PR for Z32s and the Club

[Gio]

Some time I got an e-mail about Evo magazine wanting a 300ZX TT for a buyer's guide feature. Muggins 'ere got fingered for it so that's a Sunday wasted on an airfield somewhere instead of being in a pub watching the GP. Nevermind.

Point of the topic is this. Why don't you post here some short (and, please god, printable) comments about why you like / bought your Zed?

I'll be wittering at some length to the journos about why I personally love the thing to death but thought you would like to have your £0.02 worth. Which I will print and take with me.

And, of course, giving them Club details!

Cheers - Gio

 

[john-boy]

Hi Gio,

I think it's noticeable how much less traffic this site gets than 300zx.co.uk, which is a shame, but nonetheless, here is my 0.02 worth about why I bought my Z32 ....

I'm afraid it stems from a long-standing obsession. I'd been a fan of all types of zed since about 1976 (at the tender age of 5), and as soon as I could I bought a 260, about the time I was finishing uni - loved it, but after about 2yrs I decided that I was never going to have the dosh to restore it in the way I wanted, so eventually just left her in the garage, and some time later passed her on to my ex for a paltry £300. She's still trying to restore her, so I gather!

About this time, I also became obsessed with the Z32, and despite aching to own one, it was way out of my price range at the time. Anyhow, time passed and eventually (about this time last year, in fact) I had enough wherewithall to purchase what I wanted. A late UK spec twin turbo.

Loved this car dearly, but when I went to view a Skyline, and happened to see a grey, M-reg manual TT, by the side of the road with a for sale sticker in the rear window, I had to buy it! In fact, the other auto-version has now been sold and I intend to lavish my time on this car. So that's how I entered the fold ... as to why I love it ....

It's a case of many factors. I've always found owning Japanese sports cars tremendously rewarding. They're affordable, built to last, and I have to say great to drive. In fact, having owned a couple of Porsches in recent years (924 turbo and 944s) and having driven a number of exotics of late, including a brand new Boxster S, M3 and a 100k Aston DB7 Vantage, whenever I get back in my 300, I can't help but think how well it compares with all these cars.

Top Gear magazine may say they've got no street-cred, but that's just the usual biased, dogma-ridden shite! I think they look gorgeous, sound fantastic, go like stink and are available for very reasonable dosh. Believe me, compared to the headache of owning an ageing Porsche, these things are a breeze (touch wood). I also love the way the 300 stands out from the crowd, and I've often overhead onlookers scratching their heads and trying to work out what the low-slung sex machine is! (Why they can't read the badges at the back is beyond me ... must be North Kent for you&#33<img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>. You certainly look more individual in one of these babies than you do in an M3 or a Boxster (Jury's out on the Aston&#33<img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>.

As I said at the start, I'm obsessed by them! Not sure this will be much use for your discussions, but as you said ... add your 2p'th ... so there you go.

 

[Gio]

Thanks john-boy. BTW the car I looked at before deciding on my Z was a 924 S2. (The dealer wouldn't give me a test drive as it had no clutch. This would be replaced if I wanted to buy it..... and it had 130,000m on the clock. My Z was the same proce and had 40,000m on the clock&#33<img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>. How do they compare with Zs?

But anyhow - for everyone else - &nbsp;I just noticed that Japanese Performance that their next issue will cover a Buyer's Guide and Tuning Tips. So if you want to get your opinions heard, contact them now!

Editor Martin Vincent e-mail jap@chpltd.com tel/fax 01491 639393

Cheers - Gio

 

[john-boy]

Gio,

You made the right choice, my friend!

I had the 944s which was only blessed with 190bhp, compared to the s2 which had 210 (I think). But to be honest, there was a world of difference between my 944, which I'd call a sportscar, and the Z32 which is more of your genuine supercar. The Porsche was a good car, great handling balance and plenty of road presence, but lacked the real excitement that the 300 gives, especially that feeling of never-ending thrust that you get when you're joining a motorway with the throttle nailed in 3rd .... anyway I digress .... Suffice it to say, for value, performance, reliability and I think, looks, the 300 is the man! I'd still like to own a 911 at some time, but given that a decent 91/92 car can still set you back 20k, with no performance increase, I think I'll be staying Japanese for the foreseeable.

