Conference terri::cars_uk

    
    	You mention the Nissan 300 ZX.  I assume this is the 300ZX Twin
    Turbo Targa thingie.  Looks (a bit) like a ferrari (well they all seem
    to be read anyway).  Any comments on it?  It looks pretty, presumably
    goes well?  They seem to be few and far between,  and don;t feature in
    the press much./  I'm suprised they aren't used in 968 comparrisons etc
    
    Cliff

    
    Aside from power the OLD 300 ZX IS comparable with the Stanza. Both
    have four wheels and will get you where you want to go. Neither have
    much in the way of performance car ability or credibility.
    
    The new 300ZX is a VERY different car, by all accounts, but I've only
    experienced the old style and it's hard to imagine many cars could
    handle with less aplomb.
    
    To be fair(ish) to the old style 300ZX, though, it does ride like a
    water bed.
    
    Mark

    I dont have a 300ZX but I test drove one a few months back.
    
    I guess its quick but it didn't really feel it. Unfortunately they only
    a manual for testing. The interior is great, lurvely black leather,
    excellent CD set up. My main criticism of it is the road noise. It does
    have a sophisticated 4 wheel steering (almost) type set up that makes
    emergency lane changes safer, but I didn't really try this out (I
    didn't have the nerve)
    
    If you can live with the road noise its a good car, not worth 32k new,
    better to pick up a second hand one when they become more available.
    
    PC.

    
    
    Just read an article on BBR chip conversions that takes the Nissan
    from 280 to 330 HP.  Would this be a noticable improvement
    
    Any experience on general chip conversions ?
    
    
    
    

    See notes 722.* for other info/pointers...
    
    J.R.

    That's weird, almost a year ago since I entered the last note.
    
    Now I've bought one.
    
    Only had the car a few days but all I can say about it so far is that
    it is brilliant. Not as noisey as I first thought, partly I think due to
    road surface I drove it over at the time. It's certainly no noisier
    than the Supra. Not engine noise, just tyre roar, but then they are 245s on
    the back.
    
    Whilst it might not be the best in the class, the looks swing it for
    me, I just think it look superb.
    
    
    -=Paul=- Very happy with it.
              

    Anybody else with a 300zx find the headlights a bit poor?
    
    The dipped headlights use a projector type bulb which looks good, but
    seems to project its light too low. Possible adjustment prob maybe.
    
    
    
    
    Royston: I don't feel strongly about the topic title, it just seems a
    waste to create a new topic. Don't you think ?
    

    
    	I'd hesitate to confirm this,  because I know I need new specs,
    especially for night vision.   I guess it depends what you are used to,
    but they don't seem too bad to me.
    
    Cliff

    Well, it's in for two new catalytic converters on Thursday 
    so I'll get the adjustment checked.
    
    Nice to know some one else has one though :-)
    
    -=paul=-

    I heard that there should be no need t get new Catalytic converters,
    they will last longer than any other component in the car ?
    
    dave d (worried about buying an expensive converter for his car in a
    couple of years !)
    
    Dave D.

    
      Don't know if this is the right note,but i'm looking to buy
      a 300zx twin turbo. Anything from 1990 to 1992.
      Any help would be appreciated.
    
                 Cameron.

    
    
    I have just looked at a 92 J with 42000 for 15500? is this a good
    price
    
    
    
    

    
    
    Apparently there is good second hand market for the 300s, I saw a 
    couple of adverts in the exchange and mart from dealers near Standstead
    who were willing to pay cash and collect anywhere in the UK. On further
    investigation I found out that they are then shipped to Singapore where
    the new car tax on this car is so extreme no one could afford a new one. 
    
    Going back a few notes to the subject of the lights. I find the same
    problem when on low beam, is there any adjustment inside the car for
    height? the manual seems to suggest there is but I cant see the button
    it shows in the picture. (Was wondering if it may just me catching up
    with the beams under accelaration).
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Despite the misleading title...
    
    I've read that Nissan is to discontinue the 300zx at the end of this
    year in Europe (not sure about Japan) due to new EEC regulations
    demanding the fitment of second cat (I thought it had two already,
    obviously not). 
    
    I wonder if this will help the second value of the 300zx once it ceases
    to be available new. Currently it depreciates like a lead balloon, so
    any would be most welcome.
    
