Is N/A worth it?

[123212321]

I am looking at 300zx's, and I'm pretty sure all I can afford is the N/A model. I have around 7,500 to spend, 8000 is pushing it. If anyone disagrees with that, stop here and tell me.

My question is: If I buy the N/A model, is it worth it? Am I going to buy the N/A and realize the car is not good enough without a turbo? I know 222 bhp is still quite a bit, but turbos are . . .turbos. I am wondering if when I buy it I'm going to just be thinking about how my car is not turboed.

Does the N/A still have enough add on and modding capability to be a worthwhile buy? How much would it cost to drop a single turbo into it, becuase (I dont know if they even exist) I can't find a nice single turbo 300zx.

THANK YOU!

[freakonaleash1187]

a Z is a Z. if all you can afford is the N/A, then i definitely say it is worth it. all i could afford was a N/A, and i am happy with my Z. but whats worthless is turboing the N/A, they have too high of compression to put a turbo on to do anything worth while. the N/A doesn't really respond to engine mods well, but the Z was made for the corners and suspension mods are so freaking awesome.

[DeleriousZ]

well if you're stuck on getting something with potential on a budget... why don't you look into getting a nice z31 (84-89) 300zx... they're MUCH cheaper to buy, maintain, mod and repair... with a nice low mileage turbo z31 and about 1-1.5k sunk into it mod-wise it's rumoured you can get close to the performance of a 350z acceleration wise...

an n/a z32 will be nice as well... better looking in most people's view, but mod wise it's not really worth sinking money into it other than a nice exhaust intake, maybe headders and nitrous if you really want to get into it a bunch.. but eventually you'll end up swapping in the tt engine or buying a tt..

[123212321]

Okay, so I was thinking about it and I guess I have these options:

1) Buy the Z32 N/A - 222 HP is still a lot, and with a couple bolt ons I could expect 240 HP tops, right?

2) Buy a Z31 for cheaper, spend the rest of the money that would be spent on the Z32 on modding the shit out of it - this sounds a lot more fun to me, and I would take more pride in doing it, but is getting such an old car a bit of a risk? Is the engine out of date?
Is there any newer turbo engine I could maybe drop into it?

Thanks for the help again guys

[DeleriousZ]

such an old car? a 240z... there's an old car.. but yes, of course the vg30e/et is going to be a little outdated, but that doesn't hinder its ability to make power... dropping in a new engine will be prettymuch worthless unless you were going for something with say 800+ hp or if the current one is really messed up.. even then dropping in another vg would be your best bet... (after you've beefed up the internals of course...) no, but for what you're looking for from the sounds of it, the z31 would be your best bet..

[xXxRocker5150]

why don't you just do what redneck did, he had a 240z, and he took out that inline 6, and dropped in an sr20DET engine, and man that thing was fast, with mods readily available... but beware they're light, and if you drive reckless, it's gonna crumple much easier that a z31 or z32 would... it all depends on how much power you want... so how much do you want???

[123212321]

Not too much . . .

I'm sixteen, I know I don't deserve a car so sweet. But at the same time I feel that I can trust myself. I have self control, and I know the danger in driving any car, let alone a fast one.

I dont want too much, if i achieved a 0-60 in under 6 i would be very very very content.

I found a twin turbo for 7,900 :-o That is do-able for me, but I'm going to be working it off for a LONG time if I do get it . . .many many weekends full of waiting tables. But I really need to start putting shit on paper becuase the insurance is very sketchy, and I dont see how its possible for me to pull off 300 bucks a month, WHILE paying off the car

[DeleriousZ]

yes, and then there is always the unseen problems like burning a clutch or your alternator going on you or something... if you're thinking it might not work, it probably won't... starting out with a z32 n/a or z31t will be a handfull at your age and experience.. don't get me wrong, i'm not doubting your skills, but i've even gotten my z31 n/a in some situations that i'm not entirely proud of... just have to be careful of what you're doing and learn to do the fun stuff in a controlled environment where you can't mess up the car... rwd can bite you in the ass faster than you could think.. what do you drive at the moment?

[freakonaleash1187]

i bought my N/A Z about a year and a half ago, when i was 16. believe me, you do not need a TT, the N/A is powerful enough for people our age. plus, it is a bitch to try and pay for my N/A, i couldnt imagine trying to pay for a TT.

[123212321]

You make some very good points, the z31 sounds better by the minute . . .

Jeep Cherokee 1997

I just want to make sure to find one with low mileage so i can spend my money making it perform, not repairing it

THEN MAYBE a while down the road after the z31 is nice and modded I can look into a z32 or something along those lines. I'll admit no 16 year old kid is a perfect driver, and by working up an older model I'll learn much more and be ready.

Thanks for the reality check

[k3smostwanted]

please do yourself a favor...do not buy a TT on your limited budget. $8k will get you a pretty beat up TT unless you ahve an uncle or soemthing that is selling it to you cheap. keep in mind, going figures on near stock TT's are $12k-$18k

Z31 Turbo is a good choice. pretty simple turbochared car. little tricky to work on but not near as compact as the Z32. the Z32 engine bay is much better organized but still a much more pain in the ass to get to anything.

[ArchDiver]

I've had my 89 2+2 n/a for about 4 years now and love it. Are there times when I wish I had the turbo... yep. But I'm having a blast every time I jump in this one. What can I say, they're one of the most fun cars to drive on the average person's budget.