Looking To Buy A Classic Z...

[CJRocker]

Lately, I've really fallen in love with the looks and idea of owning a classic Z-car. Either a 240, 260, or 280, due to the fact some of my other considerations (3000GT or Mazda RX-7) would likely be too costly for someone under 25 to fix, much less insure and fuel. But I have some questions before I seriously begin searching for one.

What is the cost of ownership on these cars? I need something cheap and easy to own. Do parts cost a lot, and what fuel do these use (I know the later Turbo's have to use Premium, but the rest?) What are common issues with the cars (I assume rust is one) Also, are they hard to insure (I figured not because of their age but given they are sports cars...)?

What model is the best value? I only have maybe $3500 to spend on one, which around here SHOULD get me a very solid one. I'm leaning towards the 280ZX, but I'm kind of leary of EFI and more computerized stuff in an older car.

Finally, are they good platforms for a potential club car or are they better for lower level events such as Auto-X and HPDE's?

EDIT: Also, something else very important; I'm 6 feet tall with fairly long elgs, will I even be able to fit comfortably in one of these?

[evildky]

buy the best chassis you can find! thats the single most important item, you'll be happeir with a rust free later model than a rusty early model, just depends on what you find thats good and solid and rust free

the S30 (70-78) are all basicaly the same, the strut height changed as did displacement but still the same basic motor,and chassis fuel injection was added in 74 on the 260Z and all Z's have been injected since, many people will drop the later style carbs or eventhe fuel injection in favor of earlier stlye carbs or aftermarket tripple's

cost wise, if you have a solid chassis they are pretty cheap to own and maintain, the engines last seemingly forever, and are pretty simple and it helps that they are all interchangable, many 240Z's are running aroudn with the l28 or L28 ET int them as it's a direct bolt in

and no they don't require premium but for the turbo I recomend it, it's cheap insurance

the earlyier cars wieght less, they got heavier year after year, the chassis change in 79 to the S130 (79-83) added 4 wheel disk brakes, a better stiffer chassis, power window, locks steering etc, so the earlier less complicated cars will tend to cost less to maintain

autox potential, the 240z has dominated F prepared at the national level for many years now, me I dominate my regional EM classes

fit, I've seen some tall guys drive both S30 and S130, I suggest you go find some cars to try on for size

fuel economy maybe 20 mpg if you aren't heavy ont he go pedal

insurance, isn't too bad as they are soo old and don't have great replacement cost, and if it's not an only car you might qualify for colectors insurance which si cheaper

[CJRocker]

Wow, thanks for the information. On the turbo's, do you think you could skirt by with 89 octane, or do they require 91? I wouldn't mind buying mid-grade as it wouldn't be that much more a tank of gas, but tbh, I've never seen many cars that run on it. I figured they got around 20/21mpg, which is good. I've looked at some late 60s/early 70s Nova's too, and they just guzzle gas, not to mention they are not pretty to take around a curve very fast. Btw, are these cars fairly easy to drive for someone who's never driven a stick shift before?

You have a cool Z too. Have you taken it out on other tracks too?

[evildky]

I am pretty sure only 87 octane is required, but if you plan to up the boost you need the higher octane, I still like the insurance of higher than needed on a tubo car with cast pistons, keep in mind we're talking a buck or 2 on a fill up, and turbo cars can drink gas, if you stand on the skinny pedal much

my car is mostly autocross, hasn't been on a track(well drag strips), there might be a Z track day at a new track this summer, I might take it to that, but I have no interest in running it in sanctioned track events, I don't want to add a cage and I wouldn't want to risk wadding it up, and these cars are about as rigid as cardboard so going off could result in death

if you have never driven a manual trans, go start now, don't matter what, just go start now, the sooner and mroe often you do the better off you'll be

[hbpignosePA]

speaking from experience...

find a driver in AZ NM or cali

fly out and check it out; trailer it home

NE Z's are either

A. rotted to hellB. way out of your price-range

i got burned bigtime on one of these suckers. love these cars, but they are simply not built for NE winters.

you look at the rx7 FCs?

those shouldnt be terrible on insurance. or even a 240. Theres alot of guys in lanc and york into nissans/datsuns

[CJRocker]

Not sure I could quite go through the hassle, extra cost, or time, though I guess it wouldn't hurt to keep it in mind. Just find it so much easier to deal local, but I know what you mean for sure about these cars not taking winters well.

I dunno about the Mazda FC's, could always check with my agent. My main concern has always been that fact I don't know jack about rotatory engines, heh.

