Overview & Reviews

If there's ever been a Nissan worthy of an E! True Hollywood Story, it's the Z. It's all there: instant fame upon its debut, lots of sex (OK, maybe sexy bodywork is more accurate), an unsavory weight gain, a turn to anonymity, a wrongful death and then, finally, miraculous rebirth.

Playing a starring role in all of this is the fourth-generation Nissan 300ZX. Debuting for the 1990 model year, the 300ZX was the quickest, fastest and best-handling Z to date. Even when viewed from a modern-day perspective, the top model, the 300ZX Twin Turbo, still has a dazzling stat sheet. To wit: a twin-turbo V6 engine belting out 300 horsepower, a sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension and available "Super HICAS" rear-wheel steering. Depending on which published road test you look at, the 300ZX Twin Turbo could reach 60 mph between 5 and 6 seconds flat.

The Nissan 300ZX could also outrun just about every competitor at the time. It couldn't, however, outrun fate. The car's costly technological hardware combined with the U.S. dollar's weakness against the yen in the mid-'90s drove the price up, effectively killing this former sports car bargain. Nissan stopped importing the 300ZX to the U.S. after the '96 model year.

For someone interested in a used sports car, this 300ZX and its depreciated pricing are very tempting. But there are caveats. Though the car has a pretty good reputation for reliability, Nissan did pack a lot of technology into it that can go wrong. And since it's a sports car, the odds of finding one that hasn't been wrecked, beat on or modified by a dim-witted previous owner are quite slim. Make sure you do a thorough inspection and obtain as much of the car's history as possible before considering a purchase.

Most recent Nissan 300ZX

There were four models available for the fourth-generation Nissan 300ZX: a coupe, a "2+2" coupe, a convertible (from 1993 and up) and the 300ZX Twin Turbo coupe. The 2+2 had an approximately 5-inch-longer wheelbase to provide room for two vestigial rear seats.

Regular 300ZXs came with a 3.0-liter V6 that produced 222 hp and 198 pound-feet of torque. The Turbo had a modified version of the same engine. Thanks to intercooling and a single turbo for each cylinder bank, it produced 300 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Power was applied to the rear wheels through a standard five-speed transmission and limited-slip differential. A four-speed automatic was optional. Turbo models fitted with the automatic were rated at 280 hp.

The Z coupe's hatchback body style provided a fair amount of utility, and the roof could be either solid or a T-top design with removable panels. In its first few years, the Nissan 300ZX consistently impressed reviewers with its attractive styling, power and handling performance. If there were complaints, they usually involved the car's curb weight, which hit 3,500 pounds in Twin Turbo form.

Changes to this generation Nissan 300ZX were minimal. In 1992, a driver-side front airbag became standard. The following year was the first year for the convertible. In 1994, Nissan made a passenger-side airbag standard. For the car's final year of 1996, Nissan discontinued the Turbo model's variable camshaft timing. Horsepower was still rated at 300, though some Z enthusiasts claim there was a slight actual power drop because of the change.

For information about the previous-generation 300ZX and a complete history of the Nissan Z, please view our Nissan Z Car history page.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 19 of 19.00

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  Z Best - 1996 Nissan 300ZX
  By Z-One - May 26 - 6:06 am

  I purchased this car used 5 years ago. I am a sports car enthuasist. This is the finest, fastest, most reliable, most comfortable car I have ever owned. It handles so well, there is no time I have ever felt unsure of its ability to hold the road. Acceleration so smooth youd think there is no limit. For a car with such performance, creature comforts still are present. Great Bose cd sound system! Comfortable seats. I can only hope the new 350Z will someday attain this old models glory!

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  Best - 1996 Nissan 300ZX
  By jbaumer1 - October 27 - 10:00 am

  The best Z ever! We have a 1995 2+2, 1993 2+2 and the 1996 Convertible. I will keep them forever!

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  God I Love My Z!!! - 1996 Nissan 300ZX
  By zman1996 - July 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car in 1996 and I am in love with it. My girlfriend is jealous of it. It is dark green with leather and an automatic tranny. You are probably wondering why i would want an automatic in a sports car. I tell you what though its just as quick and a lot easier to drive. I put some 17" enkei rims on it and it looks awesome.

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  Nice for the age - 1996 Nissan 300ZX
  By Irock - November 13 - 12:33 am

  Just bought this last year and I really enjoy driving it. It has plenty of power. Shifts hard into 2nd (reminds me of my vette). Sounds great. Looks great. Drives and handles like a new one.

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  my baby z - 1996 Nissan 300ZX
  By Dan S - September 28 - 2:00 am

  i own a 1990 n/a Z (with a bunch of mods) and its the best car ill ever own....its great to drive around just for the hell of it, and its great owning one of the best cars ever made. it looks great, better than most cars of today....and even at 13 years old, she still beats everyone i race

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  Going on 3 years... - 1996 Nissan 300ZX
  By quikz - August 16 - 2:00 am

  Bought a used 91 with high mileage. BUT...mechanically in great condition. As far as I can tell, not abused by the previous owner and was 100% stock, (a plus to me), and it came in the color I liked, Black on Black with 5-speed. Couldnt pass it up! Mines a non-turbo and Not as powerful as a turbo, but great driveability. Very reliable, with just minor problems at the begining (power steering pump etc.) all very very minor stuff. But going on 3 years now with the car and not much yrouble at all. I keep up with the maintenance, VERY IMPORTANT. Its garage and it is mostly just a weekend car.

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  Everything youd thought it would be... - 1996 Nissan 300ZX
  By pex - July 21 - 2:00 am

  This generation Nissan is nothing short of a phenomenon. I dont think any of us truly appreciated what a classic sports car Nissan produced from 1990- 1996. Nor could you understand the gravity of its annual assault as Car & Drivers, Motor Trend, among others, pound-for-pound best sports car ever made claims. Simply put,power, handle, big brakes, and good looks. What more could a layperson ask for?

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  The Nissan twin turbo ZX is FAST - 1996 Nissan 300ZX
  By THE-FREAK13 - May 24 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the best racing experince of my life with this car. It will dust any cars in its class such as the Z28 camaro, a V8 mustang, and many more.

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  1996 300ZX - 1996 Nissan 300ZX
  By apudapus - April 22 - 2:00 am

  This car was my dads and my dream car. We dreamed of owning it when we first saw pre-production models in 89 (my dad works for Nissan so we were in the know about it). Because of its price, we werent able to afford for the six years it was on sale in America. In 2001 we found a black 1996 2+2 NA with a fair amount of miles on it but in perfect condition. It is a fast car that handles perfectly. The styling is beautiful and unforgettable. It is very comfortable inside and the dash and controls are futuristically and conveniently incorporated around the driver. The only bad