Nissan 300ZX

Nissan 300ZX: which version to buy, and why the numbers split the range

The Nissan 300ZX is a two-generation Coupe (1983-01-01 to 2000-06-30). The buying question is not “is it a sports coupe?” — it is which of ten 3.0 AT and 3.0 MT rows you actually want. First generation (1983-01-01–1989-11-30) is naturally aspirated, lighter, and cheaper on paper if you only look at horsepower.

The Nissan 300ZX is a two-generation Coupe (1983-01-01 to 2000-06-30). The buying question is not “is it a sports coupe?” — it is which of ten 3.0 AT and 3.0 MT rows you actually want. First generation (1983-01-01–1989-11-30) is naturally aspirated, lighter, and cheaper on paper if you only look at horsepower. Second generation (1989-12-01–2000-06-30) is turbo, heavier, and faster in a straight line only when you take the manuals. The rest of this page is arithmetic on those rows.

Specs that decide the purchase: power, torque, weight

Displacement is the same on every version: 2960 cm³, Gasoline, 6 cylinders, V-shaped, bore × stroke 87 × 83. That is useful: litres do not change, so horsepower per litre and kilograms per horsepower are fair comparisons.

Power per litre (hp ÷ 2.96 L):

The jump from the weakest first-generation 3.0 AT (170 hp) to the strongest second-generation 3.0 MT (283 hp) is +113 hp and +38.2 hp/L. Inside generation 1, moving from 170 to 228 hp is +58 hp without adding turbo. Inside generation 2, 268 vs 283 hp is only +15 hp — the turbo already did the big work.

Torque does not follow the same steps. Generation 1 sits at 248 Nm (170 hp), 260 Nm (203 hp), 273 Nm (228 hp). Generation 2 is 375 Nm on all four turbo rows — +102 Nm over the 228 hp first-gen cars and +127 Nm over the 170 hp cars. Peak torque also arrives earlier: 3600 rpm on every second-generation row versus 4000 / 4400 / 4800 rpm in generation 1. If the “extra money” is for mid-range pull, generation 2 is the only place it shows up in the data.

Weight per horsepower (kerb kg ÷ hp), only where kerb weight is measured:

Kerb weight is not measured for first-generation 3.0 AT 170 hp, 3.0 AT 203 hp, and 3.0 AT 228 hp. Gross weight is not measured for first-generation 3.0 AT 170 hp, 3.0 MT 203 hp, 3.0 AT 203 hp, 3.0 AT 228 hp, and 3.0 MT 170 hp.

The lightest measured car is first-generation 3.0 MT 203 hp at 1310 kg. The heaviest kerb is second-generation 3.0 MT 283 hp at 1644 kg — +334 kg. Best measured power-to-weight is second-generation 3.0 AT 283 hp at 5.76 kg/hp. Worst is first-generation 3.0 MT 170 hp at 8.18 kg/hp. First-generation 3.0 MT 228 hp at 6.27 kg/hp is close to the turbo cars despite 40–55 hp less, because it is 190–314 kg lighter than the second-generation kerb figures.

Nissan 300ZX twin turbo vs Z31 naturally aspirated: what generation 2 actually changes

First generation (Z31 in search language; the data label is 1 generation): Coupe, 6 versions, No boost, tank 60 L, ground clearance 130 mm, independent spring front suspension, rear suspension not measured. Engine position not measured. Front brakes Disc (rear Disc only on 3.0 MT 228 hp; rear brakes not measured on the other five).

Second generation (Z32 / twin turbo in search language; the data label is 2 generation): Coupe, 4 versions, Turbo, tank 70 L (+10 L), ground clearance 125 mm (−5 mm), front independent spring, rear independent spring on 3.0 MT 283 hp and 3.0 AT 283 hp (rear not measured on both 268 hp rows). Engine Front, longitudinal. Front and rear brakes Ventilated disc / Disc ventilated. Compression falls from 9 or 10.5 (generation 1) to 8.5 (generation 2) — the turbo rows run a lower squeeze.

Fuel: generation 1 3.0 AT 170 hp and 3.0 MT 170 hp take 92; every other version takes 95. Valves per cylinder: 2 on the 170 hp pair, 4 on everything else. Feed is Distributed injection (multi-point) on all ten.

So generation 2 buys you turbo, +10 L tank, ventilated discs all round, a stated engine location, and (on the 283 hp pair) a stated rear independent spring. You pay in kerb mass: the lightest second-generation car (3.0 MT 268 hp, 1620 kg) is still 190 kg heavier than first-generation 3.0 MT 228 hp (1430 kg) and 310 kg heavier than first-generation 3.0 MT 203 hp (1310 kg).