Hope the photo shoot went well ... looking forward to the buyer's guide next month. Subscription had already been purchased to JP ... great magazine, plenty of ideas.

Cheers,
John-Boy.

 

[jvnewcomb1961]

I bought mine because when I saw it in the showroom I fell in love with it. Sittign in it and then driving it made me feel great so even though I couldn't afford it, I lied to the wife and bought it anyway. I love the fact that when you are out people stare, normally of course mouthing something like "whatthefuckisit" but hey who cares as long as they are looking and admiring. &nbsp;I've had mine for nearly 3 years, spent a fortune on it, and recently due to engine damage I debated changing it and started roadtesting various cars of same sort of performance, finally concluded that if I wanted somethign that looked, drove and performed as good as the Z32TT I would be spending £50k on a used supercar and the maintenance would be higher. &nbsp;Its only fault is its weight! I am glad my office is so far away from home, it means I get to drive my own supercar longer.
A Z32 Lover and a Z33 hater!

 

[john-boy]

Hey Gio,

What happened at the EVO jamboree, then?

Will 300's be getting a mega-spread in that hallowed magazine? (For a long time it was known as the "bible" in my office) ... it would be nice to see the 300 buyers guide, after all, EVO do call the Z32 the "best driver's nissan ever, bar the skyline") .. will you car be making an appearance?

Cheers,
John-Boy.

 

[Gio]

G'day jvn & john-boy

just got back from a volcano so haven't seen evo yet. Hopefully out soon. My 300ZX was up against a (nice and clean previous model whatever they're called - the angular one not the curvey one with the eff-off spoiler) Supra - and an old-ish RX-7.

So fingers crossed for the Zed!

 

[Gio]

Oh look, there it is - the November 2002 issue of Evo just hit WHSmiths. And on page 115 there is the best* 300ZX in the UK. Nice article by John Barker, too. Quotes like "The Nissan is its suave cool cousin - with even more power, huge poise and fabulous handling..."

Apologies 1) the photo was done the week before I had the tatty front spoiler resprayed so sorry for letting the side down.

Apologies 2) I did recommend the use of MJP for local parts supply but they quoted me on Courtesy Nissan instead. Embarrassing when I get loads more bits from Mike than from the US (i.e. none so far). Sorry Mike.

But at least they published www.zclub.net and membership phone no.

In the modern age, everyone is famous for 15 minutes - even my Zed!

(* of course it's the best - she's mine&#33<img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Cheers - Gio

 

[JEZ 280ZX]

Hi,
&nbsp;I haven't read the article, but I'm suprised they are comparing a Z32, rather than a Z31, with the old shape Supra .
Surely the Z32 was a competitor of the newer TT Supra?
JEZ <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[STEVE BURNS]

Nice article and good they included the 4 most important details
1/ your name
2/ your car
3/ website address
4/ membership phone number

and now we all know why you use GIO

 

[Gio]

Hi Jez - it wasn't a direct/exact comparison - just a look at "rear-drive fun at a bargain price". The Z32 was the most expensive of the three. Sort of what could you get from between £1k to £5k and with slightly different ages - '88 to '90 (I know they said '91 but they were wrong&#33<img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

And it is interesting to note that the older style Supra and the Z32 were contemporaries. Which just (for me) underlines quite how advanced the Nissan was against the Toyota. I guess in later life, the roles got reversed!

Also IMHO, the Supra both early and current has the feel of a J version of a US muscle car. Whereas the Zs and ZXs (except perhaps for the 280ZX? maybe?) were very European in feel and character.

Hi Steve - yep, now Gio's secret is out! I had to change my name to match my reg plate. (And thanks to the wife - otherwise I would have had to change my name to G851 &#33<img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Let's hope for a few new members...

 

[john-boy]

Hi Gio,

As soon as I saw your post I nipped round to the newsagent and picked up a copy.

Your zed looks really smart, and you're right about the technological superiority at the time. It's a great article, plenty of well-deserved praise for our cars. That's why we love 'em.

BTW, I would never have noticed the slightly ropey spoiler unless you had said in your post!

Nice one.

CheerZ,
John.