What year/model do people think is the best and why? What are the main differences between the models and what are the pros and cons?
I prefer the later models purely because they're newer and rarer. It all comes down to personal preference. There were minor engine changes over the years but the biggest differences between models were purely cosmetic, exterior and interior. Some info on differences: http://www.zcar-owners.net/club/zdata.htm http://www.zcar-owners.net/club/hikaku/nensiki/nensiki.htm
Really any car in the best condition you can find, which will sometimes be latter years. Body style wise 2+2, Coupe and Slicktop all have there appeal. 2+2 is very handy to put an extra person in, excellent load space with seat folded down, handy for using the rear seat to hold wallet, phone sunglasses etc, apparently the longer wheel base makes it better handling. 2 seater's are lighter while having the t-tops and a nice snug sports car feeling. Slicktops still a little lighter again and a bit stiffer but no t-tops, which imo a big part of the car, extreme good fun on a hot summers night, roof off windows up down the highway, exhilarating. Year wise, you get some minor bits and pieces , the velour interior is nice if in good condition, as is the tweed imo if in good condition, leather is generally in poor shape, later models generally have a few bits and pieces, mainly cosmetic which if you are keen can be added to a car in good nick. Don't get in atwist over what version AC, does it have the extra blower in your crotch, does it have a door arm rest pad etc etc. The best car will be the car in the best condition. If I could dream it would be 2000 model 2+2 manual with all the diff, gearbox and engine cooling enhancements form a Euro spec TT. Stiffer cross member and floor pan in the 10/98 on chassis. The Y2K's had a couple of differnt colours, this yellow and a nice silver, but then a black one in any year in good nick looks better then most other colours. Recaro seats are meahh for me as I expect them not to comfortable after a couple of hours.
Anything Late 94 onwards I prefer . series 2 motor .. Heads ,injectors ,PTU etc As well cosmetic rear wing etc . And of course Slicktop :br:
I agree with Erik of course and find the later model Z32's especially the last model the best as it incorporates the best Nissan had to offer for the Z32. But there as you said what are the pros and cons. Price is going to be different with earlier model Z's (Stock) being cheaper then later model Z's. Factory Options in the earlier models were free and made standard for buyers back when they were first released. these options include cruise control, Bose enclosed speaker boxes, digital climate control etc etc. By i think 1994 these factory options become extra's for buyers to pay for if they wanted it meaning most of the later model Z32's dont have these free options the earlier models had. The good thing about the later model Z32's though is the interior schemes changed to a more desirable cloth and suede material depending what option you preferred and so up date the interior look and feel greatly The very last model (2kspec or series 6 depending on how you want to say it) were given a new updated body look with a new front bar, skirts, rear spoiler and new HID Xenon headlights and new red/clear tail lights. plus some minor carbon fiber/wood grain trim panel options, leather wrapped handbrake and shifter knobs, new gold/white instrument cluster dials etc etc. Nearly all these things are interchangeable between the early and late models but can cost time and money to convert to the later model parts.
On Wikipedia it said 92 models had a drivers side airbag standard, electric drivers seat standard and mirror heater switch combined with rear defrost button. 94/95 got upgraded ecu to 16 bit. 96 variable cam timing dropped and obd II electronics introduced. Anybody know abit more about obd II electronics? What's different to reading codes? There was more minor upgrades listed but most were upgrades most people would do nowadays or with major services. So with 96 dropping variable cam timing would it be fair to say 95 models are the best? At least engine wise?
This. :thumbup: As far as the additions of extra airbags, mirror heater, fake wood/carbon trim, electric this and that, who cares, it's a sports car FFS. I love the fact I don't have airbags, active suspension, traction control, flappy paddles and all that gay stuff. Some quality aftermarket seats, steering wheel, exhaust and a good old fashioned 5 speed just makes the driving experience that much more special these days. A pair of factory electric seats weigh as much as I do... and I'm fat, kind of.
This is the thing Jabba this series bullshit is meant to be a guide but some are taking it as factory designation etc, it relates to nothing other then what a poor sod in Japan did to display some information, then others have tried to make it something it is not imo. Talking "series" will do nothing other then proliferate inaccurate confusing information and make as all dumber. (if that is possible)
Your a easy one ro piss off you know. And calling me dumb is not approiate thank you. U have ur way i have mine.
No I am not easy to piss off, incorrect. Because I have a position on something does not mean I am easy to piss off. I didn't call you dumb, incorrect. The "dumb" reference was in relation to the body of knowledge in our community. I don't have "my" way, incorrect. I use the documented information that is highly recognised and repeatable and unambiguous such as the factory service manual and Nissan's parts catalogue FAST. This is "Nissan's" way, not mine.
The best Z32's are the 1993 Convertibles, only 400 made and all are 2 seaters pfft who needs back seat passengers
Had a look at a late model Aussie Z, a one owner! Had a rusty hatch, rusty targas, the whole car was faded, lots of dents. The interior was all very original - and mostly stuffed with tears, breaks & bits missing. Even had the original radio, but buttons were broken & gone. Reckon the guy serviced it every 5 or 10,000k? Wouldn't get too hung up on the year model, occasionally an obviously looked after Z comes up for sale, grab one of them!
Lol Scotty, I meant to edit in the convertible in my above post when I mentioned chassis styles. What can you say about verts, they are just plain cool.
My 92 has no air bag ?. As for which year is the best I say 92 but I would because I own a 92 :rofl:. In all honesty any year could be the best or worse, as they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
What I'm asking is if you could have a Zx from any year and it's in great condition what year would it be? I've got a 92 but later models have electric hicas, faster steering ratio and the 16 bit ecu. And with the 96 removing the variable cam timing would it be reasonable to say the best factory stock year would be round 95?
That's wonderful I have a position on the matter too and though we are slightly opposite sides of the coin on the matter, there is no reason we cant have both positions be right and I mean in the grand scheme of things? Well your quote was pretty self explanatory I still don't understand how I could be confusing anyone using the term series in my explanations and its not like I am asking anyone to copy me or do anything to use the term series. In developing my massive build thread due to come out as soon as I finish it, I wanted to find a simple easy to use and understsand term that would simplify my title heads for parts I was installing each build day. If I used the official Nissan year Data I would be saying all the 2kspec parts actually as 98/08-00/09 which I felt would make even more confusion and it was so complicated to explain it in that way. But when I found the site with the series system it was a no brainier for me and so I have adopted it into my terminology for my build thread. Though you are correct in saying series is not an official term used by Nissan and the term series was create on the Japanese fairlady Z forums website by someone, which was then translated by a uk guy and posted online, I am curious as to whats your position on the terms PTU and CAS and 2kspec for example. Nearly everyone here uses those terms on a daily basis and If I was to follow your " to the letter of Nissan terminology" they should be getting the same argument from you as I am right now because not everyone will understand what those terms mean, until you actually use the correct full names to describe them properly. But I still cant see how I am making the forums dumber by using the term series. All I'm doing is using a extremely simple system that separates the range of years the z32 went through as it progressed through its 10 year production period. Whether you use it or not its as accurate as using the term 1998/08-2000/09 but it makes writing it down in a title or in sentence s easy as pie, don't you think? I don't see why we cant have it both ways for whoever wants to use it but only when the term is use correctly. This is true and I too am using the same tools as you are which were used by Nissan back in the day. But as technique as I want to be with regards to this subject matter using the 100% official Nissan terms would take more time and effort to accomplish nothing really at all.
