My worst fear realised.....Opinions or ideas needed.

[zedrally]

Well, I guess it had to happen eventually, at least I wasn't driving. (then again it may not have happened if I was)?

 

My little baby 260Z 2+2 was rear ended, which has resulted in a $8.7k repair bill. Luckily I'm insured and received a payout.

 

Now the burning question close to my heart, do I repair a car I have had for 20 years or update to a Z32? (no extra cash needed).

Having just spent 4k rebuilding the engine, a near perfect body which was totally restored 10 years ago has left me sleepless for the past few nights.

 

My 240Z is now totally stripped, and a ground up resto is in progress...I can use some parts from the 260 for this, I really question if I do I really need a 2+2 as well?

 

How does one part with something that has provided fun and enjoyment, been part of the family, watch the kids grow up, been through a divorce plus a couple of g/f's as well, not to mention the addition of grey hairs...

 

Well fellow zedophiles, what would you do if placed in this situation?

Take the money and upgrade to a newer model knowing that you still have a 240Z  with or ????

[chartoo]

hmmmm....Do you follow your head or your heart?

[Scoota G]

Yep, best of both worlds. 240Z for yourself and the other for a runabout (i'm assuming you'll buy the 2+2 back...or donate it to the club for a project car) Do it do it do it do it Do It NOW.

[madz]

I'm with scoota, DO IT! 

[zedrally]

Worst part is that the 2+2 is totally drivable...if it wasn't I probably wouldn't hesitate.

[Scoota G]

Hey could you put some Pictures up, please?

 

[zedrally]

will do tomorrow, can tell you the chassis needs straightening, small crease in the rear quarter panel, with the resultant change in steering geometry.

[gav240z]

Well, I guess it had to happen eventually, at least I wasn't driving. (then again it may not have happened if I was)?

 

My little baby 260Z 2+2 was rear ended, which has resulted in a $8.7k repair bill. Luckily I'm insured and received a payout.

 

Now the burning question close to my heart, do I repair a car I have had for 20 years or update to a Z32? (no extra cash needed).

Having just spent 4k rebuilding the engine, a near perfect body which was totally restored 10 years ago has left me sleepless for the past few nights.

 

My 240Z is now totally stripped, and a ground up resto is in progress...I can use some parts from the 260 for this, I really question if I do I really need a 2+2 as well?

 

How does one part with something that has provided fun and enjoyment, been part of the family, watch the kids grow up, been through a divorce plus a couple of g/f's as well, not to mention the addition of grey hairs...

 

Well fellow zedophiles, what would you do if placed in this situation?

Take the money and upgrade to a newer model knowing that you still have a 240Z  with or ????

 

It's pretty hard decision but if you feel that the repair will return your pride and joy to as good as new I'd say go for it. I personally have never really liked the Z32 much.

 

I'm still very sentimental when it comes to my first 240z (bought it at 17 working for my uncle as a brick layer), which I sold on and I still think about - mainly because it was so original and I have great memories of driving on my L-plates and seeing my mum drive to pick me up from friends places, just so I could drive the 240z home (she always wanted a 240z herself and she scored some cool points in my book for driving a Z).

 

It's been in the family for so long, that I'd say some day your kids will be pretty sentimental about it too. Then again life is short and maybe you shouldn't restrict yourself to the S30 series all your life? At least that's what I keep telling myself.

 

 

[zedrally]

 

 

 

Doesn't look bad, until your close up. I wonder if it would still pass a roadworthy?

[Zed Brothers Inc]

Rebuild I reckon.... Keep the soul of your 2+2 alive!

[Whittie]

Pics aren't working for me.

 

I feel your pain mate, real hard position!

 

If it were me I'd keep it. I might not repair it straight away, but I'd stick it away under a car cover somewhere, keep the rego up to date, and get back to it one day. My current zed has been mine since 15 and I couldn't imagine if it was written off and lost.

[maddos]

Agree with Whittie.

Sit on it for a while.

Me I'd keep it.

I've regretted selling other cars and they were no way as desirable as a zed.

[gilltech]

Same as Whittie - if you've got room to store it dry, then keep it, don't let it go if it's so much a part of your personal history. You can fix it later.

[d3c0y]

This is coming from a Z32 owner that came from a 260Z 2+2

 

DONT DO IT!

 

Z32s are all flogged out and very expensive to maintain. I totally agree with buy a good 240Z instead

 

I've dumped about $30k into my Z32 and i have driven it for less than a year in 6 years of ownership.

[zedrally]

Thanks guy's for the thoughts.

 

I should point out that I already have 240Z, although it's  stripped back to bare shell ATM. So I wouldn't be zedless, in fact some of the DNA could be mixed in getting the 240 up to scratch!

 

I'm in no rush to sell or otherwise dispose of the 2+2, it's drivable and with no cracked or damaged lenses, it can't be called un-roadworthy.

at the end of the day I need a car to get around, hence my thoughts towards a Z32.

I was expecting most if not all Z32 to be flogged about, I've found one in a dealers yard for the right $$$$, 6 months reg and 12 months warranty.

Could it be such a bad deal with 12 months warranty?

I'd certainly be getting my mechanic to go over it looking for the obvious, but is the obvious the same as what we look for in the early zeds?

 

[MaygZ]

I think I might be on my own here, ... but I think it's time to move on.  You still have the 240Z with which you can build new memories and, not knowing your current circumstances, new girlfriends (if required).

 

I'm also not a fan of the z32, but you have all the parts to build a nice 260 coupe!!  Or of course you could purchase an interesting daily, while you build the 240!  This is the way I would go.

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

MaygZ

[RBZ 260]

got to be pissed about it though. i'm still battling with mine for a payout. it has escalated for courts to figure it out. 

