Apparently there are two types of people in the world: those who think the Z is a poised, neatly shaped and muscular coupe blessed with timeless lines and a certain classless quality, and those who are wrong.
It looks fantastic for its age, with or without subtle modifications, and especially later ones. If you do want to step into the modifications scene then the Z is an easy car to flatter your sense of taste.
A wide variety of rims look the business under its arches, and most colour choices look totally at ease on the swooping body. While the Honda S made do with a responsive but gutless four-cylinder and the Boxster was fitted with a high-revving and glorious flat-six, the Z got a V6 with altogether bigger biceps.
A meaty bhp, then bhp, rising to bhp from thanks to a heavily modified engine , was teamed with up to lb ft for creamy pulling power in any gear. It was, and is, a defining feature of the car. There are only for sale on Auto Trader in the UK at the time of writing, which, compared to Boxsters, is an interesting barometer.
Colours like blue and orange are always highly sought-after, but silver and black look great too. The world is your oyster if you want to modify this car. Everything from wheels, body kits, bonnets, light clusters, spoilers, brakes, roll cages and even wide-arch body conversions are available. If you have a vision, the Z is one of those cars best suited to letting you achieve it. Spend a little more and you can bring the age down by a few years with a similar mileage and better condition.
These ultra-rare cars feature a longer nose and rear overhang, as well as several add-ons for aerodynamic purposes because they were only produced in Japan for homologation requirements to compete in the Super GT racing series. Some NISMO-enhanced cars will have something like the R-Tune kit that was sold directly to customers and included the likes of new headers, cams and pulleys that gave significant horsepower gains but voids the Nissan factory warranty as it was meant for track racers.
As well as the reliability and affordability of the Z I mentioned earlier, it needs to be stated that part of what makes the Z such a great car even today is the fact it still offers a great deal for general everyday use.
If you like to enjoy the good weather with a bit of open-top driving, a Z convertible is a fabulously affordable way of getting stylish, drop-top driving. Of course, original soft tops are likely to be showing signs of wear and tear after all these years, but because the Z is a Nissan, replacement ragtops are cheap and easy to repair or replace. Before you start to consider the more powerful later models or the NISMO version of the Z, a standard version has a top speed of mph and a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.
Some of those horses are likely to have left the stable over the years, especially with high mileage examples, but plenty of Zs will have been modified and tuned over the years so some used examples today could be even faster than those original ratings. I remember one day when I was working in a Land Rover dealership many years ago as a salesman, and I was asked by the general manager to refuel a Z that had been traded in against a Range Rover.
For example, early models developed a fault with the crankshaft and camshaft sensor that was dealt with by a recall. Some have softer suspension, lesser trim and may be more expensive to insure; few come with service history.
Nissan Technical Centre Europe showed what could be done with the GT-S unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, boasting a blower activated by a switch that raised power to bhp with lb ft torque, on an otherwise unmodified V6. But it was never marketed. Double normal prices are already being asked for mint ultra-low-mileage examples, though.
Check the oil level, because the bhp version of the V6 can be very thirsty and damage could occur if the level drops too low.
Oil pressure should be at least 14psi at tickover. Many engines have been chipped for more power. Adding a plenum spacer is also popular but a strut brace must be retained. Standard brakes are more than adequate; an upgrade suggests that car may have been thrashed. Alloys corrode; optional six-spoke Rays are the most desirable. Test for worn synchros, between any or all gears, and for baulking particularly on pre cars.
Bushes in curved lower links are prone to wear: bushes are inexpensive; fitting new arms is more costly. Listen for knocking over bumps and inspect tyre wear. Rear driveshafts are prone to clicking; packing grease into splines will usually cure this. Worn droplinks from the anti-roll bar cause rattles, but are cheap to fix. Inspect for bolster wear, and try all functions on electric seats. Confirm that VIN stickers on the doors and lids are matching.
Check the electrics, from warning lights to aircon and ABS. The Z evokes its ancestors, with fun handling and effortless performance from the torquey V6.
Engines will do , miles without trouble given regular oil changes, but beware high oil thirst — especially on bhp unit.
0コメント