Wheel sizes are not measured on every version.

0–100, top speed, mpg: measured vs not measured

Acceleration and top speed are not measured on first-generation 3.0 AT 170 hp, 3.0 AT 203 hp, and 3.0 AT 228 hp. City / highway / combined consumption is not measured on nine of ten versions. CO₂ and eco class are not measured on all ten. There is no mpg figure in the data except the one second-generation 3.0 MT 283 hp row below; treat “nissan 300zx mpg” as that single measurement, not a fleet average.

Where 0–100 km/h is measured:

• Second-generation 3.0 MT 283 hp: 5.9 s, top 250 km/h
• Second-generation 3.0 MT 268 hp: 5.9 s, top 250 km/h
• First-generation 3.0 MT 203 hp: 6.5 s, top 240 km/h
• First-generation 3.0 MT 228 hp: 7.1 s, top 250 km/h
• Second-generation 3.0 AT 268 hp: 7.1 s, top 250 km/h
• Second-generation 3.0 AT 283 hp: 7.1 s, top 250 km/h
• First-generation 3.0 MT 170 hp: 9.0 s, top 225 km/h

The 5.9 s manuals in generation 2 are 1.2 s quicker than the 7.1 s automatics with the same 283 hp or 268 hp. Automatic vs manual on the turbo cars is therefore worth more than the 15 hp gap: 3.0 MT 268 hp matches 3.0 MT 283 hp to 100 km/h, and both beat 3.0 AT 283 hp by 1.2 s.

First-generation 3.0 MT 203 hp at 6.5 s beats first-generation 3.0 MT 228 hp at 7.1 s by 0.6 s, with 25 hp less and 120 kg less kerb (1310 vs 1430). Stock horsepower is not the whole 0–100 story.

Fuel (the only measured mpg row): second-generation 3.0 MT 283 hp — city 14.5, highway 8.3, combined 11.2 L/100 km. City, highway and combined are not measured for the other nine versions, including both first-generation cars and the three remaining second-generation turbos.

Engine options, horsepower and torque by exact version name

Two 3.0 AT or two 3.0 MT rows are not the same car. Distinguish them by horsepower.

1 generation (1983-01-01–1989-11-30), Coupe, RWD

• 3.0 AT 170 hp / 125 kW at 4800 rpm, 248 Nm at 4000, 2 valves, No boost, Automatic 4, fuel 92, compression 9. 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured.
• 3.0 MT 170 hp / 125 kW at 4800, 248 Nm at 4000, 2 valves, No boost, Manual 5, fuel 92, 9.0 s, 225 km/h, kerb 1390 kg.
• 3.0 MT 203 hp / 149 kW at 6000, 260 Nm at 4400, 4 valves, No boost, Manual 5, fuel 95, compression 10.5, 6.5 s, 240 km/h, kerb 1310 kg.
• 3.0 AT 203 hp / 149 kW at 6000, 260 Nm at 4400, 4 valves, No boost, Automatic 4, fuel 95, compression 10.5. 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured, kerb not measured.
• 3.0 MT 228 hp / 168 kW at 6400, 273 Nm at 4800, 4 valves, No boost, Manual 5, fuel 95, compression 10.5, 7.1 s, 250 km/h, kerb 1430 kg, gross 1810 kg. Rear brakes Disc.
• 3.0 AT 228 hp / 168 kW at 6400, 273 Nm at 4800, 4 valves, No boost, Automatic 4, fuel 95. 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured, kerb not measured.

2 generation (1989-12-01–2000-06-30), Coupe, RWD, Turbo, compression 8.5, 4 valves, fuel 95, Front longitudinal

• 3.0 MT 283 hp / 208 kW at 6400, 375 Nm at 3600, Manual 5, 5.9 s, 250 km/h, kerb 1644 kg, gross 2015 kg. Only version with measured consumption. Rear suspension Independent, spring.
• 3.0 AT 283 hp / 208 kW at 6400, 375 Nm at 3600, Automatic 4, 7.1 s, 250 km/h, kerb 1630 kg, gross 2015 kg. Rear Independent, spring. Consumption not measured.
• 3.0 MT 268 hp / 197 kW (power rpm not measured), 375 Nm at 3600, Manual 5, 5.9 s, 250 km/h, kerb 1620 kg, gross 2020 kg. Rear suspension not measured. Consumption not measured.
• 3.0 AT 268 hp / 197 kW at 6400, 375 Nm at 3600, Automatic 4, 7.1 s, 250 km/h, kerb 1630 kg, gross 2020 kg. Rear suspension not measured. Consumption not measured.

