decisions decisions!!!!

[zzzzed]

My old man came around this morning with an offer.

He wants to do a straight swap, his 260z 2 seater for my z31 300zx California. I am having trouble making up my mind because i love both cars

and they are most likely equally as rear, particularly here in Australia. The 260z is probably worth a bit more but price is irrelevant as i would never sell either of them.

hear are the comparison pics

[nuclear_z]

Easy decision dude. DO THE SWAP... If your not planning on selling it and there are no major issues with the 260, they will become heaps more collectible and definately have the looks over the z31

[zzzzed]

well if i didnt already have a 240z i would jump at it.

Do i realy need 2 s30's? this one would be left origonal. I would definetly loose the wire wheels

My z31 is a good comfortable daily driver and i am not sure i would want to use the 260z as a daily driver

 

[C.A.R.]

If you need a daily, the Z31 is the better choice.

[sco_aus]

Yeah I agree with Lurch, having said that, that is one sexy 260Z  

[zzzzed]

Thats what iam thinking. It is so tempting though.

I do have my #@#$ box old triton l but that doesnt make for a plesant daily    

[zzzzed]

one pluss for the 260 for a daily is it doese have airconditioning.

a negative is o would never be able to carry more than 2 people in any of my cars

[NZeder]

one pluss for the 260 for a daily is it doese have airconditioning.

a negative is o would never be able to carry more than 2 people in any of my cars

This is easy to fix - if you are single then get a girl friend who has a sensible car and use that when you need more seats

 

Now as the swap is with your Dad - don't forget the z31 is still in the family and just let him know that you have first offer when he goes to sell it - that way in the future you might have the $$ to purchase it back again = 240z, 260z and the Z31

[nizm0zed]

one word.

 

 

Inheritance.

 

 

play your cards right and you'll end up with both anyway

[RB26DETT]

Do the swap - a 260z can be made into a good daily driver

 

S30/S31 > Z31

[gav240z]

Keep the Z31 put aircon in and enjoy the fact its slightly more modern.

 

Of course I can't imagine a 3.0ltr VG30 makes a good daily in terms of fuel and the cost of maintaining a relatively old car.

 

Focus on making the 240z a good car and restore it over the long term.

 

Ask your dad to swap for a week or two and see how you like it? Make your mind up after you have been driving it to work for a bit.

[zzzzed]

i just whent for a drive It is a lot more fun to drive than the Z31 and doesnt have much less power.

We do have an agreement that  he is not alowed to sell it and it wold be left to me in his will

 

[Mr Camouflage]

Find him a cheap Z31 buy it and give it to him, on the condition he stores the 260Z and gives it to you when want it. You save mileage on the 260Z, and you don't have to find anywhere to store it.

[Lynton]

I did have a Californian Z31 1988 model but traded it in 2001 my son currently has a 1988 Californian which he is about to sell, I also have a 1977 260Z 2+2 and an 2001 S15 R Spec I bought from new.

 

I have first hand information experience so this is how i see it!!!

 

The 260Z is simplistic mechanically and provided rust is not an issue it certainly is the cheaper maintenance alternative but heavy steering, not a very slick gearbox plus a choke to live with and antiquated windscreen wipers including poor ventilation with average fuel consumption and heat from the transmission tunnel the Z31 will top the 260z as a daily driver.

There is only a couple of hundred Z31 Californians released in Australia and is with out doubt the best looking Z31 and the rarest. Depending on the mileage of the Z31 it is a high labor cost engine to work on with belt and water pump routine changes, leaky fuel injectors both expensive and costly to fix and high labor, they chew out the rear tyres and have a crap auto transmission which doesn't seem to suit the engine performance, saying all that they do have a wow factor are great on the open road with [/img]adequate brakes and beautiful steering with lots of room inside.......as a daily driver the Z31 is superior but make sure your bank balance is able to support mechanical up keep.