 

though i agree with MaygZ on time to move on. concentrate on the 240z.

 

what u get is best left to you. You  best know your lifestyle and mechanical ability to get the right car. if u got a decision between few cars post it up for other peeps opinions to make you decision making bit easier.

 

now bit of defence for the Z32.

 

Was the same though wouldn't get a z32 unless i just want to look at it.  I don't  mind the look of z32 its a good looking car. it is big but if u think its ugly u got your head stuck in the sand sorry.

 

due to my unfortunate events with 260z and long built time for the 240z i had to get back into a zed car to keep me sane. 

 

had my suzuki gti up on the advertising to swap for anything rear wheel and Nissan.. hoping ill get some bites for a 280zx or Z31 300zx as thats all i could afford after selling the Gti. 

 

Had heaps of wierd offers but managed to sell it outright. so had measly 2.5k to buy a z or zx. woopdie doo.

 

found a 2+2 260z with bit of work for 3.5k but no time for project. found a z31 manual but got sold by the time i sold my Gti.

 

so was getting bit desperate and started expanding into VL calais but still wanted a Z car. searched on google (getting very desperate) and found a Z32 TT on a 300zx forum.

 

though again love the look of them but horror stories of unreliability and difficulty to work on put me off.

 

but kept researching all the info i could find on z32. it grew on me and i bought it after several sleepless nites.

 

it needed some work as it had a bit of front bingle with a gutter and some poor guys fence. so the price was good and the work seemed fairly straight forward. (yep i get this fixed in 4hrs, was the idea)

 

anyway 20Hrs of work it was all on the road (cause i wanted to get it done bit better than anticipated).

 

it is daunting to work on Z32 but once u work it out its no harder than my S14. its just ur average grease monkey is used to Holden Red motors and have no sense of logic.  yes its cramped but it take no time to get to most parts u need to look at. I got the rad out in 2min. takes me about 30min and lot of cursing on the s14.

 

Mine is a 89 jap import 2+2 Twin Turbo Targa Manual in midnight blue with blue interior (apparently very hard to find and sought after combo, no big deal to me)

 

as a car the Z32 is brilliant. love the drive, love the torque and power.no need for high rpm.

Most times to keep up with relatively quick traffic i hardly go over 2500rpm. 

Full electrics at ur fingertips.

You mash the pedal down u will hit the 100km in less than 5sec from standing still. though mines got few mods and has about 240kw@rw and its probably around bit quicker than 5sec that stock TT managed to do.

 

still has the feel of the annoyance of the S30. like dodgey clocks, fume issues LOL it is a Z car. feels like my 260z just bit bigger in the arse end.

 

driving it for 2 weeks with no mayor issues to report. starts and runs well and it was owned by a younger chap that didn't drive it like Mrs Daisy.

 

i don't regret the decisions in buying it , parts are relatively cheap and easy to come by (front bar $110, stock twin intercooler kit $50 with pipes) .

 

information on problems is well documented and relatively easy to fix. if u going to some shop and not to a z32 expert u be slugged. to me i can do 99% myself so not too fussed.

 

even if u little bit mechanically minded and can follow instructions u can fix 90% of the Z32 problems yourself.

 

oh yeah if u use the right foot be prepared to fill the 76L tank very regularly.

 

and people think this is ugly??? never heard anyone yet say that to me but stares and thumbs up on daily basis. not bad for total price of 3.4K as it stands. and thats with 3 months rego.

 

 

do the rims look familiar?

 

I just realised something u got urs smack at the back and mine at the front. there u go out of two we can get one complete one. post some pics lets see how bad it is.

 

[pauly_adams]

im also in defence of the 300zx, my brother has owened his for 2 years now and all that has gone wrong is the alternator. it has good power and it realy does feel like my 260z but with a big butt. his 300zx has 260k km on it and still has excellent compression. my next car i belive will be a z32 300zx

[zedrally]

Pic's are up, if anyone is interested. You'll need to scroll back to my earlier post. Better res is available, just didn't want to hodge the net uploading.

Interestingly, I asked my mechanic if it was still roadworthy, the answer ...yes. Hatch seals OK, No cracked lens, just looks pushed in on the bumper.

Either way, I'll keep it, whether I repair it later ot not remains to be seen....the 240 is the priority.

 

As to the Z32......

I'm leaning towards buying this one, can't do anything until tuesday, so, I have a cooling off period in my head. Pleased to have some positive's about the Z32, I'd really be worried if it was all negative. I guess I should be safe (relativly) with Dealer warrenty!

 

OT from the "240/260Z" club, but does anyone have the stats on how many come into Aus, I suppose we only have the Aussie delivery available and the pro's and con's (Jap vs Aussie) delivery?

Once again thanks for all the input...

 

[Scoota G]

The pictures didn't seem to come out Buddy  :-\

[zedrally]

Odd, I can see them from my NB. I'll upload them in Hi Res...standby

[zedrally]

 

See  if this works....

 

[RBZ 260]

Mate that aint bad at all. Can hardly notice the damage. I expected the whole arse end being pushed to look like a 2 seater. Dont wreck that she is definetly still drivable and repairable.dont let it go to waste.

[luvemfast]

I was expecting a LOT more damage than that.

Keep it 

[Zedman240®]

Just my 2.2c to add with the ownership of a Z32, they are a great car to own. I had 2 NA 2 seaters, one auto and one manual. Had to sell the auto one as that killed the driving experience of the car; manual ones a far better in my opinion. Only thing that failed on mine was the clutch master which took about 3 hours to change with a lot of cursing. Drove beautifuly and would get one again if I could find one that is unmolested (butt ugly body kit, horrid paintjob etc). Paid $17K many years ago and now should be a lot cheaper.