I need some opinions and advice on what I should do. I'm pretty stuck and not sure what to do.

Overview:

1978 280Z - 99% stock

104k miles

Stock L28 engine - New alternator.

Manual 4-Speed

1 repaint by original owner.

The car runs great. Bought from WA State and imported it to Vancouver, BC. Paid $3850 for the car.

Starts on a dime and runs smoothly. I drove it for 3 months of the summer and is currently stored in my garage. Brakes squeal once they warm up(not sure why yet). I also think I have a blown shock.

Bought from WA State and imported it to Vancouver, BC. Paid $3850 US for the car + paid around $800 for imports.

It does have rust in the obvious spots.

Spare tire hold - Under the paint. Not too bad.

Frame Rail - Can be seen from inside the wheel well. Looks bad.

Rear hatch seems to be rusted all around. Doesn't look too bad but flaking all over.

It was love at first sight when someone drove past me with a Z on the parkway one day and I knew I had to have one at that point and I would like to own and baby one for all my years to come.

This is my first car and I think I might have rushed buying it and having not done my homework I think I'm in trouble.

Anyways

Should I sell my car and cut my loses and find one in better shape overall?

Or should I just keep what I got and fix things up.

The rust really worries me because it seems to be the main thing that kills these cars.

The cost of a new 5-speed transmission + rust/body work. Does it out-weigh selling mine and finding a new Z?

I've done work on cars before and loved doing what I could for my Z whenever I could.

I fully understand nothing is perfect and everything needs work one way or another. I just don't make a lot of money and am not sure if I can afford to keep this Z to give it what it needs.

All comments welcome. Thanks.

Edited September 24, 201014 yr by Daishi_GD

Figure out how much of a loss you'd take on getting a different one (loss on this one plus amount of different one). Compare that amount to what it would cost to repair this one. A hatch is easy to find (I have two) Frame rails are available as are floor pans. It is a good looking car in the picture. If you are going to loose 2 grand replacing it and can repair if for 2 grand, it might be worth fixing. A replacement car may have as many issues as the one you have.

Just a thought at 2:30 am

Leonard

The body of your car looks dang good. So does the paint. If the interior looks as good, that car is a keeper.

Repairing small rust problems is certainly achievable. Leonard has given good advice, deal with the issues you know, rather then getting a different car and dealing with new issues.

Looks like a nice Black Pearl ! I have to agree with Garry another car may have hidden Issues that may not show up until later . I doubt you are going to find a much better car for what you have paid judging from the one picture posted .More detailed pictures may help .