Advice on buying a 260z

[FunkyMonk]

Alright so I've found a 260z 2+2 and I'm just asking for a bit of advice here. I apologise for not going straight into the introduction thread but if I do buy a Zed I'll certainly be posting more so I'll do it then  . I'm in Brisbane.

 

Ok, so onto the car.

 

Here's just what's posted on the ad:

 

Body:

Custom shaved rear bumper, fully de-badged. Full respray in bright yellow. Tail surrounds and bonnet vents painted gloss black. Only drivers side mirror, passenger side not legally needed, but is included in sale.

 

Engine:

L28 (P90 head, F54 block) running twin SU carbs,

standard airbox.

6-2-1 extractors, into 2.5" exhaust, with one high flow muffler, slash cut tip.

Converted to electronic ignition.

5 speed manual.

 

Recently replaced:

new Lower control arms and ball joints.

New drive shaft

100W driving lights.

New high voltage coil.

recent service with new plugs, all filters and oil done. (less than 1000km ago)

 

Interior:

Not the best to be honest. Dash is perfect, not one crack (very rare these days). Drivers seat has a small hole in it. Could use new carpet throughout. Just needs a little work.

 

Whats wrong with it?:

Needs a new fuel pump. would be a good idea to run your own relay for the fuel pump too.

Interior needs attention.

Would also do well with a good tune/carby balance.

 

Extras:

Comes with all standard badges.

spare L28e and manual gearbox included (from a 280ZX, different ratios, same speedo drive etc though.

 

From me just talking to him he says that it had a bare-metal respray with all the rust cut out (although now has a small piece near the fuel cap apparently). Has "about" 200,000ks on the engine seeing as the tacho has rolled over, he's not sure of the exact k's, just an estimate.

 

It's up for 4k but has been for awhile, so could probably negotiate down perhaps.

 

I think it's a fairly good price, but I'm wary of buying a car without being able to hear it run first. What do you guys think?

 

Cheers.

 

 

[Zedman240®]

To me, more important than hearing the engine is the body! eg rust etc and if it's been done properly..not just patched up with chicken wire and plaster (don't laugh..seen it before!) Engines can be replaced/repaired but bodywork costs.

The car sounds good for that price but does it run at all or just coughs and splutters? Make a good offer and see what happens and hope his not just offloading a crap load of problems he couldn't figure out onto you... Just my thoughts anyway...and welcome to the forums! Does it have a sunroof? if so, take off a few hundred!

[FunkyMonk]

No sunroof, and I just assumed that it doesn't run at all, I actually never asked him that haha. He says that it has no rust, so that's all I've got to go on at the moment. I think I'll try and see it this weekend perhaps.

 

Here's some pics of it:

 

 

I'd tell you guys what website it's on but I don't really want anyone snapping it up as I'm sure you can all understand  .

 

[sexual_sushi]

I agree, engine is a relative easy fix. If the paint is fairly new it's usually safe to assume they have done a quick patch up job to make it presentable to sell and rust will start showing through within a year or 2 (Depending on the quality of work, i know this seems very cynical but 9 times out of 10 its true). It sounds like they know a little bit about zeds (electronic ignition, su carbs etc) so I would ask him about the body work and see how he answers. You can also ask him if rust was cut out and then new patches welded in or just bogged up. Have a real close look on top of the guards above the wheels (either side of the hood) and down low in the sills around the doors and quarter panels. Look for any rust bubbles or uneven paint. If you can also check the floor from under the car and see if it is rusting through at all as that can be quite a big and common job. If it looks tidy and the body work was done reasonably well then it's proabbyl worth the $4000 especially with the spare gearbox etc. That said you never really get what its worth when selling a 2+2. I think up to $2500 would be a bargain based on the description and $2500 to $3500 would be about what you could find elsewhere. But once again it really comes down to bodywork.

[stevo_gj]

From me just talking to him he says that it had a bare-metal respray with all the rust cut out (although now has a small piece near the fuel cap apparently). Has "about" 200,000ks on the engine seeing as the tacho has rolled over, he's not sure of the exact k's, just an estimate.

