300zx Exterior parts worth it?

[ShawnTexan]

So got a 1994 300zx NA about a month ago with 140k miles on it for 5k everything is original except all the maintenance has been done and new struts. Car drives great and doesn’t seem to have any mechanical problems. I’ve got over 10k total invested into the car including the original price stereo and exhaust. now I’m tempted to put on some exterior parts JDM front bumper and TwinZ the rest for about 2700 bucks total. I guess my real question is I’m already at or just over what the car is worth for resale not that I’m planning on doing that but it’s hard to convince myself to throw more money at it knowing it’s just for exterior. Also I cant post links because I’m new how do I get that changed. Thanks , Shawn

[NolimitZ32]

Shawn,

With a car like the Z32 you must go into it knowing that NONE of the money you put in will be recouped. Unless you have a concourse grade, low miles car any upgrades you install or even maintenance items you do will never net you even 50% return. Basically a 94 in mint condition with 140k miles will MAYBE pull in 6k in Texas and everyone that is trying to sell Z32s for more (trust me I've been looking) are high out of their mind. Now here is the most important question: Is it worth it to you? Are you building this car to enjoy? If the answer to the second question is yes than go ahead, if the answer is No then you have to start weighing your options. If you are flat out asking whether dropping $2700 on exterior parts will net you a $2700 rise in value then the answer is no.

[ShawnTexan]

Thanks for the reply I agree I won't get the 2700 return I'm not a huge exterior person so that's the struggle dropping money on exhaust and a stereo is easy for me but exterior is different I like the look I just assume they are going to get beat up.

[NolimitZ32]

You just really gotta figure out what you want. I for example sill stew for years on what I want to stick onto my car, I will explore every possibility but will not make a single move until I know 1000000% that what I will be getting is what I want, then it's no issue and I never regret doing whatever I do. on the other hand I have friends that don't keep cars longer than a couple years and a set of wheels past a couple months. You have to decide which person you are, and if it makes you happy and doesn't take food off the table or money out of your retirement there's no reason to not do it. Yeah stuff gets beat up but its a driver car not a concourse car. With a concourse car it would be a different story.

[DCaff300ZX]

It's definitely a thing that is about YOU, and no one else.
The Z32 is NOT an investment car under nearly any circumstances as NoLimitZ32 suggests, it's a 25+ year old driver's specialty car and will treat you as such- it's a PITA to work on, too expensive to fix at the drop of a hat (and GOOD LUCK finding a qualified service tech!) forcing you to consider DIY, and now too old for anyone other than specialty aftermarket to cater to. Only low-mileage (under 20K miles) and un-molested Z32's can be considered a POSSIBLE investment, but even then it can probably only be a time capsule-type thing because bringing it up to current/safe driving standards will lose most of it's value in that process.

So just forget completely about the "investment" and "my car's value" thing with the Z32, it's not a part of the game. As Anton mentions, spend a lot of time (if you already don't like the rest of us) looking at all of the other cars out there and decide what makes a car IT for you, and find a way to make that your Z32. With most of us this is a slow, meticulous process beginning with maintenance and the engine, then extending to the rest of the car as needed/wanted.
I myself like a few small things from today's styles, but generally find I am pretty reserved about styling cues and such, while others may be the same or not. I generally will study something I think I want for over a year before making ANY move, and try to find/get as much feedback as possible on that item and also study it's quality and reliability as much as possible.
Financially, I use paypal to buy many of my upgrades which allows me finance-free ability to slow-pay for the less important stuff while still being able to get it quickly, and I save for the higher-cost items outside of my living expenses to make it all work. Not only that but I also shop around A LOT (but only buy the best stuff) and will consider low-mileage quality used parts under some circumstances and try to DIY as much as possible..oh, and by far the most help is NOT being married, as the significant other WILL rule your car-building schedule and purse-strings!

This all means I have not "wasted" as much money as I might have, but on the other hand it is not something I can recoup but is something that I get to enjoy, and makes the whole Z32 experience worthwhile to me...the only real "payoff" possible. Not doing what I have done (and keep doing!) would mean I probably do not have a Z32 any longer, so doing what I have means I have made the whole thing possible and enjoyable for myself when that may not have been the case previously- my car is ME, and not anyone else.
I hope this all explains what you are facing here as best as possible!

[ShawnTexan]

which spoiler is on yours in your sig is that type 2. thanks

[DCaff300ZX]

which spoiler is on yours in your sig is that type 2. thanks

My TT currently has the stock '90-'93 TT spoiler which is rotting now, so I have a Powertrix cf spoiler (and lots more- rear diffusor, skirts, front splitter/pan) waiting to replace it when I can afford my needed body repairs.