Ever drive/own a 300ZX Turbo?

[LanceM]

Not exactly classic Z stuff but I was wondering what it was like. I may have an "opertunity" to pick one up right and wondered if it would make a good DD on the rainy days when I don't want to get the 240 out.

Looking for general opinions on handling and ride, I had an 81 ZX and thought it was $hit handling and performance wise, not that I dropped a dime trying to fix either of those areas, but still what are they like compaired to the early Z's?

[JZM]

What year?

[LanceM]

84-85 I guess, Z31? Shows how much I know about them

[JZM]

Well,it's still a Z like it or not.Z31s went from 84-88,84-85 being fairly close

to each others body styling [sharp fender flair lines and hood scoops for the turbo models],86 was the first year of the more rounded fender flairs and 16in wheels,they knocked out the hood scoop,87-88 changed the front end to a more rounded style,tail lights from the two larger outer units to the long stream lined fender to fender lighting system.and a more rounded hood,drive train pretty much stayed the same through out the years.engines were VG30Es or a 205hp VG30ET,Transmissions T-5s of course or the getto matics

differantials remained R-200s some came with viscous couplings [trac type

loc].88 was the only year to have a hot rodded turboSS version,wider wheels,more horse power and torque.and slightly wider fender flairs and it only came in white.there arm many odds and ends I just named the major ones.I owned an 86Turbo it was alright,drove it for about a year and half

then sold it to a guy who wrecked it two months later.I bought the drive train back.still have it.at the time I was going to Install it in one of my 240Zs.

bottom line is there really good Zs.I think you'll enjoy it.

JZM

[Bambikiller240]

I drove a Z32TT "once". Test driving it for a member who lived cross country.

Can't say I liked it much. Felt VERY heavy. IMO the braking was not as good as I expected.

I'm used to driving a much lighter 240Z

[seerex]

I have driven several z31 models and they are ok , not my cup of tea at all, personally thought they handled less than wonderful and they were so loaded up with crap like digital dash and extra stuff that just seems to break , the z32 I would take I agree they drive and steer like a heavy car and the ones I have driven had pretty good brakes not 911 quality or oversized front and rear disk 240z braking but pretty good. the z32 has a great driving position and I enjoy the twin turbo models , but be warned the 300tt is a maintance hog , the regular z32 isn't that bad but the tt can get very expensive , good luck , but the way the z32 drive alot like a toyota supra

[Murph]

I drove a Z32TT "once". Test driving it for a member who lived cross country.

Can't say I liked it much. Felt VERY heavy. IMO the braking was not as good as I expected.

I'm used to driving a much lighter 240Z

I've driven a mates Z32tt quite a bit so can comment on this. After getting out of an S30, the Z32 certainly feels pretty damn fat. But, if you do get in there and give it a good go, they're surprisingly nimble for a car of their size and have plenty of mechanical grip. Driving position is good IMO, but some don't like it. Powerwise, not overly quick when stock, but with exhaust, larger intercoolers and some more boost it's quite a different story. Maintenance can be a PITA though. Nothing overly hard, just everything is a little bit more time consuming than on most other cars. My mate has sucessfully done pretty much all the servicing and modifications on his Z32 himself and he's no mechanic.

On the topic of the Z31, wasn't there also a VG30DET powered model? Was that a jap only model like the RB20DET powered version?

[JZM]

On the topic of the Z31, wasn't there also a VG30DET powered model? Was that a jap only model like the RB20DET powered version?

No.there was not.the VG30DET is a VG30DETT not one T but two TT,

which only came in the Z32s and some infinitis...VG stands for V-Series

blocks.I own a 90 Z32 and I will tell you it out handles most any car you

pit against it.stock braking is not good.but you can upgrade.as with the 240Z they were not the best handling cars when they came out but with some mods here and there holy $^!#.my 90 is a non turbo at this time I'm coverting it to a tt.the tt is 8-900lbs heavier than an n/a.thats why I chose the n/a.I'm very surprized that some of you would knock a Z of any

year!.As with any line there needs to be a continuation or that line WILL fade.

I consider my self to be a very passionate Z enthusiast.I've devoted most of

my time to educating myself on the Z line.

JZM

[Bambikiller240]

...............I'm very surprized that some of you would knock a Z of any year!.As with any line there needs to be a continuation or that line WILL fade................

You haven't been here long, have you? You've missed some intense discussions about Z's vs ZX's. S30's vs S130, Z31, Z32, Z33. For the most part, this club is populated with people who's main interest is the S30 version of Z Car.

Why would you be suprised? Some of us aren't enamored with a name (well 1/2 of a name anyway), and that's all that a Z32 shares with the (early) previous (S30) iteration of Z. The different versions of Z/ZX are quite different from each other and frankly cater to people with different tastes, and desires.

People who like 60's era Corvette's don't necessarily like 1980's Vettes. The same goes with many other models of cars, including the Nissan Z line..

I'm not saying a Z32 is a POS, I'm saying it's SO different from my S30 that I don't care much for it and I don't recognize it as a "Z". It's a Z32 version of a ZX to me. Far, Far different from an S30.

PS Even with a "continuation of the line", it DID fade. Sales dropped to nothing point nothing due to various factors including the high sales price and complexity of the car (ie the cost of maintenance). That's why they (Nissan) stopped importing them after the 1996 model.

[Murph]

On the topic of the Z31, wasn't there also a VG30DET powered model? Was that a jap only model like the RB20DET powered version?

No.there was not.the VG30DET is a VG30DETT not one T but two TT,

which only came in the Z32s and some infinitis...

Nope, there most certainly was a VG30DET which came in a bunch of models including the Y31, Y32, F31 series cars. Power was 255PS (in some of them at least). It seems many have done the VG30DET -> Z31 swap, I was just wondering if there was a Z31 from the factory with the twin cam VG.....it seems not.

[Gav240z]

I think the Z32 is a far better car than the Z31. I know lots of people with many electrical gremlins in the Z31's. I'd say you'd be spending alot of money on your DD if you chose anyone of these cars. The Z32 is a reliable car but have you seen the cost of some parts especially if you go genuine nissan.

I guess it all depends on your budget sometimes I wonder how i can afford to drive my S30 and I would consider them to be a very good car in terms of maintainability and cost of doing so.

Another words I don't have much $$$ to my name to support a second car or DD so it all depends.

Of course and I'm sure you would know this a Turbo model is gonna require a bit more care and blown turbo's can cost a bit of money.

[Mr Camouflage]

Like Datto-Zed says,

Yes there was a Z31 3 liter V6 Turbo model. It was sold in the Australian Market.