There is so much to say about this video. Where to begin? From the swerving on the open highway with other vehicles to the brake tests on a sheet of ice. Well they sure knew how to do things back in 1982!
In 1983 I purchased a brand new 280ZX Turbo in what was called a Champaign color with a maroon velour interior... It was amazing and one of my favorites of all of them...
The euro version I had from 1983, had 200hp because we didn't have the same emission control as in the US. Installed a intercooler from a Porsche 944 and took the boost up a bit, got 250hp on regular fuel. I only opened up the airfilter with KN cone and bigger exhaust system, straight pipe, Stock injection and fuel pump. Which were running on the limits. People are taking these engines up to 6-700hp with further modifications though. Loved the 280ZXT, I came from a Alfa Romeo GTV6 beauty, but it broke down every time I drove crazy and dropped the clutch with more than me in the car. The Datsun 280 ZXT took any beating I gave it, such a tough build. Impressive.
@@ISSTI371 With snow tires, extra weight can actually help stopping and acceleration. This definitely doesn't have snow tires, but that's just how things work
This is my daily driver :). Except mine is an 83 280zx turbo, 5 speed(the only year for that). I've owned six Z cars over the years 3 240s, 1 280 and 2 ZXs . If you take off the highly restrictive catalytic converter/replace the muffler, remove all the late 70s and 80s garbage emissions system, replace the mass air flow sensor and replace the also highly restrictive air intake you can push these cars with those very simple mods. The turbo L28 can get some serious juice from little things. My motor is built with the E88 head from a 240(the best made for that inline 6, ported of course), custom made header, custom made fuel rail, a cam, lightweight pullies, Garret t3 and an intercooler. With 3.73 gearing, I run 13s in the 1/4 mile, but the absolute best thing about any Z is how they accelerate out of corners. I will say the 240s handle better(easier to control anyway), but the 280zx is so much more smooth. And I love the fact most younger people have no idea what it is. lol
Yeah and now they may be considered slow but back in the 80's they were considered fast. But that's what the are now, their gt cars made for big fat lazy americans. And yeah if you think about it it's true, I'm not saying that as a racist remark I am a american so don't go yelling at me dammit.
In manual guise they were not slow, and the L28 is a tough unit that can handle a lot. Unlike most cars of the day, Nissan Drive lines were so overbuilt.
8.5 seconds 0-60 for a sluggish automatic, the manual version would be sub 8 seconds, that's almost decent by today's standards, not for a sports car, but for a small cheap commuter car.
@@rolfen I had the regular non-turbo 280 ZX ( Also a 1982 ), and it definitely, easily did sub 8.5 9-60. It was a standard tranny that was very fast for back then
It is something that back in 1982, this was considered a quick car. Today, a base Honda Civic could probably accelerate to 60 faster. It is amazing to see these retro reviews then compare performance back then to the improved performance of cars today. I still remember dreaming of owning one of these and how much faster they were as compared to the main stream vehicles of the day. I also remember the fabled muscle cars of the late 60's and how we thought nothing could out accelerate those things. But today, the standard Nissan 350Z of 15 years ago could best most of them in a 0-60 or quarter mile romp. Just shows how far automotive technology has advanced over the years. Some for the better, and some not so much.
Alvin Brinson : late 1981 October to early 1982...the worst blizzard conditions in driving memory. The weather wasnt good enough for the norma high speedl race track testing
Write down his plate number, drive until you find a payphone, hope you have a quarter or two, use the phonebook to look up the number for the police department in that town, call them and give them the info you wrote down. When they ask "where is he now?", you really won't know.
Cannot remember what I was thinking exactly when I commented, but pretty sure I was just commenting on the 280ZX. The 82 280 was a far better looking car than the 82 Mustang, but that IMHO.
In my life I have seen that term used as a nice equivalent for Asian (it literally means "from the east"), then as only proper for objects (not people), and now it seems people see it as an all around slur.
@@vector6977 Exactly. My uncle bought a new Civic in the early 70s and when he popped the hood all the support structure underneath had surface rust starting already at the sharp edges. Within 5 years you'd hit the brakes and the steering wheel would pitch up towards the windshield.
I had a 1984 Isuzu Impulse, red with checkerboard rims. Very unique in the day. They were unusual but went extremely well with the Italian Guigiaro Designed body 😎😎
Darryl Schipper I believe a review of the suit cases is in order. Fit and finish. Durability of the materials used. Ability to maneuver the suit case in moments of haste. Conditions of the internals after all those years of tossing into trunks, etc.
Wouldn't work. 1983 isn't coming back. Automotive standards have changed a lot since 1983. Halogen headlights, no abs brakes, no traction control, no rear cameras, no stability control, obd I emissions.. It's quite a list. A 2020 compliant car wouldn't resemble this vehicle at all.
