I'm completely new to Z32s. In the past I've always tinkered with Corvette Stingrays (68 - 76 model years). I've always been able to buy one at a fair price, maintain it, minorly fix it up (mostly cosmetics) and sell it for 2 or 3 thousand more than I paid for it--so I'm spoiled I guess. I've decided to try something new. I decided to venture outside of old faithful Stingray and try a 300ZX. Wanted one for quite some time, want a Z33 even more but those things are too dang expensive for my little hobby and play car and the values drop too much being so new!!! Probably will wait another 10 years before getting one of those ;-]

Anyway, I'm looking at buying 1 or 2 of the below model years that I've found in my local area. I've listed the basic info on them and what's been done that I know about. For the most part they're all stock, except for one that's had some mechanical overhauls. Please chime in and tell me what to look for. I'm not sure if they're good deals or not. Don't want to go in the hole too much because I'll probably sell the primary keeper Z32 in 2 to 4 years for another one or go back to a vette (depends on experience I guess) and sell the othe one immediatly and try making some upgrade money for the keeper ZX.

All are non-turbo. I prefer the 2+2 due to my young kids like to ride in also. Only drawback to the vettes--only one kid at a time.

1. 1991 Coupe 2+2; 98,000 miles, 2 owners, has had 3 of the injectors changed over the last 5 years. Original bright red paint. Everything works except for the antenna. The car pulls to the right when driven and when braking (alignment or worse???). Owner said he thinks it needs an alignment but I'm questioning that because he seems like the kind of guy who would fix it if a $100 alignment was all it needed. Price: $5,250

2. 1992 Coupe 2+2; 39,000 miles, 1 elderly owner, no work known. Original silver paint, leather interior. Everything works reportedly (not inspected yet). Price: $9500 firm from small town dealer who bought it from the widow (probably for its trade value of $4K I'm guessing, loser).

3. 1993 Coupe 2+2; 108,000 miles, 2 or 3 owners, no work known. Original or redone black paint, leather interior. Everything works except antenna, missing t-top inserts and hatchback blind. When braking above 30mph, it shakes very bad as if rotors or caliper(s) are bad. Small dealer won't fix them for the price I talked him down to. Price: $5,400

4. 1994 regular Coupe; 84,000 miles, 2 or 3 owners, no work known. Original maroon paint, leather interior. Everything works (reportedly, haven't inspected yet). Price: owner hasn't made up mind. I think he wants around $8,000 or $9,000 at least, which I think is kinda high.

5. 1996 Coupe 2+2; 189,000 miles (that's right 189,000), 2 owners. Engine was swapped with unknown model/year (had 65,000 miles on swapped motor on install, 15K miles ago), 4 weeks ago the transmission rebuilt with some sort of custom shift plates/kit, and new water pump. This one looks real sweet on outside with good original/redone black paint, custom rims, but the inside is kind of out of order with BROKEN: driver seat (back bottom frame member), rear view mirror, center console lid broken in half, no A/C, probably one or two other small things. Price: $4,000

I'm leaning towards buying the 1991 to keep for myself and buying the 1996 to resell. I think I could resell for $6,000 if I fix the little stuff on the inside (not the A/C though). What do you think?

My main concern on all is major costs involved with the suspension and steering components. A guy told me (while I was testing driving his Z32) that the early years 90 - 93/94 had brake rotor/caliper issues and these years and maybe later years also had suspension/steering members that went out and were expensive because they weren't adjustable. Something about you can only adjust the toe and only to some limited extent? Is any of this true?

What should I really look out for on the 5 I'm considering, especially on the two I'm focusing on?

Lastly, should I expect to lose more money on these than make? Again, I'm used to classic 30-yr old or more vettes that get what they deserve on resale.

Thanks much! I'll post pics when I can.

 

Personally I would go with the 92. THis jackass is never going to get that much for it even with the low miles so just keep hammering him until he caves. Get him down to about 5k and keep that bad boy for yourself. For a fix/resell the the 96 sounds like a good deal with the new engine, the 93 sounds like it'd be just fine with a 600 dollar rotor replacement from Midas.

