`96 300ZX TT vs `02 350Z
 

Which is faster stock for stock (manual transmission). I once had a Road and Track entirely devoted to the 300ZX but gave it to a friend a few years ago :( . Craig

According to Nissan the 350Z is the fastest Z yet.

If you look at the numbers as well the 350Z is just a tad bit faster (Straight line) then a stock 300ZX. 1/4 mile times are both right at 14.0 seconds or so (give or take a few 1/10s depending where you look).

In the corners a 350Z is definitely better then the old 300ZX which weighed more and didn't have quite the suspension technology the new Z has.

At the end of the day it's really a drivers race, with the better driver winning. Around a race track the newer 350Z should win unless the driver is really bad (this is assuming equal tires too).

Now if the 300ZX TT has any amount of work done like an electronic boost controller, the 350Z is dust in acceleration, no way the NA 350Z will keep up then.

Thanks Kevin, I'll need to make a choice within ~4 months and this is one of the unknown details. The 300 will of course be alot cheaper initially and hold it's value better for two years or so until I upgrade, maybe then to a new and improved 350Z or G35 sport coupe :icon44:

I don't think you could ever make a wrong choice with either Z. I always wanted a 300ZX TT but never could afford one, now that I can afford a Z I got my 350. I'll still own a TT one day though.

The '96 300ZX TT only came with 280HP because of emissions and less aggressive cams, as compared the the '95 and previous model year TT's... so the '96 was a bit slower.

^^^KNOWS HIS SH*T Question though the 300zxTT didnt it have a type of all wheel turning at like 15 mph and over does the 350 have that??

It was called Super HICAS. I owned a 93TT, fun as all hell, and fast as well. Over all, a much heaver feeling car, stock doesn't handle as well, not as stable, more body roll etc. FEELS faster, but I raced a couple of stock Z32TT and beat them slightly. I will say it has more of a cockpit/fighter pilot feel to it, feels a bit more like a race car then the 350Z. As for the Super Hicas, it would turn the rear wheel a slight bit in the opposite direction and then turn with the car, supposedly tucking the car in better for the turn, but it never really did anything I noticed, and it added a lot of weight. Neat, but somewhat useless.

I just saw a dyno for a Z32TT in SCC...put down 560hp at the wheels, but bogged down at the strip.

There were 2 revisions of the Super HICAS. Early model twin turbos had hydraulically driven HICAS and later models (94+) had electronic motor driven HICAS. The weight it added is negligible, especially for the motor driven version.

At low speeds, it does nothing. At medium speeds, the rear wheels would turn out of phase (opposite direction). At high speeds, the rear wheels would turn in phase (same direction). And the maximum amount of turn is 1* in either direction.

Michael.

I know this may not be the right place to ask this but...

What things should I check on a 65,000 mile `96 300ZX TT before I buy it? I do know the timing chain/belt was just done at 60K and new tires were installed. He's also going to have the brakes done within the next two months. Possible purchase ~March 03. I think he will want $18K to $19K, it is nice but does this range seem o.k.? Many thanks :)

If everything checks out the price should be around ~16k. dont let him use 'but its the last year they were made' on you. they came with 20 less hp. look thru twinturbo.net and you should find what to look for when buying a 300ZX TT.