I owned several of the 280zx Turbos during the 1980's and early 1990's and I tell you that car was leaps and bounds ahead of anything on the USA and European markets, with the exception of Porsche, Ferrari of course. With a simple snip of the hose on the turbo, adding a tee so the turbo could spool faster you could easily add 1 bar of boost (10 lbs. up to 15 lbs.) on 93 octane and advancing the timing, which equaled an additional 80 to 100 hp without blowing up the head gasket. These cars with a 5 speed would kill the 5.0's and Vettes of that era. Superior handling and brakes for sure. I tested the Ford Mustangs of the 1980's and early 1990's and I would laugh at the so called brakes. I do admit they were pricey back then but you would get much more than any other vehicle for the money. To find one today in good condition is rare, and costly. Good memories, thanks for the vid. Thumbs up
Thanks for sharing these videos from the "malaise" era.. It's nice to see how much progress cars have made and also the progress at Motorweek. I bet you guys cringe when you see these braking tests performed on a partially icy track... we are all a bit smarter now about a lot of things!
I had a DATSUN 280 ZX TURBO 1983.......same rims........red wine color.........T tops, 2 seater, and also had a 260 Z 1974, manual 4 speed.........loved my DATSUNS........they were awesome.
I had a '83 Maxima wagon with the same drivetrain. 2.8L straight 6, 3spd auto w/overdrive. I wish I still had that car. It was so much faster than it should have been!
Snow means salt on the roads - was this tester already beginning to rust by the time you were done with it? Love these cars - sadly you dont see to many on the East coast anymore. Also - where are you testing the car? Looks like you are swerving all over a public highway!
The first Turbo ZX was the 1981 model, all were fitted with automatic transmission. 1982 model was the first 5 spd. Good car for its time but had its shortcomings. Still looks good today.
Most pleasant car to drive I ever owned was this one - 280ZX Turbo. Yeah, it had turbo lag, but the handling put a smile on my face often. Working on it was actually fun. I wish I had one today.
Daniel Melendez you do realise a 2013 Honda Accord is faster than even the very top end cars from 1982... eg a 1982 Ferrari 308 gts is about 1/2 a second slower to 100km/h than the Honda and I’m not talking the v6 Honda I’m talking 4cylinder base model...
@@danielmelendez9943 The 70's really killed power. It took YEARS for the industry to get things worked out. The ZX has a better power/weight ratio that a Porsche 911, but tech has change over the years. A slight mod to the down pipe on the exhaust and a boost to the pressure and you're in the 250~270 HP range and it's pretty simple to do. I do like those Hondas thou, miss mine, but still have 3 280ZXs and one is a turbo.
My uncle is one of those guys who buys cars it seems every other month, he had a 4.9 non-turbo trans-am then a stock perfect like new condition 1978 280Z then a turbo-trans-am and the list goes on and on in only one year. The 280z was so cool as was the 240Z and 260Z
First of all, a great memory to have of this car (and your father), Ben Davis! Glad you were okay, obviously, but I'm sure this was a terrifying moment for your parents! Secondly, can we just say these old ZXs were quite an enigma. They were expensive, the styling was bloated - they were more personal luxobarge than a sports car - and yet they still seem very desirable to me. The styling aged well, in my opinion, better than the square headlight Z cars that followed it. Speaking of headlights, I had no idea they offered washers for those big round sealed beams, although the fluid did sort of just puddle right there after being sprayed which looked suspiciously like a rust trap! I can only think of a few European cars sold in the USA that offered headlight washers (some with wipers too): mainly Volvos, Saabs, Audis and Peugeots. I'd love a mint-condition 280ZX Turbo now, if nothing else for the exclusivity of it all. Most are long gone from American roads, the tin worm getting a good number of them probably by the early 90s...I can't even remember the last time I saw one! I would say they are as rare as hens' teeth but keeping with the subject matter, I think they are about as rare as Renault Fuegos and Isuzu Impulses. Which is to say very rare, at least in the snow belt states.
I bought a 1981 Turbo Z new. Dealer said it was one of the first in California. Drove it 99,000 miles no problem. But by then the turbo sounded like a police siren when you stomped it! Drove it in snow once in West Virginia. Did a 360 accidentally on I79 but no damage and kept on going! Too much torque, scary!
Ozzstar My wife and I went to test drive an '83 one of these a few months ago because she needed a car and really loves these. It was the biggest piece of crap ever. Every single thing in there was falling apart. I guess Z owners don't bother taking care of their cars. It looked cool, though.
I last saw these in the late 90's on used car lots, all in horrible rusty condition. I remember asking a salesman about rust and he sternly replied that he won't look under the car. Hah! Now they're extinct here. (But I do see the occasional Z31 or Z32 still going strong.)
Ozzstar it’s a shame no one (to this day actually) can make a chassis as weather-proof as their drivetrains are durable when it comes to snowy (salty) climates
I had the '82 2+2 gun metal grey with silver leather seats, T Tops, rear window Louvers, - thems was the cocaine 80s cruisin' Sunset and Melrose with the T Tops off smelling the night jasmine, stereo cranked - the dashboard light show when you'd start it "OK"...the voice chip.. those were fun days out here in La La Land. Especially if you were a young guy in the Biz.🎸
+scterka My (non-turbo) 280zx was the best car I've ever owned. Quick, quiet, fun to drive, dependable as an anvil, and dead sexy. Only wish it had the T-tops. I'd buy another one if they weren't all beat up now.
