Hi All The last thing I want is to appear negative here but as much as I really want to get into a Z32 it seems that so many posts i've been reading indicate that there's lots of issues with the Z32, I'm trying not to let this put me off but I'm concerened that I may just end up buying a money pit. I guess it's all relative to the purchase price and i'm totally aware there are no guarantees that paying top dollar is going to ensure a reliable car. Not sure what to do here I know there is no magic answer but do you believe there are still good reliable Z32's to be found out there. Dave
Well being a technical forum most of the posts will be about problems, it would be pretty boring if every post was 'cars running great today guys!' Your best bet is to look for a well kept example with some form of service history, and also be prepared to do some preventative maintenance if necessary. I've had two zeds and both have been perfectly trouble for except for a little ptu issue which is common and easily rectified :zlove:
The car is over 20 year old ? and whats worse its a sports car thats very affordable if you dont maintain it . Find the best condition zed and go from there. Trev
Welcome Dave. You'll see a lot of trouble posts as they don't let you know when all's well! I thought the same. Then it came to me that this is where you get a lot of great help, hence all the problems. They are a great car and worth the money you'll be putting into it. Personally I done mine up and therefore know exactly what's been done to it, been fun too.
Thanks for the reassurance guys, I think that's all i needed, As you say It's a 20 year old car and will have it's problems. I think I'll look around the 12 - 14k mark and hope I get a good one. Thanks again Guys Dave.
The reason why you see so many problems on here, IS because lots of people buy cheap. If you have a look on this forum, buy from someone whos been online for a few years, you're getting a good car. :zlove: Welcome.
I was a naive buyer when I found a Z project that I took a liking to, thinking it was going to be fairly simple. BAH! How wrong could I have been!!??? Anyhow, I have gotten in far too deep now to back out, the only option is to continue wading(sometimes treading water) through the sludge and crap to the safety of the far shoreline. That will be just to get it on the road! But as Gargoyle said, I will know everything that has been done to the :zlove: ride and along the way I have fallen in love ... passionately in love! At the end of the day I now realise that ironing out the ticks is what makes this car far more enjoyable, it has gone from me thinking of having a head turning/mid-life crisis machine into an engineering appreciater with an eye for the finer details. Have you ever read the book "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance"? The Z is my spiritual journey.
I agree. My Z started life as non turbo Auto with crap chinese tyres. It was supposed to be my sensible car after owning and building several V8 muscle cars. Its now a TT manual, which I'v thrown some some performance parts into. Every time I look at it there is something else I want to do to it, but I love driving it, and as long as you stay on top of the maintenance you should be fine ( as a hint, if you have a choice between spending money on mechanical maintenance or cosmetics, always go maintenance. Its better to be driving a slightly scruffy Z than pushing an awesome looking one).
Thanks for the responses guys, very much appreciated, Reading your responses tells me I've come to the right place and makes me want to own a Z32 more than ever because over the years I've been involved with 2 - 3 different car clubs/forums and found that a question like the one i've posted here would bring several fairly harsh responses leading to the person posting the question wondering if this is where they want to be and subsequently moving on. I look at this thread and there is not one harsh or nasty response just a bunch of guys trying to help someone with a common interest. You should all be very proud of that, a lot of people seem to believe it's much easier maybe Cooler to put someone down rather than help and lead them in the right direction Thanks again Dave.