 

He says that it has no rust, so that's all I've got to go on at the moment.

 

I'd tell you guys what website it's on but I don't really want anyone snapping it up as I'm sure you can all understand  .

 

Which is it? No rust or almost no rust?

 

How long ago was it resprayed? If rust is noticeable in one area then i'm pretty sure it will be hiding in about 10 other places.

 

If he's keen to sell it see if he will put a video of the engine running on youtube for you.

 

You've probably seen this, but might be worth a look if you haven't since its in Qld:

http://www.carpoint.com.au/used-car/DATSUN/260Z/Queensland/csn1466478.aspx

 

Where is the car you're looking at located? If you ask someone on the here might live near enough to look at it for you.

 

Welcome to the forums mate

 

And I agree with what Sushi said about prices and body work.

[sexual_sushi]

from the pictures i say it looks very tidy. The paint looks fresh. Has he been driving it for a while?  The question you have to ask yourself is if the rust was removed correctly and it has jsut been painted then why would he sell it now? Doing the rust on my 2+2 has taken 2 years (not working everyday obviously) and we have welded in 140 patches and it's a lot of work, I wouldn't even dream of seeling it cause I wouldn't get the money for all that hard work (well my dads hard work). Basically i would jsut probe him a bit more about the bodywork adn then make your decision. If you think it has been a bit of a dodge job, I don't think $2000 to $3000 is a lot of money to have a stylish car for a few years but just know that you might have to do body work on it if you want it to live or sell it for similar money. If you can pick that up in running condition it would be a very tidy daily driver and i think worth a good solid $3000.

[FunkyMonk]

Thanks for the advice guys, you've reiterated what I've been going through in my mind . I'm very wary about rust because I don't want to be held up for a long time with costly rust-repairs (am only 18). By the sounds of what he's been saying to me, he has a newfound passion for bikes and is looking to sell the car to pay off a loan for a new bike and once the fuel-pump and stuff went he didn't have the interest to get it fixed so put it up for sale.

 

All of these things I'll ask him this weekend hopefully. Unfortunately I'm fairly limited on my rust-finding abilities, I'll try and take a more knowledgeable friend along with me if I can.

 

So fingers crossed that if everything checks out  .

 

 

[Jospef]

I've enquired about this car before. He told me the same things he told you. It's been advertised for AGES, you could probably talk him down to at least 3.5k.

[FunkyMonk]

I've enquired about this car before. He told me the same things he told you. It's been advertised for AGES, you could probably talk him down to at least 3.5k.

 

Lol you didn't happen to go look at it did you? Just curious whether you saw something amiss that I haven't.

[C.A.R.]

When you go look at it, take a fridge magnet with you & stick it to the panels where rust occurs,

like sills, doglegs, lower guards etc.

If the magnet falls off, there's not metal underneath

[Zedman240®]

Lurch, you just beat me to it....wise move there!! The more the magnet falls off..deduct large wads of cash!

[chris240]

perhaps one the brissy guys could go & check it out with you "as an expert" !

I know the Canberra guys offer this service ...(cost is usually beer.. )

 

[sco_aus]

Check the boot hinge holes on the inside if you can, water likes to sit there too.

[sexual_sushi]

where abouts is the car located? I've got a pretty full on weekend but if it's pretty central I could maybe pop around with you?

[RB30X]

Which site was this from, reason I ask is I've been scanning the qld trading post and ebay etc for Z's but they are few and far between??

 

That magnet idea is brilliant method for making the guy feel like a bit of a rip off just before you offer him 2.5k to 'take it off his hands'. 

[FunkyMonk]

Hey guys thanks for all the advice! I've decided to save up a bit more and try and get my hands on a 2 seater Zed as I know I'd only regret not getting one if I got a 2+2, I'm sure you guys know what I mean.

 

Thanks again for the advice and hopefully you'll be hearing from me again in a few months  .