Best car in the world is a personal choice - it doesn't mean its the best in a particular category - A subi / evo / bmw could whip a Z quite easily in most scenarios but I prefer sleek lines and a great shape to a shoebox.....(sorry guys - I still respect bmw's and subi's) The body line is what sells me - great shape and sleek styling on the Z with TT - Targa and 2+2 If Astons or GTRs were 30k - I could be persuaded to rethink my best choice - but the Z is my best option for me Chilli said it best - I too will have a Z forever regardless
There will come a time when the next generation will be saying. "I can't believe you guys used to sell a pair of z32 headlights for $100" That's one good thing now is we are probably in the golden age for cheap used parts
Has anyone considered What I would like to do if I had unlimited time and money, bring in a 2000 zed on cams licence for track only and use the parts on a 1996-1998 chassis that is road register able here... Or start buying series 3/4 zeds from japan import them under cams and strip and store the parts for the future assuming I had a small fleet of zeds to maintain in the future..
You'd need the unlimited time and money, as the 2000 model Z32's still fetch a pretty penny, even in Japan.
That would be me. I will always own a Z32 even if I live to 100. In the last 4 years that I've owned my TT Z I've spent over 40K on mechanical repairs, performance modifications and mostly just new parts for restoration. Probably why I still have a 40K credit card debt but I figure I can always pay off the debt but I won't always be able to buy new Z32 parts. A month ago I was talking to a very high ranking manager in a large multinational civil engineering firm, we really hit it off when he found out I also owned a TT Z32, this is a guy who almost certainly earns over 200K if not 300K or more yet was dead certain he would never sell his TT Z32, he was still absolutely in love with it. Its interesting to see the rate at which Z ownership has declined in the UK (similar to other cars though). Wish we had something like this for Aussie cars: https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=✓&q=300ZX I suspect we have a lot more Z32s in Aus but rate of decline is probably similar.
Funny we should be discussing this now. Chatting to a guy at work who "likes cars" and he pipes up and says "Another car I've noticed you can get cheap now is the 300ZX. I love the old Zeds and these ones are suddenly quite cheap compared to the 240's and 260's" So I pipe up and say..... "Z31 or Z32?" To which he looks at me, confused, and says "eh?"
I know I know mate imported two cars from japan myself in the last 9 months (not through a broker, I mean it's all me start to finish) 10-12 k ball park 2000 spec, tt 2000 quite rare compared to NA's, shipping and tax maybe 3k no compliance on cams just need a registerable Shell to swap it all over Just had a look funny thing I noticed is the km on most 2k zeds is 120k to 170k, they drive a lot less there than here but over here how many 89/90 zeds you see for sale with similar Km's.... Doesn't stuck up.
I will keep my self alive 60 in 2016 I hope to live till around 85. In that time I will do all I can to keep my Z32 with me. Nothing is forever Cheers Peter But I will try and have my cake as well as eat it so to speak.
$10K to $12K? Really? That's soooo cheap. Man if the import laws were different, **** I'd buy 2 of the buggers. ONe to keep and one to actually drive.
Don't doubt it A 2000 spec with 30-60 thou km in show room conditio go for plenty, they are mint but a 2000 spec with 90-120 which are lot are in very good but used more frequently can be had for ball park 1 mil jpy. My v35 was double other cars of the same year, why? It had 24000 km on it and half the showroom plastic attached, I can insure it For 30k write it off go buy a older r35 and leave in japan in my cousins name a year and personal import it, seen those go for 40k aud
If you check the requirements of personally importing a car, there's several tricky rules - your cousin has to prove to the government that he's used the car as his own in Japan that year - showing parking permits & possibly even maintenance receipts. He's also got to prove that he's moving back here permanently - ie: LEAVING JAPAN PERMANENTLY : ( Not at all piss easy! If he promptly lets you register it & takes off back to Japan, you might not get to enjoy it for long... But then, rules might be changing next year to see 2000 models added to the SEVS list with a bunch of other presently off the list cars : )
i know the rules how thoroughly do you think they check this stuff? you think they have thousands of worker bots hovering around with nothing to do? as I have worked in government your application would have to be really fishy or not well thought out in order to be inspected deeply, then maybe more questions would be asked. (You see the story of the guy who had a stroke in a government hospital bathroom and died because no one found him, this is the public service we have here, poor bloke) The documents you need on the Japan side are easy to get, as you have to have them to own the car in the first place, you cant buy a car with out a parking permit, you need compulsory insurance to rego the car, the real problem is getting one with enough shaken on it to take you to at least a year of Japan ownership, otherwise you would be up for that and it would hurt alot (financially) The aussie side is easy, need proof intent, ok get a lease agreement made up, need a job offer these things can be made and rescinded, depends who you know, what letter heads you have access to. Intent to return to australia, well my intent changes daily can come back then change your mind no law against it, prove there was no intent, too hard, too expensive, not worth it. You need to remember the authorities keep the population in line through fear, there are too many of us, its a big country, there are too few people trying to enforce the rules, also too many rules to enforce. They grow this myth that they see/hear everything, fear they can/will slam you for any minor infraction, instill this misguided belief in the population that they have all the power and means and will squat you as soon as you step one inch out of line. I find most of the time if you mind your manners and look the part (ie pass the sniff test) unless you are trying to steal the crown Jewels or outright embarass the people with power/authority you're fine, appearance of upholding the rules is what they are after, every so often they make a few examples of bad doers and it keeps up the charade, keeps the majority fearful/scared of the authorities thus keep the general population in line and society functioning, the people with power are only concerned with keeping their power, they do it through isolated examples of enforcement not with a sledge hammer north korean style.