Just wait, keep an eye on the thread, there'll be a couple of supra and skyline fan boys to try turn you off a zed, they just haven't come online yet....*looking at you Chrispy*
just want to say, Drove my car home from work this morning, it ran great did not miss a beat, ok it was only 5 kms.... but I love it. Any car has the potential for issues. The Z32's biggest flaw is the fact that parts are crazy expensive so often people get one on a budget (awww cheap performance) realise their mistake too late and onsell to someone else who sees even cheaper performance, the cycle continue. we then see the post of OMG I just bought a $2000 Z and I have to spend $10000 to get it road worthy. personally I paid a very good price for mine, it comes with a good whack of spares some in good cond some good only for a rebuild, the car was not running and required a lot of work to get it running. I am fortunate I was directed to this site by the previous owner the people here are very helpful. Yes my car still has some major issues (currently thinking about a crazy shudder that appears between 30 and 70 kmph) but I happily drove it to Perth not long ago (420 kms away) and once I sought out my leaking coolant issue (It seems to be a water line to the turbo I just have to get to it) I would do it again without a worry. My belief has always been that a car of this age will always need constant maintenance every other car I have owned tends to be like this at this sort of age. just remember to drive it, enjoy it and try to forget about the problems as much as you can (while you are driving, they do need to be fixed) then you will see why there are so many people on this forum.
Very difficult to get due to restrictive import laws. 89-93 model are the easiest to get, 94 and above very difficult. At the moment you can only import 97 models the rest are not allowed (89-96 no longer allowed to be imported).
For a 20yearold sportscar..... the ZX has very few issues compared to most, and the issues we see are very much the same problems over and over again, ..... EG: 20yearold radiator and hoses + poor maintinance of the cooling system = overheating issues, I'd actually like to see a single week where this HASNT been discussed :rofl: S1 V's S2 PTU, and there are still S1 ptu's opperating well even tho they've done 20 years of trouble free service Boost leaks Ofcourse the rubber couplers have had it, not much rubber can last for 20years in an engine bay, but supprisingly they seem to do just that in most cases Yep the ZX is 20years old...... & with the right care and maintinance it can easily see another 20years..... Now.... how many "other' sportscars can claim that Hell, even the trusty old phord/olden from the same era has more problems :bash: Kingy
My guesses (in order): 1. Replace the front torsion bars (or at least the bushes) 2. Get a wheel alignment 3. Check your tyres aren't worn 4. Check your wheel bearings
I was actually thinking wither transmission (its an auto) or steering related either alignment/hicas or combination, as it changes ferocity if I change gears and maintain speed. The tyres both front and rear have worn evenly (I have been watching this) but the steering is out - while the car does not pull the steering wheel is off centre possibly tripping the angle sensor and again causing the rear to shudder??? I have more feeling of the vibration through the seats than the steering wheel. I was wondering about the power steering pump and the hicas trying to correct the rear if the wheels are out of alignment or some bushes are flogged out, I tend towards this because it has a definite cut in at about 35 kmph and cuts out of vibration between 70/80 kms revs dictate how much pressure the power steering pump puts out and I am just guessing, I know, (I also believe the hicas has a low speed and top speed threshold). Wheel bearings have been checked and have no movement. the vibration is a very high frequency and my first though was wheel balancing or bearings (all four have now been balanced). the car is only driven at the moment 2 days a week to and from work (round trip about 9 kms) and I am sorting other issues like boost leaks and a water leak. (Then the dodgy front bar) I will also look at the front torsion bars as mentioned.
Sorry for the confusion. Tension Rods is what i meant to say. They are part of the suspension. I had a similar judder which went away completely after I replaced mine, even though I only put another 2nd hand pair in.
Hehe Buy a good one, unless you can get it for next to nothing and you are good with the spanners If you can't afford to buy a good one, you can't afford to buy a crap one Lots of stuff goes wrong. Auto boxes WILL die eventually, if it hasn't been rebuilt yet it will soon. 5 speed gearboxes have synchro trouble and the input shaft bearing often flogs out. Wiring is always an issue after 20years of zed engine bay temperatures. A new one is a good idea. S1 PTU's WILL die eventually. But S2 are so cheap these days it doesn't matter anymore. Changing turbo's is a engine out job. There are coolant lines in unspeakable places that will cost thousands to fix at a mechanics. But good news! They don't suffer from much rust. Sometimes a bit under the spoiler and around the battery tray. So yeah, buy a Skyline, mint Series 3 R33 GTS-T 40th anniversary edition with the factory HID's is my pick
