240 vs 260 vs 280

[hip240]

Hi

I am new to the forum.

In terms of driving what is the main difference between the three models?

Which is more fun to drive?

Which one is more practical?

Cheers

[Patch]

This sought of discussion may not always come out well, as it starts "mine is better than yours" I will only discuss standard cars.

But the main difference between the models is weight and stoke of the motor.

The 240 is the lightest of them all and has a shorter stoke motor and has no emission control resulting in a really fun car to drive as the motor likes to rev and responds quickly, it has a lot of history and will be the more collectible car.

The 260z became heavier and after 74 emission controls came in, they changed the stoke to a longer stoke and made the car more suitable to a family sports car instead of a racer like the 240.
they added a 2+2 with seats in the back for people with no legs and heavy on the steering, the 2 seater is the more collectible of the 260

The 280 kept the same stoke as 260 with bigger bore and lot heavier car they made a fairlane with a sports body, power everthing as as standard car you can not compare performance as they had none.
It took them 20 years to get back to the same performance as the first 240z.

A lot more on this web site.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_S30

As for practical I beleive my 2002 Renalt Senic, fits that, the back seats remove in 30 sec and you have a mini van and I can sleep in the back with a mattress or carry large items or back to a 5 seater in 1 min.

[chris240]

At midnight you ask the meaning of life questions 
1. 40 & 60 have similar characteristics
2. Fun is different for each person.
3. Dual-cab ute

[Lynton]

Hi Hip240,
I guess a lot is dependant on what you ultimately are going to use the car for?

My own opinion is the 280zx is the most user friendly car of the three and is the latest model of the three, it is also larger inside thus more elbow room, has power steering a big added bonus, power windows and power mirrors, fuel injection which makes ease of starting and cold drive aways a breeze, disc brakes on all four wheels and airconditioning but the car lacks clean cut lines in its design but is appealing none the less especially as they age now.

The 240Z and the 260Z are are differerentiated by later years respectively and the most notable change is pollution equipment and flat top twin side draught Hitachi carburettors on the 260z's, the 260Z 2+2 has a back seat the car is a foot longer and this model is usually in a debateable better condition because it is more of a limo than an outright sports car, they are user friendly having a back seat and slightly more turns lock to lock on the steering than the standard coupe, some of the 2+2's have air-conditioning.

Whatever Zed you purchase rust is the most serious issue that needs to be addressed before purchase but all of them are a delight to drive!!

Lynton

[dat2kman]

Unless Hip240 is asking about the three models in the S30 body, ie the injected 280 as sold in USA.
From 75 on the 280 had the injection engine, again for emissions, as well it had 90 kgs of federal law crash bumpers, it became a slug, but still had the same HP as the earlier cars.

Then in 79 the landbarge was introduced, S130. That delightfull plush red velour interior, pulled the women in!

I find it fascinating that most owners here in Aus, into modding, the first thing they do is convert their S30 into a 280 with the engine coming out of a S130, so after all, they mustn't have been that bad!

[bullzed]

The consensus is that 2+2 Z's are less desireable and sell for less, but I say, more seats more women 

And stop calling the ZX a landbarge, it's not fat, IT'S BIG BONED 

[luvemfast]

Also check out XenonS30 and XenonS130, I think that's. What they're called.
Don't forget, ZX's have a better weight distribution, less coefficient of drag, better rigidity and creature comforts.
Just strip out the excess weight. I'd be close to 100kgs lighter in mine. 
Oh, no fume issues either 

But in saying that. Of course the 240Z is the "hero" car

[Patch]

Just for the record, although the 260z 2+2 back seat was designed for midgets with no legs you can fit in uncomfortably 5 adults and luggage 100ks to airport, not happy when they got out, and I pointed to the stretch limo and said if you all had of put $20.00 each in you could have come up in that.Things you do for family.

[bullzed]

Also Simon, I was wondering, have you ever driven a 2+2 ZX? Is there much of a difference in the way they feel on the road to the 2 seater? I was interested in finding a 2 seater ZX sometime soon!

[dat2kman]

Interstingly, the 260 2+2 given similar mechanical performance enhancements, and a bit of emphasis on weight reductio, IS a better handling car on the track!

AND in mid 1970's as a five seater touring car, was raced, sorry no, practiced and qualified at the Bathurst 1000 at Mt Panorame.
The ONLY Z to do so.
The S130's were run there in prod sports and gt as standard showroom, but not the big race, the 1000!

[saxon]

240 and 260 coupe are very similar, I don't think there's a difference in value unless it's a very early 240. Some 260 specific parts can be slightly harder to find.

[Bozo]

I've just restored a 260Z 2+2 and it look ZOMGAWESOME and drives like the best car in the WORLD! (to me anyway) - but at the end of the day, My heart will never be content with it... Need the original 2-seater!

2-seater = No regrets


All the people here saying that 280ZX or 2+2 are better, etc etc. Deep down, its not true. 2-seater S30, whether its 240, 260 or US-only 280 will always be the car of choice; looks and performance

[luvemfast]

No, I'm yet to drive an S130 2+2.
Dad has one that should be finished and quick soon.

Don't forget that 280ZX's can run L28 turbo's and be in a stock class.
I had a chance to switch to a 240Z, but couldn't part with my 2 seater. So I've already made my choice.

[jamo240]

Well hip, where to start.....

The 240 could be considered the Cornetto car....the original and best....but more original than best.

All the successors benefitted from the experience gained and are therefore more refined.....BUT, Nissan also lost its way a bit in trying to build a car to suit US tastes, which meant it got bigger and slower and lost its roots as a sports car.

Z's went into the wilderness like American muscle cars (some of which had 600HP in 1965, but struggled to make half that by 1975) pretty much all the way through the mid 70's until the 90's. With the last generation 300zx's they built a good car again. I was an apprentice mechanic at Nissan during the late 80's and drove the California spec mid life 300ZX's, and they were truly forgettable. The VG Quad valve TT engines breathed life into the marque once again! They've got better since then.

So...no Z is practical, although the current generation are closer to it....buy a 370Z if you want the most refined and practical car. For a really practical car get something like a diesel Ford Territory.

If you are nostalgic and want to go back to where it all began, get a 240 and prepare to spend money endlessly to get it right and keep it right, noting that with all the money you spend, it will still feel like a car engineered in the late 60's and built in the early 70's. That's just how it is.

The other ones have their pro's and con's, but you get the idea of the trade-offs you need to consider. I have a 240, and was lucky enough to get it 25 years ago when you could get them in pretty good nick for reasonable prices. If I were starting now, and wanted the early shape, I would try to get a 280Z (same body shape as 240, but not offered as original equipment in Australia), or a 280zx 2 seater  like what Simon has...they are a nice car, and a bit younger than a 240 or 260, so you get a better base car....hard to find though...Japanese import jobs.

Oh, the other thing is how much money you have to throw at it...don't take on a resto if you haven't got the money to finish it...otherwise, you burn up what money you have got and don't get any result for it...do the car you can afford.

Cheers

Jamo

[bullzed]

All the people here saying that 280ZX or 2+2 are better, etc etc. Deep down, its not true.

Ouuuchhhhhh...