Oppo, which would you buy?

"Confused Miata" (confusedclunker)
03/31/2015 at 15:10 • Filed to: craigslist, datsun, nissan, mustang, z

I'm on the hunt for a sub 6k RWD M/t coupe that's not too hard to wrench on and won't blow up on me. Here's what I found crawling my local craigslist while I was supposed to be working.

Who doesn't love an old Datsun? Especially !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . It's a 1979 280zx and has 83k miles. The seller says it's in great mechanical and cosmetic condition. It has new tires and a new clutch. - $5700

Next, a 1990 300zx. Supposedly !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . It has 102k on the clock, leather interior, upgraded stereo, and has been "adult driven it's entire life". - $5000

It might be the odd one out but I found a 2002 Mustang V6 with 143k. It has fair amount of go fast bits bolted on including, a rebuilt T5, short throw, stereo, air filter, full exhaust, and a 93 octane tune. Supposedly "It's !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but not too much." - $4500

None of the sellers mentioned having service histories or receipts but they're all listed with clean titles. I guess I could just get !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! instead...

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

DISCUSSION (33)

TheHondaBro > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:13

Kinja'd!!!

The 300ZX hands down.

SVTyler > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:14

280 so I can live vicariously through you. Also because it's awesome.

RallyWrench > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:14

280, because brown & louvers. Although that N/A Z32 will probably be pretty hard to kill.

Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:15

Definitely the 300ZX.

Justin Hughes > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:15

I'd go with the 280ZX.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:18

It's a really tough choice between the Zs. Daily driver?

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > TheHondaBro
03/31/2015 at 15:19

I am a big 2nd gen 300z fan so....it gets my vote over the 280. Which is a nice car, but not as nice as the 300.

BunkyTheMelon > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:19

Either of the Z's, because HRRRNNNNGHHGGHHH!!!!!!

TheHondaBro > Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
03/31/2015 at 15:20

Yep. The Z32 aged extremely well, and I'd choose one over a 350 or 370 any day!

Sn210 > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:20

Id go with the 280z, maybe the 300 second

Confused Miata > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/31/2015 at 15:20

Not at first, but it will be when my lease is up.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:20

280.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:22

GO. GET. THIS. NOW.
http://desmoines.craigslist.org/cto/4947372077…

Or there's this Celica Vert.
http://desmoines.craigslist.org/cto/4932092210…

dogisbadob > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:23

I'd take the 90 Z

dogisbadob > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:23

Kinja'd!!!

slats!

Viking03 > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:27

I would recommend leaving the '79Z alone. We run one as a Lemons car, and you would think parts are cheap and plentiful for an old Z, but not so for this year. Pain in the ass to get parts for. The fuel injection system was garbage. We took that off and ran carbs. Besides, if you want a classic Z car, go with a 240.

The V6 in that Mustang is really quite disappointing. Plus the interior on that year car is really substandard, even for the day it was built.

The clear winner is the 300zX. Even without the turbo, that is a fun car and quite reliable. That is my vote.

jjhats > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:29

youd be beter off bumping your budget up to 8 or 9 and buying a 350Z more reliable faster and funner than either of those Z's. Don't buy the mustang but if youre at all serious about the Miata I think its the best choice as cliché as that sounds

MM54 > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:32

I'd go for the 280 easily. The other two put up no competition in my eyes

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:35

I'd probably go for the 300, then. That 280 is so awesome, but parts will be tougher to come by, probably, and you'll need those if it's a DD. I have a tough enough time coming up with parts for my daily, an 87 CRX.

Confused Miata > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
03/31/2015 at 15:35

That supra looks really nice, would look even better with louvers. I slightly prefer the Mk II body. I'd get one if my roommate didn't have so many problems with his n/a 2jz.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:35

300ZX

Kinja'd!!!

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:40

If you want a classic, or a car to work on yourself, I would probably go with the S130 280ZX. That is probably the top-end of the S130 market, with low mileage and mostly-pristine condition.

The Z32 300ZX is also VERY interesting. (both S130 and Z32 are on my personal want-list)

It is more modern, better handling, fuel injected, and much closer to a modern-day car. But it is harder to work on, more cramped in the V6 engine bay, than S130's longer, narrower I6 with plenty of space on either side, and the Z32's systems are more complex and electronics dependent and made of plastics that get brittle with heat and time, rather than more metal content in earlier cars.