Ah sorry mate, not trying to piss on your parade there champ - and totally agree with your logic. Only have to refer to that muslim deputy councilor's recent wedding for lots of examples of "you can do what you like, fark everyone else" - especially if you've got mates here and there. Wow, get a load of his list of prosecutions which have all been magically overturned upon appeal! Nothing fishy going on there. Of course the trouble is, if you're unlucky and get the wrong person at the counter on the wrong day.... the rules are there to bite the non-muslim on the arse. That '94 model white 2+2 that was for sale for a while last year which had the story of - someone imported a 2000 model but got pinged by the rules and ended up having to swap everything over to another shell (or take the rather daring risk of rebirthing the 2k body) is probably the other side of the coin
i hear ya There are always exceptions, but alot of stuff goes unnoticed as long as its not too obvious. Regarding your earlier post .... from the SEVS List 013/00 MA Nissan 300ZX 2 Seat Z32 1989 to 1998 012/00 MA Nissan 300ZX 4 Seat GZ32 10/1996 to Current Being on the SEVS list is only half the battle (not even half) you need to find a raws to sponsor your import, do the compliance work (and rape your bank account in the process) The RAWS for zeds are very few and far between, so unless more RAWS do the compliance kit (compliance kit = getting signed off by the feds on that make/model) for Zeds there is no competition and the price is high, also RAWS have a quota they can do each year.... Zed Raws are: 2 Seater: Top Gear Vehicle Imports (Brisbane), Used them twice, very honest, no bullshit wont cut corners (too scared of loosing his licence thus job/business) Visiliy and Bruce. https://tgvi.com.au/vehicles/300zx (funny they specify only TT engines) Other one is: X Treme Speed Australia (Sydney) Ph 02 9723 0220 4 Seater: Longden Enterprises, (Brisbane) Ph 07 3200 3988 ALSO THE CARS HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY STOCK, WHICH IS HARD TO FIND SOMETIMES AS WHO DOESNT LIKE TO MOD? The SEVS list for the 4 seater says to "CURRENT" if that means 2000 spec the only/best way of confirming this is to call the workshop that does the compliance and ask the questions What year can you compliance for me, I wouldnt buy any car in Japan with out having a RAWS lined up and ask them exactly what they will/wont allow, they apply for the import approval its their arse on the line, if you dont ask them and buy the wrong car they cant compliance you have to send it back to japan (or maybe NZ, anywhere that will accept it) which is going to cost you alot of money/heartache, hence best to check from the get go, the compliance guys give good advice and usually have a agent they will refer you to who hunts down cars for you. (I do this myself, I find the car tell my contact what price to pay, if i get it he does the admin on his side, I do this side, job done)
Well the USD is not your only yard stick, you're just going to have to purchase from someone other than your favourites out of the states. We will see low 60's and possibly a short run into the 50's, but once in the 50's it will bounce pretty hard and run to low-mid 70's. The Yen is at 85 to the Aussie Peso, and we're gaining on it, as it's tanking harder than we are. That's where your parts are coming from, so buy them ex-Japan or steal them off the cars that the owners bought for $1500 and can't afford to maintain. Also, can't remember who said it on the replies about the Aus economy being stable...:rofl: try viewing it from another economy...it's like watching a train derailment in slow motion. BUT, the zed dream will never die, it will get more expensive, those that can afford to maintain and or restore them will take what they need from those that can't. Up and coming ricers will ignore the zed because, well there are cheap alternatives with better status and performance. Numbers will diminish, and the cars in good condition will be loved and cherished by those that care, and ignored by those that don't. I'll always remember fondly my day's of being a "zedder", I might find one when I get home and restore it one day to it's glory days, we'll see.
There's a fortune to be made for some entrepreneur with a 3D printer. Only have to come up with the design for close to OEM parts once, stock is no problem if you're making stuff to order... You could pull steady business off the old import crowd alone. There's a lot of stuff you couldn't make obviously, but still.
Yep. I was considering a MR2 or Supra when looking at imports in 2005 before they changed the 15 year rule, and I drove them both across several generations, then I drove the 300ZX. And I knew it was the car for me. It gives me a thrill and sense of pride when my 26 year old car can turn heads of people of all ages, both younger and older then me. My Mazda3 SP23 is a great zippy car and the Kia Sportage is amazingly reliable, but they serve a purpose, an ends to a mean, A to B - not much more then that. And from those cars, that's all I want from them, nothing more. I guess - no, i know - that's why I've kept my first Z for 10 years - because it will be my only Z, and the only car I will truly have a connection with.
I just had my windows put back into mine the kid (yes this is a subjective term) who did it was quite impressed with the car but when I told him it was a 1990 car - same age as him apparently - his jaw just dropped, he was sure it had to be 2000 and something. I have several associates/workmates etc in his age bracket that would love to get a Z but are held back by the amount of poor quality ones around and the lack of parts even now, they keep forgetting the age of these vehicles. I have been dealing with one where it really is almost a part out car only because the engine bay is in such bad condition, I would definatley have snapped 2 up here locally in the last year if I had the funds one needed a ptu and the other needs a whole refurbishment in the engine bay. both sold cheaply for these reasons.
