Newbie with some questions.

[sblake01]

I'm right there with ya, Stephen! I bought a $50 Triumph TR3 for a daily driver when I was 16. I walked a lot - bummed rides... It sounds like Scotty has about $5,500 to spend which is not a lot for something reliable. I will say this though, a 280Z would make a great starter car to learn on and tinker with.

My first car was a 1958 Rambler American. Also $50. I replaced the head gasket on that thing by myself in about an hour and a half! It was a flathead 6. But, I did do my share of walking when I had that car. I can honestly say that my 280Z has never stranded me, except for when someone stole it and that wasn't it's fault. I doubt if I have a total of $2500 in it but that just shows how the value has incresed for those cars in that last 8 years or so plus I did a lot of the work myself. If your potential Z has been cared for like it sounds, it should already be reliable. As it has been stated before, try to find someone knowlegeable of these cars and have him (or her) help you check it out before you buy it.

[lvmy240z]

I was 19 when I bought my first Z. It was a 260 in good condition although it had a set of Stromberg carbs on it that weren't worth a crap. What I learned from that car was that I love Z's, and that I had better be willing to work on it because they do break down.

If it's a daily driver, have a back up plan for when it doesn't start. I'm not trying to scare you, I'm just saying it's a 30 year old car, restored or not, and it will break down. Do a search on this website for what to look for when buying a Z. You need to look for rust in particular among a variety of other things. If possible, you could take it to a reputable mechanic and pay them $50 or so to inspect it for you.

Z's are a lot of fun to drive and are relatively easy to work on but we're almost 25 years removed from when the last first-gen bodystyle Z was produced . If you aren't willing to roll up your sleeves and work on it when it does break down and it will,then be ready to pay for someone to do it for you. It's all about enjoying yourself in your Z.

[Scotty]

Well by daily driver I mean school not 3 miles away. I wont be driving it like 75 miles a day, I do not get my actual license until may. Both my parents have four wheel drive cars and I have a garage to store a Z in the winter so Im not extremely worried.

[Bambikiller240]

By daily driver most people mean a car that you depend on DAILY, whether it's 75 miles or 3 miles, when it breaks down you're walking either way. If you were commuting 75 miles, you'd most likely have more income to deal with the breakdown.

[lvmy240z]

The second major point was who will fix it when it breaks down. The older the Z, the easier they are to work on, but the more expensive they can be to maintain in terms of access to parts and experienced labor. Part of the pleasure of owning a Z can be working on it and taking care of it, or having enough money to pay some one else to maintain it.

[First Gen Z]

Scotty,

BUY A FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL !!!!!! BUY A FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL !!!!!! It will pay for itself the first time you use it. IMO it's the best sourse of info on a specific Z car that you will find. I think everyone who works on their own Z will agree. I read mine almost every day just to keep learning about my 1978 280. The next best sourse of info is sites like this one. Good luck with your first car. It will remain with you forever even if you sell it at some later date.

[dogma420]

From my perspective and opinion, the Z is a very very reliable car. I never have problems that aren't easily fixed. This is not to say I don't have a 'modern' car that is my daily driver however.

But I drove my '72 15K a year from 97-02 (5 years) and because of my 'anal' maintenance schedule and habit of doing more than necessary (if my radiator was done, I replaced the fan/water pump/all belts)....

...never had any problems whatsoever...was never stranded except once I got vapor lock on a real hot day (but this isn't a surprise or anything)....these cars, if they are maintained (and I'm talking about my 72 240z) are very reliable. I've driven 100k on this car, it has close to 200k and no problems whatsoever. Maybe I'm lucky...Maybe its my anal maintenance schedule and having the ability to fix just about anything minor that's wrong, and making the car better in the process than before that item broke.

Just my .02 dollars (is this right Tomahawk?)

[EScanlon]

Insurance is probably going to be your biggest problem. A young driver equals high rates as does a sports car. Add the two together and you should know what to expect. Your best option is probably to have the car insured in the name of a parent with you listed as the primary driver.

...

I think this is going to be your biggest obstacle.

(Young Male (under 25), Single) + Sports Car (280Z) = BIG PAYOUTS

That's the way the insurance companies look at it.

You may argue that you're the choir boy of safe driving, but the insurance companies will still look at their actuarial tables and quote you according to those figures. Those figures are there because for the most part, young males tend to be more daring than older ones, more aggressive and more subject to over-extending their driving abilities. Translated into everyday terms, the insurance companies KNOW that young males will get more tickets and into more accidents than older drivers. They charge accordingly.

Do yourself a favor. Have your parents check how much it would cost to add you to their policy driving THEIR cars. Then ask them to check the cost if you were driving the Z. Then check how much it would cost you ALONE to be insured.

I think you'll quickly come to realize that paying an extra 75 or more a month may be the biggest deterrent to owning the Z.

Don't get us wrong. We would love it if you would buy the Z. You've found us, and you would bring another Z back "into the fold" so to speak. But the reality of the costs involved still apply.

Add to the insurance costs, the need for maintenance and repairs. Before long, I think that the total package may be a bit overwhelming to your budget.

Now if money is NOT an issue, then go buy it. Take it to a good mechanic and have him fix all of the safety items first (brakes, steering, suspension, engine) then address the bodywork. I think you'll then find that the Z can be VERY reliable, but like a thoroughbred horse, you can't ignore the "little" things.

2¢

Enrique