Assuming I purchase a 300zx [Lil more help]

[HighRev87]

Well After reading the response to the last post, and doing a little bit of research, I have narrowed my car down to either a Mustang GT or a 300zx. Both are champs, but when it comes to comparison, the 300zx takes the prize. (Due to more power and less weight and it just looks cooler.)
However I am on a budget, yea it sucks being 17 w/ a part time job. I was wondering If you guys had any advice on what year/model to aim for. I want a TT, but I noticed the TTs I can afford are all 120k Miles +. I also know a place to buy a JDM TT for 2k *not bad at all other then installation fees*
So put it in your head that you are a 17 year old with about 8k to budget, maybe even stretchable to 9k to purchase the begining of your project. I want a 91+ too. So what route would you go? Year and N/A or TT. Also i prefer 2 seater, but a 2+2 is fine. Thanks

[HighRev87]

Also if an NA engine, hopefully it will be more like 6k to 7k so I can try saving for the new engine + install.

[Broke_as_****]

If you want a Z32 with turbos, buy a TT model rather then swapping later. But thats me. If you could get a nice NA 2 seater for 5k and a TT engine for 2k and do all the work yourself then you could probably save money and have a much lower mileage engine (I bought a TT, the engine blew on the way home and I got another with only 20k on it, not too bad). I have the tools and time to do a swap myself though, most people don't. The swap itself is not that hard, mainly its just tracking down all the extra wires and hoses that go with the turbos and working in the very tight Z32 engine bay. And while the engine is out you can upgrade all manner of things, but don't get started on that, run while you can! Its really easy to say "Well...since the engine is out anyway....I might as well do a complete rebuild with forged pistons, titanium connecting rods and 30 psi turbos...".

What is this car going to be used for? No sense dropping 15k for a TT and upgrading the turbos to drive to work. If you want a fast car, you got to have something to drive the other 90% of the time.
If this is going to be a really nicely done car with a good body kit, custom interior and chrome intake plenums and such, get sponsored for shows. Any time you can pay for something with someone elses money, go for it. If this is going to be a race car for actual track use, I suggest scrapping the Z32 all together and racing shifter carts. 15hp with a 6spd doing 100mph down the straights and out handle everything else with 4 wheels. Define what the car is for and really think about what you will do with it before spending any money.

Anyway...best advice I can give is don't spend money on a car thats not exactly what you want. Wait, have paitence and the perfect ride will probably come along. I wanted a 95' dark metalic green TT with black leather. I was going to buy a 91 silver TT but I waited a month or so and I found a 95' dark metalic green TT with black leather with all the basic stage 3 mods already done (popcharger, borla exhaust, JWT ecu and boost jets). The engine blew up driving it home but its still exactly what I want. And I wanted to upgrade the turbos anyway so it really kind of worked out great. I'm poorer then ever now but we won't go there.

[HighRev87]

This car isnt going to be an all out track/road champion. The car will be my daily driver, however at the house I would have access to other cars to drive if I didnt feel like taking the speed (doubt it :P ). I plan on fixing up the car with basic mods maybe past my 8-9k buy in, over the next year or two about anouther 2-3k.
Thanks for the advice on waiting for what you want. I am in no hurry atm, and can wait for the perfect car to come along. As for body kit, exterior mods, I do WANT them, but I dont know if it will fit my budget. I am more performance over looks. However if a sponsorship were to come along, my mind would change. I wouldnt mind attending shows, in fact, I would love it. Just dont know if a perfect car is my budget.
As for worrying about if it is to much for a d-driver, I dont mind. Cars are on my mind 24/7 and I dont mind dedicating alot of time to my car. Once again thanks for the advice.

[Z_Fanatic]

Just get a TT and do slight mods, you'd be happy to get 18 mpg for daily driving.

[HighRev87]

Not sure if that was a sarcastic note or not, but compared to a Mustang GT, im not worried.

