RX-7 owner now looking for a 350Z

[Samoht]

Hi everyone,

 

I’m Tom, and my driving career consists of a succession of three Japanese FR coupes, and now I’m looking for something totally different … scratch that, I want more of the same.

 

After uni I was lucky enough to do the JET programme, where the Japanese government set you up to live in Japan and teach schoolchildren english there.  So of course I toured the used-car dealerships just as if I was starting a fresh game of Gran Turismo, and ended up with this:

 

A beautiful car that I enjoyed driving, whose SR20DE gave me no trouble in the year I was there. Wasn’t as quick as the local hashiriya in their Skylines, but smart enough that they were happy to let me hang out with them. ( https://drivetribe.com/p/meeting-the-hashiriya-bJ5Sf6a0TPuKbW-mamKZLA?iid=VTzS_niwSfaKHFTpCvFn2g )

 

Returning home, I wanted to resume my interrupted enjoyment of the S13 chassis, so got a 180SX, which was also fairly reliable and swift:

 

 

However, I tired of the way the S13 would decline to turn into a corner initially, then lurch sideways as the T25G came in with a bang, and was persuaded that an FD3S would give me the balance I craved.

 

The RX-7 is indeed lovely to drive, especially when pushed hard - like an MX-5 with proper power and torque, elegantly poised in a slight drift on entry, and controlled on power at exit.  However, ownership has been a string of worrying failures, waiting, trekking down to the rare specialists to get it fixed, paying out, and then something else going wrong - especially recently.  I wouldn’t really recommend owning one unless you’re rich and live next door to a reputable specialist, but if you get the chance to drive someone else’s, then jump at it!

 

So I want something that’s fun to drive, but also easy to own.  I want a car whose problems are rare and whose garages are common, as opposed to the rotary which is just the opposite.  I was looking into a new Supra, which I think look nice especially from the rear three-quarters, but they’re a lot of money and Toyota seem uninterested in selling them.  Then I realised the answer had been obvious all along - why pay £55k for a 300hp Japanese two-seat FR 1500kg six-cylinder coupe, when I could get a very nice one from £5k, and with a naturally aspirated voice and manual gearbox into the bargain??  The fact that I know the winner of GT Academy USA, who has had two 350Zs and really rates them as drivers’ cars on road, track and autocross, tipped my perception of them away from too big/heavy towards seeing them as desirable drivers cars.

 

My Californian friend's Z, now sold:

 

So, I really think my next car should be a 350Z.  I’m interested in finding an HR late model, on the basis that a newer car better fits the low maintenance requirements.  If I pay £250 more a year in road tax but save a £250 repair, then it’s a wash financially and I’ve saved the hassle of taking the car to the garage, and I’ve got a revvier engine and slightly more polished control weights to enjoy in the meantime.  My previous three cars have all been black, but not by choice - as JDM cars they came from the overwhelmingly monochrome palette favoured by the Japanese, and with a small choice of cars I couldn’t afford to be fussy. So this time I really want an actual colour - Midnight (?) Blue is probably my preference from the rather limited choices in the 07 onwards models.

 

I'm intending to view these two cars tomorrow
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...01904237251469 - Private owner, red, 50k miles, non-GT, £7995
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...01909112100105 - Dealer, dark blue, 57k miles, GT, £9695
any views welcome.

 

Thanks for all the good info, I've been reading up, and will keep you all updated on my quest for my own Z.


 

 

Edited September 21, 2019 by Samoht

[ZMANALEX]

   to the forum.

[davey_83]

Ello n welkom

 

Definitely get out in a 350z to get a feel for one or two or three, for the £££ it's a pretty hard car to beat for the looks/noise/performance/reliability/rare ratio 

[Umster]

Hey! Hope you pick one up soon but I'll have to chip in and say a 370Z is definitely the way to go. Especially as prices are so low now. 

[ian9r]

Hi Tom

I've got a 350z convertible for sale right now up in Cheshire. 

Pm me

Ian

[Samoht]

22 minutes ago, ian9r said:

Hi Tom

I've got a 350z convertible for sale right now up in Cheshire. 

Pm me

Ian

Thanks Ian, but I'm looking for a coupe.  GLWTS.

 

[Davectr]

Hi and welcome. Good luck with your search, I’m sure you’ll really enjoy the Zed when you get it

[JetSet]

I'm thinking of selling my one owner, low mileage (just 30k) 2006 Blade Silver 350Z GT Coupe. I'm only doing about 80 miles a month right now and I don't really need it any more. PM me if you are interested.

 

Cheers,

 

Pete

[Andy_Muxlow]

Hi and welcome along buddy, Some nice looking cars up there.

[Samoht]

Thanks for all the warm words.

 

Yeah it's funny, thinking about it I'm pretty happy how I've had some cars I've really enjoyed, and yet none of them have been more than £5k to buy.  The Silvia was 12 man yen, which was about £1200 at the time.  The 180SX ended up costing about £5k as a personal import collected from Southampton docks.  And I bought the RX-7 for £4500 privately in 2012. 

 

While a good HR may be slightly more than £5k, I think it still fits squarely in the category of an incredible car for a very reasonable price.    I did get to test-drive two on Sunday, I really enjoyed them, the engine has great response and sounds really nice, and the whole car feels a lot of fun   Unfortunately neither was quite for me, both a bit scruffy and with low warm idle oil pressure.    I've booked an inspection to be done on a car in Northern Ireland tomorrow... hopefully I'll be flying to Belfast shortly, assuming the mechanic finds nothing untoward.

 

Thanks for the offers of cars, just to say I'm looking for a 2007-09 HR 350Z Coupe, non-GT pack, preferably a colour other than black. 

(Having driven both, the lower seating position on the manual cloth seats makes me feel a lot more at one with the car).

[GranTurismoEra]

Ireland? Wow. My brother just put his up for sale. 39,000 miles, Has been garaged all its life by previous owner. My brother has had it since earlier this year. Only reason for sale is hes just bought a Toyota Supra.

 

Only issue is it Silver Grey and he wants £8000  as its in great condition and 1 elderly nearly retired previous owner before him who only drove it to Isle of Skye. He kept it garaged, purchased from new and has a private plate. 

 

If youre set on blue then they are here and there not very common

Edited September 25, 2019 by GranTurismoEra

[Samoht]

So, neither of the two cars I looked at were quite right - both a bit scruffy bodywork-wise, and both about 12psi oil pressure at warm idle, which isn't great I understand.  But they were both lovely to drive, especially the non-GT car with the lower seating position.

 

I found a lovely car, stock, 25k miles, one owner from new, night blue, cloth seats.  There's just one slight issue - it's in Portadown.  Which is in Northern Ireland, and I'm in Cambridge.

 

 

So, having had it inspected with overall positive results, (28psi oil pressure, just a couple of small marks/dents on the bodywork) I'm off on a flight on Sunday to bring it back!  I'm pretty excited.

 

 

[Lee370Z]

Great news! Enjoy collecting it 

[HEADPHONES]

Wow.....1 owner car with only 25k miles.

That's a dream find

[davey_83]

Looks a Gem!!!!! You'll love it

[Samoht]

Got it!  Now on the ferry back from Larne, with a nice long drive stretching out in front of me to get to know my Z.

 

Seller was a nice guy, gave me a full tank of petrol ... some of which I may already have turned into noise exiting each roundabout on the dual carriageway between Belfast and Larne port in third gear, throttle wide open :-)

 

Love the car, really happy right now.  Pics to follow once I'm home.