positivetennis

Just as the subject title reads, I am in the process of deciding whether to go for a 79 hardtop or later 83 Targa. Generally I do like the lines of the hardtop a little more and would like to get it, but is an 83 model a better car. My concerns of the targa models are that they maybe a bit more creaky now, possible water leaks and rust spots around the targa. The other thing I would like to know is how the rack and pinion steering on the series 2 models compare to the recirculating ball systems. I am going to drive both today hopfully to gauge how the two models compare. Last time when I had an 83 model I test drove a 79 and it felt a little sportier and firmer to drive. All things being equal in price and standard specs, which car would appeal more?

Thanks once again, great answers and advice which is most appreciated. There seems to be more zeds for sale in Victoria at the moment including the 2 260z 2+2's, maybe I should take a trip down and have a look. Did anyone see that orange 240z that was on Just cars recently. I rang the guy and he sold it very quickly, it looked very authentic in the photos, was a one owner 73 model, shame I missed it. Also just out of curiosity, a few years a man named Laurie in Mosman owned a rare white 240z automatic with an aqua blue interior and seats. It was a beautiful car with wing mirrors and was sold for 15k to somebody around Sutherland. I was wondering if anyone on this forum knows about this car.

Yes thanks once again for everyone's ideas, unfortunately X19's and Mr2's as fun as they are, are just way to small. Rx7's I just squeeze in (6.5ft). Comfortable alternatives so far are the Mk3 supra, 944, maybe GTO, Jensen and SVX if I couldn't get an s30/s130. I've owned 2 z32 Australian spec models as daily drives but sold them due to fears of needing to spend lots of money on them. Their steering feeling, handling and interior and exterior style are very nice, and despite the cost of maintenance, reliability was better than the z31 series. The two I sold, one had 160k the other 128k were in excellent condition but had replacement of rear main seals, engine mounts and cam seal replacements which was not cheap. The previous owner also had the torque converter done. A low K 96 model might be better. The GTO, 944, Jensen and SVX would probably also fit in the same expensive to fix category and lack of parts. The supra, once you got over the HG issue seems the cheaper option I'm guessing I know on the flipside a 240z-280zx's are easier to work on, but where the money could go to is on the body, but at least you have something special and classic. I am hoping to find an original type car for weekend use. At present being 40 years old, how hard is it to source things like rear hatch seals? What things are easier to find and what are difficult? Do many people rely on wreckers or is the internet the source of many parts.

D3coy:Hi, if I do sell the Verada before I get an s30 then a 380 vrx/GT/sx with about 60k might have to be on the cards. luckily/unluckily only had two enquiries so if I end up hanging on to it then I can continue to wait and put money away for an s30 if the right one comes up soon. The KL Verada has 110k's and is on the market for $5900, so I can't lose too much if I keep it for another year or put 10k on the clock. Once it has around 140k I wouldn't mind letting it go for less.

Many thanks for the great responses. I will continue to search for an s30 as first priority followed by a nice 2+2. There always seems to be more for sale in Victoria like that beautiful orange one that sold on just car website, wonder if anyone has seen the green one there as well. A 2 seater 280ZXT would be great, seen a few advertised by a business that imports cars from America to Australia for a price of about 13-14k landed, but haven't seen hardly any from Japan come here of late as I guess they are worth a lot more over there. The mk3 supra is good value at present.

If you couldn't get a 240z or 260z 2 seater as a weekend classic to enjoy which of the following would you choose and which would you avoid. The cars I have included allow someone 2m tall to fit comfortably. They are: 1. Datsun 260z 2+2 (8 - 14k) 2. Datsun 280zx (6 - 10K) 3. Toyota supra Mk3 (5-9k) 4 Mitsubishi gto na (8 -13K) 5. Subaru svx (5-8k) 6. Nissan 300zx z31 1988 model (4-8k) 7. Jensen Interceptor (18-20k) 8. 924, 944 (5-14k) Doesn't need to be fast, I am after something interesting and unique to enjoy in good condition. Would prefer a 2 seater 260z but the reality is that its getting hard to find one now. Are there other options you could recommend. Thanks