    Apparently they only sold 200 here in the UK last year so I don't think 
    they lose much money. They'll become a rarer sight though.
    
    -=paul=-
    

    That's a pitty, the 300ZX was (still is) a nice car. And we never even
    got the Skyline GT-R. 200 isn't very many, probably rarer than an NSX !
    
    	Rik

    
     
     I was told at the weekend all be it from a Nissan dealer that
     they have withdrawn any discounting on the new cars that remain in
     stock. 
    
     Would excpect this will filter into the second hand market. There
     was a small article in Autocar suggesting that prices should start
     to hold
    
    
     

    
    Time to reactivate this note 
    
    Being over in Germany, i fancy a few months of fast living  :-), and
    was looking at picking up a 2nd hand 300ZX.
    
    Supposed to have a look at one over the weekend but the dealer screwed
    up.  23K miles, May 91 (H), Red, Demo + one owner, FSH, CD player.  He
    wants 17999 (hopefully get that down ?).
    
    Firstly, does that sound reasonable ?
    
    Secondly, i'm going to get the AA to have a look at the car anyway, but
    can anyone tell me what the servicing / bills situation is like. 
    What's likely to go wrong when !
    
    Thanks for the input
    
    
    Nigel
    
                                                          

    
    Thanks for the feed back, but was especially interested by the Nissan
    dealer bit.  I didn't see that edition of Top Gear.  Could you
    elaborate a bit.
    
    Ta
    
    Nigel

	'twas some time ago now tho'

	As I remember it, the dealer sold the guy a lemon (in some substantial
way!) and didn't want to know when the customer discovered the problems.  Now
that may be an over simplification, but probably as a one sentence summary, I
don't think it is far wrong, but ....

	I can't remember who the dealer was(/is?), but it sounds like an AFG
type of trick.

				Malcolm.

    The car in question had a known history of problems 'cause the guy who
    got stiffed traced the previous owner, who was dead surprised the
    dealership had sold on the car as it was such a state.
    
    What astonished me the most was the reaction of Nissan UK. When the guy
    approached them about the run around he was getting from one of their
    dealers, they basically took the dealer's side, accused the guy of
    fabricating the faults with the car, and threatened him with legal
    action if he continued with his complaints!! If memory serves me
    correct, the letter form Nissan UK was shown on Top Gear.
    
    The involvement of Top Gear seemed to have the desired result on the
    dealership. They took the car back and, I believe, replaced it with one
    that could legally be driven and didn't have bits falling of it and
    going wrong. Strange the dealership didn't want to know until Top Gear
    got involved. God knows what they did with the lemon.
    
    Angus

>>>   got involved. God knows what they did with the lemon.
    			      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^	
>>>    Angus


	Sold to yet another lemon maybe?

				Malcolm. ;-)

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
       The "soap box episode" was typical top gear emotive nonsense,
       even then it tended to discredit the dealer rather than the car.
       I'm sure they could fill a whole series with similar stories about
       any make or model in the country. The car had several thousand spent
       on it after a heavy accident which the dealer had not declaired and
       the service book had been played with. 
    
       From what I remember it was H reg (grey) and the guy paid 17000 pounds
       for it.
    
       On a straight sale 91H, I would look at 15000.
    
    
    
    
    
                                                              

    Based on outings in a 928S4 (Hi Rob) and 300ZX (Hi Paul) I wouldn't
    consider the Nissan. The Nissan may be a very nice car but it just
    can't complete with the Porsche - there is no substitute for CCs. Also
    the has has all the money spent of the engine whereas Porsche have been
    able to spend some cash on the interior and general 'quality' of the
    car.
    
    So conclusion, buy a slighly older 928 you won't regret it.
    (See 50.last - a few)
    
    	Rik

    Oh God, that's done it. Paul is coming round tomorrow...

    Cheers Rik !
    
    I know there are many nicer cars than my 300zx but I really do
    enjoy driving it. It handles great (imo), looks pretty smart (imo),
    and shift too. Doesn't matter that it will have decomposed long
    before a Porsche needs it's exhaust changing, I'll have bought
    something else by then anyway. :-)
    
    I'd not disaude anyone from getting one if that's what they liked. 
    I personally still like the Lotus Esprit and might get one someday 
    (before I get old and boring). Now there's dozens of reason to not buy
    an Esprit, but I'd still do it.
    
