Everything You Should Know Before Buying A Nissan 300ZX

Japanese sports cars from the '90s are getting less and less affordable as the supply of examples in good condition decreases and nostalgia levels for the "golden age" of JDM reach all-time highs. One of the few iconic cars from the era that's still relatively affordable is the Nissan 300ZX Z32, the car that's often credited with single-handedly rescuing Nissan's Z line of cars. Its combination of power, handling, and looks proved that Nissan could still build halo cars that could compete with the big European automakers, even if the previous decade or so of its "sports car" output had been anything but sporty.

The 300ZX offered supercar-level performance at a significant discount to many of its rivals, although by the end of its production run, a strong yen had made it less of a bargain than it once was (via MotorTrend). Sales slumped, and the car was killed off in the U.S. in 1996, without an immediate successor. It might not have hit the sales targets that Nissan had hoped for in its later years, but today it's looked back on as one of the greatest Z cars ever produced, and arguably one of the best Nissans of all time, period. As collector demand for the car has risen in recent years, so have resale prices. There are still plenty of opportunities to snap up a 300ZX for a great price though, as long as you know what to look for.

The previous-generation Z31 300ZX had gained a reputation for being much more show than go. One Car and Driver review from the era even called it a "flabby, disco-poseur's" car that deserved to be "laid to rest in a special graveyard reserved for stretch slacks, musk colognes, and slap-on chest hair." That same review notes that the new Z32 300ZX was a revelation in comparison, with a smooth, refined driving feel, yet enough power to more than keep up with anything else in its price bracket. The car was originally launched in naturally-aspirated form only, but a year later, a twin turbo variant was unveiled, which packed even more power.

Despite relying on forced induction, the turbo version of the car suffered from virtually no turbo lag at all, according to Hagerty. Turbo models also gained Nissan's innovative HICAS four-wheel steering system, which was also used on the R32 Skyline GT-R, and allowed the car to turn more sharply at high speed. For reference, the top-spec 300ZX boasted the same output as the Ferrari 348 released the same year, but for a fraction of the price (via MotorTrend).

For years, the 300ZX was both readily available on the used market and temptingly cheap, and as a result, many examples were modified to some degree. Some builds, Autocar notes, can see cars modded to produce well over 400 horsepower, and in many cases, those cars will also come with aftermarket body kits, exhausts, or wheels. Buying someone else's project car is always going to be a gamble, if nothing else because it's impossible to know how well those modifications were installed, and what other internal bits were affected in the process.

Generally, it's always better for collectors to avoid cars with any significant modifications at all, even if it means paying a premium. Resale is almost always negatively impacted if a car has non-standard parts, especially when powertrain or visual modifications are involved. On the flip side, if you're the kind of buyer that's planning on adding your own twist to the car anyway, buying a 300ZX that's already modded can net you a significant discount over paying resale for a fully-stock example. Just be sure to watch out for cheap parts or shoddy workmanship. It's no Rolls-Royce, but the technological complexity of the 300ZX combined with the tight gaps in the engine bay mean it's far from the easiest car to work on, and as a result, there will be plenty of project car owners that will have cut corners at some point during their build.

The 300ZX didn't change much over the course of its production run, but it's worth being aware of the differences between each model year, so you know what you're getting. The car arrived in early 1989 as a 1990 model year, with the turbo debuting at the end of the year, notes MotorTrend. Both turbo and naturally aspirated variants initially had a targa top roof, but in 1991, a "slicktop" fixed roof coupe was also offered. This slicktop was also marginally faster than its targa top lineup sibling. Only a few minor tweaks were made for 1992, with a driver's-side airbag made standard across the whole range, and turbo models gained a power-adjusted driver's seat.

The convertible 300ZX was launched in 1993, and 1994 saw the introduction of a new HICAS design and more airbags added as standard. Very little was changed in 1995 save for the launch of the high-performance SMZ edition, which was tuned by Steve Millen and boosted power up to 365 horsepower while retaining the factory warranty. By 1996, sales were in decline and the 300ZX was about to be axed in America, and the last model year also saw variable cam timing scrapped. MotorTrend reports that '96 USDM cars were slightly less powerful even though Nissan advertised them as identical to previous model years.

Whether they're novices or simply trying to cut corners, Car and Driver reports that some owners will turn off the HICAS four-wheel steering system in a bid to keep maintenance costs down. Earlier model years (up until 1993) are most affected by this, as the system is hydraulic, rather than electric like later cars are. If HICAS is disabled, it's worth checking why it was turned off, and potentially how much it's going to cost you to restore.

The other big issue with the 300ZX, like many cars of its age, is rust. Autocar reports that the sills ahead of the rear arches are a particular problem, as drainage channels from the roof can become blocked and cause a buildup of moisture over time. Owners looking for a cheap fix might replace the outer layer of the sill, but the inner layers might still be totally rusted through. The seat rails are also a good place to check for rust, as Grassroots Motorsport reports that any rust there is an indicator that the top may have been left off during rain showers, showing a general lack of care on the owner's part and indicating that there might be more damp-related problems in other parts of the car.