NEED TO KNOW 300ZX

THE COMPLEXITY of the ZX means that, while it’s hyperintelligent in operation, there are a number of potential pitfalls. Tristan Longden of Torque GT advises steering clear of cars built from 1989 to February 1990 because of possible cylinder head and valve problems. 'Get a full history listing everything that’s been done to the car. Having a compression test done will pay dividends too, and keep an eye on the boost gauge at idle – the needle should be to the far left; if it’s more to the middle, there could be compression issues.' Twin-turbo cars can have cooling problems – check the temp gauge during the test-drive, and also look in the nearside wheel well afterwards for signs of coolant egress. And be aware that alternators are weak, and can last fewer than 80k; it's over $500 to sort.