    
    Paul, not hurt really :-)
    
    
    

    300 ZX prices seem to be firming.
    
    Havn't seen a 91H for less than 17,000.  Talking to someone who for the
    last couple of years has done nothing but buy and sell then, he reckons
    that the prices have climbed 1000 in the last 3 months. 
    
    Now i know that he's obviously interested in getting as much as he can,
    but the ads in the papers would seem to bear this out, and over the
    last two weeks he's had four 300's for sale, and they've all sold
    within a couple of days, including the one i wanted which was
    there on saturday, but not on sunday. :-( 
    
    Don't think i can afford a 928. pity.
    
    Nigel
    
    p.s.  Will your 928 be in Andover over the weekend, Rob ?
    
                                                             

                                   
    Ye Gods.
    
    Just had some insurance quotes through.  Swinton came up with under
    1000 for UK only cover (either GRE or Norwich Union)
    
    But with the full years green card :-
    
    GRE    		1891  with 350 excess (no alarm required)
    
    Lloyds syndicate 	1650  with 400 excess
    				   800 excess when driven outside UK (!)
    				   immobiliser required.
    
    
    So, it looks like about 900 for a years green card.  Can anyone beat
    that :-(   And thats with 65% NCB....
    
    
    Nigel
    (presumably) 
    
    

    
    >    p.s.  Will your 928 be in Andover over the weekend, Rob ?
    
    It was.
    
    How was frankfurt ?
    
    Rob

    
    Ah, yes,  I would have been there.  BA, Lufthansa and BM had
    completely sold out of economy tickets over a week in advance :-(
    
    N.

    Probably a lot cheaper, but then it is an old man's car...

    St Pauls appear to be backing out of the years green card.
    
    Had a quote from them of 977 for a years cover (UK only), and when we
    moved onto the subject of Green cards they were quite happy to do 3
    months (cost to be ascertained), didn't like the idea of 6 months (said
    it would be subject to renegotiation after 3 months.... !).  Didn't
    boter asking them about a year.
    
    Pointed out that car crime in Frankfurt was a lot lower then the UK,
    and the place is chocka with 500 SE's, 911's, 928's, M8,M5,M3,
    ferrari's etc, but this seems to cut no ice.
    
    
    N.
    
    Should we start calling you Grandad now Rob ?  :-)
    

    Not yet.
    
    My sons aren't quite old enough to bestow that state upon me.
    
    My father, however thought that the 928 would be perfect for towing his
    caravan...
    
    Have you tried Hill House Hammond ? They gave me the cheapest quote.
    They are owned by N.U., and market their own N.U. cover under the name
    of Haven. They started off quoting me the standard N.U. rate, but when
    I told them I could get cheaper elsewhere, they called me back with the
    cheapest quote.
    Dunno what they are like for green cards though.
    
    Rob

    No, you need an Aston Martin for towing caravans.
    
    I was once overtake by one doing well over 100 on the M27.
    
    	Rik

    
    The 'Lloyds syndicate' - trading as Insurance (GB) Ltd. decided to put
    my premium up to 1795 when they found out the car was a bit newer than
    i had originally intended, and increase the excess to 1100 (!).  They
    also wanted a 4 point immobiliser ( i have a vecta, but have yet to
    check whether it is a 4 point one).  
    
    Sod that for a laugh.
    
    Back to GRE whose quote is still the same, and a 350 excess.
    
    
    Nigel

	An interesting + cautionary tale about buying a car...


	I picked up the 300ZX on Saturday morning, spent two hours getting 
	out of ilford and south of the river.

	Sunday, drove doen to Frankfurt.  No problems, the air-conditioning
	seems to drink petrol, but thats life.  Then i noticed the Odometer.
	It didn't seem to be moving very fast.  In fact the 1/10th column was
	incrementing every mile.  So, after 400 miles it had only registered
	40.

	Hmmmm....  Had another look at the service documents, and the report
	from the Nissan Garage that check it over last week.   Only 1 'mile'
	less compared to the mileage when i bought it (despite the garage being 
	7-8 miles away).

	How many miles has it really done i thought.  A busy morning in store.

	The sales recipt has mileage guaranteed, and i was told there was
	only one previous owner (and the V5 seemed to confirm this). 
	So this should be easy to track down.