If you have 10,000 USD to spend on an old car, go ahead. Otherwise all your gonna get is rust, and problems. 280z was much better than the 240z, contrary to popular belief, and the 280zx is one of the best daily drivers out there.
280z was much heavier. It was not as fun to drive daily as the 240. That's like saying the S2000 is more fun on the street than a Miata. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.
***** I am here in Texas, these cars rust just from rain, or even dew. I haven't seen a cheap 240z that isnt rusted, but I have seen some 280z's though.
I think they had a dud there. I had a 1978 280z which ran 16.1 in the 1/4 with no turbo. Some easy tuning tweaks and an exhaust and I was able to get 15.2 sec at 90mph on unopened NONTURBO engine. My (manual trans)car weighed about 2800lb but thats not enough to explain how slow this one was. With the cold weather on the test day and the fact that automatics and turbos usually make for a good combo (you can stay on boost the entire time)...there was something wrong with this car. Car and Driver tested a 1982 turbo (automatic) and it was something like 6.1 seconds to 60. Not fast by todays standards but it was the quickest automatic trans car tested that year.
Most beautiful mass production sports car ever designed. Every good bit of Italian and American roadster design from the past culminated in this, just a gem. They got way more exciting than the boring model in this review, but even this one looks pretty good. These were a bigger deal back in the day than people might realize nowadays, nothing but Porsches or Ferraris turned heads like these, the corvette in that era still looked like the 70’s, the mustangs were simply horrific econo-box looking hunks of junk. Kids my age in that era lost our turds when we saw these.
I raced a BMW on Storrow Drive with my ‘79 ZXdoing 80mph, with my big, fat friend in the passenger seat. He couldn’t pull away from me. I used every inch of that road from curb to curb. Ah, the good ol’ days when I had more balls than brains.
Having driven Z's for more than 30 years , my first being a 1980 ZX...I shudder to see a Z in the snow! I will never forget the first snow I was in...stopping for a light I slid into the car in front of me. That was my first lesson that Z's and snow do not mix very well. Talk about light in the back...the 300ZX is more balanced and slightly heavier in the back than the 280ZX..but I still drive with great care whenever there is moisture on the road.
You can tell this show was produced by public television. No deep pockets for private tracks ha. Guys - John Davis is the granddaddy of all the car reviewers. This was all there was in the ‘80s!!
I would love to find out why the transmission use to shift at 4500 rpm instead of 6000 rpm. I raced an 83 Supra 5-speed and could only beat him in the 1/4 miles if I shifted at red line.
road testing a sports car on icy roads for max performance is ridiculous. u slow down under those conditions, u dont push a damn sports car on icy roads.
Maximus Areilius These were the days before people thought an inch of snow was cause to be locked inside unless you have AWD.... Almost all cars were RWD and nobody had issues.
They had WAY bigger balls than me. I had new BF T/A 205/70/R14s on my 81 and thought it would be funny to see how it did in the snow. Well it turned terrifying! Made it 2 miles inch of snow and spun out in the middle of a bridge. If the car was 6 inches longer it would of been totaled.
Swerving on the highway, claiming the brakes didn't lock but clearly both front and rear wheels are locked in the first brake test. This is funny stuff.
The “good ol days.” And I mean it too, sure these old cars aren’t as fast or powerful as modern stuff, but these older cars have a soul and charisma completely absent from modern vehicles.
I have a 1982 zx and it is one of my dream cars. I actually daily it and it has been really good to me. Its funny how the s30 guys trash talk the car but you mention factory turbo, factory rear disk, factory power windows, factory fuel injection, lower center of gravity, and improved aero. Some of them shut up.
It did 16.8 in the quarter mile. * shows video of it driving on ice and snow* The braking distances were a little bit longer than we expected. * again on ice and snow*
My family had a grey 82 zx turbo 2+2 and that thing was faster (for its time) than you'd think even with an automatic. We constantly got compliments on that car. We would have kept it, but it blew through 2 turbos. In those days turbos were not known for longevity, and they were extremely costly to replace from Nissan.
When i was a kid my mom bought one of these ..... it was awesone ! I raced tht thing soo much and NEVER lost..... I-Rocs, Trans-am mustangs and even older Vettes.. The only thing i never raced was a Vette of the same year. But unlike GM vehicles at any price range they cant match Japanese reliability and longevity!!
This is the car that Eddie Murphy talked about in his "Talking Cars" comedy routine.......and they even show the lady saying "Lights Are On" at 4:40 !!!!
Testing on an icy road? Wtf! Haha, but seriously, my best friends mom had a brand new one when I was in high school. I WANTED that car. Gold with tan interior with automatic. It felt really strong and was awesome in its day. I thought all the first turbo zx's were automatic, but could be wrong.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
"on our high-speed emergency lane-changing course" aka the local stretch of highway lol
Haha they were all over the road! I can't stop laughing!!!
