There was a time when the Porsche 928 was just another unloved, thirsty supercar. Decent cars could be picked up for low prices, which acted as a downward spiral – run on a shoestring, a 928 will not survive with its mechanical dignity for long. Nowadays decent 928s are heading over the ten grand mark and the very best are circulating closer to twenty grand. A low-mileage, manual GT model – a very rare thing indeed – was recently up for sale with a London dealer for north of £50,000.
However, what if there was a way to have a similar amount of power for much less? The Nissan 300ZX Z32 may have two less cylinders but it makes up for it with two turbochargers. So, in the battle of the big GT super cruisers, is the Z32 a match for the 928?
The looks
The 300ZX could only be a Japanese supercar. Some reading this will see that as a compliment, some will see it as a criticism. It's certainly distinctive, if not beautiful – of the Japanese supercars on sale at the time it's not suffered from outrageous wings (Toyota Supra) and isn't as of its time as the Skyline GT-R; it's also a lot more resolved than the Mitsubishi GTO/3000GT. They're all fine cars, but only the Mazda RX7 and Honda NSX – to these eyes at least – have aged better. It may be curvy, but it's muscular too – it looks fast sitting still, which is a pre-requisite for any supercar.
The Porsche manages this as well, but it has at least a decade on the Nissan – it looked like it was from a science fiction future back in the Seventies, and it still does today. The pop-up headlights are the only parts of the design that would mean it couldn't be put on sale now and look fresh. As it is, pop-up headlights up the cool factor by 100 anyway.
The power
Revisions to the 928 saw power and engine size grow considerably over its lifetime – we're choosing to focus on the overlap years with the Z32. The S4's 5.0-litre V8 gave 316bhp with 317lb ft of torque – good for 160mph and the 0-60mph streak in less than six seconds. 1991's GTS added just under 30 extra nags to the horsepower stat and it now had 369lb ft of torque because the engine had been bored out to 5.4 litres. At the top end you'd be knocking on the door of 170mph and 60mph is done and dealt with in 5.4 seconds.
The 300ZX Z32's twin-turbocharged six-cylinder developed a healthy 300bhp and 283lb ft of torque, meaning 60mph was a mere memory after 6.5 seconds and you'd romping all the way to an electronically limited 155mph. While the 300ZX may be behind on figures, it's worth remembering that the 300ZX was a lot cheaper than its German rival; the fact it got so close is a remarkable achievement.
The handling
The 928 was never really intended to be a sharp handler in the twists. It's a big, comfy and fast GT – a trans-Europe bullet. Thus on tighter roads it can feel a little bit unwieldy. Open it up on sweeping A-roads and motorways and it all starts to make sense – bury the throttle and a far-off roar means you'll be devouring the road faster than you can think of the three syllables needed to adequately explain the vision-warping sense of speed. The GTS brought in stiffer suspension and much more track-friendly steering, though this does come at the expense of some refinement.
The Z32, however, is rather more fun should you choose to show it tighter corners – it's a GT just like the Porsche, but it feels much keener. Its supremely balanced and it's hard not to leave the car grinning after an enthusiastic sortie. But just like the Porsche, A-roads and motorways are its intended playground, and in the real world it's more than a match for the Porsche. Motor Trend thought very highly of it – it was in its top ten cars for many years.
The interior
The 300ZX falls down here – Japanese interiors of this age aren't known for their timeless elegance; there's a lot of boring plastic in here, though it is shaped nicely. However, if you've a fondness for Eighties dashboard gadgets then you'll adore the cluster of buttons hanging off the instrument housing – that's going to be a generational thing, we reckon.
But if you like your toys then the 928 has those too – the digital dashboard was on its way out by the time the Z32 appeared but the gearbox shifter looks like something from the inside of an intergalactic battlecruiser. The swoopy dash and the angular leather chairs put us in mind of trendy vodka bars. Well, before the vodka anyway.
There are downsides to both interiors – some Z32 chairs are covered in the kind of cloth that would be deemed too uncomfortable for sacks of letters and 928 interiors can fluctuate from dreary to post-vodka deliriousness thanks to some fairly eye-popping colour combinations. To be honest, once you've kicked down to third in either car you'll not be worried about the interior.
Living with them
Both cars are supercars and neither can really be run on a tight budget. It is possible to maintain both at home, but when something goes wrong spectacularly you can expect a similarly spectacular bill. The key is to buy a good one in the first place and to then look after it carefully – it doesn't have to cost a fortune, but neither vehicle is one that will stand for neglect. Let's call this a draw.
Summary
A little bit of an admission – I adore the Porsche 928. It's fast, comfortable, good-looking and it has pop-up headlights. However, with prices for ones worth buying heading towards the £20,000 mark, it is unlikely to be taking a starring role on my driveway for some time. So if you choose the 928 I can more than understand, and I wish you well through envious gritted teeth.
However, for around a quarter of the price a 300ZX twin turbo makes a lot of sense. It's as futuristic and comfortable as the Porsche, and very nearly as fast. The only issue is the lack of pop-up headlights – one less thing to go wrong, however. But there is one final ace up the Z-car's sleeve – you could get it as a convertible, like this one we've found here. All in all, while I'd love a 928, I wouldn't be disappointed by the 300ZX.