ps374

Call me living in the dark, but I was not aware Nissian built a 300 Zx twin turbo from the late 1980s into the 1990s. I saw my first one yesterday. Was it a faster car in stock form against the C4 of similar years?

1993C4LT1

About even with an LT1 C4. I'd love to run one

crowz

They respond nicely to simple mods to make killer power too.

AgentEran

They perform very well and are a worthy adversary of the LT C4s, provided the 300ZX is running. There is a reason beyond the fact that there were only 164k made that you dont see many on the street. If you have ever taken a gander into the engine compartment of one of these turbo cars you would immediately realize the immense amount of effort it takes to do any type of maintenance.

You would be hard pressed to find 1 300ZX for every 10 C4s in good running condition today.. Try romping on a 1992 300ZX with 150k on the clock that has been anything less than carefully maintained. *boom*

dukeofny808

I had an 86 300zx turbo, that was tuned and a larger turbo. That car was fun as hell. I sold it, as the car was bad luck. Although when it ran it was a beast, and handling was top notch for the era. The cars have gremlins but are very fun cars and can be pretty quick. I was estimated at 350 to 400 at the wheels when I was done, and for a car that size it scared the stuff outta a few .

Vrunner

The Z32 model run (89-00) Z was pushing 300 plus HP in the early years and capable of 5 to 5.5 0-60 times. It was no slouch. It would easily take down a L98. The LT1 would need a good driver to get close. Only the ZR1 of the period could take down a Z. Pre 89 Turbo Z only put down 200 HP.

HeavyLifter

That and quite possibly the 96' LT4 - with a rated 30 more HP than the TT Z and slightly less curb weight it would be closer than a ZR-1 vs the Z, but the LT4 with the right driver should nudge out the Z

crowz

IF its stock. If its not stock then l98, lt1 and zr1 are going to get rolled by it.

Those things respond to mods like you wouldn't believe. Been there done that.

HeavyLifter

- I've seen/been in a few of those and 3000gt VR4s that are modified & they get up and go!

Deakins

Once you start bolting parts onto the Z we can start bolting parts onto the vettes...my not stock Corvette has eaten every VR4 that came its way...and to my knowledge none of those cars are even still on the road. Funny how the input shafts and transmissions never held up on those cars once the mods started...

HeavyLifter

True - and OP did ask the question with "in stock form"

softwarejanitor

I used to work with a guy who was a huge 300ZX fan, he had several of them in the time I knew him including a couple of the twin turbos. After seeing his experience with them I can say there is a good reason why they've got a well deserved reputation as one of the least reliable Japanese made cars ever. His were always breaking down and quite often the repairs were quite costly. They used to be not that uncommon but you rarely see one on the road any more. Not only were they troublesome but parts were hard to find for them. I remember my co-worker had a hell of a time finding a replacement steering rack for one of his... and when he did find one it was crazy expensive and had to be shipped at even more expense. But that wasn't as bad as the one he had that jumped a few teeth on the timing belt and mashed all the valves requiring a new head on one side and a complete engine rebuild...

dukeofny808

When I got my 86 300zx it ran great. 2 weeks later it died. New ecm, wires, water pump, radiator, injectors, plugs, all fluids and a larger turbo, and she ran great again. They can be made reliable, but don't forget maintenance, because they are as needy as can be.

The car was a blast though. As close to a porche I could afford at the time, I was in college. I miss that car, and setting off every alarm I ever got near. After I broke out the honey comb in the cats, and straight piped the rest, it sounded great.

But as everyone here has said, there is a reason the z is not common on the road. If you ever get a chance to drive the 80's 300zx, you will love it. I felt the 90s zx was not as fun to drive. Faster, but didn't have the sports car feel. I would assume it's the same as how people compare c4 to c5 as having lost the mechanical feeling of driving a sports car.

Although the z was a faster car in certain models, it never came close to the corvette feel. My 88 z52, without all the safety stuff like airbags, and traction control, still has that sports car feel.

Sometimes you don't need 500hp to feel the thrill of a well tuned sports car. The zx and earlier 280 and back zs are great to drive. Just be ready to repair it like it's a 60s jag lol.

Mike 92LX

The TTzs eat L98s alive with mods due to having a power adder-actually two

Easy car to get in the 12s and trap 110-114 without going in the motor on street tires. But like mentioned parts can be hard to get,working on it can be a PITA.

RedGS

I've owned both. Had a 96 TT last year for about 4 months. Very well built as far as interior and chassis was concerned. No squeaks or rattles at all. It was 100% stock and ran great, but its lacking the low end an LT car has so it didn't feel as quick till the turbos spooled up. Funny thing.... they have just as many bose problems as these cars do. I do my own maintenance and that is why I sold it. By far the hardest car I've owned to work on. To say the engine/turbos are shoe horned in there is an understatement. You have to be dedicated to owning one.

DinoBob

The z32 Z was a beautiful car. Way ahead of its time in terms of styling and interior fitments.

I was selling Nissans at that time and lusted after one. We sold very few though.

I am no fan at all of the earlier 300zx. It has very ungainly looks. And no 2+2 of either is acceptable.

Tom400CFI

How do you figure that? THIS TEST had C&D's "fastest example they'd tested" and it ran 13.7/102. My stock LT1 will go that fast....at 4500' elevation. I'd say a more accurate way to portray this would be that The 300zx would need a good driver to get close.

I agree that an L98 wouldn't be competitive in a straight line.

Y-ME

Not quite. This site has all the 0-60 times listed, puts 300zx turbo's at 5.2-7.0 0-60. and L98 Corvettes 5.3-5.7 hardly an easy take down, there was a ton more torque in an L98 than a 3.0 nissan turbo. and the ZR1 is not even concerned. http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum...ad.php?t=30595

zr1fred

I've had several of the tt's, great cars. Actually very reliable when maintained.....and very fast for the era. Ergonomically, one of the most enjoyable to drive...for the era. Performance would be comparable to an LT4 or a stock 04 GTO.

1993C4LT1

My dad had a 92 TT, with the HICAS steering. Aside from a Lotus Esprit I rode in, the z32 tt had to be one of the best handling cars I've ridden in.