Vehicle Description
In the early '90s, Japanese automakers pulled out all the stops and
built some of the most impressive sports cars of the period. Near
the top of the list was the Nissan 300ZX, whose shark-like looks,
impressive handling, and user-friendly nature make it a great
choice for affordable fun today. This 1994 Nissan 300ZX convertible
is a fine example with the desirable 5-speed manual transmission,
so it's ready for top-down fun this summer.
The 300ZX looks even better as a convertible than as a hatchback,
and the rock-solid platform doesn't seem to mind being topless one
bit. Shiny black paint makes the sporty ragtop look like a million
bucks, emphasizing the long, low shape and with just 67,511
original miles, this one is remarkably well preserved. Nissan's
paint quality was quite good and it's held up reasonably well over
the past two decades. It's not perfect, of course, and there are
signs of use and age, but this car will still get peoples'
attention as it cruises through traffic and a professional buff job
and a visit to the paintless dent guy would take it up a notch. The
headlights, which are one of the Z's most distinctive features,
remain clear and bright (someone added aftermarket clear marker
lights that look trick), and the flush-fitting tonneau cover gives
it a sleek profile when the top's down.
There's little doubt that this car was built by and for drivers
when you climb inside. The black leather buckets are firm and
grippy, holding you in place during spirited driving but remaining
comfortable for long-distance hauls, too. The dash is low, giving
excellent sight lines and in typical Japanese fashion, all the
controls are at your fingertips on short stalks or pods that line
the outer edges of the instrument panel. Entertainment and HVAC
sweep down the center stack and end in the shiny shifter for the
highly-desired 5-speed manual transmission. As Nissan's flagship,
everything was standard in the Z, particularly the convertible,
including A/C, power windows and locks, and a great-sounding
AM/FM/cassette stereo system. The leather's in excellent shape,
with only the driver's seat showing any notable wear, the carpets
are extremely nice, and there's a bit of storage behind the seats
as well as a somewhat useful trunk out back. A black canvas top has
an impressive fit with great weather seals that make this
convertible close up like a coupe and that roll hoop gives it
impressive rigidity that you can feel.
The naturally-aspirated 3.0-liter DOHC V6 was the mid-level engine
in the 300ZX, and the only one available in the convertible. With
222 horsepower on tap, performance is energetic, even today, and it
makes a wonderful guttural growl at full throttle. These engines
proved to be virtually indestructible in the real world, and while
they respond well to modifications, this one is completely stock.
It starts quickly and easily, just as you'd expect from Nissan,
idles perfectly, and actually pulls down decent fuel economy as
long as you're not stomping on the loud pedal all the time.
Handling is agile, but they gave the convertible a softer edge, so
it's more of a grand touring machine, albeit with powerful brakes
and an all-independent suspension. Attractive 16-inch alloy wheels
still look stylish and wear 225/50/16 performance radials.
A fast, fun, reliable convertible that you don't see very often and
still ready to be your daily driver. Call today!