So, looking to get a zed in about a year ( still a longggg way to go ) but i wanna get prepared to know what im up for. Im needing a 4 seater manual twin turbo. Hard to find i know. But i would like as late a model as i can. I've read the wiki notes about the model upgrades and really like the "94' removed door mounted pillars" amoungst other things. My quick question is, are they any differences between 89-91 models? Wiki doesnt cover and im curious about any changes made. And any advice about buying? what to look out for other than noises knocks. kms (major service) and signs of thrashing?
Have a read of this some good info.. http://www.pexcom.com.au/z32cms/e107_plugins/content/content.php?cat.61 Basically there werent any major differences between 89-91 afaik, nothing of great consequence anyway. My advice would be to test drive as many as you can and get a feel for good ones and not so good ones. Try and look out for service history especially 100k km service and also being a 20 year old sports car you have to expect they've been thrashed a bit.
Make sure you get exactly what you want. No point having to change the car over to a manual later on ect. Its expensive Make sure the engine istnt making any strange noises
if you really aren't that crash hot on your cars then RAA offers a mobile pre-purchase inspection service http://www.raa.net/page.asp?TerID=157 small price to pay to lower the risk of getting a dud
I'm not sure you're going to have much success finding a Z32 with "removed door mounted pillars"(unless it's a half-cut). Most of the changes between 1989 and 2000 were only "cosmetic"(with the exception of Series II PTU's, Climate Control A/C and the change from hydraulic HICAS to electric HICAS).
You have mis-read Wikipedia: "Seat belts redesigned; they were moved from door mounts to true pillar mounts. " Earlier US and Jap domestic models had the top mount of the seatbelt on the door pillar as a way of providing automatic seat belts - ie you didn't have to reach for them and do them up - so energy sapping! Later US/Jap domestic and ALL Australian market cars had the "normal" belt arrangement.