Engine code, engine number location, engine bay layout beyond Front, longitudinal, and swap compatibility are not measured.

Dimensions, curb weight, ground clearance, tank

Length, overall size, and weight distribution are not measured. What is measured:

• Ground clearance: 130 mm (generation 1) vs 125 mm (generation 2).
• Tank: 60 L vs 70 L.
• Kerb: 1310–1430 kg (measured generation 1 manuals) vs 1620–1644 kg (generation 2). Gross where measured: 1810 kg (first-generation 3.0 MT 228 hp) vs 2015–2020 kg (generation 2) — +205 to +210 kg on the 228 hp car’s 1810 kg.
• Wheels: not measured.

1990-weight searches map to generation 2 (1630–1644 kg kerb). 1985/1986-weight searches map to generation 1, where only three kerb figures exist: 1310, 1390, 1430 kg.

Which version to choose

If the goal is the shortest measured 0–100: second-generation 3.0 MT 283 hp or 3.0 MT 268 hp, both 5.9 s and 250 km/h. The 15 hp extra on the 283 does not buy a quicker sprint in this data. It does buy the only consumption figures (14.5 / 8.3 / 11.2) and a stated rear Independent, spring. Kerb is 24 kg higher on the 283 (1644 vs 1620). Power-to-weight still favours 3.0 MT 283 hp slightly (5.81 vs 6.04 kg/hp).

If the goal is automatic and generation 2: 3.0 AT 283 hp and 3.0 AT 268 hp both run 7.1 s and 250 km/h. Same sprint; 3.0 AT 283 hp has 15 hp more, 5 kg less gross than the 268 AT’s 2020 kg (2015 vs 2020), the same 1630 kg kerb as 3.0 AT 268 hp, and a stated rear Independent, spring. The 15 hp is +5.3%; the 0–100 is +0 s. You are paying for peak power and a documented rear axle, not a faster catalogue sprint.

If the goal is light kerb and a first-generation manual: 3.0 MT 203 hp is the lightest measured Nissan 300ZX at 1310 kg, 6.5 s, 240 km/h, 4 valves, compression 10.5, 95. It is 0.6 s quicker to 100 than 3.0 MT 228 hp despite 25 hp less, because it is 120 kg lighter. 3.0 MT 228 hp is the first-gen car that reaches 250 km/h and the only first-gen row with both rear Disc brakes and a gross weight (1810 kg). 3.0 MT 170 hp is the slowest measured car (9.0 s, 225 km/h), 2 valves, fuel 92, 8.18 kg/hp — the row you pick only if you explicitly want the lowest hp and 92-octane, not if you want the generation’s performance.

If the goal is a first-generation automatic: 3.0 AT 170 / 203 / 228 hp have 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured, and kerb not measured. You cannot rank them on sprint or weight from this catalogue. What you can rank: 170 hp and 2 valves and 92 fuel versus 203 or 228 hp, 4 valves, 95, compression 10.5. The 228 AT matches the 228 MT on peak power (228 hp / 273 Nm) but without a measured 0–100.

If the goal is hp and torque together: generation 2’s 375 Nm at 3600 rpm is the step that does not exist in generation 1. Stock horsepower on the turbo cars is 268 or 283 hp; first generation tops at 228 hp and 273 Nm. Turbo vs No boost is the generation split, not a trim inside one generation.

If the goal is not to over-pay for 15 hp: on generation 2, 3.0 MT 268 hp equals 3.0 MT 283 hp to 100 km/h, and 3.0 AT 268 hp equals 3.0 AT 283 hp to 100 km/h. The 283 pair is the one with documented rear Independent, spring (and, on the MT, the only mpg). The 268 pair is the lighter MT kerb (1620 kg) and the same 5.9 / 7.1 s split.

Drive and gearbox are not the fork between generations: every version is RWD. Manuals are 5 gears; automatics are 4. The fork that changes the clock is Manual vs Automatic on generation 2 (5.9 s vs 7.1 s, 1.2 s), and Turbo vs No on the generation change (375 Nm vs 248–273 Nm).

There is no price in this data, so “for sale” and asking price are outside the comparison. The numbers say: buy second-generation 3.0 MT (268 or 283 hp) for the measured 5.9 s; buy second-generation 3.0 AT 283 hp if you want automatic plus the documented rear spring and can live with 7.1 s; buy first-generation 3.0 MT 203 hp if kerb 1310 kg and 6.5 s matter more than turbo torque; avoid ranking any first-generation 3.0 AT on acceleration or weight — those figures are not measured.