1987 Nissan 300ZX GL 3.0 N/A V6

Summary:

It's a killer car, but in a good way

Faults:

The synchros on fifth and reverse let go at about 199000 miles.

The vacuum lines that control the heater core valve are old and cracking, and as a result, only heat comes out unless I tie the valve up with a shoestring.

Because of bad rubber bushings, the rear sub frame clunks sometimes, and the power seats, which also run off of vacuum, don't work because of cracked lines, and the window seals leak.

General Comments:

This car is insanely fun to own, drives through corners like a Porsche, and is just cool.

It gets good gas mileage when you consider it's almost 30 years old and has a big V6. I get thirty to the gallon highway, but that's only if I drive for economy. If I drive the way it wants to be driven, it drops to about 20 - 22.

It doesn't accelerate very quickly, but it stops and corners great, and it even does pretty good in the snow.

The car is very comfortable and the interior is laid out very nicely. The speedo was hard to read at first, because of the fact that instead of going 10, 20, 30, they go 15, 25, 35, but other than that, a very well laid out interior.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd March, 2014

1987 Nissan 300ZX 3.0 liter non-turbo

Summary:

Gets me where I need to go, and looks good doing it

Faults:

My mom bought it 6 years ago with 32,000 miles on it. It had been wrecked and sat for years until some guy my mom knew partially restored it before she bought it. The only problem then was the radio didn't work, and she drove it for about 1 years until the crank angle sensor went out. It sat in my drive way for 2 years until I fixed it when I got my driver's license.. only took a $50 cranks angle sensor and it started on old gas.

Well I've been driving it since then, which is about 3 years, and this is what has gone wrong with it.

- Overheating, fixed with radiator cap.

- T-Top drain plug stopped up, and leaks water behind seats. Fixed by parking in garage... too lazy to fix.

- AC don't work and heater used to come on randomly. I just ignore it and take the T-Tops out.

- The injectors leak since I got it, which is a common problem. In the time I've driven it, it hasn't caught on fire yet, but it's getting worse and does misfire pretty bad now. $300 fix with a few days time.

- Pulls to the left due to a bad ball joint.

- Replaced the distributor cap, rotor button, plug wires, and spark plugs. *Still had the original*.

- And of course the oil and filter, which is a pain to get to.

General Comments:

I got the car when I was 16 in 11th grade, and it handled my abuse and kept going, even though I was too broke to fix many of its problems.

It rides hard, handles great, will cruise down the highways at 100 mph like it's nothing, and will get up in the 130 mph range if you have the guts.

My only problems with this car is the AC not working, the head lights suck, the brakes suck due to no anti lock, it's hard to work on if you don't have a car lift, and it smells bad *that's probably my fault*

I'm 18 now and getting my Real Estate license, so I need a 4 door and something with 4 wheel drive, but I hope to restore it, and I'm sure I'll keep my old Z till the day I die.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th February, 2010

1987 Nissan 300ZX N/A VG30

Summary:

Worth the repair troubles. I love it to death!

Faults:

1. Car would not start, no crank, no nothing. Had to replace the starter motor. $295.

2. Broke off a plastic bearing for the rearview mirror. $10.

3. Replaced timing belt/water pump/tensioner. $840.

4. Clutch pedal pressure blew out, could not shift into any gears. Had to replace the master clutch and slave cylinders. $330.

General Comments:

Purchased the car from a nice lady (2nd owner) who got the car in 1993. It has pretty much been sitting in a garage for the past 16 years.

The car repairs/replacements were COSTLY. Especially for a 21 year old college student.

Have to admit, having no access to the car on three separate occasions (due to being at the mechanics garage) was the hardest part of owning this car. Those days were SLOW.

I love this car though. The body style of the late 80's is beautiful and like no other era. Exterior condition was impeccable when I bought it (and still is!). Even though it is N/A, it is quick and amazing around corners.

It is a blast to drive, and I will be keeping this car until I am FORCED to purchase a sedan when I have a family... Until then, this car will be seeing 200,000 miles! >:D.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th April, 2009

17th Aug 2011, 17:47

Holy cow, those repairs are ridiculously expensive. The timing belt is $18, water pump is $30-50, tensioner is $26, clutch slave cylinder is $25, etc. Shops charge way too much.