300zx vs. Stealth ?

I am looking into buying a new sporty/powerful car for myself. I am just wondering, which car out performs: a 1990 300zx N/A or a 1992 Dodge Stealth R/T (non-turbo)? I like the looks of both car equally, tell me what you think!

Stock for stock they are pretty even. Both have three liter V6s making about the same amount of power, both weigh about the same, gearing is similar...etc and so on. Between the two it would come down to your preference on styling and front or rear wheel drive.

Just get a 300zx turbo. If you're looking carefully, you can find one for close to the price of a non turbo. Why invest in a car and think to yourself "Well, it isn't quite a turbo but it's kind of fun anyway?" Just save your nickels and dimes and get a turbo.

As for the comparison, both weigh about the same and make about the same power. They're both the second best in their respective model ranges.

If you get a 300ZX Turbo, just make sure you can keep up with the maintenance. They're reliable as long a you take proper care of them, but from what I hear, parts for them aren't very cheap or abundant, and they're not very easy to work on, either. Personally, I'd save myself a few thousand dollars and a potential disaster and just get a non-turbo 300ZX.

id take the zx, rwd and probably more reliable.

Honestly, it comes down to looks here. They are both about same in every department including reliability. Also, the Fairlady has a rear/front bias while the Stealth/3000GT have a front/rear bias.

Personally I would take the Stealth. I like the styling more, and I bet it will cost less money.

but everyone gripes about the poor 3000gt reliability, wouldnt the stealth be the same.

but everyone gripes about the poor 3000gt reliability, wouldnt the stealth be the same.

I have a friend that had two of them with no problems.

Also, the Fairlady has a rear/front bias while the Stealth/3000GT have a front/rear bias.

Huh? WHAT has a f/r or r/f bias? Brakes are front biased on both cars, weight is front biased on both cars (much more so for the FWD DSMs) and neither is AWD so torque bias doesn't apply here.

Personally, I would never take a naturaly aspirated 300ZX or 3000GT/Stealth because I'd always be pining for the turbo goodness. But if I had to choose it'd be the Fairlady. RWD is just more fun to me (and for the Turbo versions the VR4's weight kills the deal for me).

no reliability problems here :P
twin turbo + 3100lbs :)

I'd take the 300zx. Just looks so exotic compared to other imports.

And the Stealth/3000GT don't look exotic? I don't know, it is a tuff choice, I love the t-tops but I would rather have front wheel drive for when it get snowy/rainy where I live. I am pretty sure that the Stealth is better on gas, as I have heard that many 300zx's get around 15-20 mixed?

And the Stealth/3000GT don't look exotic? I don't know, it is a tuff choice, I love the t-tops but I would rather have front wheel drive for when it get snowy/rainy where I live.

I've always thought that the Stealth and 3000GT looked like a flat hunk of wood with a sloped nose and half bubble of a cabin on top. Anyway, a lot of Z owners in snowy places find a set second set of stock wheels with Blizzaks on them do good in the snow. Besides, control lies with the driver not the drive wheels.

I am pretty sure that the Stealth is better on gas, as I have heard that many 300zx's get around 15-20 mixed?

Depends how heavy your foot is. The non-turbos get 20-25 from what I've read, if its all free way then you might see 30.

I like the side vents a lot and the titled hood myself. Either way it doesn't make too big of a deal to me. I just want a car with good performance and so so to okay gas mileage and I have narrowed it down to these two. I will let everyone know my decision.

The Stealth/3000GT do look good, but come on, against this?

http://www.auto.vl.ru/gt/pictures/fairlady.jpg

Now thats exotic

lol, I am not ALL about the looks though. Reliability is high on my list too.

I don't know about anyone else but Mistubishi is not what comes to mind when I think reliablity.

Anyway, given that any thing you choose in this age bracket is likely to be over a decade old, the design and manufacturer is going to be less of a factor than the individual cars maintence record.

Yeah that is true. Oh and I have another quick question, why do so many people prefer rear wheel drive to front wheel drive. I have heard it is more fun yet you have less control, is this true or what?

Yeah that is true. Oh and I have another quick question, why do so many people prefer rear wheel drive to front wheel drive. I have heard it is more fun yet you have less control, is this true or what?

RWD takes more skill to drive harder, but once you know what your doing, RWD can make driving so much more fun.

Also, PLEASE remember that there is MUCH more that determines how a car handles than whether it is FWD, RWD, or AWD. Please don't ever dismiss a car and its performance capabilities just because of its drivetrain. There are plenty of very fast FWD sport compacts out there, faster than anything else out there in their price range. Just some things to keep in mind before you jump on the "RWD > FWD" bandwagon. :)

Lol, im not trying to say that one is better than the other, or which one is perferred cuz all replies would be subjective. I just wanted to know what the differents are, thats all, thanks though.

yup Rwd cars do require more skill, but its so worth it. It terms of performance its generally unbeatable by other drivetrains. Just look at the fastest, most exotic cars, all of them are Rwd. Everything from Formula 1 racers to supercars. I'm not saying Fwd cars are worthless, but when it comes to serious performance Rwd almost always comes out on top. Rwd even beats out 4wd in serious performance because 4wd weighs down the car. A perfect example would be the Zonda vs. Murcielago, the Zonda is much faster even with less hp and torque. Granted the main reason why the Murcielago's slower is because of its massive weight, but some of the reason is because its 4wd. The Murcielago driver has to be careful about launching the car or he'll fry the clutch, meanwhile the Zonda driver can just floor it and have fun as the car growls and smokes the rear tires. 4wd is perfect for SUVs and Rally based cars like the Impreza and Evo, but far from perfect for cars like the Murcielago.

