I took a Z32 TT auto for a test drive today. Fairly rough old thing, not actually considering buying it because it has 240k on it and is on the second engine, also the front bumper looks like it is made of paper mache. Maybe the power steering was a bit shody but at low speed it didn't feel like it had it at all, HICAS light was on but it seems a lot of people bypass that anyway. Maybe it was because it was an auto or maybe it's just not running quite right but the power although there didn't impress me that much, are they just smoother in acceleration? I've driven with a mate in his pretty much stock 96 GSR and with that I was planted into my seat noticably harder. Anyway still love the Z, I just have to find a manual so that I can compare the two and a N/A.
It sounds like you test drove a lemon, thats what happens to cars when they get thrashed for a quarter of a million k's. I spent thousands fixing up a Z that was near the 200K mark and it still didn't drive as well as my current one with low k's. Test drive yourself a good one before you start comparing them to turbo charged shoe boxes A good one will be smooth
sounds like you test drove a bomb. i had a 180sx before when i first got my z i felt the power but didn't get that head back in the seat and hold on for dear life effect i used to get with the 180 only to find out that the z was running on safety boost. my z has 107k and after fixing the safety boost it put a smile on my face
The engine wasn't the original one at least, but still no idea how many on that one had done. I'm glad to hear something was wrong with it because although she went she didn't go near what I thought she would, didn't think it seemed right.
Definately not running right. I can tell ya, since My car has been in various moods since I got it. When it's not running right, a stock vy commodore will beat me, but when everything's running smooth you'll need new underwear and you'll be grinning all the way. Any TT should be very quick, AUTO or manual, I'd only frown on an NA Auto. As for the steering, Mine is quite heavy & The HICAS light can be an indication of low power steering fluid, which could be caused by a leak somewhere. As for paper mache bumper... mines the stock one and it seems to be fairly rugged, considering all the scrapage when i was getting used to the car. EDIT: I've driven 2 Zeds, the first one was an NA manual with supposedly 56,000 genuine K's on the engine. And she was a beaut! That car was definitely more fun to drive than mine when it's on a bad day. So get yourself out there and test drive another Z32. Also driving a fast car and being a passenger in a fast car are 2 different sensations, u generally feel like your going faster as the passenger.
Yeah, I've noticed that too, when you are driving, you are more stable due to holding the steering wheel and as a result dont get as much of a snap back or push in the seat as the passenger does. And yeah, stonezx I have to agree with the rest, the Z that you have driven sounds like a poor example, possible bosst leaks, saftey boost, evan possible weak/worn engine with poor compression. Plus its AUTO "shudder". When looking for Z's I test drove a few. One was a 2+2 tt auto. Slow as crap. In fact, MUCH slower than the non turbo that I drove next. However that healthy non-turbo is nothing compared to the healthy twin turbo that I own now. BOOOOSSTT!!!! Damn fast. If all the Z's that you drive feel slow, you are either driving all rooted cars, or you have been desensitised to the power due to driving Lambo's & Ferraris all day Remember that the Z32 TT is a 300hp car. They are not slow cars, unless you are used to driving 400hp+ cars
anything under 400hp feels slow to me, because my z is on 400hp atm with 578nm @ the fly.. lol @ anything less
Yeah, how long until you are legally allowed to drive it again? lol. Yeah your Z goes hard, as I hope mine will soon once all the mods come together. Got the fmic, ebc, etc, just waiting on a new front bar & an ecu chip & tune. But I was reffering to a generally stock standard automoblie when offering my opinion before.
I was after an AUS NA. This first Z I drove was total crap. The guy had 'enhanced' the interior (read spray painted the trims silver - without masking or removing from the car). Rest of the interior was worn, and it drove pretty crap too. There was something very wrong with that one......really wierd around corners - like the suspension was floating sideways or something....engine didn't feel *too* bad..RAN from that one! Then I saw my next one. Double the price of the other one, but wow. Low K's, very original, very good nick. Still felt "tight" like a low K car should (ie not daily driver 2Km's, but real low K's). For a 17yo NA car, she can still do 0-100 in around 7.5sec, and drives like a go-kart, and can push you into your seat (especially a passenger), so a decent turbo should do so even more! A good test.... When new.... N/A 0-100 7.5 Sec Turbo 0-100 5.5 Sec Of course, that depends on how good you launch them, and how good you are on accelleration. Test drive a car, find a freeway onramp and tramp it with a stopwatch. See how close you get. (I do it regularly - the tramp it bit ) Take your time and find the right one. The wrong one can be very expensive. Good luck. Simon.
ah... so true I think rewinding 6 months, i'd have gone for another NA, low K's and spent more up front, rather than spending $7.5K on repairs and still having rattles, old suspension etc...
A TT auto with O/D off should definitely feel like it has 300hp. Ok 280hp! My first drive was of a 2 seater TT man. It felt quite nimble and much like I imagined a Mazda MX6 would feel. Much narrower when you start going down a back street with cars parked either side. But with the man I found it very easy to valve bounce if you like in the gears. With my auto it's just a smooth shift from one gear to another. And a very responsive box. What I cant' get over is the price of some of the 2nd hand Zeds here, running and reg'd at $8000 and $10,000. I bought mine in Japan for Y410,000. About $5,000 with the exchange rate then. By the time it shipped here, complied, etc, not much change out of $15k. For a supposed Grade 4.0 car with books, 89km, leather seats, etc.
i spent $9.5 Reg'd i spent $9.5 Reg'd But as of now $9.5K Purchase + few hundred change of ownership $7.5K Engine rebuild, clutch, RWC $1.0K Clarion Headunit, Front splits, Rear 4" speakers $0.5K New SMIC's $0.5K Misc Maintenence to date I also have a seized A/C compressor and at least 1 screwed cat, I'm planning on a UDP, Boost controller, Socketed ECU and dyno tune I'm expecting to cross the $20K point soon
13.5K shipped, landed, complied, regod etc (na) 6k engine and labour (engine blown within 3 hours) new mechanic 7k engine nad labour (runnign sweet) im nearly up to 30k with just those.. that isnt even including the two diffs i have blown, buckled rims and a tonne of other stuff... and im only 19
One things for sure, unless you have a very good mechanic (or in the case of house renovations) a very good tradesman or handyman, major renovations on either always have the potential to cause serious heartache, $$$ and really upset your life. Just occassionally we find someone who can get either project back on track or fixed. My motto then is just to enjoy the drive. A bit sidetracked here but some specialists can turn your life into a nightmare. Handing back the thread now.
i just spent 7k on the road and all done.. big service in 12000kms so i expect 2k for that. But a cheap car all round. Best bang for your buck.
Do most here buy private? I've found one in Qld low k's $12000 and looks very tidy. problem is being in tas, I think i'll just have to wait until I can get over to vic and spend a week or so trying to find one there. Thing I like about this forum and the sales here is you can so often tell by the reaction of certain members to a sale if the car is good or not, so I would love to find one com up here that was right for me.
My First Zed drive was test driving my current Zed on the day the guy put it up on the net.....he took it down that night by the way.....as you can see i thought the whole experience was....well.....amazing so yeah i bought it there and then you just gotta find the right one....ive got a manual NA btw so turbo must be even better....