Some interesting debate about s30 prices here. My thoughts about the topic leads to ask whether the following 2 factors may play a role in future values: 1. The changing nature of our culture in Australia and generational change. 2. Looking at comparables between different marques and indeed different commodities. For example, as Australia evolves both from a cultural and generational context, I feel that many younger folk view cars differently compared to say older generations. I think that an s30, 2000gt, e type looks great. The younger generations may have different ideas. They will want hassle free motoring, fuel economy, safety, 4 doors and ease of operation. Many new Australians from other cultural backgrounds also have different values in terms of practicality and what to spend their money. I read that when Nissan recently showed off their new 510 concept car, they were pictching it at young people who have no interest in cars to try to get them in. Are there less enthusiasts out there among the younger generation? About comparables, when you think of 60k, it brings a lot of other cars into play, both new and classic. My feelings about future trends such Australian classics like XU1 Torana's is that their selling price will come back a little. Immaculate S30's will increase because many people in Australia have come to respect the reliability and quality of Japanese cars, and this benefits its worth to many people. It's one of the top 10 significant cars in motoring history. The other thing is that new cars that recreate the original will become popular. Imagine a new 240z. It will be interesting to see if the new Jensen Interceptor is built in 2014 based on the original to see what it will bring to the market.

I definitely think the market for everyday cars have shifted. In the past I have never had any problems pricing and selling cars, especially low kilometre immaculate cars which are usually hard to find under 7k, most cars in this price range have well over 120k. Only a few months ago vz commodores with under 100k in excellent condition would easily sell for 7k and a top of the range 2004 Verada could fetch 8k so there has been a very recent market correction. Only 6 months ago I sold a 1990 300zx with 160k for 8k, now many 89/90 models are struggling to get that. Selling for less is not a problem if all things are equal (meaning the car you want to move up to has also suffered the same depreciation. Many interesting responses to the earlier post. I do think that buying tastes are evolving, and I do accept that some cars are in more demand than others. People are much for fuel conscious and attracted to cheaper, newer imports. In Sydney I do think that house prices and interest rates do have a bearing on disposable incomes and that can dictate how people spend there money on cars. The game is over for many people when the median house price is around 750k. Cultural and demographic shifts also contribute to changing buying habits. I also feel that the market for classic cars has changed as well. A rich guy who wants to buy an E type for 80k when he already has everything does not worry about the purchase, however I do think that a car like a 240z/260z is a little more price sensitive in terms of value for money, build quality and the lure of alternatives available to the buyer. That I guess is one view, and everyone is free to disagree. I am relatively comfortable purchasing an s30 under 20k, but above that I may find it hard to justify spending hard earned cash like that.

Its used cars in general I am seeing problems. I have an immaculate KL Verada with 100k for around 6K with no movement in 2 months, with dealers even offering the same car with less K's for less. Even cars advertised under 2K are not moving whereas houses in Sydney are going crazy. Are cheap imports coming from South Korea for under 20k changing the value for money equation the issue, or are there certain vehicles selling well and others not. One thing that is concerning is how much the Holden Commodore has declined. It's now the end of October and I am lucky to have seen 10 on the road, this would have been unheard of back in the VT days. I am seeing many Hyundai I30's and Toyota 86's seem to be selling well along with Mazda 3's. I am not sure if classic cars are being affected the same way as they competing in a different market you would think. late 80's Australian delivered Supra's are not selling along with 90's 300zx and Mitsubishi Gto's despite being a lot of metal for the money.

I was just wondering whether anyone who is trying to sell a used car at the moment is having a hard time. Many cars at the moment seem to be undergoing a price adjustment as stock seems to be sitting around. While houses in Sydney are booming, used cars are not so good. Is October

Hi Stivva, I have owned all of these cars at least twice. Firstly I think that if you were prepared to pay a little more, say around $7k - 8K you will more than likely pick up a much better prospect. You really need to thoroughly check out every car and then see which one makes you feel the best. Be particularly vigilant in checking the history of the car, service records and proof of kilometres travelled. Anybody advertising one of these cars with low kilometres without genuine proof should be treated with caution. All of these cars are now old and have their issues which will be costly. Here's how I see each model: 1. 280zx: If you find an excellent example, these cars will still be very reliable. The styling is very unique compared to anything on the road today, however performance wont be as good as some of the later models and the seats will feel soggy. Rust and fuel injectors were problematic 20 years ago and the metal around you seems very thin. 2. z31: Most comfortable zed I owned and despite what many say, has very upmarket styling. The big issue I had with these was that it always had things go wrong with them including, dead turbos, leaking injectors (fire risk), failed crank angle sensors, transmissions and engine mounts, hard to work on, have to remove the front of the car to remove the radiator. If you really wanted one of these, you need to get the best available. 3. Z32: I had 2 Australian versions and while they were more reliable than the z31, you always had the fear that if something went you were up for big money. Oil leaks coming from cam seal (usually leaking from front right of the car) and rear main seal are expensive. These cars have excellent steering, but being na I always felt they sounded rorty with some vibration coming through the cabin while at the same time feeling quite slow. When they were new the styling looked great, but now I seem to like them least as they look quite wide. In the end it will come down to what feels right to you, and what is the best car available to buy at the time you are looking. With each car being old anyway I would be inclined to go with the 280zx as I feel comfortable with its simplicity, and I like its styling, and would only consider the other two if they were immaculate low kilometre examples (Less than 160k). Hope this helps