	Gave the original owner a ring (DG).  He told me he had sold the car 
	to an AC from Dublin.  According to his sales invoice (company car)
	it had done 34060 miles.  The change over was at Leeds/Bradford 
	airport.  The Garage i bought the car off had rung up DG a week
	earlier to see whether he had any spare Vecta keys.  Oh yes.  DG sold
	the car to AC in the last week of May.

	AC was a customer of DG and AC told DG later on that the car had been 
	stolen and damaged.

	We now have at least one more owner than there should be, so I
	then rang the DVLC.  What a useless bunch.  They will not tell you
	how many owners a car has had.  No address required.  Just a number.

	Rang AC.  he told me that he had sold the car because it didn't suit 
	him.  He prefers German etc.  He had no idea what the mileage was
	when he sold it, He sold it someone called M.  No address, surname
	or telephone number, but he would look and i should ring him back.
	I mentioned that it had been damaged, and he said it had been stolen
	from outside his house (vecta key left in ), and that the wing had been
	damaged.  He had not had it repaired as it would take 6 weeks to
	get the parts to Ireland, so he had sold it as it was to M.

	Rang Nissan GB.  They said they would check for any work carried
	out under warranty.  Nothing showed up.

	Rang the family solicitor (who as luck would have it knows the DG 
	family - even though they are a few hundred miles away.  New i could
	probably trust DG).

	Rang Nissan (Romford).  Asked how easy it would be to turn the 
	1/10 mile indicator into a mile indicator.  Slowing the car
	odometer down quite a bit.  They thought it would not be possible.
	(i think quite easy - just connect it up 1 to the right, so that
	the 1/10ths go into thin air.)


	Rang RW (the garage who sold me the car).  They mostly sell 300's, 
	when i went to have a look, they had 5 outside.  Tends to make you
	feel a bit happier.  Owner had gone on holiday to USA. (i knew that.
	He had told me last week.)  Spoke to malcom - technical manager.  

	Said he would ring the boss in Florida and come back to me.  They had 
	bought the car from a MH (same as M ?)  who acts as roving buyer for 
	them. The car had not been damaged in any way when they got it 
	(10 Jul 1994).  Ie the 1500 pounds of internal damage and wing 
	had been fixed.

	BUT, the odometer was't working.  They had fixed it, but when they 
	snapped it shut the figures must have rewound - they claim.  When
	i mentioned that the mileage was guaranteed they said they didn;t 
	think they had done anything wrong.  So how many miles has it done 
	then ?  I don't know.  So how can it be guaranteed......

	How about the previous owners ?  They 'thought' (because he spoke some
	jargon) that Aiden or whoever MH bought the car off was a dealer.
	Aiden certainly wasn't.  A tape and packaging company in Dublin to
	be more precise.

	Anyway, they have now offered to fix the odometer, or buy back the
	car.  

	Trying to get hold of MH to find out who he bought the car off, and
	who repaired the car (was it a Nissan dealer - where;s the paperwork).
	Mobile switched off, and his office don't know where he is.

	Nigel

	So, i have a V5 that has not shown all the original owners.  RW
    	told me that they had sent the bottom of the V5 in, but they can't
    	have, can they, 'cos DG's company secretary sent it in when they
    	sold the car to AC.
    
    	An interesting day so far.
    

    Ouch.
    
    why is life like this ?
    
    Rob

    A very unfortunate situation unfolding there Nigel.
    
    What price did you pay for the car then? Does it drive OK ?
    
    I checked in one of those second hand car price guides and recon min e
    is fast depreciating to to less to less than Robs 928 :-(
    
    Is it time to ship it out to Singapore....
    
    
    
    -paul- who's just spent two hours this evening polishing it.

    
    It drives well.
    
    Its a May 1992 (2 years and 3 months old)  so still has 9 months Nissan
    warranty remaining.  Excellent condition (on the surface).  If it
    wasn't for the odometer then i would not have suspected a thing.
    
    Before buying i had the car checked over by Nissan (at RW's ( selling
    garage) cost - including brake pads being replaced).  I did a HPI check
    - nothing, and  a DVLC check for police interest - nothing.  
    
    Managed to get hold of MH last night (he is the roving buyer for RW).
    He did buy the car off AC (so he is the same as M).  When he bought the
    car it had stone chips on the front (no global respray then), but no
    sign of the 1500 damage to the interior.  He says, now, that he thought
    AC was a bit of a dodgy character, but HPI and the usual checks worked
    out.  He didn't think AC was a trader (contrary to what RW says).
    
