300ZX Question

If I were you, I would try to go with the 1992 model if at all possible. Nissan issued a technical service bulletin regarding an intake valve problem with the 1990 and 1991 models. If the owner does experience this problem, it can cause a very rough low speed idle. This can prevent the vehicle from passing some states' emissions test during inspection. The problem can also cause the vehicle to need a valve job a lot sooner than it normally would. Having a valve job performed on a 1990 or 1991 Nissan 300ZX can cost the owner some big bucks. It would probably end up being cheaper to buy one of those used, replacement engines that you can order out of Japan with about

The 1990 and 1991 Nissan 300ZX wasn't a *highly problematic* car, but it did have its share of issues when compared to the 1993-1996 models. Like any other new vehicle that an automobile manufacturer introduces, it takes a few years to get some of the kinks worked out. These cars aren't cheap or easy to work on. It's pretty darn tough to get to some of the engine components. There's a WHOLE LOT of stuff crammed under the hood of a Z32! :-)

I'm still driving my 1990 model with 155,000+ miles on it every single day. I bought it in 1993 with 18,000 miles on it for $18,150.00. It stickered for about $32,000.00 new back in 1990. Some R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. VP had bought it for his wife who didn't work. So it was garaged the majority of the time that they owned it. Didn't have the first scratch, ding, dent or rock chip when I picked it up. The interior was 100% flawless too. Non-turbo with a Bose sound system.

As far as maintenance goes, here's a list of what I've done to mine through

-Replaced the main bearing seal

-Replaced the drain plug seal

-Replaced the fuel injector wire connectors/ends

-Replaced the overdrive cancellation switch

-Replaced the AC compressor

-Replaced an AC hose/line that had a small hole in it

-Replaced the glove box latch

-Replaced a wheel centerpiece (Not sure if it was stolen or just fell off)

-Replaced the shocks (To be expected)

-Replaced the alternator (To be expected)

-Replaced the battery (2X) (To be expected)

-Replaced the tires (3X) (To be expected)

-Replaced the front brake rotors (2X) (To be expected)

-Replaced the front brake pads (2X) (To be expected)

-Replaced the low beam headlamp bulbs (2X) (To be expected)

-Replaced the wiper blades (3X) (To be expected)

-Replaced the timing belt (2X) (To be expected on these cars)

As you can see, over half the items in this list are just routine maintenance issues that have to be performed on ALL cars over time. Regardless of make or model if kept long enough. Based upon this list I wouldn't say that the car has been that bad at all. Especially since I've driven it pretty hard over the course of the last decade. It does have a bit of a firm/bang shift going from automatic 1st to 2nd, but as one transmission specialist put it..."It's not bad enough to even justify a rebuild at this point. It shifts fine by my definition. Yes, I've driven cars with automatic transmissions that shifted a little smoother, but I wouldn't let it bother me if I owned the car. I'd just keep on driving it like it is." Technically, it could probably stand a valve job to take care of the sporadic low speed rough idle issue previously mentioned. But overall it still runs pretty darn good for a car with 155,000+ miles on it. I'm going to keep on driving it until it becomes difficult to crank. Then either have the valve job done on it, or replace the engine with one of the used ones that I referred to above.

Hope this information helps you out with your Z32 purchasing decision in some way.

Best regards, and good luck!

S.T.

1. Turbo, definitely, if you can pay the extra cost and maintain the upkeep.
2. Check for rust.
3. Consider timing belt change if not documented.
4. Check rotors thickness (more for safety than for cost).
5. Verify everything (specially brakes) is working fine. (This does not mean the car has brake problems).
6. If A/C does not work, it is expensive to fix it. Good luck! They are great cars and fun to drive!

Oh! The Bose system will give you trouble, regardless.

I agree with you on the Bose system comment. Lots of folks I know have had trouble with their Bose radios that came in their cars. One of the most common problems with them is the scratchy, static sound whenever the volume knob is so much as lightly touched for adjustment. Channels went bad in a lot of them too.

S.T.

Before you buy--spend some time cruising through twinturbo.net. You will get a PhD education in Z buying from that site.

Brent

make sure you have the roof covers... the net for the trunk the cover for the trunk.. all that stuff.

my ZX didn't have non of those things. system is crap so don't even bother. check to see if the antenna works (goes up goes down) see if you can run the car with the key out of the column. (it happens) make sure you have all the keys. there are more than 2.

check to see if the threads on the lugs and nuts for the rims are stripped.

when driving check to see if the center column is very hot. if so it has had a clutch change and isn't installed properly.

good luck.