Nissan says: what's a 280z?

[Darbji280z]

I called a nissan dealership recently looking for the factory wiring harness for the radio. They connected me to parts and the lady answered. I asked her about it and she said: "280z??? Nissan never made a 280Z. Do you mean 350Z maybe?" I said no, it's a Datsun. She said "Well you need to call Datsun then." i told her she was Datsun but she didn't believe me. She thought it was a joke. :stupid:

Needless to say, I was quite frustrated.

[JimmyZ]

I had the same thing! They said "Sure you didn't mean a 240SX"? They even named a few other two-something cars until I stopped them. I said "Don't you remember when Nissan bought and restored the 240's a few years ago"? Uh....Uh no. This was a great opportunity to educate them about how this car helped put Nissan on the map. (At least in America) After describing a few other things about the car they became very interested and want to see it.

The best thing might be to actually PARK it right out in front where all can see. Then you could open the door and hood and show them the placards stating who made it and when.

The other PITA is that the parts counter guys try using the computer. (The book is better at least at Reed Nissan) They hate using the book. Of course the computer often spits out the generic parts and not the parts which SHOULD go on my early 71. For instance, they almost sold me a master cylinder for a 72. It is nice that they ask me for the VIN which I spout from memory much to their amazement... Part of the amazement is the low number and the other is the fact that I could know my own VIN by heart.

I used to be very good friends with my Nissan parts manager. He always took care of me and often gave me a special price because he knew how much I love the car. He left (sigh) and in his wake are a bunch of borg drones who have "assimilated" their chairs up their butts.

[ta240]

Wow, I've run into the confused parts guy at regular parts stores when I call it a Datsun so now I just say Nissan but not at an actual dealership yet.

Although at a Ford dealer I used to work at when they got their computers for looking up parts the management bought the sales pitch for them that anyone could lookup parts on it so they could save money on counter people.

One day one of the new counter guys came back into the wholesale office and asked for someone to take a look out at the front counter and tell him what the part was that was on his counter. Seems the customer came in set the part down and said "I need one of these for a such and such car". Only the kid didn't know what 'one of these' was to even start looking it up. he was too embarrassed to ask the customer. The part was a distributor.

One of the guys called the front counter pretending to be a customer and had one girl looking for a muffler bearing for about 15 minutes.

My favorite had to be when the driver for the local auto parts place got sent in to pick up a fallopian tube.

[Arne]

Ooh, I'm sorry for you folks. The parts department at my local Nissan dealership is much better than that. The parts manager is looking to buy a 240Z, and one of the counter guys has been there long enough that he still remembers 240Z part numbers off the top of his head. And they give me a good discount just because I'm part of the local Z group. Can't beat it with a stick.

[Hrududu]

Our dealership here is just about as bad. I asked if they could order a part for my 280Z about a year ago and he said he didn't know and I should wait. They ended up ignoring me for about 20 min so I just left.

[sblake01]

If I go to a Nissan dealer for parts, and I seldom do, I go armed with part numbers. Some dealers are better than others but none of the ones local to me seem to have a clue when it comes to Datsun.

[Sailor Bob]

Up this way it is a waste of time, they have heard of the vehicle, but due to their extremely low numbers they don't stock any parts - not even an oil filter.

[Jeff G 78]

Same thing here in Michigan. I tried to order rocker arms and lash pads about 8 years ago and the parts guy told me that it wasn't worth his time to sell them to me. He didn't have the microfisch for the 280Z or the microfisch reader and couldn't look up the numbers. Ever since then, if I need a dealer part, I call Courtesy Nissan in TX. They stock an amazing number of Z parts and give club discounts. I usually have the parts within 4-5 days. They have a few Z parts on their website, but I always call them. They usually know what they have in stock without even looking the p/n up.

[sblake01]

I order a lot of parts from Bruce Titus Tacoma Nissan in Washington state through nissanparts.cc. They always know what I'm talking about (even when I don't!) they have many oem parts in stock and thier prices are always lower than list. And they'll look up parts if you don't have a part number.

[Obewon]

The guys I deal with here in Colorado Springs are good. They still carry some parts for the Z but when making an inquiry, a part number goes a long way. They will ship as well:

http://www.woodmennissan.com/

[Obewon]

The guys I deal with here in Colorado Springs are good, friendly and will take the time to look up parts. They still carry some parts for the Z but when making an inquiry, a part number goes a long way. They will ship as well:

http://www.woodmennissan.com/

[Carl Beck]

Courtesy Nissan in Richardson, Texas has supported the Classic Z Car Enthusiasts on line since 1987. They are a Recommended Vendor for the Internet Z Car Club - and to become a recommended vendor on that sight you have to have received at least 100 unsolicited recommendations/commendations from the members of the IZCC. The IZCC takes on commercial advertising nor commercial sponsorship. (Ad's can't be bought there - nor can recommendations)

You may also notice that Courtesy helps to sponsor this site...

The guys at Courtesy not only know what a DATSUN is.. some of them actually drive them!! A toll free call usually gets the parts you need delivered to your door - sans local sales tax.. which offsets the usual shipping costs.. How can you beat that?

Courtesy Nissan

Richardson(Dallas), Texas

E-Mail To: "Courtesy Nisssan, Inc." sales@courtesyparts.com

Web Site: Order On-line At: <a href=http://www.courtesyparts.com TARGET=NEW>http://www.courtesyparts.com</a>

Call Toll Free To Order: 1-800-527-1909

Toll Free FAX: 1-800-382-7891

Open: M-F 7:00AM-7:00PM CST, Sat. 7:00AM -3:00PM CST