[zzzzed]

yeah I know all about the mechanics of the z31. Since i have had it i have totally rebuilt the top end of the motor. One  valve had a split you could drive a truck through and replaced the injectors with vl commadore injectors this was not a cheep exercise. I also know all about the s30 as i drove my 240z for 18 mounths before i took it off the road for restoration.

[zzzzed]

I took the 260z for a good 200km drive today because i thought it might help me make up my mind. It didnt help

It whent well though

 

 

[Lynton]

My truthful feeling is don't get rid of Zeds just accumulate them but you need plenty of garage storage space. I regret selling every nissan sports car I have owned but you can't keep them all, you need enough money to hoard and drive, that is the real answer............sorry!!

 

But as I have got older I do enjoy the 260Z but only because that is the only one I have left apart from my S15 daily driver but I don't think my personal feelings would be any different if it were another model Zed I had retained and left in the garage or other Nissan sports for that matter either, they just have something magnetic about them.

 

Whatever the decision you will be happy I sort of think the Z31 has modern/classic charismatic design about the the S30 has definite classic lines and chrome which I love but in another 10/20 years the Z31 will be a true classic also and there will be less about.

Lynton

[gav240z]

That is a clean looking 260z. Tough decision, but if you don't mind the old school trade off's maybe the 260z is the way to go.

 

2 seaters were quite rare in RS30 form.

[zzzzed]

If i was to do the trade I would end up with the z31 back when my feature is no longer able to drive.

He is in his late 60s now so that may only be  4 to 5 years and plus he would fix all that is wrong with it,  eg. suspension and intra

 

He has also said that i will end up with the 260z eventually also. 

This 260 is 100% original apart from the rims and tacky stripes which i would remove

I would leave it this way because i think any car this original should be left alone.

The engine numbers match and it does come with original rims although i wold be tempted to put a set of sensible sized superlights on it .

 

The 260 needs a few things done, the front brake shoes need replacing straight away.

The heater tap is leaking through lack of use and the fuel gauge doesn't work.

 

The z31 also needs a bit of work Mostly in the suspension area so which would cost a lot more to do than the 260z

 

 

 

[NZeder]

Do it - you get the z31 back in the future anyway

[gav240z]

If i was to do the trade I would end up with the z31 back when my feature is no longer able to drive.

He is in his late 60s.

 

Hah, don't write him off that early. My great grandfather was driving until his death, he reached 97.

 

He has also said that i will end up with the 260z eventually also. 

This 260 is 100% original apart from the rims and tacky stripes which i would remove

I would leave it this way because i think any car this original should be left alone.

The engine numbers match and it does come with original rims although i wold be tempted to put a set of sensible sized superlights on it .

 

The tacky stripes are great. I think there really cool myself. I wouldn't put Superlites on, I would go for Watanabe's or Panasports myself. Nothing wrong with changing the rims to something "period" correct. In fact there are loads of cool period rims out there.

 

 

The 260 needs a few things done, the front brake shoes need replacing straight away.

The heater tap is leaking through lack of use and the fuel gauge doesn't work.

 

Easy, easy and easy. Won't cost you more than a few hundred dollars if you pay someone. Cheaper if you do it yourself too.

 

For some strange reason the 260z's seemed to have more electrical problems than the 240z's. Especially with the gauges. (clock excluded - I don't think they ever worked properly even new!)

 

The z31 also needs a bit of work Mostly in the suspension area so which would cost a lot more to do than the 260z

 

I would imagine they are a more expensive car to maintain in general. However it would probably be a much more comfortable car for your father, so you would be doing him a favour in a way.

 

Plus you get to enjoy a 260z while you fix up the 240z. Keep one all original and modify the other. I know I'd love to have a pure original as can be 240z and a full on show car for another. Ahhh someday .

[zzzzed]

my old mans eye sight is fading fast so i dint think it will be to long. He has to be re tested in a few years and even he is worried.

 

I always do all my work my self unless it is something that has to be machined as i dint have the tools for that

 

[zzzzed]

i did the swap. See the members projects section