Respect Your Elders: 1971 Datsun 240Z Vs 2013 Scion FR-S (Toyota 86)

[Johnboy]

Hi Guys,

 

I found this and enjoyed the read.

 

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1210_respect_your_elders_1971_datson_240z_vs_2013_scion_fr_s/viewall.html

 

Johnboy

[zedevan]

Thanks for the link, more and more friends are getting 86's, and have been offended when I compare them even to my old s15, so I wonder how they'd like this comparison and the conclusion!

 

I know which one I'd prefer to have, but also know which one I'd prefer to have an accident in!

[dat240z]

240z still s*%ts all over the 86

[MaygZ]

240z still s*%ts all over the 86

No it doesn't, but it compares favourably to a modern sporty car.  This does show us how advanced the 240 was in it's day and why it is still a very popular car with drivers.

 

MaygZ

[d3c0y]

Shame they didn't know how to use the choke properly lol.

 

 

As someone posted in the comments, if it was fitted with all the common place updates that most have now it would have been even better. Don't forget that was a dead stock 240Z with a crap 4 speed and the woefully tall diff that is in the low 3s that goes with that gearbox.

[dat240z]

No it doesn't, but it compares favourably to a modern sporty car.  This does show us how advanced the 240 was in it's day and why it is still a very popular car with drivers.

 

MaygZ

 

Yes it does. They really are chalk and cheese so of course the performance and comfort levels will be different. Can you honestly see 86's being a valuable and rare car come 40yrs? Is the late 80's Mx5 a classic and worth a lot? Classic maybe but due to massive production numbers these cars stand no chance of being compared to the rare and sought after z in my opinion

[d3c0y]

That comment is ironic since the Z was the top selling 2 seat sports car of its time... ?

[PZG302]

The first of the Hairdresser cars, the NA6 have pretty much bottomed out in price, just like the 240 did in the late '80's early 90's, so yes the NA6 MX5 will become valuable, remember the 240 is now a 45 year old car and bottomed out when around 20-25 years old, just like the MX5 is now.

 

My hairdresser car I paid $5500 for a very good example, just a little tardy in the paint, after a respray it looks as good as new and have been offered $10k for it. The best thing about the MX??? It's simple enough to work on still, but enough tech that when I turn the key it starts. The car has ever only let me down once on a run and that was a fan belt let go necessitating a tow back home as I was out the back of Dayboro, so no where near a parts place. I now keep a belt in the boot just in case, so will never need one again.

 

And I can do quick laps around Lakeside, should be in the 66's going on my QR Clubman times, so not bad for a standard 1600 motor.

[MaygZ]

Yes it does. They really are chalk and cheese so of course the performance and comfort levels will be different. Can you honestly see 86's being a valuable and rare car come 40yrs? Is the late 80's Mx5 a classic and worth a lot? Classic maybe but due to massive production numbers these cars stand no chance of being compared to the rare and sought after z in my opinion

 

If the 86 sells here in the small numbers that the 240Z did and it only runs for a few years, then I do see it being a collector's car in 40 odd years.  As I also see the MX5 being in the same time span.  The series 1 Rx7's are just starting to head that way and I'm sure that in another 10 years we wont be able to afford them either.

 

Whenever they make a car with classic lines, some sporty handling and in reasonably small numbers it's to be expected.  Do you think that 40 years ago people would think that the mini they bought for their wives to drop the kids at school would be a collector's car?  Sometimes it really can't be explained other than just chasing an ideal like the split screen Kombi? or the beetle?

 

I personally love the shape of the 86, but feel that they made a mistake when they couldn't decide the market for the car.  I feel they have made the same mistake as made with the early Supras and the Calibras.  They should have built a small V8 for it (maybe 3.0l) with 250-300 Kw and they could have killed the affordable sports car market (like the 240 did).

 

MaygZ

[gav240z]

Agree with the above re: MX-5, I'm going to get 1 for my g/f and I'll try and find a really cheap 1 at that. Fix her up myself and then hand the keys to the missus, I'll of course take it out for a drive also since I always wanted 1.

 

I also agree regarding the first gen RX-7 buy 1 now if you want to get a car with a good return like the 240z (not an investment but a car that won't loose value either!).

 

You also have to keep in mind numbers sold globally don't always reflect local market prices, I can get an MG or a Mini over here (Ireland) at a very good price - say 2-3k - in fact I should start importing them to Australia haha. Also the Volvo P1800 can be obtained for not too much coin.

 

Anyway I'm going off topic, I think my problem with the 86 is the shape, it's all sorts wrong and it reminds me of a Hyundai which is the ultimate reason I wouldn't buy it.

http://img.netcarshow.com/Hyundai-Tiburon_Coupe_2007_1600x1200_wallpaper_09.jpg

 

 

[zedevan]

You might be best to bring one across with you Gav? I'm trying to find an ok cheap NA6 mx5 atm, and its proving more difficult than I thought, but I'm also hoping to get one that isn't red which means 95% of the cars are out! People are starting to try and get big money for ones with under 100,000kms, but I don't think they'll get it. NB's seem to be the best value, probably because no one really likes them, and there was an SP that just sold for 14k...

[gav240z]

You might be best to bring one across with you Gav? I'm trying to find an ok cheap NA6 mx5 atm, and its proving more difficult than I thought, but I'm also hoping to get one that isn't red which means 95% of the cars are out! People are starting to try and get big money for ones with under 100,000kms, but I don't think they'll get it. NB's seem to be the best value, probably because no one really likes them, and there was an SP that just sold for 14k...

 

Personal Imports Scheme allows 1 car every 5 years and has strict rules around owning it for at least 12 months (so that rules out putting it in the missus name). I did consider this also for a Honda S2000 a while back but I think importing 1 car will be painful enough to be honest and it will cost about 5-6K it looks like, so cheaper to get an MX-5 in Australia.

[260DET]

86 reminds me of the S30 as a decent out of the box RWD track car, keeping in mind that safety issues require a much heavier car relatively than back in the S30's day. Depending on the numbers sold new of course, it's pretty inevitable that they will become sought after as a used car some time after production ceases. So far their resale has been pretty good and my guess is it will remain that way.

[grimlynsan]

If I was going to buy a less thirsty, modern car, I would buy an S15. If I was going to buy a new car, I would get the 86 for sure. My cousin just got one and I'm lined up to go for a tear up the mountains with him in the zed. Will report on progress.