I've also thought of 240SX, and in fact tried to buy an out-of-time 240 'vert, but never heard back on it. Plus they are also known for frame rust issues, though the values seem good. I don't figure they would be terrible on insurance either.

[hbpignosePA]

u think 240s are known for frame rust? old datsuns rust all over... from the rails to the floors to the suspension arms

if you want something RWD, 240s or FC's or even first gen Rx7s are probably a better bet. also look at older sedans. bmw 3 series are pretty cool... so are cressidas and q45s

i would hate for someone thats young to buy a z and have to sell it due to rust. learn from my mistakes seriously dude

[Arstine]

I'll add in my experience with these old cars. I've owned everything in the Z line up to the 300s except a 300xz turbo. I've also bought all of these cars locally (western South Dakota) so I've dealt with plenty of rust buckets.

With that said, rust is the main concern with these cars, as said above. Before you even give yourself a chance to fall in love with a certain car get under it and look at the frame rails. I've seen both extremes, where an absolutely beautiful car on the outside had frame rails you could poke holes in with your fingers and I've seen cars with barely any fenders left that had solid rails.

Next, the injection vs. carbs. Personally I choose the carburetors every time. But that's only because I am comfortable and experienced with working on carbs. Anymore it's getting hard to find someone that knows how to work on them so if you don't know how or aren't able to learn, stick to the injection.

As for driving the cars... I'm 6'5", 210 and I have never had a problem with being comfortable in one of these cars. The leg room is great. For the longest time I had an 81 280zx that I used for my road trip car that ended up visiting almost all 48 lower states, everything except Cali and Florida.

And you asked about never driving a manual transmission before. The older Zs are nice and light and have plenty of low end torque so they are pretty forgiving on someone learning.

[evildky]

u think 240s are known for frame rust? old datsuns rust all over... from the rails to the floors to the suspension arms

if you want something RWD, 240s or FC's or even first gen Rx7s are probably a better bet. also look at older sedans. bmw 3 series are pretty cool... so are cressidas and q45s

i would hate for someone thats young to buy a z and have to sell it due to rust. learn from my mistakes seriously dude

when you say "240" in this room it's assumed you are speaking of a Z, if you are speaking of the more feminine 240SX, you need to add that suffix in this room

[hbpignosePA]

haha yea i ment the sx....

and theres nothing feminine about it

[evildky]

haha yea i ment the sx....

and theres nothing feminine about it

lol, actually the 240sx was originally marketed to femals, it was a "secretary's car" no joke read up on the original marketing

[hbpignosePA]

eh in know that... i just dont like to admit it

[evildky]

lol, at least you can admit that you can't admit it...???

the "240" thing always gets me, to me a "240" is a Z, and of course was around long before the S13, and they are so often referred to by their chassis designations, also gets me when they refer to a 240sx as an "S" chassis, the 240Z was an S30 chassis so maybe nissan just need to get more creative in their naming process

[CJRocker]

Heh, thanks for the help all. Funny, enough I've actually looked at old Cressida's even though they aren't that common around here. So I guess I'll probably stick my focus to something a bit newer, like an 240SX (to be fair, I've actually seen a couple here where the frames looked solid), or RX-7 then. Thanks again!

[evildky]

Z31's are a lot newer and less likely to be rusty, the turbo's offer a lot of potential performance, and if you keep the belt changed they last forever, or untill you try running 25 psi to an old engine and go lean

[evildky]

rx7's car be great cars, and can also be a great nightmare PITA if you aren't familar with rotary's

[XenoVibe]

aren't the heavy cars with weak stock engines and require lots of time and money.. also blood sweat n tears (the fun stuff) to build? I dont see how that'd be more cost effective of a project.. but yah with its age no e-testing needed and insurance dirt cheap until modding. Alot of auto insurance have been getting really snippy about their pricing and modded cars, so they setup track vehicle branchs and increase rates, or if its daily driver/week end track car them Bills be flyin out your wallet like an economical crash happened in your back pocket.

[evildky]

I bought and built my Z31 fir under $2k, heavy compared to the earlier cars, but if you can't find an early rust gree car, they are a good opsion

insurance, never tell your insurance company you have a modified car, you are painting a target on you back by doing so, and insurance companies do not cover track events, you shoudl not track a car you don't own, if you can't afford to wad it up, don't risk it!

[hbpignosePA]

word

insurance companies do not have to know what your running

and 240z were pretty light, im confused by what you were askin

the later the z's got the heavier they got

[Gregmatic]

They had often referred to the Z31 as the "Fatlady" instead of the "fairlady" due to its hefty weight. When properly setup it still handles well and it fairly nimble.