Haven't bought a car because in Sydney there hasn't been much for sale. Many of the reasonably priced cars especially in the silver one in the ACT with the red interior was sold quickly and at a good price. Unable to travel interstate due to various constraints . Businesses or private operators that want to make money from buying and selling cars is not an issue with me, I just like the idea that one gets a fair deal in the end. Most consumers now are quite sophisticated and informed about buying things like cars and houses and are able to make the right decisions. For example, recently a car yard acquired a sport car for $4200 through ebay, tried for over a year to sell it for $12000, but is now for sale for under $6000, because most consumers know what it is worth. I also know of a dealer who recently tried to sell a sports car for $8000 but had trouble selling it because it had some issues. This car went for under $3000 at a local auction yard. Those who know their market well will generally make the right decisions, but my only concern was for people who end up paying more than they should especially when things are not what they seem. Yes we live in a free society, where market forces will dictate the worth of things, but sometimes I feel that people need to have a little social conscious as well. Its like when you go an buy a car that has been beautifully polished up and the oil leaks washed down, and then a few days later you realise that the car really wasn't that good in the first place, but you paid top money for it. The guy who sold it is laughing because he/she made a huge profit.

The 71 240z is a nice car and if you want to pay 35k for it then all power to you. Originally it was a Victorian car that was bought for a few thousand under 20k, then got a paint job and then, it gets put on the market for 35k. If you are in the trade, you might have got the paint job at a good price so the mark up is about 15k at least. Its been on the market for a long time and I suspect that people in the know are not willing at present, maybe in another 5 years it might get there. While there are many people in the business of selling cars, I'd rather pay under 20k like he did than pay the 35k that he now wants. Looking at the market at present there are many people trying to flip cars for a profit. How would you feel if you bought a car for 15k today and found out that a few months ago it was bought for 5k, very clever if you can make money like that, but quite unfortunate if you are the buyer who has spent all his/her life's savings or borrowed money and then you find out. I guess one needs to be very aware of what they should pay.

To add to my previous post I would urge people to be vigilant in their activities so that they are not ripped off by becoming more aware of what is happening in the market place. While we live in a relatively free country we also need to look after each other and care. By being an interested follower of the car market I've seen some unfortunate practices going on. It would be good to post a guide to buying and selling cars to safegaurd consumer protection and reduce misleading and deceptive conduct. One piece of advice to purchasers is to keep an eye on the market and make notes of cars for sale, buy locally where possible and develop a sound knowledge of genuine car values.

Thanks guys, some interesting posts. Its great that people can express their thoughts and present various perspectives about cars. Time and culture are important influences in how we see things like cars in society and things do change. I found it quite interesting that Wheels magazine recently published a list of all their "Car of the Year Awards", highlighting how they were viewed then and how they are viewed now. For example the VN Commodore, JB Camira and TM Magna all won C.O.T.Y. While at the time these cars may have represented improvement based on set croteria, we all know now that these cars became a liability for many people who bought them. The "Dog and lemon Guide" certainly presents a different perspective as to what represents good buying, and Cliff Chambers ,"Making money from collectable cars", was a great view into the future of which cars he thought were the ones to go for. I think it is informative that knowledge of zed cars be updated to fit both nostalgic and current persprctives so that people can make informed choices when they outlay large sums of hard earned cash. This is something that I may try to do when I get some time to collate information and write a book or something.

Thanks Lynton and D.O.G., great posts, its very heartening to know that you can get an s30 without fumes and that as new cars people had fume free motoring. I just couldn't believe that Nissan/Datsun would build a car that would have a problem and not do something or be subject to a recall. An NRMA tech guy suggested the same thing as you in terms of cars perhaps being damaged or suffering metal fatigue and excess body flex.

