Looking at a Z32 today - Opinions?

Hey guys,

Starting to look at 300ZXs as my next car as I want something that's actually sporty and fun (unlike my current car - Daihatsu Charade :W

So, I've been keeping my eye on this (made the link a little smaller lol):

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=7122653&postcode=2228&__Qpb=true&__Nf=p_GeoLocation_String|GCLT%20-34.04094%2c151.1032%2026.0&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_Price_Decimal|1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&keywords=&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294963846%204294963448&distance=25&silo=1011&seot=1&tsrc=allcarhome&__Nne=15&trecs=11&Cr=2&__sid=123AD9629733

Have already had a look at it - bodywork is essentially in PERFECT condition, as is the interior.

However, looking closely at the car we noticed the engine oil was rather dark, and the engine sounded rather clunky - I was told that it hadn't been started in a week or so and we didn't give it the opportunity to warm up. Should I be worried about spun bearings etc or am I just being paranoid? It's only an old bloke driving it so I doubt he's been giving it heaps.

My question is, is this car really worth $13,900? I was thinking more like around $12,000. Also, would this be the best way to introduce myself into the world of Z's or should I get a pre-modified example?

I'm going to have a closer look and drive of it today so I'll keep you guys tuned.

Cheers.

 

Its in great nick but it's a stock Aus spec NA (not a Twin Turbo TT) and is no way worth $14,000.
More like 7 or 8... check the Zeds on here and compare and go surfing and get a Market Value from 1 of the car sites.
Don't let your passion for Zeds guide your pocket.

 

Just saw this on Redbooks

* Private Price Guide $6,700 - $9,100
* Trade In Price Guide $4,300 - $6,700
Price Guide $69,720*

http://www.redbook.com.au/used-cars...00&seot=1&__Nne=15&trecs=8&__sid=123ADB931C4E

 

front bar is slightly different colour in pic.... GL with it man, its over priced.

 

Original owner

Car with 89k on the clock, 1991 model always garaged would be a good buy at any time.
Unfortunately they are not bringing what they should and would suggest $14k is to high, time for negotiation.

 

Thanks for the input guys, thought it was a bit overpriced.

Thanks for the linkage, I'll be sure to print this off just in case he turns down my offer

Is there anything else that I should be concerning myself about other than what is in this guide?

http://www.300zx.co.uk/tech/BuyingZ.htm

 

Does he have receipts for maintenance? Last thing you wanna do is pay a small fortune for it and then have to fork out another few thousand for major maintenance...

 

I have been told he does but I have not seen them yet; I am going to request them this afternoon.

 

Even if the car is truly in mint condition anything over 8k is overpriced. I bought my z with a new tranny (roughly 1000k's on it) and with 125 000k's on the odo. apart from a bit of gutter rash, the spoiler bubbling and being an automatic it was practically perfect - i only paid 5.5k for it.

 

Thanks for the input mate

Anybody else got any comments?

 

Also keep in mind that it's only 11000kms off being due for it's MAJOR 100K service which will set you back around $1000+ or so! maybe a bit more depending on how mechanically minded you are?........so use this as a negotiating point!

 

i bought mine from an owner with 80,000kms on board, tt jap import for 12k with a few scratches last year. it is in beautiful condition aswell.

 

I paid $8.4k for my TT with 30,000km on the engine/gearbox + all receipts.

$14k is way too much. I'm sure there are plenty of aus specs that are in just as good condition for a lot cheaper. Wait for the right car. I waited 6 months for mine to pop up for sale.

 

Is that yours in your sig O_O it's...beautiful

Thanks for the input guys, I'm sure it will all come in handy

From all your comments I'm gathering this guy would realistically be looking at about $7,500 or so for it?

 

An Auspec NA is always going to be a better risk than an import NA. A genuine "one owner" is a rarity(particularly as it's 18 years old and still in pretty good shape). This should indicate that it is well maintained, because no-one is going to keep a car that long, and thrash it to death.
Mileage has a much better chance of being genuine(unlike 99.9% of all imports, mine included).
As Wizard has already said, perhaps a little higher in price than it should be, but definitely worth paying a bit more for it than for a car with an uncertain/untraceable history. No-one is going to put brand new tyres on a car they are getting rid of unless they regularly maintain it.
If it genuinely has a full service history, you're laughing.
I think it is probably a good buy at $12.5-13k(if everything is genuine as claimed). All these people buying Z's for $4-6k are in for a world of pain in the not too distant future(buying any car for 5% of what it cost new, is never going to be a bargain).
BTW, being a stock Auspec is going to be worth it's weight in Gold(no hassles from the local fuzz trying to "Defect" it).

 

IMO, if everything he says is legit, has receipts to prove it, $11-12k is reasonable. i have recently be looking at zeds with a mate who is considering getting one and IMO, everything under $7k is GARBAGE, wouldn't take them even if they payed me. that is a RARE deal, to have an aus spec zed with one owner, full service history and legit low km's is worth a fair bit. you can use upcoming 100k service for negotiation (assuming it hasnt already had it).

by the way, for reference, i got two genuine offers of $10k for mine when i had a moment of insanity and put it up for sale about 6 months ago (check my garage for details) and that was before i did all the interior work.

 

NO! an offer of $7500 would be an insult to the owner if everything he claims about km's & one owner etc can be validated & he genuinely has put all those years of TLC into the car from it being new!

Also consider it would have cost him around $65000 to buy new here in Oz! & that's $65000 in 91 not 2009!!!!

I agree with Chili & Martin.....I too wouldn't even consider a Z below $7000! & for this rare example I think somewhere between $11000 - $12000 is the 'realistic' ball park! :zlove:

Good luck with it!

 

10k would be a fair price to pay for what he's claiming.

That's total crap as well, I find it extremely hard to believe you got a zed for 5.5k that had nothing wrong with it.

I would start at 8, I wouldn't go much over 10k for a NA

 

Took it for a drive then, sounded and went very nice.

However, he's firm at $13,000 - I offered $12,500 and he said he's not really interested.

I'll try sending him the link to the thread so he can see what everybody else thinks.

Any thoughts?

Cheers.