An alternative to the Nissan 300ZX #alternativecar

27 Apr 2017

Of all the great sports cars to come out Japan in the 1990s, the Nissan Z32 twin turbo has to be one of the best. When it was released in 1990, it won Motor Trend’s Import of the Year award. While it might be hard to replace the Z32, there are still alternative options. While one might consider a Mitsubishi 3000GT or Dodge Stealth, there is a much newer option; the Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 (1st generation).

I’ll start with the differences. The most obvious difference is the age, which is a 15 plus year spread. However, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Another difference is engines. While the Nissan had a 3.0L twin turbo V6, the only turbo option for the Genesis is a 2.0L single turbo four cylinder. Finally, the Genesis lacks a convertible option whereas the Nissan featured both a convertible and T-top option.

Even with a 15 year age difference, these cars are still very similar. Both the 300ZX and Genesis are rear wheel drive cars and weigh roughly the same at 3,300-3,600lbs. Don’t worry about power numbers, those match up as well: 300hp (Nissan) vs. 306hp (Hyundai). Now you might be asking, “The Genesis is 15 years newer, surely it can’t cost the same as the 300ZX.” When I first thought of the Genesis as an option, I was skeptical as well. But as it turns out, both of these cars cost between $10-14k for clean examples, much to my surprise.

If you still aren’t convinced this is a good alternative to the 300ZX here a few things that might change your mind. The Genesis features Bluetooth connectivity, even in the base models! In addition, the Genesis has the option of a six-speed manual vs. the five-speed found in the Nissan. Finally, the Genesis has a pretty sweet exhaust note if I do say so myself.

The Nissan 300ZX can’t be replaced, but there’s no denying that the Genesis is a great alternative option.

That brings me to the end of this #alternativecar! Do you think the Genesis is a good alterative to the 300ZX? Which car would you rather have? Let me know! I would like to thank TheZillaJunkie for suggesting the Z32 300ZX. Please feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments for the next #alternativecar. If I choose yours, I’ll shout you out in that post!

Thanks for reading!

Comments

⭕⭕TheZillaJunkie⭕⭕
Whadda ya think?

I think he’s gonna kill you in your sleep and burn the corpse.

I’m gonna confess right here:

I’d MUCH rather have a (3.8) Genesis Coupe than a 350/370Z. I’m just not a huge fan of the Z33, and especially the Z34.

That being said, though, the 3.8 Genesis in my area average around $20k, whereas I can get a clean Z32 TT for around $10-12k. But pricing aside (especially considering my perspective), the Genesis is absolutely a great alternative to a Z.

Awesome! The Genesis is pretty underappreciated in the car community. But thing is, those who do modify them normally just do exhaust and/or stance and slam it to the ground.

That is true, sadly.

At least you guys get them. I wonder how popular they’d be in the UK

Wanna work on the engine? I think which car to take should be pretty obvious.

It all depends on what you want do.

I’ve heard that the 6 speed in the genesis sucks though. Idk if its true or not though

That could very well be the case.

I think those Mitsubishi 3000GT’s are really sexy looking cars. The first time I saw one, I was pushing in carts at my first job at a grocery store and there was a pristine (either black or red) one in the parking lot. It was one of the first Japanese cars I can recall liking a lot -and probs the first one that I instantly fell in love with the looks of (others have taken time to grow on me)