ROFL
I love it. The good Ole days!
+Dennis M Imagine the people behind the Z.
InsertFlashyName Brake tests on a snowy icy downhill curve?!
There is so much to say about this video. Where to begin? From the swerving on the open highway with other vehicles to the brake tests on a sheet of ice. Well they sure knew how to do things back in 1982!
LMAO
+Carlos Sanchez "Back in the old days..."
LOL
LMAO I'm still laughing at this shit
Gotta love their "Emergency lane Changing Course" i.e. the freeway. LMAO
Def were full blown rookies then lol
In 1983 I purchased a brand new 280ZX Turbo in what was called a Champaign color with a maroon velour interior... It was amazing and one of my favorites of all of them...
The euro version I had from 1983, had 200hp because we didn't have the same emission control as in the US. Installed a intercooler from a Porsche 944 and took the boost up a bit, got 250hp on regular fuel. I only opened up the airfilter with KN cone and bigger exhaust system, straight pipe, Stock injection and fuel pump. Which were running on the limits. People are taking these engines up to 6-700hp with further modifications though. Loved the 280ZXT, I came from a Alfa Romeo GTV6 beauty, but it broke down every time I drove crazy and dropped the clutch with more than me in the car. The Datsun 280 ZXT took any beating I gave it, such a tough build. Impressive.
Lane change test on the damn freeway! And braking test on ice!
Why not just drove it through a building instead of testing on snow and ice on public road?!
thats not fair lmao
you know what else could account for the longer hault on the braking? The fact you're doing it in SNOW.
Right. And it's not even all wheel drive!
@@johndrake2729 Tha... that would make aboslutley no difference to braking. If anything it would be worse because it would be heavier.
@@johndrake2729 All wheel drive does nothing for braking. If anything, it hurts braking because of greater rotational mass of AWD components.
@@johndrake2729 AWD doesn't really help you stop in the snow...
@@ISSTI371 With snow tires, extra weight can actually help stopping and acceleration. This definitely doesn't have snow tires, but that's just how things work
This is my daily driver :). Except mine is an 83 280zx turbo, 5 speed(the only year for that). I've owned six Z cars over the years 3 240s, 1 280 and 2 ZXs . If you take off the highly restrictive catalytic converter/replace the muffler, remove all the late 70s and 80s garbage emissions system, replace the mass air flow sensor and replace the also highly restrictive air intake you can push these cars with those very simple mods. The turbo L28 can get some serious juice from little things. My motor is built with the E88 head from a 240(the best made for that inline 6, ported of course), custom made header, custom made fuel rail, a cam, lightweight pullies, Garret t3 and an intercooler. With 3.73 gearing, I run 13s in the 1/4 mile, but the absolute best thing about any Z is how they accelerate out of corners. I will say the 240s handle better(easier to control anyway), but the 280zx is so much more smooth. And I love the fact most younger people have no idea what it is. lol
I don't care if it's slow. I have always loved this car.
Same. I always wanted one but so haven't own one yet but I know a lot about them.
Yeah and now they may be considered slow but back in the 80's they were considered fast. But that's what the are now, their gt cars made for big fat lazy americans. And yeah if you think about it it's true, I'm not saying that as a racist remark I am a american so don't go yelling at me dammit.
Charga Bean. ironically it was europeans that invented the GT,
DrewLSsix hmm was it now, I guess it's true when people say you learn something new everyday.
In manual guise they were not slow, and the L28 is a tough unit that can handle a lot. Unlike most cars of the day, Nissan Drive lines were so overbuilt.
180hp in the early 80s was a lot of power...
8.5 seconds 0-60 for a sluggish automatic, the manual version would be sub 8 seconds, that's almost decent by today's standards, not for a sports car, but for a small cheap commuter car.
@@rolfen I had the regular non-turbo 280 ZX ( Also a 1982 ), and it definitely, easily did sub 8.5 9-60. It was a standard tranny that was very fast for back then
@rolfen yeah but 300hp is easy with the l28et
It would be bettered only by the 2G 300ZX's twin-turbo 3.0L V-6 that made 300 hp.
It is something that back in 1982, this was considered a quick car. Today,
a base Honda Civic could probably accelerate to 60 faster. It is amazing to
see these retro reviews then compare performance back then to
the improved performance of cars today. I still remember dreaming of
owning one of these and how much faster they were as compared to
the main stream vehicles of the day. I also remember the fabled muscle cars
of the late 60's and how we thought nothing could out accelerate those things.
But today, the standard Nissan 350Z of 15 years ago could best most of them
in a 0-60 or quarter mile romp. Just shows how far automotive technology has advanced
over the years. Some for the better, and some not so much.
How in the heck can you do sports car performance testing in SNOW AND ICE?
Alvin Brinson : late 1981 October to early 1982...the worst blizzard conditions in driving memory. The weather wasnt good enough for the norma high speedl race track testing
Also, how could they test a sports car with a 3-speed auto? The acceleration and speed results were worse.
