260 as a daily driver.

[BikerWill]

Hi gang,

 

I'm about ready to put money down on a car (around the 12k mark for a 2+2) and I'm having a bit of a moment. Am I kidding myslef that a Z would make a useable daily? Its mostly stock. My wife and I take bikes to work but the car still does 10000-15000k a year.

 

What are your personal experiences? Am I setting myself up for disappointment? I don't mind working on the car, but not every weekend.

 

Thoughts?

 

Thanks

 

Unsure Will

[nizm0zed]

Its a 30-40yr old car.

it'll drive like one.

Comfort will be lower and noise will be higher than any other average car.

It'll get dinged in carparks, scratched by careless people, maybe even general accident damage.

It'll continue to rust if its always out in the weather, you'll likely have to recondition the whole driveline/suspension on whatever you buy to make it reliable as a daily. (if not done previously)

There will likely be no comforts such as aircon, central locking, cruise control.

The petrol fumes will probably annoy you after a while.

Most people (including insurance companies) will just see it as an old car that shouldnt be on the road anymore.

 

Personally i think your better off buying a cheap throwaway car, Magna, Lancer, Corolla, Laser, Accent ect ect for under $2500 and driving it into the ground.

save the toys for the weekend when you'll really enjoy them.

[dat240z]

x2............

[Six_Shooter]

In the summer I use my 240Z as a daily, at least 99% of the time. I do have a proper daily, that sits most of the time when the good weather is around.

 

If I lived in an area that didn't get snow, and I had to keep only one car it would be the 240Z.  That being said, I understand the risks of trying to use a 240Z as a daily driver.

[Scoota G]

Gawd I'm using my 302 V8 Powered 260Z as a daily at the moment. Bear in mind that I built it from the ground up, it hardly ever has a problem. It doesn't squeak or rattle and gets terrible mileage but soooo much fun. Way worth the price of admission. A 12K one should be very sound!

[DreamZproject]

If you're willing to pay for it, why not!?

Most of the mod cons that are on cars today can be fitted if needed (although some would take a very decent amount of time and money). If you view it this way; a decent daily driver brand new costs you $30k, If you got yourself a decent 2+2 to start with for 10k, spent another 20k on seats, shocks, brakes, air-con, power steering, engine rebuild/ swap, dynamat, remote locking, stereo etc. You would have the best looking daily driver out there and guess what, it wont depreciate! (over a long period of time).

 

Just depends if you can put up with the teething problems and the time and effort to get it all setup the way you want...

 

When the FT86 came out i was so in love and thought that I had to have one, but then i realised, for 30 something thousand, i could have my dream car instead!

[Zedman240®]

If you are prepared to have it rear ended my somebody paying more attention to the radio station than the traffic ahead, go nuts. But even having another daily and a zed,  that can happen to but the chances are far greater.

I agree totally with nizmozed...

[PB260Z]

.

Personally i think your better off buying a cheap throwaway car, Magna, Lancer, Corolla, Laser, Accent ect ect for under $2500 and driving it into the ground.

save the toys for the weekend when you'll really enjoy them.

I agree agree totaly with nizm0zed, especialy the last comment.

 

 

[Triptych]

Is there better ways to go? Sure there is but you don't own an old car like this for comfort or economical reasons. It's the feeling you get being behind the wheel, that smile on your face that you can't help when you turn the key, those moments you find yourself looking at it in amazement. If you can have that everyday, why not go for it?

 

In saying that I have a work ute as my daily, the R32 Skyline is the weekend car or when I am on holidays becomes my daily (love it) and when the zed is finished it will replace the R32.

[Scoota G]

Gawd I'm using my 302 V8 Powered 260Z as a daily at the moment. Bear in mind that I built it from the ground up, it hardly ever has a problem. It doesn't squeak or rattle and gets terrible mileage but soooo much fun. Way worth the price of admission. A 12K one should be very sound!

Having said this i am building a Pulsar N13 with an Sr20 just for a cheap run around.

[DreamZproject]

and i got myself an MR2 because it was cheap reliable performance, and it looks damn sexy. But it still can't beat a z. You have the facts, now it's all you.