1990 Nissan 300ZX User Reviews

Overall A Good Car, But Only Buy One If You Want A Sports Car, You Do Have To Make Sacrifices. — For a non turbo the car is fast, the breaks are very good, even in the winter. It has a hint of under steer, but will corner with the best of them. The car is a challenge to work on, but that just makes the driving experience all the more rewarding. Being 21 years old it has it's squeaks and rattles, but with my aftermarket exhaust, you can't hear to much of it. the car is a looker, especially if you have the rear spoiler on it. I get about 20mpg on premium gas, (that's part highway part city). I have had to replace the fan belt on it and some other odds and ends but nothing serious. the car is a blast to drive especially with the roof off.

Primary Use: Commuting to work

At The End Of The Trip U Wish U Were Only Half Way There! — Twin Turbo Swapped 2+2 Z32. Performing a complete twin turbo swap was no easy task but was definitely worth it. This allows u to keep the best of both models of z. Extra 2 rear seats not available in left hand drive twin turbo models, also no hicas and lower geared rear end kept from the NA. All these features coupled with the power of the Twin Turbo model result in the ideal Z

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)

Great For Me, Maybe Not For You. — Performance is phenomenal, put your foot down if you dare. Being a 20 year old car it's had many problems, but preventative maintenance is as always the best way to go. I haven't gone past anyone who could resist staring yet, and has been mistaken for both Lamborghini's and Ferraris. Incredible fun, and much class. Girlfriend loves it of course. Only downside is fuel and repairs, both have been a small fortune, and most mechanics refuse to work on it.

Primary Use: Commuting to work

300zx — after i do the twinturbo motor swap and paint it black ill have nothin bad to say...love the rear wheel drive , the t tops, and the overall look of this car, ive replaced belts, new racing clutch and lightweight flywheel, new driveshaft bearing..and lots more

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)

300zx Twin Turbo - Grey Import — "once again beautiful, so sleek and tight and shimmering that it still looks great ten years after it went away" - Automobile magazine. The 300ZX was produced from 1989 to 2000 when it the VG30DETT engine was killed off by pollution legislation. This amazing ten-year run is a testament to how far advanced the model was for its time and even today does not seem dated. This car is not the fastest 6-cyl off the line but when the turbos kick in it really gets up and moves. Thanks to the performance at high revs and boost it is perfect for overtaking, tearing past anything anything doing 100km/h. Factory horsepower for the Twin Turbo is 300HP (220kW) and this can be greatly improved upon with some modifications. There are highly modified VG30DETT engines putting out 1000BHP. The braking is fine, particularly with better pads but they're getting to the age where fresh discs and caliper rebuilds are worth doing. Which is also a great opportunity to upgrade them to ventilated discs and paint those calipers. The build quality is very good with only minor problems like vinyl peeling off interior parts and the tweed trim looking a bit grubby if the previous owner was a pig. The VG30DETT engine is strong if treated right but very unforgiving of bad treatment. Oil changes are extremely important as there is a tendency toward seized turbos and spun bearings if the lines become clogged or if the oil loses its lubricating properties. The engine runs very hot and while this is normal it doesn't leave any room for neglect of the cooling system. An engine rebuild costs in excess of $5000 and is inevitable if the car has been neglected or overboosted and thrashed. So if you want to buy one check everything under the bonnet and have a compression test done to make sure you're not buying something that needs a rebuild straight up. You'll also need maintenance money left over because it's likely there will be other expensive issues that will come up in an inspection. The performance also comes at a price - whatever that may be at the pump - because it consumes an average 20L/100km and much more if driven hard. With stock suspension and fast cornering you can feel the heavy (1610kg) mass threatening to break away. With a set of coilovers and some wider wheels the car is transformed into something that handles like a go-kart thanks to its low centre of gravity and wide, aggressive stance. This makes it a hell of a car for the backroads, just not for the speed humps. Considering that the normally aspirated version sold for $87,000 in 1990 a good twin turbo example is a bargain today at around $10,000+. Instead of rapid depreciation your money is instead spent on maintenance for a car this age. This means it's a great buy for a car enthusiast who can do at least some of their own work but a really bad choice for someone who doesn't know much about cars and doesn't want to learn. They are an impractical car to drive around town so if you are driving around a lot in traffic then they are a poor choice. In parking lots the body gets bashed by speed humps and badly positioned kerbs and they are not the easiest car to get into a small parking spot. The cargo area is also small, as are the back seats, so they are definitely not a family car.