1984 vs 1985 Nissan Z

Draft: this page has not had its final check yet, so check the sources behind anything you rely on.

vs

Both years are the same generation, so most of what they offer is shared.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

1984

Nothing that 1985 lacks.

1985

Nothing that 1984 lacks.

Both years

  • Rust under the rear carpet and seats All years

    What to check: Pull up the rear carpet and the foam tool tray, and look in the spare tyre well and under the seats.

    Three owners in two HybridZ threads name rust in the rear floor under the carpet, and two of them call floor rust a reason to pass.

    Owners' reports (unofficial)

  • Leaking quarter windows and tail lights All years

    What to check: Look for water stains and damp carpet behind the seats and in the rear corners.

    Three owners in two HybridZ threads say the rear quarter windows and the tail lights leak, and two of them say the T-tops leak too.

    Owners' reports (unofficial)

Rare catches

1984

  • Rare 50th Anniversary Edition Package

    Built for Nissan's 50th anniversary, in 1984 only Nissan, a published reference

    5,148 built for the US Nissan, a published reference

  • Rare Light Pewter and Thunder Black Color

    50th Anniversary Edition only A published reference

1985

Nothing that 1984 lacks.

Recalls

1984

  • 83V125000 1984

    The hood's secondary latch may be out of line, so the latch may not hold the hood down. NHTSA

  • 84V057000 1984

    A clip in the brake master cylinder may not be fitted properly, so parts can come out and the brakes fail suddenly. NHTSA

  • 85V021000 1984

    Impure grease in the headlamp switch can foul its contacts, so the headlamps may come on late or not at all. NHTSA

1985

Nothing that 1984 lacks.

Both years

  • 87V098000 1984–1987

    The car may accelerate unintentionally, for example when shifted out of Park. NHTSA

  • 95I006000 1984–1989

    Not a safety recall but a safety improvement campaign: the fuel injectors and their hoses, which could leak, are replaced. NHTSA

What changed between

After 1984, up to and including 1985.

No changes recorded between these years.

What it came with

1984

Packages
50th Anniversary Edition (1984) Nissan, a published reference

1985

Nothing that 1984 lacks.

Both years

Engines
3.0L V6 A published reference, 3.0L turbo V6 Nissan, a published reference
Transmissions
5-speed manual Nissan, a published reference, 4-speed automatic Nissan, a published reference
Drivetrains
Rear-wheel drive A published reference
Body styles
Two-seat coupe A published reference, 2+2 coupe A published reference
Trims
300ZX A published reference, 300ZX Turbo Nissan, a published reference

Colors

1984

  • Light Pewter and Thunder Black 1984 A published reference Rare

1985

Nothing that 1984 lacks.