-gen one.
I found some unmolested 1991 CRX-s for sale, maybe I should practise with that and look for a Z later.. who knows, maybe I can find a good purple 2+2 300ZX, with manual and leather seats in the future

[Archie]

Well, damn.
Also this thing is in my budget.


I need to research how hard SVX's are to own now...

[rgregoryb]

But those are not Z's......

[Archie]

I've had my '91 na since October of 2013 and I've had to put about $1500-2000 into it to maintain it. I got mine with 107,000 miles on it and having only 2 previous owners. The Z32 is honestly my favorite of all the Zs and they're worth the investment IMO. I do want to say that they are an extreme pain to work on due to such little room they give you to work on in the engine bay. And if your planning to take the car to a shop to service be prepared to pay double what I did because what I payed was all in parts and me installing.

What maintenance have you done on it? I guess biggest cost was the 120k service?

SVX's seems even more difficult and expensive to keep running than Z's, so I'll forget that idea.
So, the cars I'm choosing between now are these two (may seem a bit weird to compare these, but try to understand
I'm going to see both of these on the weekend;

The 1st one;

1991 Nissan 300ZX NA 2+2 Targa automatic, brown/gray interior with cloth seats, original condition. Seller claims no rust or faults.
I'd rather have a manual, but it's seems nice otherwise.
I'd need to buy studded winter tires to drive it home here, and another set of wheels. I'm also thinking of fitting the original mud flap things.
Also, factory option subwoofers if they are even possible to find.

The 2nd option;

1989 Honda CRX 1.6-16v DOHC Euro-spec, 5-speed manual, black interior with cloth seats, all original condition. Seller says some rust spots on the driver door and wheelwells, which can be expected from a daily driver up here with all the snow and road salt.
But it should be restorable to original condition cheaply. I'm thinking of finding factory original alloys for it.
This one has about double the gas mileage, tho that's not the thing I'm worrying about too much. Easier and cheaper to fix, and I guess more reliable than about anything. I have experience from a 1st gen Euro-spec CRX, that was the most fun car I've ever driven.

What do you people think? I know this might bit a bit biased posted here

[z.Leinbach]

I'm personally more particular to the zed if you could hold out till you find a manual or spend the money for the conversion

[Archie]

Yea, I thought of manual conversion too.. if the auto box starts misbehaving, then at least I'd do that.
Maybe find some tan or gray leather seats too, if they fit the car. Those were factory options with this interior, right?

Wow, the little CRX is getting a ton of offers, it might be gone before I get to test it. On the other hand, the Z has been for sale for ages.. might be a bad sign Or then it's just that people prefer the TT and manual. The NA has way enough power for me, and auto should be fine, since I'd mainly use it for long drives on the highways.

[thatdudeoz_Z]

I've had my '91 na since October of 2013 and I've had to put about $1500-2000 into it to maintain it. I got mine with 107,000 miles on it and having only 2 previous owners. The Z32 is honestly my favorite of all the Zs and they're worth the investment IMO. I do want to say that they are an extreme pain to work on due to such little room they give you to work on in the engine bay. And if your planning to take the car to a shop to service be prepared to pay double what I did because what I payed was all in parts and me installing.

What maintenance have you done on it? I guess biggest cost was the 120k service?

That's actually not even included. I'm barely doing that now at 127k along with full engine gasket kit from Z1. Replacing all fuel/coolant/vacuum hoses with silicone hoses. And full suspension bushing kit. Referring back what I have done before was radiator, power steering pump, 7 injectors, and a set of tires

[Archie]

Wow, that's expensive.. I hope I don't have to replace many parts soon.
The Z has had the 120k service done about 10 000 miles back, and new brakes installed.
Tho I need to buy a set of tires if a buy the car, so that's +$500, also new rims before summer, probably.
Otherwise it should be fine, for a while at least...

[thatdudeoz_Z]

Yeah the vg30de & TT is one of the best motors nissan has ever put out there IMO. For the most part the Z32s are pretty solid cars, I would just be sure to look up all the common problems on the forums before you buy so you know what to look for when you look at it

[thatdudeoz_Z]

It was really only expensive for me because it went from an old man driving it a couple times a week, only in the summer and garage kept , to me a 19 year old and daily driving it, no garage and through the winter

[Archie]

It was really only expensive for me because it went from an old man driving it a couple times a week, only in the summer and garage kept , to me a 19 year old and daily driving it, no garage and through the winter

That's sounds like exactly what I'm doing ( except I'm not 19 anymore ).
I'd probably avoid driving it in the worst snow and salty days, but otherwise use it whenever I could. Maybe the CRX would be a better daily driver for me...
Well, I just have to see them both and try to decide.

[Archie]

Well, now I got this little bugger as my winter car

It's in very good condition, everything works, just some small rust spots on the fenders and the engine needs a tune-up.

The Z is still burning in my thoughts, tho...
The black Z's body was in perfect condition, apart from a missing window seal that somebody had ripped off.
I noticed it was pushing some white smoke out when revving the engine while stationary, maybe the head casket is going?
The engine idled and revved normally without any weird noises.
Otherwise it was very nice. No winter tires, so I really could only test drive it around in a parking garage.

[Archie]

I'm still considering buying the NA auto in the first post, I'm also trying to convince myself NOT to buy a 300ZX.
But it's so pretty

I've been reading through the forum for common problems, if anyone can summarise what servicing needs to be done regularly, that would help?
It's a completely stock 1991 NA 2+2 Targa automatic, only modification is a cat-back exhaust. It seems to have a good service history.

I know about the 60k and 120k services, and oil changes were after 3000miles right?
But what other things should I regularily check to keep it well and alive?
Sorry for being stupid, I just want to be sure with this thing :/