ChrisJL85

well i finally paid my tickets(1400 dollars in tickets, i hate chicago) off and im starting to save up for a down payment now i got to the point where i desided 2 cars and i need to choose one. I've done a ton of research on the tC everything from this site(my new favorite site btw) but then theres still part of me that love power and the pssh of turbos so i thought 300zx. both cars are around the same price tC and the 300zx turbo. any opinons no flaming... i mean with a scion i wont need to worry about parts breaking as much with the 300zx, and the 300zx has 140 hp over the tC. but maybe power isnt everything. and whats this i hear about a bad paint job? or not enough clear coat? does this happen to alot of scions?.. im just scared ima get a car and then hate myself for it which i did with my first 2 cars... 92 civic with front damage.. couldnt tell there was major frame damage til i went to put a new bumper on and the a 90 gs with a turbo not the gst. bad idea and to rich and killed da engine.. but im smarter now and we all learn through experience.

dante

do you need to drive it every day to work? or is this a weekend only car? makes a big difference on whether 140+ more hp is worth the fact that it's almost 20 years old.

05CAMO

The same money buys you a Z with how many miles? and you can imagine what they were like. VS a new car with warranty .
from Toyota.
You decide.

ChrisJL85

its going to be my daily driver and my everything car. the Z has about 75k..

SciontCya

I will tell you something from a guy who's owned 3 Nissan V-6 (Maximas and Z)
Those engines kick ___.
They're fun.
They also cost a lot to maintain after they start to wear - and they do.
PITA to work on (engine)

I would go with the tC hands-down.

Scott

05CAMO

75,000 is about when the bolt on stuff starts to cost you money. The timing belt change alone is gonna cost you and I'd worry about shocks, exhaust, maybe a/c . These things cost $$$
There's a reason the guy is selling it to you.

jbae1221

tc all the way... both are great engines from good companies.. but.. one... you don't know how well the car was maintained... 20 years of wear will do a lot to an engine.. two.. it's a new car.. i've driven a z and i own a tc.. both are fun cars to drive..

goofygrin

There's no way I'd get a 16 year old car if I could get a brand new one... no matter how nice the old one is.

And you should look at the xB if you've got that many tickets...

05CAMO

Believe it or not you can get tickets driving an XB as well. Anyway, that's his business.

goofygrin

Yeah I know, but the tC is a lot faster up to speeds you shouldn't go (well it feels like that...)

ChrisJL85

half of the tickets were from a car i sold and then went on vacation the guy never picked up the car for like a month and all those tickets on my name.. long story.. only 1 was a speeding ticket i know where the cops are hot and i've never been caught on i-94 and i've went 120 in my gfs car ^_^ althought thats nothing to be proud of, he did scare the ____ out of her. hehe

Charade_Detomasso

If you think you can handle a 300hp rwd twin turbo Z then why the hell not? You will have more expenses (for eveything from insurance to maintenance), but as far as i'm concerned, the 300zx is a small piece of automotive history and worth owning.
Like was already mentioned in the thread, figure on where your priorities are and what you can afford. My personal choice would be the z, but then again, I can fix my own car and handle rwd

Superinc_tC

for a daily driver I would go with the tc

for a project car would go with 300zx

theintakeman

get the 300zx tt definately but try to find an earlier year like 93 or 94, and have you considered a 3000gt vr4 which is also a twin turbo that has 320 hp on 94's and up.

tn_05_camo_xb

if you have a problem with getting tickets, then the 300zx is not for you, plus it is 16 years old.

HAHAHA

Had a 91 300ZX TT, yhe ZX hands down!!! Better made car!

Skunk

I had a 96 300ZX, may she rest in peace.

That is absolutely the best car I've ever owned. No lie, if I could, I would trade my 05 WRX heads up to have my old Z back. It's an unbelievably well built machine, and superior to the 350Z. A 300ZX TT shouldn't even be compared against a tC.

What condition is the paint/body/t-tops in? Make *sure* the previous owner did the 60K tune up. The timing belt *needs* to be replaced every 60K miles. Other than that, the car is mostly a dream to maintain. Very reliable cars. The turbos will eventually need to be rebuilt or replaced, but probably not until around 120K-200K miles.

The only real downside is how cramped the engine bay is. There literally is NO room.

Be careful with that car though, it can be a beast if you've never driven a quick RWD car before.

omarq

Older sports cars can be a nightmare... just think of how many times the things been redlined to an inch of its life. Even the best built cars are designed for that kind of abuse. Even with 75k miles... you know the seals and everything are getting old... the EGR system... and all those sensors... dont age well. Go with the tC an drive it silly. I personally like the feel of a small light car with a smooth as silk stick.

Although the 90's ZX were super sweet... I don't think nissan's had a better shape or balanced car since. the 90's were good nissans.. the 240SX (just add turbo) and my all time favorite pocket rocket the original Sentra SE-R.

Charade_Detomasso

Thats why a concept called 'maintenance' was invented.
Oh, and the tC is no 'light' car, though the Z is far heavier

omarq

I yeah I forgot.. you're suppose to change your main bearings and main seals, valve guides etc every 65000 miles. My bad.

Lightness is a feel. Preludes feel light. Celicas feel light. Old Accords felt light. tC feel light.