Some interesting responses here. Yes since I joined the forum I bought and sold a z32 while waiting for a good s30 or s130 to come up for sale in the Sydney region. The pluses of the z32 (na, aus spec) was definately the price/value equation along with the excellent steering and comfortable interior apart from the pods which bump my knees. On the negative side the car is quite wide and heavy. I prefer the earlier body styles to these. Finding a a good s30 that is priced well in Sydney takes time and you have to be quick when a good one comes up, particularly 260z 2 seaters which do get snapped up quickly if priced reasonably. 2 + 2 260z's are more affordable. I'm looking to own one for weekend use mainly for country outings. Some posters have noted that I asked too many questions. I do apologise to those people but I feel that it is my only way to bounce thoughts with others who know about these cars and get some insights from people who have owned multiple cars in original form. One question that is commonly raised in many forums around the world is about s30 fumes. Many people have talked about solutions to the problems, what I have always wanted to know is, is this a problem that occurred since these cars were brand new due to the aerodynamics of the car? Some of you who have owned these cars when they were new can answer this. Please I would just like a direct answer if possible.

Thanks Thriller, the colour and trim lists are very interesting. Would love to find an original late model with air. Also have seen one light blue 2 seater with a bone white vynyl roof but it was a 76.

Thanks once again for the replies and different perspectives. Seems quite a few people here race and modify their cars.

Hi guys, thanks for your replies. Yes I have owned the following: 1980 280zx 1983 280zx, was national conourse champion in 1999 1985 z31 300zx 1986 z31 300zx turbo 1987 z31 300zx turbo 1990 z32 300zx au spec 1992 z32 300zx au spec The 1990 was owned most recently with the others quite a long time ago. This car felt quite heavy yet steered well. Always wanted to own a s30, probably should have bought one in the 80's-90's but couldn't afford to own 2 cars at the time and it is getting harder to get one now. I like cars in their original, standard form, however I understand that many owners here have other goals and completely different setups and there is nothing wrong with that. My questions are attempt to gather peoples thoughts and gain a consensus view of how people relate to zed cars today. As you can appreciate it is very hard to go and test drive each model now and therefore I feel the need to ask these questions to get some perspectives.

Scotts. I have always found it difficult to justify travelling long distances to see a car. The photos don't always match what the car is when you see it in person . As it is I have wanted to buy a 260z 2 seater auto in Sydney for quite a while now. It is now quite hard to find a good 2 seater for a reasonable price. While waiting for the right car to come up I bought a z32 to experience what it would be like to own one and the fact that the price was under 10k. My thoughts are that once someone is asking more than $10k for a very old car I need to consider it very carefully as I'm not loaded and I work hard for a living. The other thing to consider is that even though I emotionally would love a s30, once the price gets up towards the high teens i start to question my motives and consider what else I could do with the money. I think all potential buyers need to be very thorough with their purchases. Back in 1989 when the z32 was first released in Australia a Nissan car dealer in NSW who will not be named had a restored 240z placed in the showroom with an asking price of 25k. After sitting there for a year the dogleg area developed rust bubbles which were coming through the heavily sand blasted panels. The car was sold for 6k. I think you also need to be vigilant with what is on the market at any time. There are those who buy cars cheaply and flip them quickly for a profit. Obviously if the owner made substantial improvements to the car then that is added value, but how would you feel if someone bought a car for say 10k last month and is now you buy it for 17k without you knowing. I would feel quite bad.

After reading many books, newspaper articles, web forums etc the 280zx received a lot of criticism for being overweight and losing its sports car feel and instead of becoming a luxury personal coupe. This criticism continued with the z31 300zx. However these cars sold very well and today represent good value. Positive features that the 280zx has include: 1. The benefits of fuel injection over carbs 2. Standard air conditioning and electric windows, mirrors, power steering 3. Very comfortable seats, and quieter cabins, with no fumes entering the cabin 4. 4 wheel disk brakes While the 280zx at under 1300kgs was considered heavy in the early 80's they are quite light compared to a z32 or even a z33. Do these cars miss out on the fun feel of driving an s30? In standard form do they feel slower to drive including a 260z 2+2. Dear reader your thoughts are much appreciated.

Thanks Lynton much appreciated, incidently I'm interested in whether your 75 coupe had exhaust fume problems when it was new and was the problem there with the 77 2+2. Also at the time when you sold the 75 coupe did you sell it to get the 2+2 and what were your impressions of the 2 models at the time. What colours were the cars and did the 77 have air con. Thanks once again

I wonder out of 98 1977 coupes how many have survived. In Sydney in the last 5 years I've seen a light green one for sale in the Hill District, and a light blue one in the Northern Beaches. Both were automatics and both had a bone white door trimming and velour seats. I also know of a manual yellow coupe around Killara and a Silver automatic at Thornleigh area in last 10 years.

Thanks Scoota, I'm not sure whether to buy a 260's and retrofit with 240z carbs, or get a fuel injected L 28