@@1sttigertiger426 Usually it's the manufacture that gives what ever cars they can for testing.
The cars behind the Z probably thought the driver was drunk. Lol. Awesome retro review!
Personally I’m not convinced he wasn’t drunk
Write down his plate number, drive until you find a payphone, hope you have a quarter or two, use the phonebook to look up the number for the police department in that town, call them and give them the info you wrote down. When they ask "where is he now?", you really won't know.
They were pilot/guide cars to keep traffic from running up on the test car. Pretty common.
Like they say, the future was more fun in the 80s. Love the style
Looking back, those were some seriously good looking cars. If I remember correctly, very solid and tight.
Cannot remember what I was thinking exactly when I commented, but pretty sure I was just commenting on the 280ZX. The 82 280 was a far better looking car than the 82 Mustang, but that IMHO.
The "oriental" corvette. Oh 1982.
I think that's an appropriate backhanded compliment (John Davis is the master of those!) considering the 1982 Corvette and this car
In my life I have seen that term used as a nice equivalent for Asian (it literally means "from the east"), then as only proper for objects (not people), and now it seems people see it as an all around slur.
I do see your point. I was only referring to the wildly-uneven history of both the Corvette and the Z-car.
Joseph Rogers drive one, its funner then most/all then modern cars!!
Joseph Rogers At least they did not call it a "slant-eye sports car"!
They drove it in rain / slush / snow?
That's the day the cancer rust started.
thats what i was thinking.
I was thinking that same thing .........WHY ?
Z cars of that vintage were interesting in that if you parked the car in the garage and listened carefully you could actually hear the cars rusting!
Started from the salt air the boat sailed on shipping them over.
@@vector6977
Exactly.
My uncle bought a new Civic in the early 70s and when he popped the hood all the support structure underneath had surface rust starting already at the sharp edges.
Within 5 years you'd hit the brakes and the steering wheel would pitch up towards the windshield.
Oh man those rims are so 80s
...and look so nice! 8)
Very cool !!
Or the cavalier rims that literally had a square checker board as the hub cap.
Have u seen the wheels on the new genesis they look like the belong in this era and don’t get me started with giant strawberry looking grill
I had a 1984 Isuzu Impulse, red with checkerboard rims. Very unique in the day. They were unusual but went extremely well with the Italian Guigiaro Designed body 😎😎
Love these. Those performance figures are not that bad considering the year.
I watch Motor Week. Retro Reviews is my favorite
5:05 They use the same SUIT CASES in almost every review for 15 years.
Darryl Schipper I believe a review of the suit cases is in order.
Fit and finish. Durability of the materials used. Ability to maneuver the suit case in moments of haste. Conditions of the internals after all those years of tossing into trunks, etc.
I gotta see how they look now. All that wear and tear ...
Well, they never see the hands of baggage handlers so that luggage might last forever!
Why get new ones for every review
0:07 That was the same color as my 1982 280ZX 2+2! I love that color combo... also love the blue and silver.
Nissan needs to make a retro of this model!
They will be shit since they merged with raynal a French company in 1999.
@@markplott4820 You can thank our government for our fat new cars
U are absolutely correct! Retro model 2010!!!!
They need to. I think everyone will gravitate more towards that than to the 370Z. And make it more performance oriented.
Wouldn't work. 1983 isn't coming back. Automotive standards have changed a lot since 1983. Halogen headlights, no abs brakes, no traction control, no rear cameras, no stability control, obd I emissions.. It's quite a list. A 2020 compliant car wouldn't resemble this vehicle at all.
It’s great that I found this video. I remember my old 280 ax turbo. It was blue with silver and a T top. Ahhhh memories 😁
So they did a road test in snow and icy road conditions, on an active expressway lol
LMAO the goal was accuracy
You could do those things 35 years ago.
+sbinsdca We had more balls, and FAR less lawyers!
+StoneCold75 No cell phones to take your pic or call the cops. :)
YEAH - the REAL good old days!!!
it's crazy how 180hp was a ton back then, now my mom's jetta has 180hp
I love the 0-60 test on an icy entrance ramp.
I owned several of the 280zx Turbos during the 1980's and early 1990's and I tell you that car was leaps and bounds ahead of anything on the USA and European markets, with the exception of Porsche, Ferrari of course. With a simple snip of the hose on the turbo, adding a tee so the turbo could spool faster you could easily add 1 bar of boost (10 lbs. up to 15 lbs.) on 93 octane and advancing the timing, which equaled an additional 80 to 100 hp without blowing up the head gasket. These cars with a 5 speed would kill the 5.0's and Vettes of that era. Superior handling and brakes for sure. I tested the Ford Mustangs of the 1980's and early 1990's and I would laugh at the so called brakes. I do admit they were pricey back then but you would get much more than any other vehicle for the money. To find one today in good condition is rare, and costly. Good memories, thanks for the vid. Thumbs up
Datsun. Haven't heard that name in years. Great cars by a great company. Hello, I'm John Davis.
