240Z vs. 280Z

[siteunseen]

Get both, I did. I drive the 280 without worrying, long comfortable drives. I "run" the 240 through the city once a month to keep the battery and fluids fresh. I had a couple of Zs in high school, '76 & '78, then a few years ago bought a '77. I'm still working on it but with the help of these fine folks I have a good car. After reading on here for a couple of years I had to have a 240. Totally different cars in my opinion. My 240 feels more like a race car would feel, I imagine. It's light and twitchy and kinda rough riding and not too safe feeling, I hope like hell I never have a wreck in it. Work on the '75 without doing a full blown restore and find yourself a good project gone broke of a 240 and buy it. I bet you'll find room for them both.

[ajmcforester]

So will you be going for performance or ease of driving. ease of driving the 280z coming with fuel injection is a good start. The 280 is heavier and does not have the nicest bumpers. I think the best year was the early 72 240Z the car is still simple and light, the early E-88 head had better flow the latter E-88 and with lower compression than the E-31 so your not looking for higher octane than the pumps supply, they improved the drive-shaft alinement from the prior years. Basically it was the year they got it right.

[Captain Obvious]

HaZmatt, Love the user name. That's awesome. Do they call you that at work?

I've found that in the general public arena there's absolutely no difference in perception between the first year and the last year. By that, I mean... All of these cars are so old by now that "normal" people have no idea of the differences between any of them. To the general public, there's no difference between the first 240 ever produced and the last 280 ever produced. The only people who really know (or care) about the differences are car fanatics.

Personally, I "desire" my 77 more than any of the earlier years. I'm driving it, not collecting it.

[tamo3]

It's up to your goal.

Restore and sell the car higher price? Want to enjoy driving?

I sold my '72 240z and bought '75 280z. I'm not the collector and enjoy restoring 280z by myself. Since it's not smog required car, I can do whatever I want engine swap :-) if I want.

I'm happy with my 280z.

[bartsscooterservice]

If you're going to keep the car bone-stock, restore it to showroom condition, and drag it around to car shows on a trailer, the 240 will be a somewhat better investment.

Why use it only for that ? I drive my 240z as much as I can, only not in the winter months, I know it costs money, but what's the point in restoring a classic car, and not driving it ?

[malibud]

After owning both 240 all the way . Just like the raw feeling of driving . what Carl beck said. but i am on my way to pick up a 77 turbo and may change my mind or engine swap ...

[HaZmatt]

Get both, I did. I drive the 280 without worrying, long comfortable drives. I "run" the 240 through the city once a month to keep the battery and fluids fresh. I had a couple of Zs in high school, '76 & '78, then a few years ago bought a '77. I'm still working on it but with the help of these fine folks I have a good car. After reading on here for a couple of years I had to have a 240. Totally different cars in my opinion. My 240 feels more like a race car would feel, I imagine. It's light and twitchy and kinda rough riding and not too safe feeling, I hope like hell I never have a wreck in it. Work on the '75 without doing a full blown restore and find yourself a good project gone broke of a 240 and buy it. I bet you'll find room for them both.

I like this idea. Since this is my first restoration project, the 280 can be my "learning" car then I can do a 240 later on if I can. Hmmm...now if I can just convince this to my wife.

[HaZmatt]

It's up to your goal.

Restore and sell the car higher price? Want to enjoy driving?

I sold my '72 240z and bought '75 280z. I'm not the collector and enjoy restoring 280z by myself. Since it's not smog required car, I can do whatever I want engine swap :-) if I want.

I'm happy with my 280z.

I definitely want to drive it as much as possible. I think I will keep going on the 280 as planned. Thanks for all your responses!

[ajmcforester]

I've been planting Ideas for the car on anther blog HaZmatt started and I think the love bug finally bit, I can tell be how the responses have been. Good luck their is an old Joke ab finding a wife that cleans, cooks, loves, and cares for you, and the punch line is may the all never meet. Well it sounds like you messed that one up with the wife just make sure she thinks she if first place over the car (regardless which one you love more because she could sell the car). The Z series are great cars, I tend to like the 240Z more but I always wanted a 77 ZZAP and have tryed to get deals on 77s before. Besides their is a 240Z for sale in Commerce City right now and then you can do a rightup about which one is better. DO you think the wife would by it as a important research project. That might work on me female coworkers, but the are the research type, I just need to get the project pear reviewed.

[an_unusual_eye]

at about the 5 year mark on my own "continuous work in progress", my wife decided that she wants one of her own. currently we're looking (not too diligently until next year sometime) for a '77 280Z for her ~ then we'll have one of each, and not so coincidentally, they'll match the years we were born.

that may be your end route to getting both in the driveway.

good luck with the project. best ~ rob.

I like this idea. Since this is my first restoration project, the 280 can be my "learning" car then I can do a 240 later on if I can. Hmmm...now if I can just convince this to my wife.

[78zcar_blue]

I really like the 280Z and have restored 2 in recent years, just my 2 cents, the blue 280Z car photo in the junkyard is of the gold car before restoration.

[siteunseen]

at about the 5 year mark on my own "continuous work in progress", my wife decided that she wants one of her own. currently we're looking (not too diligently until next year sometime) for a '77 280Z for her ~ then we'll have one of each, and not so coincidentally, they'll match the years we were born.

that may be your end route to getting both in the driveway.

good luck with the project. best ~ rob.

Exactly what I thought, 1 for you and 1 for her. Then you could pass them on to your kids.