History
Nissan's Zed series - one of the most recognised rear-drive sportscars ever - began with the elegant 240Z. Since then, however, the trend has been towards larger, more powerful and heavier Zeds - as seen in the 260Z, 280ZX and 300ZX. The faithful L-series engine (which served right through to the 280ZX) was replaced in the mid-80s with an all-new V6 engine - the VG. And, for the first time, turbocharging was also introduced - a move that really helped to compensate for the car's on-going weight increases.
In 1989, the all-new Z32 shape was released (at the same time as the original Skyline GT-R). This car traded the Z31's sharp lines for a flowing, smooth body - which, even today, still earns a lot of praise. Under the bonnet, the V6 engine moved onto 4-valves-per cylinder and quad-cam technology. American and domestic Japanese markets also saw the release of the 206kW twin-turbo 300ZX - which Australia is now seeing through Japanese importers.
Chassis
Sketches of the Z32's body started back in 1984, and its overall shape was intended to provide vastly improved aerodynamics over the out-going Z31. The new car's silhouette reveals a remarkably flat top section, which promotes laminar airflow over the entire car (giving a claimed Cd of 0.31), and lift is counteracted by standard front and rear spoilers. Horizontally lined intercooler ducts on both sides of the front spoiler identify the twin turbo models. The Z32 also boasts 20-35% more body rigidity than the Z31.
Under the skin, the TT 300ZX incorporates a double wishbone front and rear suspension system, which looks very similar to the GT-R Skyline's. A Super HICAS (High Capacity Actively Controlled Suspension) system is also used to give slight amount of rear wheel steerage - plus or minus about 1-degree rotation. Five spoke 16 x 8 alloys wearing 225/50 series rubber are factory fare. Braking is via powerful 11 and 11.5 inch vented discs front and rear, with ABS fitted as standard. The front end uses four-pot calipers, while the rears are twin piston. A power-assisted rack and pinion system gives excellent driver feel and precision, and kickback is very minor.
The 300ZX has a very cosy cabin - which is another way of saying that the big car has appalling space utilisation! A huge trans tunnel, sloping dash and windscreen and a low seating position enclose the driver with little room to move. Clearly marked gauges front the driver, however the large control binnacles on both sides (which contain front and rear wash/wipe, demister, cruise control, fog light, illumination, hazard controls and a digital climate control system) are very cluttered and difficult to comprehend at a glance.
A 10-stack BOSE speaker sound system is fitted, along with two door and rear speakers, plus an "imaging" speaker in the centre of the dash. If you're looking for somewhere to put things, there's a small glovebox, centre console and about 10-15cm of stowage behind the front seats. The electric leather seats - as shown here - are options.
Reaching back, there's a peculiar shelf between the rear wheel arches as well as a reasonable but shallow boot area (which comes complete with a blind). The standard glass targa roofs remove easily (although, where to put them is a little unclear) and in their absence a small deflector plate pops up from the roof to reduce wind noise and buffeting. Visibility through the near-side C and B pillar area is dreadful. On the 2-seater, the small side window is awkward to see out of, and it's easier to stick your head out of the window to check the blind spot!
Despite having a lightweight aluminium bonnet, the Zed is not a light car. A 2-seater tips the scales at around 1550kg and the 2+2 bumps this up by another 40kg. This mass is distributed 55:45 front-to-rear in the 2-seater and 53:47 in the 4-seater.
Engine
The twin turbo 300ZX's engine bay is crammed with a quad-cam, 24-valve injected motor which is based on the original VG30 from the Z31 series. Its static compression ratio is 8.5:1 and, of course, it features twin T2/25 turbochargers, each with its own front-mounted air-to-air intercooler. This incredible VG30DETT engine produces 206kW at 6400 rpm and a stomping 388Nm at 3600. That's more than even the worshipped Skyline GT-R! This tremendous torque gives the big Zed plenty of low-down acceleration and its twin throttle bodies help deliver good throttle response. But it gets mighty hot beneath that bonnet, that's for sure. Behind this brilliant engine comes the choice of an electronically controlled 4-speed auto trans or a 5-speed manual. A viscous LSD is standard on all twin-turbo equipped 300ZXs.
Performance
This is one shatteringly fast car. Zero to 100 km/h blasts are over in about 6 seconds flat (closer to 7 in the auto) and the quarter mile is dispatched as quickly as in the low 14s. So, yep, she's quick... However, the car can be driven effortlessly with general traffic flow - shifting up at as little as 2500 revs. It makes useable torque from as low as 1500 rpm and - without a doubt - it's one of the most tractable engines ever out of Japan. At about 3500 rpm it really starts to boogie. The ZX's handling is typical high power RWD. That means there's a considerable amount of transitional power oversteer - however, it is controllable until you start to push its limits. Careful throttle control is a prerequisite. The ride is very progressive and there is no crash banging over large potholes.
Fuel economy isn't particularly great. Depending on driving style, you'll get about 13-14 litres per 100km in urban conditions. Oh, and you also have to watch that front spoiler - it's very easy to scrape on speed humps, driveways or anything that sticks up more than ten centimetres.
Mods
Like any turbo car, the TT ZX responds very well to simple upgrades. The car we tested, for example, was equipped with a high flow exhaust and more boost and showed itself capable of 4.9 second 0-100s with just a gentle launch - which is very fast indeed!
The Zed is quite popular in America as well as in Japan, so finding aftermarket bits isn't a problem. Larger front-mount intercoolers, boost controllers, intake systems and exhaust packages can be fitted to give the 3-litre mill another 30-or-so percent more power. After that, upsize the turbos, wire in programmable management and see what it feels like with around 300kW... On top of that, there's an aftermarket item to fit just about any part of the car - everything from front suspension A-arms, awesome F4-style body kits to 300 km/h speedos. Its potential is huge.
Buyers' Guide
Note that there are two different Z32 bodies available - a 2 seater sports and a (stretched) 2+2 tourer. The 2-seater is most common and, unfortunately, so also is the 4-speed auto trans. At present, most twin turbo 300ZXs can be picked up for about the same money as an Australian-delivered atmo 2+2 (which sold new for over $70k). Prices are a bit variable, but expect to pay around $24-$30,000 for a good one with moderate kilometres (less than about 140,000km).
In service, the TT Zed does encounter a couple of problems. The wiring harness is prone to deteriorating under the immense under-bonnet heat and it's very hard to locate another good loom (and, of course, the Aussie-delivered one is different). This means aftermarket management is your alternative - which can cost anywhere up to 4-ish grand fitted and tuned. In addition, a hard-pressed cooling system can lead to blown head gaskets and cracked heads - which usually means tracking down another complete engine. These are not a cheap engine either. The front suspension A-arm bushes are also prone to wear, however aftermarket replacements are commonly available.
Being a turbocharged import, you might have to look hard for a good insurance premium too.
Summary
This is one awesome performing car - brawny and sexy down to its boots. It's by no means small, practical or cheap to maintain - but if you can make these sacrifices, it's a terrific show and go-er. It'll win just about every road race and you'll be guaranteed it'll win a lot of attention - no matter what pace it's travelling at! A terrific indulgence.
Contact:
Thanks to Adelaide Japanese Imports for making our test car available.
+61 8 8369 1156
http://www.adelaidejap.com.au
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