Seeking advice

[ZWS03]

Been a Z32 lover since my boy's dad bought one back in 95. At a point in life where I have the resources to finally get my own. I am working out a deal to land a 91TT with a clean title and 40,000mi for $15,000. Technically, its all original but the turbos and motor have been rebuilt. Timing belt and breaks done. I am a car lover but not a mechanic, although I have 2 good friends here in Vegas with their own shop should I need work done. To make a long story short, I'm looking for a weekend driver. Something that will be garaged and will only get maybe 2000 miles of semi-aggressive driving per year. I hear so many horror stories about expensive repairs. Are breakdowns pretty much guarnteed at this point? Am I a fool for thinking I can drive this thing for 3-5 years without any major problems??

[z.Leinbach]

ideally you shouldn't have any problems unless you are seriously pushing the car, so and even then take serious note in oil temps if your going to be tracking or road racing it, cause the 10w30 of our reccomended oil viscosity will not be sufficient for track engine tempts especially in vegas summers, so a 40 or 50 will be better for that, but maintenance and up keep are by far your best friend for these cars, and if the 60k is done, shiii.. 2k miles a year doesn't do it justice, have a nice car.. drive it let other people enjoy it, a nice car is like a beautiful woman, have full amounts of fun with her! we all know its for you and not the next guy

[rgregoryb]

I am wondering why the engine had to be rebuilt with only 40k miles. If you have the resources I would say go for it. Is there paperwork to support the work that has been claimed? It is not just mileage but also age that affects the timing belt. For 15k it should be pristine.

[ZWS03]

Thanks fellas. I have a child, 2 big dogs, and a busy life so opportunities to get out and enjoy it will be somewhat minimal but those rare occasions will be cherished. Not looking to race or hammer on it, just to get it out around town and remind everyone how dope they are. As far as the rebuild goes, the seller is the 2nd owner and claims to be an enthusiast. He says it had sat for the better part of 6 years. It was registered in Cali in 2008 with 34k and is still under 40k. He says it had a tick when he got it and he wanted to have the work done before it got worse. My mechanic thinks either there is more to the story or the seller is just meiculous if not a little paranoid. I have everything lined up to join the club but I do not have the time or money to deal with constant issues. Thanks for your help and any more info or advice would be appreciated. For what its worth, the car looks brand new and the seller claims to have all the receipts and that all the work was done at the same shop.

[ZWS03]

As far as it being for me and not the next guy, I am hoping thats the case, not looking to turn and burn but if the Vegas public schools don't improve theres a good chance my kid(s) will be in private school at some point. I'm hoping that whether its 5 years down the road or 10 that if I keep it clean and well maintained that I will be able to get most of, if not all of my 15000 back, if need be.

[rgregoryb]

I hope they soon start appreciating. I believe the guy that runs Hagerty classic car insurance recently purchased one because he thinks they may soon be a very collectible car. And for all the 2+2 naysayers, that is what he bought.

[DCaff300ZX]

Not sure I agree that the Z32 will appreciate, or even hold it's own for several reasons- mostly costly repairs/maintenance and because the cars are very unknown to most mechanics who overcharge, or end up charging more for extra repairs to cover their butts...anyway, if you buy a Z32 do it for the car and your fun, and forget the financial end because it will not work out most likely, period. Even low mileage, stored away Z32's can't think about their original price, more likely 1/2 to 3/4 depending upon maintenance done and how long ago, color and options.

[ZWS03]

I think it comes down to our economy. I was 28 in 08 when it tanked so I've spent half my adult life in a horse**** economy where most people can't go out and buy a jetski or a boat or a collectible car. I'm guessing if the economy can get going again and I don't get it, I'll wish like hell that I did.

[DCaff300ZX]

^^^I agree, but also that easy-to-get loans for older cars aren't possible which removes a large segment of the most potential buyers (younger people), plus again the repair issues necessary for nearly all Z32's, lack of maintenance importance and repair understanding, and the fact that Nissan really built a different type of machine than the other manufacturers and of which the repair community is far more used to that type of vehicle due to that commonality, if you will. ANY shop can and will competently service and repair nearly ANY Toyota or Honda, and any other vehicle that has "ubiquitous" parts and support items versus Nissan's more proprietary method and systems...just think PC's years ago, Mac versus the PC.
The Z32 is an Apple computer in nearly all ways while the most of the rest are not, many sometimes can interchange some parts and the repair procedures are very common as well, and completely unlike the Z32. You don't get competitive pricing with a niche item last I checked, and value tends to follow.
As for knowledge of the car, try even getting the most basic info from a Nissan dealer about the Z32 and you may be stunned at the non-answers, while with anything else not so much unless it's a really boneheaded dealer.
Another fact is that the Z32 is predominantly a "2nd" car and used for pleasure rather than usage need, and serviced correctly for that period of it's life until a "regular" person gets it and as I did, uses it as a car and not a toy. Generally, as I was at the time, we don't understand the Z32 well and necessary maintenance and repairs get treated like is possible with other cars, but seriously deteriorates the Z32 and by 20+ years, it really, REALLY needs a refresh.
Add to that that even the stored-away "time capsule" car will need possibly even more catchup maintenance than a more often used Z32, or have to just be stuffed away into more storage hoping that somehow value accumulates while the car deteriorates...electrolysis, rubber and time, etc...Hard to see appreciation of value there.
And there's plenty more that sets the Z32 apart negatively from most other similar vehicles, too much to go into here but a look at many of the threads here illustrates- LOTS of areas for failure, and not a lot of easy-access answers even for most DIY guys.
The Money people do know this, and the car has been valued appropriately, IMO.
VERY hard for me to see appreciation of value there as with any other niche item, unless of course you have that perfect someone in front of you looking for that niche toy and ready to pay to get it. Not many of those people around these days, you did mention the economy?

[Zombiecheez8687]

Go for it man. I've been chasing after these cars.for 10 years now. Picked one up a couple weeks ago that needs a head gasket and I'm excited everytime I go outside or pull into my driveway and see it. Just gotta put the work into it.

[ZWS03]

Thanks fellas. I still haven't bought it. Not even sure if the seller still has it but I am sure that he is irritated by how long I've taken. I'm not the dude that goes all in willy nilly on $15grand. Assuming he does still have it, I am currently looking at 2 different cars. One has 66k mi and the aforementioned one with 40kmi. The one with 66 needs the timing belt, wheels, exhaust, intake which basically brings me to 15grand. The other has all of those upgrades and then some but again, the motor has been rebuilt. Assuming my instincts are right and the rebuild was due to a blown motor, should that even matter if the rebuild was done right? He has the receipts, the shop seems legit, although not a shop that specializes in z's. For the same money, would you guys go for the rebuild with lower miles or the original with more miles, and if I were to have the car inspected should that alleviate all skepticism I have of purchasing a car who's motor was most likely blown at some point?

[DCaff300ZX]

Beating to the point and as you did mention, the most important thing to me anyway is the legitimacy of the rebuild in the case of a modded motor. Just too many things that can have not been done or not done correctly, you want to be in control of that with your builder for best reliable results and your own piece of mind...otherwise realize that every time you nail it or consider it, you will probably also think about the motor's condition and that question mark.
So IMO I'd go for the unmolested Z32 since after a refresh/upgrade more previous mileage will matter less, and do all the proper work at a proper shop since it needs the 120K and it's the perfect time to upgrade things like the injectors/etc. which will need upgrading for turbo mods, plus of course an ECU upgrade, all with the ability to fit to your own performance needs and financial level.