Z31 vs. Z32 online

[YowzaZ31]

This question should stir some debate and opinions, but I'm overly curious to hear what everyone thinks:

Why are Z31's treated like a red-headed step child to the Z32's on the internet???
It seems that there are a lot more forums, parts sites, etc., that cater to Z32's and give us, the Z31 owners, the cold shoulder!! I say, UNITE, DIVIDE and CONQUER!! Who's with me??

[Ace2cool]

Over my dead chassis :p

But really, it's because it's the more widely known version of the 300zx. It got the dual overhead cams and made a lot more power, and also had the potential for loads more power.

I personally love the z31, and would really love to own one, but the aftermarket support has a lot to do with why I don't. And if manufacturers don't "pick up" a car, it won't have as big an online presence. It's a multifaceted reason, but I personally hold the z31 in very high regard.

[evildky]

The Z31 was the far more popular car when new, outselling the Z32 2 to 1. The Z31 sold as many cars in it's first 2 years of production as the Z32 did in all 6 years it was sold in the US. The Z31 was in it's prime in the days before the internet as we know it. The Z32 kinda hit that sweet spot as the internet became a more usable space, it also suffers at having more misinformation regurgitated as a result. If I had a dollar for every keyboard mechanic that says letting the cam snap rotate when doing the timing belt will bend valves I'd have lots and lots of dollars. It also suffers from more D bags swapping tail lights and shift knobs and bragging about it like they actually did something. Sad to say there is a fair amount of D baggery in the Z33 community as well. The Z31 might be less popular but the result is fewer D bags in the community. Instead you get A holes like me and AZ Zbum.

[DCaff300ZX]

Good stuff evildky.
I have owned both and love both cars, but they ARE quite different and unfortunately the Z31's suffer from aftermarket-neglect far more than their Z32 brother.
Has to do mostly with the twin turbos for the Z32 IMO, as when you venture into the Z32 NA world looking for mods it gets VERY much like the Z31 world, other than the lookie-loo "mods" evildky spoke of.

[evildky]

Building a Z31 requires so knowledge and ability, modding a Z32 requires a credit card number. All the parts are out there you just have to make them work on the Z31, they come custom tailored to the Z32.

[NolimitZ32]

I haven't been too deep under the hood of a Z31 before but all I remember is the vacuum line horror, oh the horror.

[evildky]

Z31 vac lines can be troublesome but there are only a few and it's far less complicated than the ef honda's or early 80's ford f150's. Actually the S130 has more vac lines than the Z31, it's just that vac operated climate control that's the issue.

[NolimitZ32]

I don't think anything compares to the rats nest of vac lines on the 3VZE.

[DCaff300ZX]

An old Toyota Celica believe it or not lies or dies from it's unbelievably complicated vacuum system as well- I got one once for $800 that wouldn't run right despite a bunch of new maintenance parts and hoses, after about three hours messing with it and checking hoses I was able to figure which were mis-installed and after a new clutch it needed was also installed and some brake pads, made the thing go from limping home to spinning the tires for three gears and a perfect idle. Sold it later for $3K, with only new tires added to the above.

[Desert Rat]

The Z31 is far less sophisticated than the Z32, and is really a carryover of the 79-83 280ZX with updated sheetmetal, whereas the Z32 was an entirely new chassis.

I like the Z31 for nostalgic reasons. It's slow by today's standards and your run of the mill econoboxes will give a Z31 (especially the N/A ones) a run for their money, but it's still a good handling car, and is an overlooked classic that can still be had for cheap. Nice ones are getting hard to find and while there isn't gobs of aftermarket out there, my preference is bringing them back to their original glory, and the restoration parts are still available.

Then again, if I only had a dollar for every time someone asked me in a parking lot - "Hey, is that a 280?"