Had the black and gold version. Loved that little car.
Thanks for sharing these videos from the "malaise" era.. It's nice to see how much progress cars have made and also the progress at Motorweek. I bet you guys cringe when you see these braking tests performed on a partially icy track... we are all a bit smarter now about a lot of things!
I had a DATSUN 280 ZX TURBO 1983.......same rims........red wine color.........T tops, 2 seater, and also had a 260 Z 1974, manual 4 speed.........loved my DATSUNS........they were awesome.
I had a '83 Maxima wagon with the same drivetrain. 2.8L straight 6, 3spd auto w/overdrive. I wish I still had that car. It was so much faster than it should have been!
gigdrummer
how cool would it have been if the factory had done a Maxima Turbo ?!!!
Snow means salt on the roads - was this tester already beginning to rust by the time you were done with it?
Love these cars - sadly you dont see to many on the East coast anymore.
Also - where are you testing the car? Looks like you are swerving all over a public highway!
It was already rusting when it came off the boat.
The first Turbo ZX was the 1981 model, all were fitted with automatic transmission. 1982 model was the first 5 spd. Good car for its time but had its shortcomings. Still looks good today.
Thanks for sharing your memories of the ZX car with us, Ben Davis.
Emergency Lane Change Course = The Expressway!!! lol
LMAO!
Most pleasant car to drive I ever owned was this one - 280ZX Turbo. Yeah, it had turbo lag, but the handling put a smile on my face often. Working on it was actually fun. I wish I had one today.
Don Moore 180 horse power?? Even with a turbo?? My 2013 honda accord is faster
Daniel Melendez you do realise a 2013 Honda Accord is faster than even the very top end cars from 1982... eg a 1982 Ferrari 308 gts is about 1/2 a second slower to 100km/h than the Honda and I’m not talking the v6 Honda I’m talking 4cylinder base model...
Monkey Bones he doesn't understand or know much about cars and technology 🤷🏽♂️
@@danielmelendez9943 The 70's really killed power. It took YEARS for the industry to get things worked out. The ZX has a better power/weight ratio that a Porsche 911, but tech has change over the years. A slight mod to the down pipe on the exhaust and a boost to the pressure and you're in the 250~270 HP range and it's pretty simple to do. I do like those Hondas thou, miss mine, but still have 3 280ZXs and one is a turbo.
My cousin had one. Red and black with gold pinstripes, Anniversary edition. nicest car I'd ever seen as a kid.
Manufacturers need to bring back those awesome two tone paint schemes! Cars look too boring these days :(
great test !!180 hp in 1982!!! ,that car was amazing in that year!!!! even today...nice years that 80s!!!!
I had an 83 Z black and gold with digital dash.. I loved that car.
I had the analog dash model 83 & it was a hell of a great car
Back then, the Datsun Z car had its own style. When they introduced the Z31 300ZX, it looked like almost everything else on the road.
I had an 83 model year of this car... Fun reliable & easy to tune... Drove her between Florida & NY at least a dozen times...
My uncle is one of those guys who buys cars it seems every other month, he had a 4.9 non-turbo trans-am then a stock perfect like new condition 1978 280Z then a turbo-trans-am and the list goes on and on in only one year. The 280z was so cool as was the 240Z and 260Z
First of all, a great memory to have of this car (and your father), Ben Davis! Glad you were okay, obviously, but I'm sure this was a terrifying moment for your parents!
Secondly, can we just say these old ZXs were quite an enigma. They were expensive, the styling was bloated - they were more personal luxobarge than a sports car - and yet they still seem very desirable to me. The styling aged well, in my opinion, better than the square headlight Z cars that followed it. Speaking of headlights, I had no idea they offered washers for those big round sealed beams, although the fluid did sort of just puddle right there after being sprayed which looked suspiciously like a rust trap! I can only think of a few European cars sold in the USA that offered headlight washers (some with wipers too): mainly Volvos, Saabs, Audis and Peugeots.
I'd love a mint-condition 280ZX Turbo now, if nothing else for the exclusivity of it all. Most are long gone from American roads, the tin worm getting a good number of them probably by the early 90s...I can't even remember the last time I saw one! I would say they are as rare as hens' teeth but keeping with the subject matter, I think they are about as rare as Renault Fuegos and Isuzu Impulses. Which is to say very rare, at least in the snow belt states.
They really need to bring back those two-tone paint jobs. That really looks nice! I was around back then and always loved the two-tone paint schemes.
I was always a fan of the hideaway lights as a kid, but as an adult I've grown to love those original 240 ans 280
I bought a 1981 Turbo Z new. Dealer said it was one of the first in California. Drove it 99,000 miles no problem. But by then the turbo sounded like a police siren when you stomped it! Drove it in snow once in West Virginia. Did a 360 accidentally on I79 but no damage and kept on going! Too much torque, scary!
The longer braking distances may have something to do with all the ice on the track
I bought an 81 280zx in 1989. 72,000 miles on it . It was a rocket ! Great car .
