1990 Nissan 300ZX 2+2 review from Australia and New Zealand

After owning the car a couple of months the head gasket blew. I was fairly new to cars and did not know much about maintenance, so much of this I consider to be my fault.

Had to replace the rear shocks, as the old ones were worn and I was getting axle tramp on rough surfaces under gentle acceleration.

First things first, the 300ZX Twin Turbo is a fast car right out of the box.

However, start doing some simple bolt on modifications and it starts to become very very fast!

Install a pod filter, exhaust, boost controller at 12psi, a bigger intercooler and we're talking a sub 5 second 0-100km/h car here.

Aside from the above modifications, my car also has hi flowed turbos, dump pipes, lightweight pulley, button clutch, bosch fuel pump, a bigger radiator, spal thermofan and a roll cage. Future plans are bigger injectors and an ECU upgrade, which should see me into the 300rwkw (400rwhp) mark.

Handling is fantastic, and predictable - especially on mountain roads. But you've gotta watch out if that tail kicks out, it can be a handful to control especially with the HICAS four wheel steering. I plan to block mine off for improved control for when this happens. Coilovers and thicker sway bars are a worthwhile option to REALLY make the car handle (on my to do list also)

Cruising with the targa roof off on a sunny day or a warm night is great, and combined with the rumble of the VG engine you'll be sure to turn a lot of heads. If you're game enough to take it to high speeds with the roof off, be prepared for lots of wind noise when you get above 160km/h.

The seats are very comfortable, the drivers side has adjustable supports to hold you in as tight as you like. On long journeys they are great, no aches and you get out feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Probably the only downside to this car is that if you buy one that hasn't been well maintained you are likely to get hit up with a bill repair bill to get it back into decent shape. A fantastic Z community exists and online forums are a useful tool in troubleshooting any problems which may arise, and helping you to learn to work on it yourself. It's worth paying a little bit extra and buying from an enthusiast for peace of mind, than from an unknown vendor.

Another downside is the fuel consumption. With performance like the 300ZX offers on tap its hard to practice self control with your right foot, which if you're not careful, will lead to lots of speeding tickets.

All in all, this is a fantastic car to own and drive. It is extremely rewarding and you will struggle to wipe the smile off your face after a good spirited drive. It offers performance on par with top sports cars of today, combined with timeless looks and a never-ending array of go fast bits and aesthetic add ons. It is probably one of the best bang for buck sports cars available and I highly recommend it.