Again, a new member! Advice need please.

[fluffydice]

Hi everyone, im new to this forum. I live in melbourne and after all my life buying many many old fords (currently highly modifying a xa falcon) ive decided to look into buying a 240z for a daily driver.

 

I do not know much about these cars. Can anyone help with what to look for when inspecting one. What problems do they usually have. How are they on petrol. I'll only look at a manual btw. And is there a FOr SALE section here so I can look for one??

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers.

 

 

 

[sco_aus]

Welcome.

Beofre the onslaught, I suggest you do a search or even a quick look at the main forum page as the classifieds area is quite prominent.  There is quite a few threads on the forum, so i suggest doing a search.

Thanks and welcome again.

[fluffydice]

Thank you. Will do that now.

[C.A.R.]

An early Zed is not a car I would recommend for daily driver...

 

Welcome to the forum, BTW.

[fluffydice]

An early Zed is not a car I would recommend for daily driver...

 

Welcome to the forum, BTW.

 

Thanks. Why not if you dont mind??

[chris240]

there really not a car for driving in heavy traffic every single day.

If you work really close to home its probably ok.

When a carby zed is outa tune, its 34deg, you dont have aircon, and theres small rattling noises coming from everywhere all while your stuck in traffic, it just doesnt seem right..

Most people buy zeds as they are a magnificent car to work on and improve on...hence toying with a zed on weekends.

my 5 cents worth 

[fluffydice]

there really not a car for driving in heavy traffic every single day.

If you work really close to home its probably ok.

When a carby zed is outa tune, its 34deg, you dont have aircon, and theres small rattling noises coming from everywhere all while your stuck in traffic, it just doesnt seem right..

Most people buy zeds as they are a magnificent car to work on and improve on...hence toying with a zed on weekends.

my 5 cents worth 

 

Fair enough. I actually live 5 minutes from work. I rarely go into the city also. Im used to all these rattles, squeeks and no air con as most of my cars have been pre 1975 fords. But i guess ill have to test drive one and see for myself.

[Zedman240®]

Welcome to the forums!

A reason I wouldn't like a 240Z as an everydayer would be the thought of some d#$khead taxi driver doing a u-turn in front of you. Bye bye 240Z even with any insurance! A zed after a hit is never the same.

Good luck with your search....Oh, BTW, main thing to look for is the standard thing with old cars...rust, rust and more rust! Mechanicals can be changed, bodyshells a little harder...

[oldmates260z]

For an every day driver if you want a Zed I would get one that is not as collectable as a 240Z or 260Z 2 seater. The 260Z 2+2 is a lower price, there are more of them and the later ones are more likely to have AC.

 

I tried driving mine every day but must agree was always concerned with the wear aand tear and everything needing replacing to it ended up in the shed all the time.

 

Also, not that I have driven one but I think the ones with the RB conversions would be better in traffic. Fuel injection was a great idea.

[sco_aus]

Yeah, but if you have any sort of power through the RB, you shag the clutch out pretty quick and then once you start upgrading that, it becomes very undrivable through town.

[zr240]

I think a 240z is fine for a daily driver if you dont mind the lack of modcons.

 

I used to drive mine to work from Cheltenham to Port melbourne everyday for quite a few years. It was running triple 40s and I loved it!

 

The only reason I stopped driving it was it was getting too rusty.

 

Ash

[Surly_Z]

I bought mine with the intention of using it as a weekend car, and just drive my z31 as a daily. But I can't help myself, I see it sitting in the garage and think "I could be driving this right now..." - so now it's pretty much a daily driver! But similar to you Fluffydice, I work 7mins up the road so wear and tear isn't too much of a concern. As for petrol, I'm running an L28 with standard SU's on 95 and I get roughly 80-90kms per 10 litres.

 

Just buy one, they're great little cars!

[Cdr Zero]

I drive my 240 every day.  It's stock standard.  When the rust becomes an issue I'll get it fixed.  If stuff needs to be replaced I'll get them replaced. 

[stevo_gj]

I drive my 260z 2 seater every day! I love it, and since the mechanicals are in good nick I have yet to break down.

[dazzed]

welcome aboard fluffy dice, its great you intend to drive a zed on a daily basis, i am fully restoring a 240z to do exactely that, and why not that what a car is for , i know plenty of owners that do , its your car and have the freedom to do as you please with it , if your occupation is a taxi driver and you teach karate part time zedman 240z is in big trouble

[Zedman240®]

if your occupation is a taxi driver and you teach karate part time zedman 240z is in big trouble

 

Nowadays they don't need to know karate; some disturbed people carry all sorts of weapons and/or large metal bars. Personally, I would love a clean restored zed to be used as an everyday car. But experience with my first late everydayer 260 2 seater was a disaster. An old guy with a ute backed into the bonnet 2 months after it was painted, a Renault Fuego hit it in the back, German tourist took out the whole passenger side from wheel to wheel and a "Citipower" van took care of the right rear wheel arch thanks to their rear nudge bar. Only panel spared was the roof! Ever since that, POS cars for me for everyday.....(except current 2+2)

[gav240z]

Nowadays they don't need to know karate; some disturbed people carry all sorts of weapons and/or large metal bars. Personally, I would love a clean restored zed to be used as an everyday car. But experience with my first late everydayer 260 2 seater was a disaster. An old guy with a ute backed into the bonnet 2 months after it was painted, a Renault Fuego hit it in the back, German tourist took out the whole passenger side from wheel to wheel and a "Citipower" van took care of the right rear wheel arch thanks to their rear nudge bar. Only panel spared was the roof! Ever since that, POS cars for me for everyday.....(except current 2+2)

 

I agree I had my car backed into twice within 2 weeks of each other. Both times they damanged the bonnet / bumper and left without leaving a note. It was probably Volvo driving soccer mom's who would come into the video shop where I used to work years back. I parked the car round the back after that.

 

Its a shame it seems the nicer your car is the more people go for it and the worse they drive around / next to you.

 

Problem with a car like the Z is as soon as you give it a squirt for a bit, all the boy racers are magnetised to it and chase after you or want to drive close to you.

 

10 years back you could still get parts relatively easily but currently its very difficult to find 240z parts in Australia so you need to be careful.

[gav240z]

if your occupation is a taxi driver and you teach karate part time zedman 240z is in big trouble

 

LOL, even Taxi drivers complain about Taxi drivers. Comes with the territory I guess. They have the luxury of not caring about their vehicles.

[Hunter]

Some reading material for you.

 

http://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/EFI&fuel.htm

 

http://www.xenons30.com/reference.html

 

This site is really good pointing out rust spots etc.

http://www.zhome.com/

 

 

[RBZ 260]

I built my Z with intensions of being daily car and also bit of a weekend warrior.

though mine is a 260z 2+2 with few mod cons like power steering.

 

been driving it for almost 2 years now. if u dont mind the rattles and fumes its great daily car (BTW those rattles and fumes can get fixed)

 

though since u seem to be in mod scene with your previous rides droping an RB turbo engine is fairly easy. i got the smaller of the RBs the RB20DET. though still has over 200KW with mods and avarage driving it will return with around 10l per 100km. if u push bit more on regular basis it it will go up to 12-14l per 100km.

 

but when boy racers want to take you on off the lights with their current craze fast cars are in for a suprise.

 

not saying that L powered Z are slow they can be very quick with few mods , but prob will chew bit of fuel.

 

like people mentioned above what to look for when buying one. RUST. search the forums or check the link above that Hunter pointed out.

 

good luck with the purchase.

 

PS if u drive one u better have the money ready  cause u will want it right there and then.