I will never forget being on the NJ Turnpike one Sunday afternoon (circa 1988) and a Turbo smoking my N\A!
I'd like to have one in excellet condition, many of them rusted away
no shit. a good 99% of them. its great when you do see a great clean rust free example though.
Ozzstar
My wife and I went to test drive an '83 one of these a few months ago because she needed a car and really loves these. It was the biggest piece of crap ever. Every single thing in there was falling apart. I guess Z owners don't bother taking care of their cars. It looked cool, though.
We had an 82’ and had three hoods rust out here in NJ. Rust was a major problem with these cars.
I last saw these in the late 90's on used car lots, all in horrible rusty condition. I remember asking a salesman about rust and he sternly replied that he won't look under the car. Hah! Now they're extinct here. (But I do see the occasional Z31 or Z32 still going strong.)
Ozzstar it’s a shame no one (to this day actually) can make a chassis as weather-proof as their drivetrains are durable when it comes to snowy (salty) climates
Holy crap, you did the emergency lane change test on the public road...🤣
I had the '82 2+2 gun metal grey with silver leather seats, T Tops, rear window Louvers, - thems was the cocaine 80s cruisin' Sunset and Melrose with the T Tops off smelling the night jasmine, stereo cranked - the dashboard light show when you'd start it "OK"...the voice chip.. those were fun days out here in La La Land. Especially if you were a young guy in the Biz.🎸
"... that could account for the longer halts." Or perhaps it could be the snow on the road.
I've had S30Z and S130Z for 20 years more,,, I remember how it were happy days for me.
My cousin had one of these & he stuffed a Chevy 383 stroker under the hood! Talk about Unbelievably fast!!!
Ruined the car
Still have an original today. Thinking of selling it.
those rims... they're so 80's!!!
ScottaHemi good or bad thing?
@@LynxStarAuto Good, of course. Back then, the rims had style, and they weren't too big for a car.
Very cool !!
Heck yah, I love my Z!!! Super excited to see the next generation Z though, hoping for '16 sometime.
Wow! My first car was a non turbo 1982 280ZX. Awesome!
My first stick was a white 1980 280ZX, no turbo. Poor man's jag, more than a 'vette. The 240Z or the Opel Aero was that.
+scterka My third car was also a non turbo! Dark brown metallic with tan interior. Loved that car :-)
+scterka My (non-turbo) 280zx was the best car I've ever owned. Quick, quiet, fun to drive, dependable as an anvil, and dead sexy. Only wish it had the T-tops. I'd buy another one if they weren't all beat up now.
I prefer the 240Z due to the lighter weight and more oldschool nature.
***** heck, just a 280Z. that back seat was useless anyway
If you have 10,000 USD to spend on an old car, go ahead. Otherwise all your gonna get is rust, and problems.
280z was much better than the 240z, contrary to popular belief, and the 280zx is one of the best daily drivers out there.
280z was much heavier. It was not as fun to drive daily as the 240. That's like saying the S2000 is more fun on the street than a Miata. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.
The hard part now is finding a 240Z that hasn't been butchered for a sloppy 350 swap.
***** I am here in Texas, these cars rust just from rain, or even dew. I haven't seen a cheap 240z that isnt rusted, but I have seen some 280z's though.
Ding, lights are on. Ding, fuel level is low. Ding, left/right door is open. I remember those days.
They originally said 0-60 in under 7 seconds, then it did the 0-500 ft on-ramp test in 8.5 at 60. Huh?
16.8 sec. 1/4 is a slug for a turbo 6... anything more than 15.5 would be unacceptable... even for those days...
I think they had a dud there. I had a 1978 280z which ran 16.1 in the 1/4 with no turbo. Some easy tuning tweaks and an exhaust and I was able to get 15.2 sec at 90mph on unopened NONTURBO engine.
My (manual trans)car weighed about 2800lb but thats not enough to explain how slow this one was.
With the cold weather on the test day and the fact that automatics and turbos usually make for a good combo (you can stay on boost the entire time)...there was something wrong with this car.
Car and Driver tested a 1982 turbo (automatic) and it was something like 6.1 seconds to 60. Not fast by todays standards but it was the quickest automatic trans car tested that year.
Most beautiful mass production sports car ever designed. Every good bit of Italian and American roadster design from the past culminated in this, just a gem. They got way more exciting than the boring model in this review, but even this one looks pretty good. These were a bigger deal back in the day than people might realize nowadays, nothing but Porsches or Ferraris turned heads like these, the corvette in that era still looked like the 70’s, the mustangs were simply horrific econo-box looking hunks of junk. Kids my age in that era lost our turds when we saw these.
3:31 "... so much power under the hood..."
LMAOAOAOAOAOAO so many things in one video, I laughed so hard!!!
I raced a BMW on Storrow Drive with my ‘79 ZXdoing 80mph, with my big, fat friend in the passenger seat. He couldn’t pull away from me. I used every inch of that road from curb to curb. Ah, the good ol’ days when I had more balls than brains.