yup Rwd cars do require more skill, but its so worth it. It terms of performance its generally unbeatable by other drivetrains. Just look at the fastest, most exotic cars, all of them are Rwd. Everything from Formula 1 racers to supercars. I'm not saying Fwd cars are worthless, but when it comes to serious performance Rwd almost always comes out on top. Rwd even beats out 4wd in serious performance because 4wd weighs down the car. A perfect example would be the Zonda vs. Murcielago, the Zonda is much faster even with less hp and torque. Granted the main reason why the Murcielago's slower is because of its massive weight, but some of the reason is because its 4wd. The Murcielago driver has to be careful about launching the car or he'll fry the clutch, meanwhile the Zonda driver can just floor it and have fun as the car growls and smokes the rear tires. 4wd is perfect for SUVs and Rally based cars like the Impreza and Evo, but far from perfect for cars like the Murcielago.

Agreed, but topic creator, just keep in mind that you're not going to be driving a $500,000 exotic, you're going to be driving a $10,000 used sports car. So, what's most important is not what drivetrain the car is using, but what kind of suspension, brakes, and tires the car is using. I mean, you wouldn't tell me that a Ford Crown Victoria is better than a Honda Integra Type R because RWD is ideally better than FWD, would you? You have to look at real-world scenarios to know which car is better, you can't just generalize that one drivetrain is better than the other, period. In this scenario, I think the 300ZX is the better of the two cars, and yes, it happens to be RWD. But then again, the 300ZX is a pretty highly engineered car, and its just about at the point where FWD starts to become a bad choice, so that might explain it.

Touche.

I can only spend around 3 and a half thousand actually, no where near 10 thousand.

I can only spend around 3 and a half thousand actually, no where near 10 thousand.

dont buy a 300zx or 3000gt that only cost $3k unless it has tons of cosmetic damage causing it to cost that amount. reason being: it will become a project car instead of an enjoyable car. both of these cars are very temperamental and you have to treat them right for them to treat you good. therefore a run down Z or 3kgt will need to be fully overhauled before you will be able to enjoy it in MOST cases. granted you could get lucky and score one off of someone that doesn't have an idea what he has or needs to get rid of it quick.

good luck but i would recommend something different. i found a very nice condition 4th generation prelude for $3750 a little while back that i was looking at for a Daily Driver. just a idea...

www.craigslist.com

I have found quite a few that have straight bodies with not too many miles on them, definetly not perfect, but good enough for me.

If you've only got $3500 to spend, I'd recommend taking a look at the older 300ZX, the Z31. Any Z32 that you find for $3500 is gonna have some problems, but you can pick up a pretty nice Z31 for that much, if not less.

If you've only got $3500 to spend, I'd recommend taking a look at the older 300ZX, the Z31. Any Z32 that you find for $3500 is gonna have some problems, but you can pick up a pretty nice Z31 for that much, if not less.

exactly...

when i first started looking at a car to get the 3000gt stealth and 300 zx kinda cars were on my list but to get the ones i like (twin turbo or w/e) were like over 10 grand and for that much i found much newer cars with low km and still have money left over to make them fast and look nice like the old cars, just my 2 cents from my exp.

I don't like the older Z models, wayyyyyyy to ugly for me. I think I will be able to find one for 3500 in good condition, I feel confident.

I don't like the older Z models, wayyyyyyy to ugly for me. I think I will be able to find one for 3500 in good condition, I feel confident.

I take it you're not looking at TT models right?

I think the Z31 looks awesome, but to each his own.

It's great that you feel confident that you'll find a good Z32 300ZX for $3500, but I'm telling you right now that you won't. There is simply too much demand for the car for anyone to let one go for only $3500, unless it has some notable problems. Find out the hard way if you want...

heres is just a couple i found that are recent:

http://www.craigslist.org/eby/car/168734673.html

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/car/170007126.html

Actually my friend down the street is selling his 78? Datsun 280Z for about 1500 and only has 47k original, How do these cars compare to the 300zx? I know that they are sort of the predessecors but not sure on everything.

You said you don't like the older Z models...but if you can find a clean 280Z or Z31 300ZX (and they are out there for $3500), definitely go for it.

i harbour a dream of finding an original short nose 240Z.
in red.

i harbour a dream of finding an original short nose 240Z.
in red.

ill take pearl white...:D

Sorry, I meant I don't like the older 300zx, the 280z look not to bad as well as the 240. The engine on his 280z purrs soooooooo nicely too, the only thing bad is the finish is just primed black. But everything else seems fine.

What do you guys think about this one? How many miles are these cars good for?

http://www.craigslist.org/nby/car/170012027.html

How many miles are these cars good for?

Estimated lifespan is a function of maintence.

^ so true. But reliability is prolly still better w/ the ZX as long as its been pretty well maintained. Plus its down right MEAN lookin'.

Yeah, my friend down the street has a 1991 300zx that he bought from a drug dealer I think. (He got it really cheap). I guess the guy needed some quick cash, but he has had nothing but problems with it, but then again, he has a lot of modifications too. Something that I probobly won't be doing TOO much of.

Ahh, okay I have two possibles lined up as of now:

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/car/170007126.html

http://www.craigslist.org/pen/car/168637000.html

I talked with my dad and he said each one seemed fine, what do you guys all think?

Go test drive both and make a choice from there.