Z lust/4 kids/Long Drive to work

[ArnieTX]

How does a man get his Datsun Z car fix and still get his kids to school?

2+2!

As a previous 2 seater owner( I was single and that was >15 years ago), I am lusting over all these beautiful Zs I'm seeing and I'm trying to figure out how to get one as soon as possible. (Wife thinks I'm nuts)

I currently drive a grannymobile (94 buick bought from Granny) because I drive 120 miles roundtrip each day and I hate to own anything "new" and put that many miles on it. It works but is not fun to drive. Z=fun Z=fun

Aha! The answer suddenly came to me. If I buy a Datsun 280Z 2+2, I can sorta of fulfill the need AND still get my 4 and 6 year old to school. Now, a 2+2 is not my favorite Datsun BUT, it beats the hell out of the grannymobile in style points and I can spend 2 hours everyday soaking up the Datsun smell and dreaming of the 2 seater I will eventually purchase to drive on weekends and during the summer. The 2+2 will give me at least some of the Datsun FIX I so badly need.

For you current 2+2 owners, don't get me wrong. I am in no way trying to say that the 2+2 is inferior or bad in anyway. It's just not my dream Z:love: . However, in my situation, it sure looks good right now though:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

So, to any of you 2+2 owners or folks who have driven one, would it make a good daily driver kid hauler for a budget concious Dad? Would you rather have a Datsun 280Z 2+2 or a BUICK?

What would you do?

Vote choice 1 -- Sell the Buick and buy a 2+2. Get the wife used to it and corrupt the kiddos into thinking the Z is the best car in the world(My boys are easily influenced by their ol Man).Then ... Buy a 2 seater down the road for weekends and summer driving.

or

Vote choice 2 -- Keep the grannymobile(BOOOOOO) , save my money and buy a sweet 2 seater I can only drive on weekends and summers when the kids are off.

LOL LOL

[boyblunda]

Choice 1.

Go for the 2+2 now if not yesterday. It may not be as good in the handling department but it is a great ride and will be good for your soul. I think that a case might be made for the 2+2 to be a better tourer but that is only a personal opinion.

* It will suit your needs for the moment - at least until the kids get bigger.

* You will get the immediate Datsun experience.

* You can start to accumulate those good bits that are interchangeable between the two different S30's.

* Depending upon your timing and other circumstances you may eventually end up using the 2+2 as a parts car

* It will serve to get your infinitely bvetter half introduced or used to the idea that you entitled to own and enjoy at least one toy.

Good luck!

[jayhawk]

Arnie, when my kids were small and I faced that question, I just bought a Dodge minivan, and kept the old 240Z. Later I bought a nice used "4 Door Sports Car" ie. a 1989 Maxima - sporty, fun, and 4 doors! That car just hit 200,000 miles (the minivan also just hit 200,000 miles). Those 3rd generation Maximas were/are great for sporty driving with a lot of room for family.

A couple of years ago I gave the Maxima to my son, and bought a '93 300ZX 2+2 for my daily driver/commute car. Frankly I think those things are a steal. But the doors on a 300ZX 2+2 are awfully big and heavy. Don't think it would be much fun for moving kids in and out frequently. The 280Z 2+2 doors may be much better for that.

The real answer is.... whatever your wife wants!

--Bob

[ArnieTX]

The wife thinks I am nuts anyway. Datsun or not.

She likes what she drives(4wd Excursion) and I always end up driving a beater because of my commute.

Life is short. I have been wanting another Datsun for a long time. I looked at the 90's 300zxs and it appears the maintainanace is pretty high if you drive a lot.

I haven't ruled out a nice 84-85 300zx or 280zx in 2+2. I really want a Z though so the search is on. I know the L28 is reliable and easy to work on. And, the parts car thing down the road makes sense.

Anyone around San Antonio knows of any please holler.

