Hi, I just saw the following ad on craigslist:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/mcy/391863155.html

I'm a complete noob when it comes to all things z.

I'd love to know anyone's thoughts on things to look for when I go to see the car (bearing in mind that while I am eager to learn/do more I'm still very inexperienced in car mechanics )

I'd also love to get general advice on the pros / cons on getting a 280z.

I want to get one just because I love the look idea / of it.

However.... I need it not to be a risky / troublesome investment.

I need a car, however I'm an actor (ie brokeish) and also don't know how long I will be staying in the states (although it would be at least a year before i thought about returning to the UK)

In other words, I won't be able to afford large upkeep costs, and ideally would love to be able to sell it for around what I got it for (provided take good care of it of course) I am not averse to learning what I can and tinkering on it myself to maintain it.

I don't know - maybe you'll all think I'm mad for even considering this car given those constraints...?

Would love to hear your thoughts

Many thanks in advance

Forgot to mention that I got the VIN from the owner : ghls30100576

BAR shows that it passed the smog check throughout the past 10 years.

Anywhere I can get more info with that VIN?

If I was down that way I'ld definately take a look - milage? These cars handle alot of miles.

You can run a check for accident history - check ebay - the system is commonly advertised there.

Good luck

Looks like a heck of a deal to me. I would ask more than that for my '76 280. wish I lived closer and I'd pick her up!!!

Good Luck,

Chris

Many thanks for the responses. So is there any reason to think this car would be particuarly unreliable / expensive to maintain? It has c. 150k miles on it.

Also, are there any particular things I should check for when taking a look at it?

And in general, how do z-cars of this age hold up in terms of potential resale value?

Unless there are any mechanical problems / non-standard alterations is there any reason to think I'd have problems with the smog check here in Cali?

@Sailor bob - I couldn't find any accident history check systems for sale on ebay - any further tips? Carfax etc don't do VIN checks for cars older than 1981 and I haven't been able to find anyone who does...

Thanks so much for the help / advice - I'm really excited but want to make sure I'm not doing anything rash / silly!

150k miles, hell it's still brand new!

Well your eyes will tell alot, up on a ramp and have a look underneath check: Internet Z Car Club, it offers tips for older Zs that identifiy trouble spots - if they look ok your laughing. A compression test and a drive will help as well.

I hope you are not expecting a maintenance free ride - they are older cars and will require some attention. You stated you're a tinkerer....

Good luck

Thanks guys! Yeah I know that with a car this old you can't expect it be problem free. I was just wondering if there's room to hope that it would still be reasonably reliable?

Also, if anything does go wrong beyond the realms of my inexperienced tinkering, would this be a particularly expensive car to maintain? I've heard that the parts can be hard to find for example....

Parts are tricky for me because I live in eastern Canada where there hasn't been a Z for many (many) moons. You on the otherhand are in the middle of Z mecca - lots of scrapyards with cars that are not rusted out, Motorsport is down that way and many drivable Zs on the raod so lots of enthusiasts to speak to or even help you out. I think you're safe, but you know what you're comfortable with.

My biggest concern would be the talk of drifting maybe just talk - a good look and a drive will sort that out.

He says 2600 offer 2k, Worst case scenrio - sell it again. These cars are valuable in parts as well.

My biggest concern would be the talk of drifting maybe just talk

Thanks so much for the advice - what do you mean by the above though? As in I should be concerned that the car may have been damaged by prior drifting? Or that if I want to drift in it myself I need to check it out!? I'm no boy racer so if it's the latter that wouldn't bother me!

I just mean if it's been treated harshly it is more likely to have issues, although these cars are built to rev high - I don't think drifting was considered in the design. Poor use of a nice car.

Ok, thanks Sailor Bob - any tell-tale signs of such abuse to look for?

Hello Kiboy, welcome to the forums!

I'm very pleased to hear that you're considering a 280z as your next vehicle.

Okay, so here is my experience, and this is just me.

First, I would like to say that I'm a student, so funds are extremely tight for me most of the time. I use my '76 280z to commute to work almost every day, I also use it to bring loads of laundry back home etc. etc. you know, daily driving.

It rarely gives me any problems... I'd say maybe a moderate issue every two thousand miles or so... which, for me, equates to one moderate issue per summer pretty much. You just can't be afraid to fall in to the learning curve straight away, and you must also be prepared to resign yourself to the fact that there are some jobs you aren't going to be able to do right of way... When I first got the car the alternator went out... I could probably easily replace it myself now... but back then I had no clue what I was doing, so I hacked up the $200 or so and took it to a shop... I still kick myself in the @$$ for that one.

Now granted, my Z hasn't even hit 90k yet on the odometer (and yes, that's 90k I'm talking about, not 190k or 290k)... but believe me, these cars WILL go the distance if you care for them. A gentleman in my local Z-club has over 350k miles on his!

One thing you have going for you is that it's a four-seater... from my experience (and it's limited), most people who beat the hell out of these cars prefer the two-seater coupe version, and not the the more "family-friendly" installment...

There's a complete list of things to look at when you go take a peek at the car, but keep an eye out for rust or even little pocky 'bubbles' that tend to signify larger problems... I'm sure that at $2600 there'll be a few little spots, but hopefully nothing too major. Take a peek underneath at the "frame" too... the underside of these cars is often the first thing to go... and once that's gone you really don't have a car anymore, so pay extra attention here.

It's also a commonly held conception (one that happens to be true) that white is the best color to paint a car if you wish to conceal blemishes... just keep that in mind.

My final thoughts:

The Good

- The Datsun Z-car is generally pretty affordable for a 'classic' or 'vintage' car that actually looks cool and goes fast.

- These cars can also be very reliable...

- ... and affordable to maintain ... Common parts are not hard to come by at retail-chain auto part stores at good prices... at least cheaper than any of the parts for cars that my friends/parents drive (i.e. starter, radiator, various sensors, etc.)

- Chicks dig 'em ... (Ricers/Tuners hate 'em... for that reason I think too!)

The Not-so-Good

- The 280z in particular relies on a sophisticated network of electronic sensors and relays, so diagnosing various conditions can be a bit... cumbersome... especially with 30-year-old wiring

- Despite their rock solid design, stuff does break on these cars... probably no more than a domestic car of a newer vintage, but still... it's a car, its not infallible

- Specialty parts (various relays, engine pieces, body parts, etc. ) can be harder to come by... if something very specific goes out on the car, it's not unheard of to have to wait a few days to a week for the part to arrive

So, I hope I didn't scare you off. with all of my rambling

I love my Z, and I wouldn't drive anything else, and I hope that you consider all of your factors and make a very informed, well-reasoned decision free from emotion. If you decide to buy it, there will be plenty of time to let your emotions go nuts later.