[Broke_as_****]

At 17 with only a trickle income it will be hard to afford the TT. It is doable though and once you get past the initial major purchase its not that bad. And you can turn up the boost a few psi with an ECU, intake and exhaust and be sitting comfortable at about 320-340 rwhp, more than enough to have fun, not really too expensive. The next step is upgrading the turbos and that can range from 7500-12000 once all parts are factored in, depending on how you want to play it. Thats upwards of 500 rwhp on stock bottom end. The next step is complete rebuild and upgrades all around, figure another 5000-10000 ontop of the first turbo upgrade. That is with the best parts and all the needed equipment to keep the engine in one piece at high boost.

As for body kits and etc, that is and always will be a question of how nice you want it to look. You can get a basic kit from say Stillen or GReddy (I think all their stuff looks like ass but again, thats me) and have it sprayed to match, maybe a little blending and be happy with that. Or you could make up a really killer custom job or exotic import kit and have it all candy appled, custom leather, dvd players in the windshield and 42" plasma screens on the rims or whatever it is people are doing now...

If I were to alter my cars apperance it would look like this, as this is the only kit I've ever seen that I think looks better than stock, I especially like how it all works together, like the low spoiler on the back.

http://img9.exs.cx/img9/6135/7560.jpg

BTW I got that off here and can't find the link anymore, anyone remember where that came from? I might be interested in purchasing said kit later on...

Anyway...I would never use a Z32 as a daily driver but I got a 240sx for that so its not something I really thought about. And just fill out an app and send it in to sponsors, who knows what could happen. We've got two guys around here that never thought they would get sponsored that got gifted enough schwag to damn near fill out their whole projects. Helps if you have the car first. Most of the idiots sending apps say something along the lines of "Buy me a new Evo and I'll pimp it out for you". Can't really see that happening.

[HighRev87]

Well ok, put yourself in my shoes.
You are 17 years old, like you said small income. I am really into cars, and want the most performance out of a D-Driver I can get. I am looking to do 8-9k. What would you look for? I wouldnt want a 300zx that is NA seeing as my other choice is a mustang that would beat a stock NA. I dont really have THAT much to put toward upgrades, But would work toward it. Also I dont care domestic Vs. import as long as it performs.

[DeleriousZ]

well, you also have to look at the aura around the Z brotherhood.. everyone is always there to help you out and support you, i haven't come across one person that wasn't nice to me in the Z forum.. plus, how often do you see a Z driving down the road? now.. how often do you see a mustang driving along.. the Z is a much more rare car. this can be good or bad depending how you look at it.. tough to find em, but once you got one, everyone's like woah what the heck was that thing? it was awesome!
go for the ZX, you won't be disappointed

[Z_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by HighRev87

Not sure if that was a sarcastic note or not, but compared to a Mustang GT, im not worried.

Well considering how much gas prices cost, I wish all my cars were hybrids now. So like you said, young and low income. Good luck affording the insurance on a turbo though. So if you want it to be your daily driver, keep it stock more or less. Otherwise, sell drugs. You have no idea how much parts cost to maintain Z32, especially a TT. Besides, a 'Stang GT V8 auto could still give you 22-24 mpg.

Originally Posted by HighRev87

Well ok, put yourself in my shoes.
You are 17 years old, like you said small income. I am really into cars, and want the most performance out of a D-Driver I can get. I am looking to do 8-9k. What would you look for? I wouldnt want a 300zx that is NA seeing as my other choice is a mustang that would beat a stock NA. I dont really have THAT much to put toward upgrades, But would work toward it. Also I dont care domestic Vs. import as long as it performs.

If you want a drag, go for a V8 and join the brotherhood of musclehead/pony-tails. Z32's were never meant for straightline, and regardless, a N/A Z32 would still chew up any Mustangs on the track/twisties, with the exception of may be Saleen/Cobras. And stay away from LongLiveTheZ, lol, he hates Mustangs.

[k3smostwanted]

haha...i think LLZ is staying out of this since he read the word mustang. he knows we dont want to hear his page long spill comparing a z to a stang. hahaha. but i can agree with him on a lot of points that he has made in the past.

BTW: highrev87-----go for the glory and pleasure yourself with a TT. i think you will mroe pleased in the long run and the short run. z looks better than a stang.,performs better, very mod happy, can last over 200,000 miles. if u want it for daily driver, do some basic things. dont go all crazy with boost because then your askin for more things to go wrong. if u want big numebrs on a budget, save save save and then redo it all. good luck and hopefully happy Zing.