    So....  The car has been repaired.  By whom ?   If the odometer went
    awol at the time that the car was stolen, how many miles does that add
    up to.  I make it 36000, at which point a Major service is due.  If it
    wasn't a Nissan dealer who put it back together again, how does the
    warranty stack up ? 
    
    Don't know if i mentioned but RW offered to buy the car back.  May well
    take them up on there offer, but a few more leads to follow up first.
    
    
    Nigel
    
    
    The second hand proce guides are a bit out.  The prices they use depend
    on auctions, and 300's dont appear that often !  Had a look at about 10
    or so, and none of them were close to the guides (apart from top-gear). 
    And the prices have definitely firmed in the last 2-3 months (since
    they announced they were being discontinued.)
    
                                                               

    
    Well, the last bit of the jigsaw falls into place.
    
    AC (the man in Dublin who bought the car) did have the car repaired. 
    On the 10th June 1994 at 'Finnegans', which it turns out is a Fiat Main
    Dealer.  No-one in the workshop remembered a Red J reg 300 going
    through the shop (bit odd that), BUT it turns out that AC's brother
    works there.
    
    The recipt for the work was on a piece of scruffy paper, no letter
    head, no VAT number. company number, just mostly illegible scrawl.
    (there is now an enquiry going on there to find out what happened).
    
    It must have been AC's brother who sold the car to MH (that explains
    thinking he was in the trade), and the car may have been under trade
    insurance.
    
    All the above was found by RW's (the garage who sold me the car).  They
    are not happy !  
                                                               
    Two choices,	1. they buy the car back
    
    			2. Complete overhall by Nissan to check that the 
    			   dash replacement/sterring etc is ok and
    			   come to some agreement over a reduction for
    			   mileage.	
    
    It's a real shame.  The original owner kept it garaged, and
    according to his dealer nothing was to much trouble.  If only i had
    found it then !  3000 cheaper, and no history !
    
    c'est la vie.  I feel a quick trip to the UK on Friday coming on.  :-(
    
    Nigel
    
             

    Anyone got a copy of the Personal Finance section from the Sunday Times
    this week ?  At the back they have the car adverts.  
    
    Any chance of anyone seeing whether there are any 300's for sale under
    both 'Nissan' and the 'Performance Cars' sections.  There;s normally 
    5 or 6.
    
    Ta.
    
    Nigel 

    
    From what i read/hear, these things just dont appear at Auctions.
    
    However...  If you know different then spill the beans, and tell me 
    where !
    
    Ta
    
    Nigel

    Although I don't know for sure, I would have expected 300Zx's to have
    been autioned at Blackbush - probably on one of their Performance /
    Specialist Car auctions.
    
    	Rik

    
    Oh, well.  I'm driving back on Friday and handing it over on Saturday 
    morning.
    
    They even asked me would i like any expenses (I would/will buy a car
    from them again).  I declined.  After all i have had 7 days in a Very
    Nice car....
    
    Even the Insurance company has been nice.  Just 55 for the week,
    
    
    Nigel
    
    p.s.  Do you have a number for this Blackbush place ?  Or an address.
          Could be a bit difficult to sort out from over here, but may
    	be worth it.
    

    Nigel,
    	I'll post the number for Blackbush tomorrow unless someone beets me
    to it. They usually run an advert in the Sunday Times the W/E before
    and interesting auctions. Sorry to hear about the 300, at least the
    garage are being good about it.
    
    	Rik

    
    Were they offering cheap finance on the Bugatti ?

    
    
    
    I will post this here before going in the paper next week.
    
    Nissan 300 ZX Turbo sports
    May 92 J
    Grey
    46000 miles
    Full service history and in excellant condition, Car is registered one
    owner and I have known the car since new. Complete with full spec,
    leather, AC, CD etc.
    
    18,000 pounds
    
    DEC number is 0313318194
    
    
    
    
    

    Boy does this car love tyres. I had new Goodyear Eagles put on the back
    about 11,000 miles ago and am down to about 1 mil of tread already.
    The fronts have managed the whole 23k miles without replacement still
    now.
    
    So, new tyres all round. Always feels good to ride on fresh rubber :-)
    
    
    paul.