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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.
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01:12:47 09/30/06
