Hi guys, fantastic forum! I have fallen in love with the 300zx :zlove: I am now doing the necessary research before i buy my beloved baby... I am definietely a newbie, not only to 300zx's, but sports vehicles in general, so please forgive me for the stupid questions that i will be posting in this forum! i have never seen a targa roof before in my life... are they two removable panels? what are the panels, glass, metal? do they lock (ie are they secure)? Is there a down side to a targa model opposed to a coupe model? Thanks in advance, Steve
some answers... yes, the targa roof is essentially 2 glass panels that can be removed with ease and stored in the boot.... when they are removed, you end up with a T bar down the middle.... Only the aussie zeds (and maybe europe?? not sure) had lockable targa's. The Japanese cars did not. They are quite secure, and if someone wants to get into the car via the targa's, they have to break the glass anyway which they can easily do by just smashing one of the glass panels on the door... I dont see any downside to the targa roof except that with the age they can leak and let some water in. But many of the guys on this forum have come up with innovative ways to fix this... Some people also say that the slicktop handles better, but all those idea's go out the window when you're driving down the great ocean road on a warm day with the targa's off, just enjoying life. I wouldnt buy a zed unless it was a targa. Thats just my own personal opinion. Cheers
ok i see... Jedi-77 (or anyone else knowledgable), do the targa roof models come standard with some sort of cover, like a slidable sunroof cover that other cars have? Also, is it possible to get an after-market lock installed? Breaking the glass aside, the jap version doesnt seem 2 secure! what are your thoughts on this? And yes, water damage has come to my mind, but if every1 else has found a way to counter it then it's not going to stop me from getting one... And i totally agree on the great ocean road bit, with one addition - my girl in the passenger seat Thanks
more answers.... yes, the targa panels do come with hard covers which you attach to the underside via these screw clips... hard to explain, but they attach quite easily and block out all the sun. Just beware that these panels sometimes go missing, so make sure which ever zed you buy has them. Otherwise you'll have to buy them seperate, and as with everything zed related. they wont be cheap. Thankfully, lots of things turn up in the for sale section so you may find some there. I dont think its possible to get a lock installed. What you could do I guess is get some roof panels from an aussie zed, but that would mean you would have to either find roof panels the same color as your car, or get them painted to match. Or just buy an aussie zed, keeping in mind that they only came out in non-turbo models. All turbo models are Japanese spec and hence have no lockable targa roofs... As for security, it doesnt bug me. I have a Jspec non-turbo and as such cant lock my targa's. I have yet to read a story where someones zed was stollen or broken into through the targa roof. The mechanism to remove the roof can only be accessed from inside the car, so like I said earlier, unless they break the glass to get in, they cant take the roof off. And if the break the glass to get in, they may as well just unlock the door than fiddle with the roof. As for the water, dont worry about it. Its not a flood, all that happens is that on very rainy days, some water can trickle in through the roof and down the glass. Its hardly a problem and wont damage anything, just more of a nuisance. And not all zeds do it. Cheers
Zed insecure? The weakest security link in any motor car is the glass, and as the Z32 doesn't have any more (or less) glass than most other cars, there is nothing to support the idea of it being less secure than 99% of cars currently in use. The Targa panels have an internal clip-on cover which blocks out the sunshine when fitted.
coupe vs hatchback Thanks to all for their contributions above :thumbsup: My understanding is that there is both a coupe version and a hatchback version of the 300zx... do they both come with a targa roof option? is this the case with all models or only specific year(s)? (i'm interested in getting either a 94 or 95 j-spec) Thanks in advance
To clarify for dark_cossack, all targa's *do* have like a latch mechanism so they are secure when in place won't go flying.. and you can't just lift them off from the outside.. if that's what you were worried about.
Re: coupe vs hatchback Theres a 2 seater (commonly called the coupe) and a 4 seater ("2+2"). They look very similar from the outside, the 2+2 is just a bit longer and has the fuel filler in a different spot. The 2+2 is meant to handle better due to its longer wheelbase, but who gives a shit. I reckon the 2 seater looks better, but I couldnt hack living without a back seat. Edit: To answer your question both are available with targas, and every year model (to the best of my knowledge)
Re: coupe vs hatchback so the 2-seater is a "coupe", and the "2+2" seater is just that? they both have the same boot style?
yeh to all that has been said above .. security, via targas, is not an issu .. and mine is a 1991 model, i hope (!!!) without any targa leak issues .....:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
Decision made then... And the winner is... 2+2 Targa :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: Thanks to everyone for your help... i'm sure there will be more n00b questions to follow :LOL:
sounds like a good decision .. mine is 2 SEATER ...and i often wish that i had a 2+2 .. but then a 2 seater can handle 2 full size golf bags ... hope this doesn't upset your decision ..!!:LOL::LOL::thumbsup::thumbsup::wacko::wacko:
My 2+2 Has handled 1 zed bonnet, 1 strut bar (in box), 2 of the standard wheels with tyres, 1 other passenger and plenty of food. Go the 2+2's