Having driven Z's for more than 30 years , my first being a 1980 ZX...I shudder to see a Z in the snow! I will never forget the first snow I was in...stopping for a light I slid into the car in front of me. That was my first lesson that Z's and snow do not mix very well. Talk about light in the back...the 300ZX is more balanced and slightly heavier in the back than the 280ZX..but I still drive with great care whenever there is moisture on the road.
You can tell this show was produced by public television. No deep pockets for private tracks ha. Guys - John Davis is the granddaddy of all the car reviewers. This was all there was in the ‘80s!!
"Our high speed emergency lane changing course"....in other words, the highway ;-) haha Nice
I would love to find out why the transmission use to shift at 4500 rpm instead of 6000 rpm. I raced an 83 Supra 5-speed and could only beat him in the 1/4 miles if I shifted at red line.
Those 4-spoke alloys are so f-ing cool!!
That car was ahead of its time.
road testing a sports car on icy roads for max performance is ridiculous. u slow down under those conditions, u dont push a damn sports car on icy roads.
Maximus Areilius
These were the days before people thought an inch of snow was cause to be locked inside unless you have AWD....
Almost all cars were RWD and nobody had issues.
@@twoeightythreez There were fewer crazed commie liberals back then too. Good times!
Maybe that's why Subaru started so early with that.
They had WAY bigger balls than me. I had new BF T/A 205/70/R14s on my 81 and thought it would be funny to see how it did in the snow. Well it turned terrifying! Made it 2 miles inch of snow and spun out in the middle of a bridge. If the car was 6 inches longer it would of been totaled.
How do you do accurate performance testing on icy roads?
Swerving on the highway, claiming the brakes didn't lock but clearly both front and rear wheels are locked in the first brake test. This is funny stuff.
Didn't know about the headlight washer. Wow, after all these years.
The “good ol days.” And I mean it too, sure these old cars aren’t as fast or powerful as modern stuff, but these older cars have a soul and charisma completely absent from modern vehicles.
I have a 1982 zx and it is one of my dream cars. I actually daily it and it has been really good to me. Its funny how the s30 guys trash talk the car but you mention factory turbo, factory rear disk, factory power windows, factory fuel injection, lower center of gravity, and improved aero. Some of them shut up.
17k in '82 was a big chunk of money.
Mom's 81 rabbit diesel was in the low 7k range.
Hopefully picking up one soon, neat to see this
My extended family Carolyn Hoffman has one of these. We have kept it running. Designed for Nascar. Anyways staright 6 for DEVGRU. Triple X root beer.
Tests probably could've been better on less snowy, ice covered roads !
It did 16.8 in the quarter mile.
* shows video of it driving on ice and snow*
The braking distances were a little bit longer than we expected.
* again on ice and snow*
LMAO "a 2+2 children version is also offered" that delivery, ah yes the children version.
So beautiful! I think it looks better than the same year 'Vette.
It was the 'oriental' vette. This was before the PC police banned the term oriental.
Great looking car for 82
My family had a grey 82 zx turbo 2+2 and that thing was faster (for its time) than you'd think even with an automatic. We constantly got compliments on that car. We would have kept it, but it blew through 2 turbos. In those days turbos were not known for longevity, and they were extremely costly to replace from Nissan.
A sub 7 second 0-60 in 1982? Holy shit, this thing was fast.
Could you imagine trying to get away with doing real-world road testing on public roads today? Haha the 80s were truly a hell of a time.
When i was a kid my mom bought one of these ..... it was awesone !
I raced tht thing soo much and NEVER lost..... I-Rocs, Trans-am mustangs and even older Vettes..
The only thing i never raced was a Vette of the same year.
But unlike GM vehicles at any price range they cant match Japanese reliability and longevity!!
"In our high speed lane changing course..", and by that you mean the public highway you're swerving around on in the middle of winter!
I'd turn those headlight washers into a water injection system . A very simple hack that yields real results especially on a turbo car
The struggle with that oil cap 😆
This is the car that Eddie Murphy talked about in his "Talking Cars" comedy routine.......and they even show the lady saying "Lights Are On" at 4:40 !!!!
"Someone stole yo battery!"
"I say we go get the motherf***er"!!!!
What the fuck, you blind AND deaf???!!!
Turn off your fuckin' lights, @@markk3652!!!!!!!
Why headlight washers? Other than offroading, when do they get so dirty on one drive that you would need this?
Why they tested auto trans? Manuals were good for low 6sec and high 5sec 0 to 60 with little mods.i had one giveing stock camaro and fords hard time.
I forgot they had a Z Turbo in 82 . Looked good but I like the 90-96 body style best. This was cool by 82 standards
I like the green and purple paint highlights! ;)
Testing on an icy road? Wtf! Haha, but seriously, my best friends mom had a brand new one when I was in high school. I WANTED that car. Gold with tan interior with automatic. It felt really strong and was awesome in its day. I thought all the first turbo zx's were automatic, but could be wrong.