z3crazy

Hi guys: cool - i can always use saving $350! and it's not like y'all are some random person off the street that "kinda" knows something about Zs, no? okay, i will update my profile. I found another black one - it's in AZ - but I dunno. I'll post details on it later when I'm home. Right now I'm at work. (ssshhh! company time!). Also I'll check out those other cars later too. but come 8 pm it's the yankees for game #3 in the AL playoffs and that takes precedence.....! Escanlon: Thanks - but yes, I'm stuck on a 280 for sure. daddz: cool. I will look closer at that and get back on it. Plus I'm in CT so DC is realistically close to drive it home if I buy it. Not that distance is actually a factor in the decision.... I'm in CT - upper Fairfield County - on the CT/NY line. Ciao - will check out those cars and be back later. Thanks! judi - z3crazy

......operative word being "was"! I got the inspection report back from www.automobileinspections.com - phenomenal. Do you know they sent me 63 pictures? I didn't even know what some of them were. One of them looked like it was inside the oil comparment or some place like that. And the owner said "no rust." The pics alone defied that, even before I read the report. There are potential brake and tranny issues. All four tires were barely legal (so much for new Pirelli's on the front wheels). In fact, the report began "Judi, there are so many issues with this car I don't even know where to start." The inspection cost me $350 and saved me easily - not only the price of the car (overpriced anyway) - but probably another several grand on top of that. Just for starters. Ah well. I keep looking. So I want to thank all of you for your help and input. You were great at giving me a lot of information that I was able to ask the seller, and I'm much more aware of the potential picture than I was earlier. I'll be back around. And if anyone has a Z for sale (chocolate, royal blue, red, maroon, or black exterior; black interior; four or five speed) let me know! I'm in the market! z3crazy judi

yes carfax doesn't work pre-1981! I just discovered that about 5 minutes ago - just before I logged on here! The car's been in Texas since birth - about 1.5 hours from the gulf coast. Perhaps close enough for rust to be a concern, but thankfully it's not in Port Arthur or something. I'm giving the green light to the inspection company tomorrow and if all goes well, it will start its happy journey to CT, then....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzoooooooom I get in and...... euphoria!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Upstate CT has the most wonderful twisty state highways. Kind of like when I get nailed 20 years ago pushing it (centrifugal force - wise) around the lakes in MN and got pulled over by a cop. Twice. The same cop. That's why I'm keeping the Buick Park Ave that used to be my mother's car. Hopefully I'm grown up enough to drive this thing like it's meant to be driven - uh, I mean, uh - the speed limit - or something like that. How did everyone else develop their addiction? Are most of you revamping one as a project? z3crazy judi

Thanks, Montezuma - you're a sweetie! It's in Texas. I've got a company on standby to set up an appointment (www.automobileinspections.com) that's quite intense and thorough for a $370 fee. So I talked to him earlier today. Info from all the various questions I was advised to ask: ---Painted the car because there was some fading on the hood. It was a $2K paint job and he has the receipt. ---any other modifications beside the cam: upgraded/replaced exhaust system (to give it more power? - can't decipher my notes) ---original or rebuilt engine: original - VIN numbers match ---spec sheet on cam and is it a regrind: don't know about the spec sheet but it's not a regrind, it's new; between a street cam and a racing cam. so modified means in terms of "not the original" as opposed to "a different one that's been rebuilt etc" ---has all the receipts for the clutch, paint, cam, etc. Also it turns out he knew the first owner. They went to school together and in their 20s, he taught the guy's wife tennis. Then they lost touch and when he went to buy this z (cause he had a 240 when he was in school), discovered it was his buddy selling it. He's getting me the VIN number so I can run it through carfax. I'm feeling pretty good about this - automobile inspections gets me the report, then if I want to go ahead, for an additional fee, they'll handle arranging with a transport service, negotiating the price of the car, transfer of title and money, and all those final details. They're a nation wide company with agents all over and though they do all years, models, makes, their specialty is classic cars - like 1955 - 1985 or something like that. All inspectors' information goes into the central office, is reviewed by various managers, and all information goes into a centralized database so that for instance, my inspector has access to info from a guy in Oregon, Illinois, and Maine or whatever. So I'm feeling pretty good about this. I don't expect any surprises from CarFax, but I'm all over someone negotiating the price for me since y'all - several of y'all (almost all y'all ) said it's too high. I'll keep you posted. When I (or if I) buy it, I'll post a pic. I only hope there is some way I can return all the help I've been given! Thanks so much! z3crazy judi

Y'all are awesomely wonderful! I got more information and help than I even dreamed of. In fact, I got so many helpful tips that this morning I put the inspection on hold in order to ask the seller some other specific questions. I'm waiting for him to call back (or I'll call again tonight). Depending on those answers, I'll either cancel the whole thing or give the inspection a green light again. My last z left me in 1985.....I SO SO SO want another one, and while I'm willing to PUT money into it, I don't want to POUR money into it. It will be a second car to baby, pamper and enjoy. I'll wait if I have to. What is it about these cars that are so......hypnotic? I can't see anyone getting this way over a breadbox Honda or something. I'll keep y'all posted. Thanks again so much! z3crazy judi

oops - oh wait. the one that 280 Master has for sale - it's light blue. The name of the dealer is Brown. Oh well. Did they make these in red or have the ones I've seen been painted? z3crazy

Wow. Such great information. Thanks. Yes, I did some other research and thought that might be rather high myself. I came across a company www.automobileinspections.com - one that's used by collector's and museums and far more comprehensive than anything else I found - and late last night, ordered an inspection. It's about 150+ points and costs $350, but I can cancel for a refund anytime up until the guy actually leaves to go do it - probably Friday or Monday. In view of y'alls replies...... As for the one that's for sale....is that the chocolate brown? That's the exterior color that has always been my first choice, but I've never been able to find it, so did maroon, then that beautiful, sort of metallic, blue. This one's black. What else is going on with yours? Interior? Mileage? 4 or 5 speed? You can send me pics to laguerriera@sbcglobal.net with more details. I'm not committed to this one I'm looking at - I'm very picky and willing to wait - so I'd definitely be interested in knowing more about yours. Cool! Thanks - zcrazy Judi

Greetings- Thanks in advance for any intimate Z advice! There's a 1978 280z that I want to buy - it's half way across the US. It will be my 3rd z - my first two were in the early 80s (and I vowed I'd have another!) Here's what i know: no accidents 2 owners ac is fine new tires new clutch garaged, warm weather since birth new paint job 4-speed,with modified CAM high performance exhaust 157,000 miles $7980 what else do I need to know, ask, etc that's particular to this year and model? Thanks so much! Judi

Greetings! Thanks in advance for any intimate Z advice! Friday I have an inspection set up for a 78 280z I'm planning to buy. It will be my 3rd z - my first two were in the early 80s (and I vowed I'd have another!) It's half way across the United States, and a professional inspection company (AutomobileInspections.com) will be checking it out. The company's knowledge is probably strong, but that's not the same as y'all who work on them, etc. Here's what i know: no accidents 2 owners ac is fine new tires new clutch garaged, warm weather since birth new paint job 4-speed,with modified CAM high performance exhaust 157,000 miles $7980 what do I need to know, ask, have the guy check? I'd rather be out $350 for an inspection, than $10K for car, shipping etc! Thanks so much! Judi