I'm back (with more questions too! 280z vs 280zx?)

[KDMatt]

Ya know... I'd be willing to be that this question gets asked relatively frequently, but I can't seem to find it anywhere, so I'm just going to ask it anyway.

I'm sort of curious, other than the prefix "280" what do the 280Z and 280ZX have in common, and what don't they have in common?

I'm looking around, and from what I can tell, the ZX is bigger (longer and wider?) and has a different engine than the the plain ol' Z. What I'm wondering is, is there a distinct advantage/disadvantage to having that 'X' on there, or does it not really even matter?

I've noticed that there seems to be little mention of the ZX on most 'Z' communities, indicating that the differences between Z and ZX are minute, or, that they are so great that the ZX is hardly even worth considering as a traditional 'Z.'

Anyway, may I have your thoughts please?

[Bambikiller240]

Engine and Trans and Diff in common. Virtually everything else is different.

or, that they are so great that the ZX is hardly even worth considering as a traditional 'Z.'

You'll get many different views, but I don't consider it much of a "Z" and certainly not a "traditional" one.

[KDMatt]

Ah, so in essence you're saying they have the major components of the drivetrain in common, and that's about it? I think I could live with that (unless that severely degrades chances of reliability and/or performance).

I happen to like the more angled styling of the 280ZX, it sort of reminds me of a DeLorean (especially when in silver!), and that's probably why I'm attracted to it. Yeah... I'll level... I'm a Delorean fan... if I were like 30 grand richer, and 15 years older, I'd be shopping for one of those too... but, back to Z-land.

Anyway, I found a listing on cars.com for a ZX I might go check out.

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=25&paId=163372390&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=descending&sortfield=PRICE+descending&certifiedOnly=false&recnum=1&leadExists=true&criteria=K-%7CE-ANY%7CM-_65_%7CH-%7CD-_2998-4006-4008-2956_%7CN-N%7CR-50%7CI-1%7CP-PRICE+descending%7CQ-descending%7CX-antique%7CZ-55432&aff=national

It'd be ironic if I ended up with a ZX... only because my dad's got a ZX2 (a Ford, but named similarly nonetheless). :stupid:

[hls30.com]

The 280ZX is more of a touring car, it is more plush, comfortable, and quiet. Though the 280ZX is more aerodynamic than an early Z (S30), it is not as quick, or responsive.

I have one and it is the car I prefer for longer trips-unless I am going to show off my 240Z-but for running around town-and driving excitement-the 240Z is way out front!

Will

[Zrush]

I happen to like the more angled styling of the 280ZX, it sort of reminds me of a DeLorean (especially when in silver!), and that's probably why I'm attracted to it. Yeah... I'll level... I'm a Delorean fan... if I were like 30 grand richer, and 15 years older, I'd be shopping for one of those too... but, back to Z-land.

30K for a Delorean?!?! I do believe you can pick one up for under 20K. Know a guy that shows one around here. Bought it off the original owner for 10K.......and it has no rust .

Vicky

[KDMatt]

30K for a Delorean?!?! I do believe you can pick one up for under 20K. Know a guy that shows one around here. Bought it off the original owner for 10K.......and it has no rust .

Vicky

Oh yes, I'm well aware of that (I've seen 'mint' ones go for about 18k). As a policy I would just like to have a little extra to cover any unanticipated costs that would come with a car like that. No rust though? Not much of a selling point if you ask me, considering DeLoreans are stainless steel with fiberglass underbodies...

Anyway, back to Z-talk. I'm not sure if you guys actually followed that link I posted to the cars.com listing (or were actually able to go there), but in a nutshell, the car I'm looking at now is a '79 280ZX with 94k miles with a new paintjob, new clutch, new tires, and a new battery.

The pros:

-The car has acquired little mileage within the last 15 years. If I understood the seller right, it was used regularly for short jaunts.

-This car originally belonged to a close friend of the seller's father (purchased new), then 15 years ago, that friend sold the car to the father, and then four years ago, the seller's father passed away, and now he has it. Less than 800 miles have been put on the odometer in the last four years.

-The car has supposedly been garaged in the winter for its entire life (and in case you don't know, winters are brutal up here in MN).

-New exhaust

The not-so-sures:

-The guy selling it really doesn't have much of an idea of what he's got from the sounds of it. He's got it priced at $2900 or BO. He even admitted that he's put more money than that into it during the last four years.

-He told me that originally it was in the newspaper classifieds for $6900, but then some Z-enthusiast told him it wasn't worth that much... then left and never ended up buying it.

-Nothing has really gone wrong with it (supposedly) for a long time... So either this is a well-maintained Z, or it's due to have something go wrong with it at some undetermined point in the future (I'm sort of superstitious that way).

The cons (hopefully this whole thing isn't one!):

-The upholstered ceiling panel (headliner?) has been removed.

-The dash has apparently cracked

-The gauge lights inside of the car do not illuminate (a fuse I'm thinking?)

Other than that he didnt' say a whole lot of specific consequence, other than the engine runs really well, but they always say that don't they?

Hey, also, does anybody have a fuse-box diagram for this car handy? ... When or if I go and check it out in person, I'd like to be able to see if the gauge light thing really is due to a bad fuse. I would not want to inherit a car with a serious electrical problem.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate any feedback you have to offer.

[Zrush]

No rust though? Not much of a selling point if you ask me, considering DeLoreans are stainless steel with fiberglass underbodies...

Yes I know, I was just being a smart aZZ, hence the rolly laughing faces after my comment. My bad :cheeky:

Vicky

[KDMatt]

Yes I know, I was just being a smart aZZ, hence the rolly laughing faces after my comment. My bad :cheeky:

Vicky

Whoa, my mind totally like, leapt over that display of brilliant humor... At least... I think it was brilliant, you never can tell these days.

Deloreans and Datsuns forever!

[Alfadog]

If you love the looks of a Delorean, wouldn't a 300ZX be more suited?

[Mr Camouflage]

I guess its like comparing a porsche 911 to a 924.

One is a sports car, the other is a sporty car.

If you dont mind the way the 280zx looks then get one, The 2 seaters look ok, but i prefer the S30 series.

[dogma420]

Perfect example of why the 280z and the 280zx are so different--

1978 280z has rack and pinion steering. Good rack and pinion steering

1979 280zx has recirculating ball steering...ala Chevy Caprice. They did eventually change from this steering setup....but not on a 1979.....sloppy sloppy sloppy.

Great example of the difference--the X designation is there to tell you "hey, this is not the same rig!"....if you like Zed's, 1970-1978 is essentially the only years to get!

[Victor Laury]

I only wish I loved they way they look! They sell in L.A. for 750 to 2500 all the time. I could by one at whim, but I don't "REALLY" care for them. I could "stand" to have a 280ZX, But if somthing happened to my 72, I'd want a 70~73 S30 o replace it.