Greg
Witson

TEST DRIVE

IT’S BEEN four years since
the Nissan 300 ZX sports
car was introduced.

And some journalists and
automotive publications still rate
it as the best sports car in its
class. This, despite the fact that
it’s up against such new and for-
midable competition as the Mazda
RX-7 and the new Toyota Supra
Turbo.

The reason for this, as J see it,
is the 300 ZX was a very advanced
car when it was introduced.

The 300 ZX is a sophisticated,
balanced sports car with a more
user-friendly outlook than most
sports cars. Its rakish, handsome
styling is instantly recognizable.
The powerful, three-litre V6
powertrain with valve timing con-
trol and available inter-cooled
dual turbochargers offers amazing
flexibility.

Handting, balance and steering
control, particularly when equip-
.ped with the Super HICAS

“four-wheel steering system, is very .

sure-footed. And unlike some
sports cars, the 300 ZX is com-
fortable, comparatively quiet, and
easy to drive.

Most of its faults have to do
with its interior, but I'll get back
to that later.

For 1993, the 300 ZX continues
basically unchanged, although
U.S. customers are now offered a
convertible version.

The non-turbocharged 300 ZX
is available in two body styles: a
two-seater or a 242. The 24+2
has a slightly longer wheelbase
and overall length and the side
profile is marginally different, but
you wouldn’t notice the difference
unless you were looking at both
cars parked side by side.

The 300 ZX Turbo is offered
only as a two-seater. It can be
distinguished visually by air-in-
take slats on cither side of the
front spoiler and by a sma!l rear
spoiler.

Price as tested $50,890

Base price (non-turbo) $42,490
Type two-door, two-passenger
hatchback sports car

Layout longitudinal front
engine/rear-wheel drive

Engine 3.0-litre V6, DOHC
(2), 24 valves, valve timing
control, twin inter-cooled tur-
bochargers, multi-point fuel
injection

Horsepower 300 @ 6,400 rpm

Torque 283 ft.-ibs. @ 3,600
rpm

orth Shore News - 27

or

The 1993 Nissan 300 ZX Twin Turbo offers a 300-horsepower 3.0-litre V6 engine attached to a standard five-speed manual transmis-

sion. Suggested retail price is $50,890.

Its twin turbocharged 3.0-litre
V6 engine develons a whopping
300 horsepower at 6,400 rpm;
that’s 100 horsepower per litre, a
milestone when the car was first
introduced. Equipped with the op-
tional four-sreed automatic
transmissici, the turbocharged
engine develops 280 horsepower.

Turbo boost comes on at about
3,000 rpm, providing a surge of
powerful, push-you-back-in-
the-seat acceleration right up to
the red line of 6,500 rpm. The
power progression is so even and
smooth that the car feels com-
pletely controllable, even though it
is not equipped with traction con-
trol. Care should be taken in the
wet, though.

The turbocharged 300 ZX has
almost twice the torque of the
non-turbocharged 300 ZX. This
provides a more relaxed driving
experience with more power avail-
able at lower engine revolutions
and fewer gear changes required.
The 300 ZX Turbo develops 283

See Driving school page 30

Transmission five-speed man-
ual

Curb weight 1,485 kg/3,474
Ibs.

Wheelbase 2,450 mm/96.5 in.
Length 4,305 mm/169.5 in.
Width 1,790 mm/70.5 in,

Height 1,226 ram/48.3 in.

Cargo capacity 326 litres/11.4
cu. ft.

Warranty Basic three years/
80,000 km; Major Comp. six
years/ 100,000 km

Fuel economy City 13.6 L/100
km (20 mpg); Alwy 9.2 1/100
km (31 mpg)

Check out the 1993 Nissan 300
ZX at Northshore Nissan, 1160
Marine Dr., North Vancouver.

Noithshore>

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