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Nissan 300ZX, all models

171 messages,  Last post on Sep 22, 2009 at 11:44 AM

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What is this discussion about? Nissan 300ZX, Hatchback

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#31 of 171 91 300ZX by cevans2 Aug 27, 2002 (1:51 pm)
Looks like this discussion has been dead a few days but hopefully somebody will take a look. I'm looking at a mint condition 91 300ZX 5speed fully loaded except for turbo. I hear people mention that these cars sometimes have electrical problems. Can anyone tell specifically about some of these problems. I think I can get the car for about $7500 - it has 94K on it. Is that a good price. Any insight would be appreciated.
#32 of 171 by Mr_Shiftright HOST Aug 28, 2002 (9:00 am)
Check out Edmunds True Market Value feature on the HOme Page. Just click on the "Used" button up top on the www.edmunds.com homepage. Their prices are pretty accurate.
#33 of 171 Electrical problems by jcliffro Aug 30, 2002 (12:26 pm)
Response to #31. When I bought my 300ZX new in 1985, I read in Consumer Reports that the Z cars had "electrical problems". My electrical problems to date (in 17 years) have been. The "dual function" fuel gauge broke within about 2 years. I found the secondary fuel gauge to be near worthless anyway. Second, the timer for the interior courtesy lights works erratically....just an occasional annoyance. And once last year the tail lights or brake lights stayed on and I did not notice it when I left my garage. Dead battery the next morning and some type of inexpensive fuse or breaker that had to be changed. That is the extent of it. Not too bad for 17 years. But that is just one satified Z owner's personal experience.
#34 of 171 I would by isellhondas Sep 08, 2002 (7:00 am)
Avoid the turbo models. very complex and expensive to fix.
#35 of 171 by Mr_Shiftright HOST Sep 08, 2002 (7:54 am)
It's the problem with all "old tech", be it Japanese or German or whatever.   Many of these older complex cars are simply not worth fixing if something major gives up the ghost. You will see more and more modern cars junked as they age because of this problem--their repair bills equalling or exceeding their Book Value.
#36 of 171 Right... by isellhondas Sep 08, 2002 (12:11 pm)
All it takes is one major thing to go worng and te car is effectively totalled.
#37 of 171 Repair costs vs. totaled by jcliffro Sep 08, 2002 (4:37 pm)
It all depends upon the cost. I recently replaced the manual transmission in my 1985 300ZX at $1250 and then took it to a bodyshop and had every parking lot ding or scratch taken out of it. I guess I spent $1750 on it in a month. I don't really care what someone would pay me for it, because to me I have an incredibly beautiful and reliable car that I love. To equal that, I would probably have to spend at least $25,000 and then my insurance would go up. So if you find the ideal Z out there, I say get it and keep it well maintained. That 3.0 liter V-6 is supposed to go forever. But, as per the above notes, avoid the problem areas: don't get a turbo, don't get a 1985-1989 model that has the electronic juke box dash and hold out for one that has been treated with TLC like I have treated mine.
#38 of 171 by Mr_Shiftright HOST Sep 08, 2002 (7:13 pm)
Actually a 1985 300ZX with a bad transmision and parking lot dings and dents is just about totalled at $1,750--that's about what a ZX with those needs is worth.   Now, of course, you've raised the value to what an '85 ZX with a good trans and good body and paint should be worth....around $3.5K-4K.   So in that sense your investment comes back to you at least...a break even move and it makes sense.   But a new engine would cost more than the car is worth and would be a questionable decision.
#39 of 171 Z value by jcliffro Sep 13, 2002 (12:45 pm)
Of course, there is the personal value attributable to the fact that, in my opinion, my 300ZX is one of the best looking cars I have ever seen and its reliability to date is damn near priceless. That is not to say that I would be willing to spend several thousand dollars a year to keep it up, but each year I DON'T spend $25,000 on a new car saves me about $1200 a year in interest I can earn on CDs, lower insurance costs and, of couse, depreciation on a new car. So, I am willing to spend a little to keep this gorgeous hot looking car doing what it was meant to do.
#40 of 171 by Mr_Shiftright HOST Sep 13, 2002 (5:19 pm)
Yes, all true, but the market doesn't look at practical stuff like that. It is driven by supply and demand--how many people want such a car, and how many cars there are for sale. High demand, shortage of cars = higher value / and of course, with low demand it doesn't much matter if there are a lot of a certain car around or not.   Naturally, demand goes up with condition, too, since a nice clean car is more desirable to most people.   This is why with "common but desirable" cars, like say a Miata, there is often a HUGE difference in price between a sharp one and a ratty one; whereas with truly rare cars, the difference in price between say #2 and #3 or #4 isn't so drastic---because you can always say "Okay, but if you don't buy it, where you gonna find another one?"   </market lecture>

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