I have to sell her

[mimregi]

It's a long story, and a very genuinely sad one, and you guys don't really know me so I won't go into all the details, but suffice to say that I lost a very dear friend over the weekend. My association between him and my Z is huge, and I don't think I can bear working on the car without him, I just want it to go to a good home where it will be loved. I am not going to do anything immediately, I may have a change of heart, but for the moment, I need a project and something else to talk about, so I thought I would hit you all up for some advice.

I'll try to avoid a wall of text, so I'll list the vitals, there are pics in my gallery.

The car is cosmetically outstanding. There is a very small chip on the hood, a couple of very small chips in the headlight cans, a small (less than one inch) scratch on the rear bumper (which is painted) and a couple of chips on the edge of the driver's side door -- no dents of major imperfections, all things I could (and may before putting it up for sale) get fixed in an afternoon at the body shop.

The previous owner slightly lowered the car, and the bumpers are painted to match the exterior. Other than that, the look is very stock (and very nice imo - the painted bumpers were not something I initially liked, but they have grown on me a lot). All the work was done to a very high quality.

Interior is also very good. There is a nice molded plastic cap on the dash (I actually didn't realize it wasn't stock until I had the car for a while, I just thought the seam in the dash was something I simply hadn't noticed on other cars). The car has a carpet kit -- a reasonably nice one and in good shape, but still a carpet kit. The center console and shock towers are carpeted and do not have the original diamond-pattern leather (again, I actually prefer the difference, but it is highly subjective; see pics in the gallery). No original steering wheel or shift knob (ignore the t-handle in the picture, it was finally replaced with a black, naugahyde Z-emblem shift knob from MSA; i know stock calls for wood, but I like the black, especially with the steering wheel). Seats are in great shape, as is the console and pretty much all of the other components. The glove box door is a bit warped, but nothing terrible. Oh and there is the roll bar, pictured prominently (it is bolted in and can be easily removed).

There is no visible rust on the car. None. I have never had the car in pieces, so I cant and won't say it is rust free, but all the typical spots are clean. The floorpans were replaced at some point I am fairly certain, but they were done very well -- good, steel welding and painted black.

The car runs extremely well. Even this morning, when it was 40 degrees, it started up almost immediately. She is my daily driver and has never left me stranded. There are twin weber DGVs (on canons with K&N's) in place of the SUs, but I recently acquired a set of round top SUs I will let go with the car (they appear to be in good shape with all the linkage in tact, but I have not had them apart or anything yet) -- the DGVs run great, but I am no master mechanic and wanted to benefit from all the shared knowledge available on the SUs. Tranny is a 5-speed, I believe out of a 77 or 78, but I honestly dont know for sure, it was on the car when I bought it.

I recently dropped in a brand new alternator intended for a 280zx, so it is outputting a bit more juice. I still have the original alternator, which is in perfect working condition and has been chromed, so it looks great (I hung on to the voltage regulator as well, though the plug was snipped off so that I could do the diode and wiring mod for the alternator without hurting the wiring harness in the car - there is plenty of wire left on the VR to re-install easily). We also installed relays using Zs-ondabrain's plans posted on this site, and they work great. Water pump is brand new; as I posted at the time, one of the bolts snapped during reinstall, but that has not obviously impacted the seal or anything, it appears to be OK after several weeks of daily driving.

Couple of small things: dash lights don't work (havent since I bought the car), left turn signal indicator on the dash doesn't work (both turn signals work great, just the in-dash light for left turn doesn't). there is a pioneer CD stereo in there, but it isn't hooked up, it probably works but I really have no way of knowing (I started a new stereo install, but only got as far as starting to make the speaker mounts in the rear light access panels) -- it is mounted well and looks nice in the car, not gaudy or anything. Parking break needs adjusting, but all the moving parts work (I recently replaced a piece under there that broke, but have not gotten around to actually adjusting the breaks).

That's all I can think of at the moment... brain is a bit fuzzy. Anyone want to throw out a number what they think is a fair price for me to ask? Should I take her to my body and paint guy to get some of those chips cleaned up first (the ones on the door are the only ones even noticeable upon a cursory inspection)? Any other advice (besides "keep the car!", which honestly, I appreciate, but this decision really has very little to do with how much I love the car, which is quite a bit)?

Thanks all, I know I haven't been a huge member of this community, but my Z ownership (past present and -- believe this -- future) would have been very different without all the knowledge here and the willingness to share it!

-m

[BRE-240Z]

I'm very sorry about the loss of your friend.

When you determine a price for your car, send me a PM? I could be very interested. You're in central Florida, I take it?

[240ZX]

Very sorry to hear of your friends passing......I'm sure it weighs heavy on your heart. Times like this are so emotionally tough and I share your pain. Life moves on and the pain eventually subsides, hopefully leaving only with the best of memories you two shared. Don't make any rash decissions on selling your Z right now.....wait till your focus returns to normal! Again, my condolences to you and those close to you!

Tom

[Mike1234]

I'm very sorry about your friend. Let me just say that I think you should wait AT LEAST 6 months before you even consider selling the car. Time will heal the worst of your pain and you will begin to remember the GOOD times more than the sad ones. Allow this time of healing and you just may find that this car is the very best memorial you can give to your friend... by KEEPING it. And you might very well end up with a big smile on your face every time you work on it or drive it. I'm sure your friend would feel the same way.

[mimregi]

Oh I very much appreciate the kind words of support. I am trying not to do anything too quickly, but I need something to talk about =) Besides, if I do decide to sell, there's no better place to assess a fair price (which is all I would want) for the car.

[viparz]

I feel for your loss. I do not believe you should sell the Z, once the pain subsides you will realise that no plaque or gravestone will ever bring back the good memories like your Z will. Your continuation with something the both of you shared will help him remain with you for a long time.

Respect

Kendall

[BuDavid]

sorry for the loss of your friend..

and I wish you good with your Z, either selling it or NOT selling it..

[EScanlon]

If the situation were reversed, what would your friend do?

Sometimes the best part of a memory is how you feel when you relive it, and not when you reflect by memory.

E

[Mike1234]

Perspective changes with time and experience. Today's spontaneous decision may be tomorrows deepest regret. Just take your time. The car isn't going anywhere on its own.

[mimregi]

I very much appreciate all the kind words, heartfelt advice and well-intentioned posts (I really do appreciate people taking the time to write something), but as I alluded, there is a bit more going on, stuff that probably isn't really appropriate to get into here.

It's been just about two weeks (since everything happened, not just since the original post), and I am selling the car. I'm a young guy, it won't be my last Z, and the next one will be at a time I can really pay the kind of attention it deserves =)

Anyway, I am going to try a few local channels to see if I can find a buyer privately before going e-bay -- I am determined to do my best to make sure she ends up with someone that will take good care of her. But if it does end up on e-bay, I am leaning towards $7500 opening bid (no reserve), $8995 buy-it-now. If anyone feels strongly that the price is significantly too high or too low, I'd love the feedback before putting it up there.

Thanks all!

[EScanlon]

Have Carl Beck look at it for you (if he doesn't mind!), he'd be your best source for information as to what to expect.

Marketwise--East coast prices may well support what you're asking for. West coast? You may be a bit high, but then again that depends on how clean and rust-free it is.

Being that it is in Florida....that may be questionable, but again I haven't a good reference for what you might have or not.

Good luck.

E