Datsun vs. Chevy

[jszarecki]

hey all, yesterday after finally fixing my Z. i was confronted by someone who is alos a car enthuseist (not chevy or datsun) but old 30's fords, who said i should SELL my Z in favor of a camaro. the reason: will cost less money and time trying to upkeep-it.

i dont want to sell my car, althought it has recently become a huge hassle to get it running because of stupid theves stealing $^!# from my car. anyway, ive put too much time and effort in this thing to give up now. this person tells me that im too young and do not have enough money coming in to keep it, or to try and restore it. i told him its my only car and i wanna see it thru to the end!

he said id prolly get 200 bucks if i sold it. i dissagreed as my car doesnt need ot be smogged anymore in CA and i knwo people in my Z-Club that woudl pay more than that for it. i paid a grand for this 280 and have put alot of new parts on it. i dont want to give up, but cant find a reason to tell peole WHY i want to keep him (the car).

thoughts/opinions?

[seerex]

hhm because its your car. Tell hmm if he wants you to drive a camero so badly have him buy you one. Do what you want to do and drive what you want to drive and its your choice to determine if its too much to restore or repair . Just sounds like a very unhappy person. Let me give you a heads up yes a Z is more expensive to restore and keep up maybe but you will find very few of them on the road and besides you won't be every other mullet head driving a camero . Its your life and your car enjoy it and forget about everyone else .

[SteveJ]

Jason, it doesn't truly matter what our opinions are, but I have some suggestions for helping you decide the path you want to take.

First, while the gentleman who gave you the advice may be an automotive enthusiast, we have no idea what his pedigree might be. His opinion is worth as much as you paid for it.

Having said that, you need to decide what you want to do with your car. Are you looking to restore it? Do you want a beater? Do you want a modified car? Are you thinking of turning it into an ITS car? Knowing the destination can help you decide whether or not to take the journey. Any decent car is going to cost you money. That's pretty much true, no matter what make or model. Set your budget and timeline and at least double both. That will put you in the ballpark.

I'm not sure how much damage the thieves inflicted upon your car, but it sounds like you have been confronted with numerous electric problems as a result of their actions and the ravages of time. Consider getting some quotes on replacement wiring harnesses from ZBarn and possibly other vendors. You're willing to pull the dash and tackle other problems. A replacement harness may save you from damaging the car with improvised repairs.

I'm guessing from the pictures in your gallery that the car has received some battle damage over the years. Depending upon how detailed you might think of restoring your car, it can be expensive to fix past "repair" jobs.

The Z car in of itself is a pretty reliable car. While the L28 you have is not as universal as a Chevy small block, that engine is in a bunch of 280ZXs that may be sitting in junkyards around where you live. Parts scavaging can save your pocketbook.

The Z compares well with a Camaro from the same generation. In the book, Datsun 240Z & 260Z Gold Portfolio 1970-1978, there is a copy of an article from Motor Trend magazine (August 1972) comparing a Camaro Z28 to a 240Z. While the Z28 will beat the 240Z in 0-60, the Datsun definitely held its own and then some. The comparison was done 4-speed to 4-speed. Try to find a Camaro without a slushbox and a jacked up price.

Don't forget, too, that what you might save in parts for the Camaro, you will probably pay back at the pump.

[jszarecki]

yeah i agree. i used to own a 1982 ss with a 400 small block and the joke around base was it got 2 gallons per mile...

im trying to get this car liek a custom BRE car. but road legal. i knwo it will take some time.

i was thinking is it possible to buy an entire dash gages in all, from a junkyard, but not pay an arm and a leg for it?

and as for my engiune. i only need ot fix or replace a lifter or two..i can hear one not working right. only mod i want to do there is replace my e.manafold with headers. and use a monza exhaust 9probably-just love that euro sound)

[ROOPZ]

for less than I spent on my Z. I dont agree with your friend at all. Speed and beauty cost money. How good do you want to look while you go how fast?? Seriously, you can spend as much or as little on either car. Comparing a Camaro to a Z car is kinda silly in my opinion. Two totally different animals. I love both. But pick which one you like and stick with it. That is the key to any successful build. You will always lose money if you dont.

Good luck!!

[jszarecki]

true...i agree. does anyone think that age/job has anything to do with trying to fix-up a car?

or as our club Mechanic says.. "if your z isnt broken, it's not running right"

[Alfadog]

Absolutely! Your age/job (in other words TIME/INCOME) has a lot to do with deciding what kind of car you want. Right now I have loads of time, but neither the money nor experience to do a lot of work on my car. Thus, progress on my car is SLOW.

When I get a job, money will not be such a problem (ha!! how young and naive am I) but then the problem becomes time... it's a trade off. The only solution here is to win lotto. I can't comment on the economics of the Camaro/Z thing (Camaros are much more expensive here!) but I can say BOO to Camaros and YEY to Z's. And that's my 100% biased opinion. Doesn't really matter, what matters is your opinion.

If you bought your car based on economics, I could suggest a lot of MUCH cheaper, more reliable cars than a Z, or Camaro for that matter. Fact is that isn't why you bought it!

[jszarecki]

NAH, I BOUGHT IT CAUSE I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING I COULD AFFORD, AND SAW THIS THING ON TEH SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH TEH GUY JUST PUTTING THE STICKER ON IT. I BOUGHT IT RIGHT THERE AFTER DRIVING IT AROUND THE BLOCK. BECAUSE OF HOW IT LOOKED. KNEW NOTHING. whoops sorry for teh caps i was in Illustrator land...forgot to switch over.

[1 Bravo 6]

G'Day there Jason,

Sounds like your Camaro mate is one eyed and has tunnel vision as far as cars go. (There's a few like that here).

O.K, you bought a Zed, for whatever reason. It has suffered at the hands of thieves. You would have had the same problem had you owned a Camaro.

Ask your mate how much it costs HIM to fill the Camaro's tank and what mileage he gets per gallon, and compare it to your Zed, then suggest to him that perhaps he might be better off with a Zed.

We Aussies have a saying that we use to people like your mate.

PSS OFF.

Rick.

:devious: :devious:

[gogriz91]

The camaro lacks classic styling and isn't even a sports car.

For 20 years the L-series engine was second to the 350 in terms of popularity for modifying and upgrades.

[sblake01]

.............i dont want to sell my car......i told him its my only car and i wanna see it thru to the end!............i dont want to give up, but cant find a reason to tell peole WHY i want to keep him (the car).

You don't have to justify your desires to anyone whether they have to do with cars or anything else. It sounds to me like you've made up you mind what you really want to do by the couple of excerps I've taken from your post. Though they are out of context, they still say to me that you don't want to sell the car. So why let someone else tell you that you do?

[Victor Laury]

The camaro lacks classic styling

As a one-time proud restorer of a 1967 Camaro, I'd beg to differ.

and isn't even a sports car.

One point I do agree with. And the reason why the Z would always win me over.