100K plus and $5K on a Z32 is probably middle-range, not top-end, and may have more wear issues... but it is a gorgeous car. one of the 90's era best.

I would have a hard time choosing... the Z32 is a bit more appealing, but the S130 is probably in better shape for it's age, and simpler, perhaps less expensive to own, and is the latest Z-car to have an old-school classic look. Z31 that came after that is more 80's era in every way.

You don't mention that either Z-car is turbocharged, and both of those generations were offered with Turbo models, that are faster, but more mechanically complex to support.

In this company, a V6 SN-95 live-axle mustang is completely outclassed, and I wouldn't even consider it compared to these two. It is probably bone-simple to maintain, but won't handle anywhere nearly as well as a Z-car with IRS, and won't look as good inside or out... and was not a high-water-mark for Ford build quality.

The third car I would consider between these two, would be a clean, good condition Mark III MA-70 Toyota Supra, or an SW20 2nd-gen MR2... maybe a really nice FC-3S 2nd-gen RX-7 if you like rotary engines. (FD is better, but much more than 5K$)

Without service history, a mechanic inspection might be worth a few bucks, and if the seller won't consent to having the car checked out by the mechanic you specify, or negotiate a few dollars to compensate for paying for said inspection, I would consider that as a red flag.

Just because the records weren't retained, or if the work was done by a shade-tree mechanic, doesn't necessarily mean bad things... and a mechanical inspection should give an experienced master mechanic a good idea as to how well, or not, a car was maintained.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
03/31/2015 at 15:46

DAMNIT.

Those are both in my local-ish radius, and I have wanted a Mark III MA-70 Supra for so long...

WHY CAN'T I HAVE ANY SPENDING MONEY, GOD?!!?!?!

ceanderson920 > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:49

I think the 280 looks the coolest, I don't really know anything about either Nissan's but if it was my money I would go for the 280. The mustang is something I would stay away from. It was probably abused and Mustangs are a dime a dozen. With the 280 you wouldn't see yourself coming around the corner very often and shit it is just a cool car. The 300 is probably the most reliable out of the bunch but I don't personally find them to attractive. The 280 seems like a 70's cocaine dealers car and who wouldn't want to live out a cocaine fantasy in that 280, you will probably find a couple Kilo's under the dash or something!

cazzyodo > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:50

I had an opportunity to drive an old 280Z and have lusted after one ever since.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 15:51

MkII are 5MGE, MkIII (the one I linked) are 7MGE N/A or 7MGTE Turbo.

lonestranger > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
03/31/2015 at 16:00

"This is an 86 from right before the body change."

Wat. Does the seller seriously think that's a Mark II?

Confused Miata > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
03/31/2015 at 16:21

Ha. Shows how little I know about Supras.

VAConundrum > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 16:21

Go with the 300zx out of those three— I used to have a 280zx turbo— they're fun cars but the technology is antiquated and overly complex, and the chassis and suspension might just be made of jello.

That said... for 5K you should be looking at turbo models. Also maybe add the late 80s/early 90s RX7s. You can find those for all day for less than 1K with a blown motor, which would leave plenty of money to buy a new JDM motor or potentially even enough left over to do a LS swap. Just a thought...

I'll also second V1king03's suggestion to get a 240 (or 260, the 240s slightly uglier cousin). Unfortunately you'll likely have to pay at least 6K to get a running version of either. I picked up my 280zx turbo for $1K with a blown head gasket... so I'd adjust your pricing down by about 3K if you decide to go for a 280.

Confused Miata > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
03/31/2015 at 16:31

I agree, the Mustang isn't in the same arena but it would be easy to work on and probably easier to find parts for. I love the FD RX-7 but the older ones not so much. I'd definitely go for an inspection regardless of what papers they have. Thanks for the insight!

Delusion77 > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 16:49

if you plan to daily it, get the z32 300zx. If you want a classic for the summer then go for the 280zx or keep an eye out for a s30 Z.
Forget the mustang

Dsscats > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 16:50

300ZX all the way

-Unbiased party

But seriously, why is the Mustang even in there?

CaptDale - is secretly British > Confused Miata
03/31/2015 at 18:20

I would also suggest forgetting the '79. A v6 mustang of that vintage will be an utter disappointment. If you want quick and fun the Miata, but I choose the ZX over all for power, fun, and awesomeness!