I'm not sure how much money you stand to make/lose on the deals, but I do know once you get into your Z you may not want to get rid of it at all

 

I tried to get the rip-off dealer down, he wouldn't budge below $9500--he was sure he had a goldmine and obviously he was correct. Car dealers are like real estate agents (no harm to either of those who are reasonable and honest) they artificially inflate the value of their products by suckering folks with more $ than sense, playing their emotions, and in return jacks up the prices across the board for the rest of us. I never buy at retail prices, I always hover around trade or at the most private party sale. I usually cross reference the KBB, NADA, and Carsdirect trade-in values (usually within $1000 of each other). The trade in value for the car, regardless of the low miles, was only like $5000, so I know he's trying to gouge this car. BTW, he sold it this morning to some sucker for $10,550. Obviously a moron.

I agree, I like the 93 and am having the dealer at least give me an estimate to have the severe brake shimmy fixed. If not more than $300 or so, I'll probably go with it as one of the cars.

I also like the 96 simply because I think the guy is honest and the work seems to have been done well. Plus, it is $1200 under trade-in value. The guy is simply straped for cash and needs the income and I've been the only cash-only (no trades) guy who has seriously considered his car.

****************************

BTW, what does NA stand for? I guess TT stands for twin turbo.

If I get two, I'm sure I'll have to sell one ASAP because I only have room for 1 in my garage. Also, the 96 comes with about $500 or more (best I can tell) of spare parts the guy stripped from the old Z he took the motor out of. I'm sure I sell them and recoup at least $500 if sold on eBay or online.

Lastly, does the 2+2 car differ significantly from the regular coupes? Someone told me they have rear suspension issues because of the modified shocks or something? I can see them weighing more, but are the chassis the same length and makeup other than the backseat and weight?

thanks much for all of your help!

 

NA=naturally aspirated. that means no turbos.

2+2s are a bit longer and a bit heavier, but the added length is said to actually improve stability slightly. i have never heard of the rear suspension problems you speak of.

 

me neither on the susp.....but if your truly looking at resell value in an N/A car i would say stick to a manual 2 seater...the 2+2's i think are ugly....i notice that they are longer....and auto Z32's dont resell for crap from what ive seen...i bought my 2 seater coupe for 3900 and it ran perfect...it lost compression in one cylinder and i resold it for 5000....sooo eyah... besides taht that dealer is ridic...there is a luxury moto sport over here, its actually privatly owned. the guy hand picks cars to sell, and he was a geourgous 30kmile z32 TT for sail for only 12,900 i believe...ill see if i can find it and post a link...i was like....thats F'ing nuts....the thing was AMAZING...i just wish i had the money.

 

here it is: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...000&cardist=30
it sold...and no surprise...it is astute....but it hasd 53k on it woops...but still...what a steal...

 

dont get the 96 too, in the end you probably wont get out of what you will end up putting into it

 

dont the REALLY early 300's have soft valves to? so they are more prone to bendige. (warping/bending)

 

Ha! I drove that piece of crap TT. It looked really nice in the pics, but was slightly less lusterious in person. The trunk didn't close, it needed tires and an alignment at minimum (tires worn grossly uneven and mis-matched), and each rim had "R" or "F" hugely scribed on it as if someone was keeping track of what rim went where (maybe from a junk yard?) I had my doubts it only had 55K miles on it.

Worst thing, it stalled when pushed in 1st and 2nd. It did it to me 4 times within a couple of minutes. Something was wack with the motor or governor or something. I didn't even get her in the red and she did it repeatedly.

She sold on eBay for close to $12.5K I think. The dealer was gonna let me have her for $12K even. That same dealer had 3 or 4 Toyota Supra turbos, a Lotus, and several other high-end sport cars. In the end, he's just another used car salesman!

 

the one i posted???? at exotic motors??? you live in IL???? wow the thing looks georgous.....
did you see the other TT then for slightly less...
well there is this one.. http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...000&cardist=15
and then there is THIS one... http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...000&cardist=24

 

Yeah, it was quite a drive but I went and saw it one day when I was close to town on work. The black one looks nice, but not worth the $12,500 to me. I just hate the silver look. At first it was cool but now it seems 80% of the cars are silver or silver-gray. I'd like a pure stainless car--that would be different! ;-)

 

i love the pearlecent whit...well i think its arctic white...but it looks pearlecent....its purdy

 

If you are looking for room check out the z31. My z32TT can't hold but one suitcase. i've got 83zxt, 83zx n/a, 85 Turbo, 96 TT. The z31 is not the ultimate sport car but if you are riding around with the kids they are plenty fun. You can make them better suspension, better intake better exhaust and they are pretty nice. Guy in the club has one dyno at 300 rear wheel. My 85 dynos 185 rear wheel with nothing done except intake/exhaust and 225K miles.