1991 vs 1992 Nissan Z

Both years

• Leaking HICAS lines 1990–1993

  What to check: Look for a HICAS warning light on the dash and for fluid along the lines that run to the rear, and ask whether the system was ever switched off.

  The hydraulic lines run the length of the car and leak with age. Electric HICAS from 1994 does away with them. SlashGear, citing Car and Driver, says some owners disable it to save on repairs.

  Hagerty, SlashGear

• Leaking T-tops and blocked drains All years One source so far

  What to check: Look for water behind the seats and in the footwells, and check the T-top seals for shrinking.

  The seals shrink with age, and the drains in the B-pillars and windscreen frame clog, so water gets in.

  Hagerty

• Rust in the sills and door jambs All years

  What to check: Look at the sills ahead of the rear wheels, the door jambs and the seat rails. A patched outer sill can hide rot inside.

  Hagerty says deep rust is rare on the Z32 but bubbling on the rockers and door jambs happens. SlashGear, citing Autocar, says blocked roof drains rot the sills ahead of the rear arches, and that rusty seat rails point to a car left open in the rain.

  Hagerty, SlashGear

• Poorly repaired front end damage All years One source so far

  What to check: Check the fit of the nose panel, hood, bumper and headlamps, and use a paint thickness meter. Before 1995 a body-colour lower bumper means it has been repainted.

  Hagerty says bad accident repairs are common.

  Hagerty

• Leaking turbo seals All years

  What to check: Ask whether the turbos were checked or replaced, and look for blue smoke.

  SlashGear, citing Car and Driver, says the turbo seals can start to leak between 60,000 and 80,000 miles. Hagerty says the turbos can fail with age or miles.

  SlashGear, Hagerty

• Weak gearbox synchros All years One source so far

  What to check: Shift through every gear on the test drive, quickly as well as gently, and feel for grinding.

  Nissan fitted stronger synchros to the Japanese cars from 1999 to cure a soft-synchro problem that had shown up on earlier Z32s.

  A published reference

Both years

• Rare Two-seat hardtop coupe Body style

  Hagerty calls slicktop coupes quite rare Hagerty

Both years

Engines

3.0L V6 Nissan, Hagerty, a published reference, 3.0L twin turbo V6 Nissan, Hagerty, a published reference

Transmissions

5-speed manual Hagerty, a published reference, 4-speed automatic Hagerty, a published reference

Drivetrains

Rear-wheel drive A published reference

Body styles

Two-seat coupe with T-tops Nissan, Hagerty, a published reference, 2+2 with T-tops Nissan, Hagerty, a published reference, Two-seat hardtop coupe (1991–1996) Hagerty, SlashGear, a published reference

Trims

300ZX Hagerty, a published reference, 300ZX Twin Turbo Hagerty, a published reference

Both years

• Sought after: Manual Twin Turbo two-seater All years

  Hagerty calls the two-seat T-top Twin Turbo the most wanted Z32, and SlashGear names the manual Twin Turbo as the one collectors want. Hagerty, SlashGear

• Avoid: Modified cars All years Less sought after

  Many Z32s were modified. SlashGear advises collectors to pass on cars with big changes, since the work is hard to judge in a tight engine bay, and Hagerty says to be patient and find a clean, mostly stock car. SlashGear, Hagerty