944 vs. Corvette vs. 300zx

I need everyone's help in deciding upon a new car. I call upon this forum to enable me! In short I am looking for a fun weekend / autocross toy that would cost no more then $6-7K after purchase price and repairs. The car does not need to be in mint condition to begin with as I am open to running project cars.

I am considering the Porsche 944, C4 Corvette (84-96), and Nissan 300zx (90-96) as candidates. What is everyone's take on these vehicles; pro's and cons? Should I consider the turbo 944, and twin turbo 300zx or is that asking for too much trouble?

Twin-turbo 300zx's are phenomenally quick, considering their age. I'm not sure how many came to the USA, but the ideal model is the 2-seater 'slick top' non-targa. Lightest, and best looking.

Extremely cramped engine bays, though, making them pretty tedious to work on.

They all sound like sound choices, but I'd consider the FC RX-7 turbo and n/a as well. The FD too, but I think that will exceed your budget.

That's a tough one. I like them all, so if I were looking, I'd shop condition. Which one can you find that's in the best shape. None of them will be cheap on upkeep. They have their own quirks and expenses, so I'd say find the best one you can within your budget. Also, drive all three and see if one jumps out.

At $6-$7K 7you are talking about a very nice Turbo 944 (951) or an LT1 C4 Corvette, both of which are amazing cars. If you autocross at SCCA events the C4 has a new place to play in the Stock classes. The 951 obviously has the full support of the PCA and POC.

The TT300ZX is the dark horse. I've driven the N/A car and thought it was quick, I imagine the TT would be an animal.

I stopped reading as soon as you mentioned the Z32 TT.

THAT. DO IT. NOW.

I don't care if they're a pain to work on. They're fast, they're beautiful. I care about nothing else. And really, they aren't HARD to work on for the most part, just time consuming because you have to remove a ton of stuff to get to anything. Taking twice as long to do something =! twice as hard to do something.

forget the Z, the brakes blow and they are more difficult to turn into a track ready car. Both the Porsche and the Vette can handle double duty with ease, have incredible club and parts support and are proven on the track. Just depends on what type of car appeals to you the most. The Corvette is an easy DD with abundant torque and great HVAC systems. The Porsche is built better, won't rattle and has a higher quality interior. Both fun cars.

The 300ZX is light years ahead of the Vette or the 944 as a weekend car. It is pretty much better in every way. The brake issue is nothing to worry about unless a rotor/pad upgrade is scary to you. One caveat is that I don't know how well it does in autocross as compared to the others.

Zx + well tuned turbos = fun. Additionally, if you blow the motor you just order a jdm for 2g and you're set.

If "weekender" is to be a goal here, I'd definitely keep the Zed in the running. True, it probably is the least-best candidate for a track car, but they make for fabulous long-distance tourers, too, and you can have fun auto-crossing anything.

I'm not sure what a 951 drives like, but in the Datsun, there's barely any sensation of turbo-lag at all.

I don't think you could go wrong with any of those. An RX-7, the FC in Turbo II format, would also be doable.

I'm spending a bit more but I've started into an SN95 type Mustang, a 95, if I hadn't gone with a convertible and if you are careful about shopping for used/ebay/etc deal I think that could also work. Will start a build thread once I get a plate and insurance hung so that should be interesting.

In reply to Luke:

Lots of lag in the 944. Keep it on boost and it is wonderful. But pulling away from a stop light at low RPM can be a humbling experience when kids on bicycles blow by you.

My definition of 'easy to work on' means maintenance is short and simple. The 300ZX is definitely not simple, nor short. A blown head gasket involves removing the all the belt driven accessories and most of the front of the car. The C4 or 951 would be higher up on my list. Both of these cars have a long history of racing and a larger pool of owners who actually race their car.

Tough call. I have spent plenty of time wrenching on 300zx and they are incredibly complicated and cramped. That said, they are incredibly resilient. The one I worked on had 225k hard, unloved, trailer parked miles. That thing was still a beast and still reliable (even if it wasn't 'right.')

3rd gear crunched. I pulled the drain plug and PARTS came out. Not just the porcupine of metal shavings on the magnetic plugs, but honest-to-god parts. Filled it full of Redline heavy shockproof gear oil and it shifted fine.

The stock suspension was still viable after 225k (much of it apparently off-road.)

The car is a heavy sucka and drives like it, but they're pretty cheap and apparently tough as nails.

^That, too...

I've ridden in one that had over 300k miles on it, fairly modded, still stock original motor and trans.

Sumbitch was FAST, and it sure didn't feel in any way that it had 300k miles on it, besides the destroyed seats.

When I bought my C4 back in 2005 or so, I found that it is a LOT easier to find a nice condition, low miles C4 than either of the other cars you mentioned. It seems that a lot of people who buy Corvettes new use them as weekend toys, meaning there are lots of low miles cars out there. Mine had under 80k when I got it, and it was not really considered "low miles" by Corvette standards.
By contrast, my friend bought an NA 944 and found it really difficult to find anything with under 100k.

Of that list? I'd go Corvette.

Heck, I'm thinking about going Corvette, once the 6-speed/LT1 cars come down in price a little bit more.

I'd never get a Z32. If I were gonna go for that vintage Nissan, my money would go to the S-chassis every time.

ReverendDexter wrote: I'd never get a Z32. If I were gonna go for that vintage Nissan, my money would go to the S-chassis every time.

My sx has amassed a bit of rust. I was actually thinking of swapping over to a 280z.

I am hearing a lot about how the TT Z is trouble to work on. The NA Z is still a pretty great car and quite a bit simpler.

Vette or V8 FC.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/rwd-challenge-part-1

There are 4 parts, enjoy :)

I like the idea of the 300ZX (kind of like the 3000GT) but they are heavy and a bit more like GT cars than SportsCars.

A more comparable car to the Vette and 300ZX would be the 928, not the 951.

With either turbo car, practicing left foot braking is important to keep the turbo spooled up.

Otto Maddox wrote: The NA Z is still a pretty great car and quite a bit simpler.

It's also slower than a very mildly ported (but otherwise stock) KA24DE 240SX.

In reply to ReverendDexter:

Really? How fast is one of those? I kind of figured the drift tax has made a really nice 240SX to close in price to a Z.

Not sure how to quantify "how fast", I just know that my buddy had an S13, and when it went down, he borrowed his boss's NA Z32 and wouldn't stop complaining about how slow it was compared to his 240.

Not sure what Zs are going for, but S13s haven't got hit around here near as hard has hachis for drift tax. I think you're right, though, and that they're fairly comparable pricewise, but I'd still lean towards the S just because of the knowledge-base; I know a bunch of guys with motor-swapped 240s. It's honestly got to the point where seeing a sinlge-cam KA is more of a shock to me than seeing an SR or LS1, lol.

All sound like good choices. Buy a couple of each and then tell us! I've only ever driven the Vette in LT1 convertible form, and they're neat because they loaf around in top gear under 2k on the highway, get mid 20's for mileage and can outrun more than you think they can. The clamshell makes working on them WAY EASIER than the previous generation Corvettes, too, especially the C3 versions.