[ggarrard]

ArneTX - I resolved a similar issue by buying a 280ZXT 2+2 (no 260Z or 280Z 2+2s w/o rust in this area). The 240Z with two seats could not carry our family of 3 so it was either left in the garage or 2 cars were driven. When my wife remarked that she wasn't happy following behind my son and I in the Z all the time, my answer was the 2+2. This has worked great for the last 4 years. I also agree with Jayhawk regarding the 95-03 Maxima. I have had 2 (95 and 98) Maximas and when the '00 Altima SE needs replacing I'll be looking at Maximas again....SE 6 speed of course (I always considered them "Four door Zeds"). The Minivan sits in the garage the most of all the cars...

GWGarrard

[MikeW]

Since you drive 120 miles/day I think you should consider getting something cheap that gets good mileage like a used Honda Civic. My personal opinion is that an S30 is not the safest car to be hauling kids around in. You can certainly still get a 2 seater or 2+2 but I wouldn't use that as my only transportation. I hope your wife doesn't have a long commute at about 6mpg.

[DougN]

Of course, you could get a two-seat Z, use it as your commuter and have the wife take over the kid transportation responsibilities each day in her urban assault vehicle :classic:

[ArnieTX]

Since the wife stays at home with the 2yo and infant, I take the 4 and 6 year old to school. It's on my way to work. Drop off #1 is 3 miles down the HWY and drop off #2 is 9 past that. Wife picks them up.

My commute is 100% hwy fro 60 miles and then 2 stp lights after I exit. With a 5 speed 2+2 I would guess my mileage wouldn't be too bad at hwy speeds. The Grannymobile gets consistant 26MPG.

I want to enjoy and take some pride in what I drive. The driving experience in the Buick is like watching paint dry. If I'm always going to be driving used cars for a long commute (<$3000), I might as well get something I want and will care about.

I bought and sold two motorcycles last year. Started out with an enduro off/on road type. Had fun but decided to commute to work so I sold it and bought a BMW K75. After commuting and seeing all the wackjobs driving around I decided to sell it and buy a boat. My wife thinks I'll get the Z and soon tire of it. She doesn't understand the love I have for those cars. She doesn't know this but the plan is to buy myself 3 or 4 over next few years and fix them up for my 3 boys. I have to break her in slow.

Find a 2+2 and get her used to it.

[CoastGuardZ]

What happens when the 2yo starts school? Will you be driving Him/Her too? I've never paid any attention to the 2+2, but I assume the back seat is indeed for 2 not 3, otherwise it would be a 2+3. So I'm thinking the 2+2 won't work for long.

I vote for option #3... Used Maxima. Outstanding car, as sporty as a 4dr can be, rock solid reliability and a full decade or two of safety innovations ahead of the 280... gotta think of your most precious cargo :cheeky:

Nate

[zhead240]

hell, that's better than what i get in my zed.

let me see- 4 kids- house- boat- three vehicles-plus fixin three zeds in near future.

i gotta get me one of those money trees.:laugh: JK

[=Enigma=]

It's definitely a lot cheaper to live in Texas than in California. I'd have to be making nearly 200K+ to maintain all that.

[red_dog007]

Well what is wrong with just sticking with a 2+2? Why the need for a 2 seater coupe so badly? I think that if you got a faster motor in there (L28 Turbo, SR, RB, or a V8) and some tight suspension, it would be just as good if not better then a normal 2 seater Z.

A 2+2 T-Top 280zx myself as always been my true favorite Z car. Thats a car that I want to get an L28 with a Turbo in there and start tricking out the motor. Its way more practical as I would love to have a daily driver Z that is also an awesome weekend car, and I could take it out on some short road trips to competitions and car shows with a buddy in the back seat.

I ended up getting a 240z as it was cheap at the time, and nothing else was available. I am still in love with the car, but I hope to one day still get a 280zx 2+2 t-top.

Plus you can always end up with 2 Z cars that way. Get the 2+2 now for the daily driver, then get a normal 2 seater later on. Its a win win situation. :-)