Nissan 300ZX as a first car

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IIRC Many insurers count any car older than 25 as a classic, so some 300ZX's will be classics. You're best ringing a specialist broker like Adrian Flux etc and seeing what they say. No harm in getting a quote. Classic car insurance isn't really that cheap, a lot of companies (e.g. Footman James) put terms on them such as a second car only. Furthermore, many companies won't even entertain anyone under 25 either.

That said, I do drive a classic myself and I'm 19. But nobody in their right mind would call it a performance car. It will touch 70 with a tail wind though...

Recommendations wise, I think the Suzuki Cappuccino is a pretty interesting car; 660cc turbo charged DOHC engine in a car that weighs a touch over 700kg. Electronically limited to 85mph too, so you don't get the (usually) undeserved prejudice of owning a "death machine".

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 21

BritBoyWonder

Original post by Nunkey

I don't think it's a good idea to get a powerful twin turbo as your first car, especially since it is rear wheel drive. You could possibly start out with the non turbo, but it's still a big leap, buy an old bmw 318i e30 or something to start out with. You'll also want to have an idea about mechanics if you want to own a 90's performance car like the 300zx.

The bmw 318i e30 looks alright like the retro style,what can I expect from the insurance rate on classic car policy? There a retro style vw similar to this but can't remember the name,,,

BUMP

You didn't respond to my post :wink:

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Reply 24

BritBoyWonder

Original post by InconspicuousGuy

I think the most important things to ask is what is it you want most about the car? Hatch, coupe, saloon? Speed vs handling? How old are you? What kind of budget do you have (both purchasing and insuring to be considered here)? Will it be a daily driver (so do you need decent fuel economy/reliability)?

The reason fr considering stuff like this is that there are a lot of jap cars and will help narrow it down...no point suggesting a hatchback if you want a saloon etc :tongue:

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im 20 my budget is 10k on everything I'm leaning more towards coupe/saloon I don't mind if it is a German car (leaning more to european cause of reliablity) as well but I want something unique,not just what everyone goes for small hachback with 1l engine that's boring.Daliy drive car but saying that I don't really care about petrol costs,but insurance is the only potential issue.By the way I saw the Fiat Coupe which I found quite appealing what you think about it?

Reply 25

GiantKiwi

Original post by BritBoyWonder

im 20 my budget is 10k

At 20, no one in the UK will insure you on any sports car as a first car, too high of a risk. :rolleyes:

And on that budget you can forget imports.

Reply 26

Alfissti

Original post by BritBoyWonder

20 in UK and 10k budget plus looking for a way to get cheap insurance?

I seriously doubt anyone would want your business if it is a 300zx you're after.

I had a Fiat Coupe many years back when it was new and all the talk in town. While it gave lots of fond memories and was a joy to drive then it isn't a car I would buy again. Like most Italian cars of the era electronics can be a problem, pins on the ECU can warp thus while nothing is wrong with the ECU it will go all wrong due to the pins not making contact. Wiring can be an issue too especially if you get one of the early models.

Chassis parts are fairly easy to get but brakes, wheels and tyres can be problematic. Lots of upgrades are available but they don't come cheap. You won't be able to find any body parts, seals, anything to do with the sunroof and glass for it, headlamps are problematic too.

Reply 27

JC.

Original post by Camoxide

or a Toyota Supra
fairly rare though

Good luck with that.
Even I couldn't get a reasonable quote for a supra!

Reply 28

BritBoyWonder

Original post by Alfissti

Im not expecting it to be cheap insurance company take the piss with my generation 3k-4k is good but i know that would be hard to come by...thats the only thing japanese cars have great reliablity and there is loads of parts that are easy to come by.The Fiat Coupe is really appealing but your not the first person ive heard from about Italian engineering...its could still be a potential purchase.The cars i would love to own the most is the 300 but i also have two others that have my eye Audi TT(old plate) and the Fiat Coupe (I know the last two are not Japanese)

Reply 29

The Jargen

You won't be able to get a quote on the Fiat Coupe, maybe the Audi TT and like someone said before you could also try and get a Celica.

Reply 30

BritBoyWonder

Original post by The Jargen

You won't be able to get a quote on the Fiat Coupe, maybe the Audi TT and like someone said before you could also try and get a Celica.

what about Mitsubishi fto :colone:

Reply 31

The Jargen

Original post by BritBoyWonder

what about Mitsubishi fto :colone:

Most of them will be imports, so you'll be hard pressed getting a quote for one.

Reply 32

BritBoyWonder

Original post by The Jargen

Most of them will be imports, so you'll be hard pressed getting a quote for one.

Thats ****ty man

BUMP

BUMP

BUMP

Save your money- you don't need 200+ bhp to get to 70mph.

Honda NSX

Depends on what sort of experience you have driving, if you've never driven a RWD car before I wouldn't even consider a 300zx, not with that sort of power as a first car, chances are very high that you will kill yourself or someone else.

I'd get something with a smaller amount of power for at least the first 6-12 months or so then maybe think about upgrading, I know it sounds boring but I've witnessed first hand what a high powered RWD car can do in the hands of someone who isn't experienced and its not good, my friend had a 3 series and he's very lucky to be alive.

You won't be able to get classic insurance due to your age, I'd personally say buy something cheaper and lower powered for a year then upgrade, I didn't want a run of the mill first car but I ended up with a golf 1.4, then upgraded to a 200bhp gti after a year, since then I've had very high powered cars and its much easier to get insured, I currently have a 5 series and a mk1 golf and the insurance is less on both cars combined than it was to insure my first car.

With your budget you will most likely be able to get insured on a decently powered car but I certainly wouldn't recommend it, and it will take most of that money, it cost me the best part of £2k to insure my first car and that was a 1.4.

Reply 39

ss_s95

A Nissan 300ZX is nowhere near being a classic car.

A good classic which is one of my all time favourites, is the Datsun 280Z, which is a few generations older than the 300, 350 and 370.

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