ross12walker Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Hi Guys, I have just signed up and am in the market for my first zed! I was just hoping I could get some opinions on a car I viewed and am considering. I noticed it grinds going into 1st gear from neutral but I only really noticed it after starting it up and the first few times I selected the gear. I took it for quite a lengthy test drive and I did not notice it again while driving and selecting all other gears seemed fine. I have read that they have not got the best gear boxes? So I just wanted some opinions on if this could be a normal thing when the engine is cold or is it a sign of the clutch or something else wearing? Many thanks for any reply is advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanT Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Gearbox is a known issue on the earlier cars, see below: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross12walker Posted January 19, 2016 Author Share Posted January 19, 2016 And it is a '53' plate with 86k on the clocks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apex Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 (edited) Sounds like a dodgy syncromesh which will lessen when the gearbox warms up, without actually driving the car I can't say for sure but it's a potentially big cost if it does require a gearbox overhaul. Edited January 19, 2016 by Apex 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross12walker Posted January 19, 2016 Author Share Posted January 19, 2016 Thanks for the video Ryan very helpful. Yeah that sounds like a plausible answer...I could well be wrong but I think I have read that these boxes don't have synchros on 1st or reverse? Please correct me if I am wrong though. It did seem to go in ok once warmed up, but you think it would unlikely be the clutch as all other gears selected fine? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Payco Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 My advice would be to try and drive another z. There are plenty enough good examples around if you are patient. Not sure how many you have driven but it would certainly be worth your time driving more than one if you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbad Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Hi ross, I just returned a Z in December (around the Bedfordshire area 2003 model GT ry) with the first gear grinding , PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE walk away and I lost some money on this transaction. there are enough good Zs available . I increased my budget and got a decent one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZEUS Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 As Payco said drive a few so you have got something to compare against. Gearboxes arent the best even when they are fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross12walker Posted January 20, 2016 Author Share Posted January 20, 2016 Thank you all for the replys. Kbad the one I saw was in Bedfordshire area. Did you purchase it from Pro Car Sales in Wilstead by any chance?? If so I'm very glad you commented. But yes this is the first one I have driven so as you guys rightly say it would be wise to drive at least one other, maybe more, to get a feel for the cars. Think I will try and find one without any grinding or odd noises from the gearbox. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbad Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Yes I did here is some picture of under the car Issues my mechanic identified before I returned the car Rear coil springs heavily corroded Underbody rotten Rear cross member Rear chassis Near side front inner wing chassis heavily corroded Steering rack leaking both side All steering rack pipes heavily corroded Water pump has play in it Front subframe mounting badly corroded Water pipe leak In my humble opinion walk away . I had the car for 3 weeks Hope this helps 😀😀 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross12walker Posted January 20, 2016 Author Share Posted January 20, 2016 Wow, what are the chances of that! But yes thanks a lot I think I will steer well clear of this one then! It had an mot in around November time though and surely it would not have passed with all of that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbad Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 No idea about the MOT - all the best in your search - mistake I made was not to have a base comparison - book a test with a very clean example and then perhaps that will create a benchmark to start from . Hope this makes sense 😀 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross12walker Posted January 20, 2016 Author Share Posted January 20, 2016 Yes I think that sounds like a good idea. So the one you now have does it drive a lot better than the one you returned? Is there any major points you could note? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbad Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 I increased my budget significantly as advised on the forums and got me a 2007 GT HR , but before I bought my new Z. I git an RAC check £260 which is no guarantee but gives you a better idea about the structural and mechanical status of the vehicle . This at least provides you with an informed decision 😀 hope this makes sense Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross12walker Posted January 20, 2016 Author Share Posted January 20, 2016 Yup I think that would be wise. Thanks again for you help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Yes I did here is some picture of under the car Issues my mechanic identified before I returned the car Rear coil springs heavily corroded Underbody rotten Rear cross member Rear chassis Near side front inner wing chassis heavily corroded Steering rack leaking both side All steering rack pipes heavily corroded Water pump has play in it Front subframe mounting badly corroded Water pipe leak In my humble opinion walk away . I had the car for 3 weeks Hope this helps í ½í¸€í ½í¸€ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk How the hell did you not see any of that! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross12walker Posted January 20, 2016 Author Share Posted January 20, 2016 Yeah, to be fair I didn't check under the car, but I definitely will be from now on! You live and learn a. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbad Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Yes I did here is some picture of under the car Issues my mechanic identified before I returned the car Rear coil springs heavily corroded Underbody rotten Rear cross member Rear chassis Near side front inner wing chassis heavily corroded Steering rack leaking both side All steering rack pipes heavily corroded Water pump has play in it Front subframe mounting badly corroded Water pipe leak In my humble opinion walk away . I had the car for 3 weeks Hope this helps à½Ã¸€Ã ½Ã¸€ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk How the hell did you not see any of that! I saw this totally by accident because the car was very cosmetically clean inside and outside , the battery went flat on my way to gym in the morning , got the RAC out who said the battery needed changing as well as the two belts. I took it down to my garage who then discovered the issues and asked me to come down as see what they were seeing as the car was on a ramp while they wanted to change the belts 😀 That in a nutshell is how I found out - there is a God looking out for me ðŸ™ðŸ˜€ðŸ’¥ðŸŒŸðŸ˜‡ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 By accident when viewing a car i just cant believe people dont look further than the surface. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbad Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 I learnt the hard way - I now tell anyone attempting to buy a Z or used performance car should do due diligence :teeth:or suffer for I 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 Struggle to understand how anyone can hand over £6-£7k and not even look underneath, there is a definitely someone looking out for you, do the lottery quick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Payco Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 (edited) Even better, search this forum for one as the cars sold are known on here and are owned by honest decent car enthusiasts of this marque. I'm with Jetpilot and cannot believe that anyone would not look under a car before purchasing. Drive a few and suck this forum dry for advice, there's more than enough on here. Edited January 21, 2016 by Payco 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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