1992 vs 1993 Nissan Z
Draft: this page has not had its final check yet, so check the sources behind anything you rely on.
-
4th gen
1990–1996
Sold as 300ZX
- 6 warnings
- 0 recalls
-
4th gen
1990–1996
Sold as 300ZX
- 6 warnings
- 0 recalls
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.
1992
Nothing that 1993 lacks.
1993
Nothing that 1992 lacks.
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
Rare catches
1992
Nothing that 1993 lacks.
1993
Nothing that 1992 lacks.
Both years
-
Rare
Two-seat hardtop coupe Body style
Hagerty calls slicktop coupes quite rare Hagerty
What changed between
After 1992, up to and including 1993.
- 1993The convertible arrives, and the brake calipers change from aluminium to iron. Hagerty, a published reference
What it came with
1992
Nothing that 1993 lacks.
1993
Both years
What owners and buyers say
Reputation: what owners and the press report
1992
Nothing that 1993 lacks.
1993
Nothing that 1992 lacks.
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