Need help to decide if i should get this car

[itstrenden]

Well i found a 1900 nissan 300zx non turbo from what i know it doesn't look like to bad of a car but im only 17 and dont know a whole lot. I love cars and would like to get into if i got my first car the car is $2500 heres a link to it http://desmoines.craigslist.org/cto/5291938849.html and others that he had sent me

[OriginalWheelman]

Welcome to NICO! Seems like a legit price. Just check the frame rails to make sure it was never crashed. If it runs and drives it's hard to say no for $2500.

[float_6969]

Is this going to be your only vehicle, or a toy? It's priced fairly, but it's been modified, which tells me it's been beaten on, which means the whole car is probably tired. If this is going to be your only car, I would say walk away. Get something cheap and fuel efficient. Save your money for a couple of years, and buy a car that's in better condition. It's ALWAYS better to build from a clean car.

[Bubba1]

I normally try to steer teenagers away from 300ZX's especially as a first car. Not because the Z's are bad. In fact they're sexy fun cars. The hidden problem that younger buyers don't take into account is that they're complex and can be expensive to fix. That could very quickly/easily drain whatever savings you have left after spending $2500 just to buy it. At your age, I'd suggest buying something a bit less complex like a 240sx. But that said, if you're still determined to buy a 300ZX, then I strongly recommend having a mechanic your dad trusts to check it over and see what it really needs and figure out a realistic cost to get it operating reliably. If it needs nothing, great. But keep in mind, you're looking at a 25 yr old sports car with 150K+ miles, so it's likely it's gonna need something fixed soon or immediately, especially if it was driven hard by any one (or more) of its previous owners. Good luck.

[frapjap]

^ The voice of reason has spoken.

Get that bad boy looked over and make sure its in decent enough shape and you have a few spare bucks to repair it when it inevitably goes down. You don't want to end up jaded on your new hobby/passion.

Also- if you have Inspection in your state, make sure it passes and can pass again before purchasing.

[BadcarEUROPE]

Yeah, It's better to inspect everything twice than spend a lot of money later...

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Indeed. Ask about the timing belts, and when they were last replaced.

[Jesda]

I would spend 2-3 times more for a nice one however if you have the time, the space, and the patience, then buy it and have fun as long as you plan on having another car to get groceries.