"Matthew Henry" (matthenry)
08/09/2013 at 13:00 • Filed to: None
1
26|
"Matthew Henry" (matthenry)
08/09/2013 at 13:00 • Filed to: None | 1
| 26 |
As you may have read last week, I'm car shopping. (
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
)
So far, my quest to buy a cheap, yet awesome car has come up fruitless. I don't understand why people would list a car on Craigslist, then immediately throw all their electronics into some sort of time-and-communication-sucking wormhole. Yes, I'm talking to you, Golf GTI seller. I need something with good MPG, reasonable reliability, space, and cheap insurance. However, I'm about to make a bad decision and buy an unreliable, cramped, inefficient vintage sports car. Waking up this morning and observing that all of the links on Craigslist are already purple nearly pushed me over the brink of sanity.
This morning, I nearly threw all caution to the wind to purchase this '76 Datsun 280z.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Yesterday's folly:
Yesterday, I came close to rage-quitting and purchasing this Land Rover, whose ad proudly states:
"I have a 00 discovery seven seater for sale 167xxx headgaskets have already been done"
I know they're somewhat unreliable, but I can't imagine why you'd replace 167k headgaskets. Perhaps the frustration of losing count is why the owner has chosen to part ways with this Discovery. Punctuation, please!
Also, I've discovered that "TLC" is Craigslist talk for "Towed in Lots of Cities". :-P
BTW, if you live in NC and will sell me something awesome for under $2200, let me know. I need a car.
Cheers!
-Matt Henry
CalzoneGolem
> Matthew Henry
08/09/2013 at 13:07 |
|
167k headgaskets seems low for Disco of that vintage. The owner is bragging.
David E. Davis
> Matthew Henry
08/09/2013 at 13:08 |
|
No, that's about the right number of replacements for that year.
Stef Schrader
> Matthew Henry
08/09/2013 at 13:10 |
|
That 280Z is BEAAAAAUUUUTIFUL.
davedave1111
> Matthew Henry
08/09/2013 at 13:12 |
|
Don't despair. I felt much the same way as you, about a fortnight ago. About a week ago I found a nice condition E30 a couple of miles away for under £300, which is currently marking its territory on the drive outside. It's just a matter of looking long enough, and eventually something will turn up at a good price.
|
Matthew Henry
> Stef Schrader
08/09/2013 at 13:15 |
|
I know, right? I wonder how bad they are to work on/reliability wise, because I think I'm in love.
GhostZ
> Matthew Henry
08/09/2013 at 13:36 |
|
"Easy." The answer is "Easy".
Take a good look under the hood of a 280z. Not only is there a ton of space, but everything is mechanical and extremely straight-forward. The L series engine had been produced since the 60s, and no only had most of its kinks worked out, but parts are not that expensive. The Fuel Injection system was the same Bosch unit on a lot of other cars of the era, and the engine was way under-loaded for the components it was made out of. Consider that stock L blocks (non-crossflow 2v heads btw) can take up to 300-400HP of abuse. The downside is that they are very heavy, actually more heavy than some small blocks.
'95-'83 non-turbo L engines can pull 30mpg relatively easily if your FI system hasn't been tampered with, or is put back in proper order. Consider that it's a conservatively tuned truck engine in a 2500-2700lb sports car. Its biggest mpg weakness is aerodynamics. The 280zx weighed more but keeps the same observable mpg thanks to some slippery paint and bodywork.
Let's say worst case scenario, the Z's motor reaches 200k and falls out. For a few thousand, you can put a running SBF/SBC inside it, less than the cost of a lot of major engine repairs on other cars.
What will kill you on the Z is rust and insurance. However, if the car isn't rusting, and the dash in intact, it's at least worth 3000$ in resale, even if its just a shell.
/salespitch, buy the Z
NaturallyAspirated
> Matthew Henry
08/09/2013 at 13:39 |
|
I went and looked at a '76 280z about a year ago. It looked like there was plenty of room to work. I ended up not buying it because here in California, a 1976 model year still has to be smog checked, but if I lived in a different state I probably would have gone for it. What other car can you think of that has a "FLOOR TEMP" warning light?
(I had to look it up, the California 280z had really early emissions controls, including a catalytic converter. If the cat overheated, it would get the floor of the car hot enough to make the carpet smoke. So, the car had a "FLOOR TEMP" warning light.)
|
Matthew Henry
> GhostZ
08/09/2013 at 14:32 |
|
Okay, I've talked with the guy. It has over 200k on it. However, he just had the entire suspension replaced. He said the engine and transmission are solid and well sorted — he daily drives this 280z. He also owns 2 260z's and a Mazda RX-7, so he's just out of driveway space.
Repainted several years ago, but clear coat is peeling. Decent interior. He said the floor panels will need replacing eventually because of rust, but they're okay for now.
He's offering it at $2500. What do you think? NPOCP? I'm I going to be stranded in Kentucky if I buy this thing? You think that engine has a chance of lasting a few thousand more miles if it's made it this far?
|
GhostZ
> Matthew Henry
08/09/2013 at 14:42 |
|
200k is pretty high, the transmission is a major worry at that point. While there is a chance it has another 20-30k left in it (depends on the shape of the gaskets, pistons, valve and springs, and maintenance on everything else) If the dash is uncracked, the transmission a 5-speed BW unit, the rear quarter panels are not bubbling, and he really does know what he's doing with that engine, it's a NP.
Ask how he replaced the suspension, and what with. If he bolted on a used Z one, that's iffy, but if it's got proper urethane bushings and quality parts, that's a great sign. If he did a coil-over conversion, check the brands and see if he paid good dollar or got bottom-of-the line parts. Also, ask why he replaced the suspension.
If the dash is cracked, the rust is spreading, the parts cheap, shifts with an autobox or a 4-speed, and the rear quarters resemble melted cheese, then you're quickly entering CP territory. But I've seen plenty of great 280Zs for sale cheap this last year, and deals like this do happen.
The reason the dash is so important is that it's such a common problem that an uncracked dash can fetch thousands alone, and a lot of owners don't realize this.
I would personally pass on it until you can find a more reliable one, but if you had any form of reliable transportation outside of that car, I would buy it in an instant. I imagine that a 280z treated right, in about 5-7 years, will double or triple in resale value, provided nothing serious happens. They're getting very popular to modify since most purists are sticking to the 240z.
Giles007
> Matthew Henry
08/09/2013 at 15:26 |
|
It seems you're starting to stray away from reliable, cheap to maintain, and good gas mileage. If you're looking for cheap fun, then that is a different story. I say get back on track with the econo-cars and then after graduating get a fun car.
My recommendation: a Hyundai Elantra. Perhaps a GT if you want a hatch. (I've recommended this car 3 times today)
|
Matthew Henry
> Giles007
08/09/2013 at 15:31 |
|
You're starting to sound like my conscience. "No, don't buy a supercharged Jag. No, don't buy a elderly BMW hoonmobile. No, buy something entirely sensible and bland." :)
|
Giles007
> Matthew Henry
08/09/2013 at 15:38 |
|
Haha, I know it's hard. But when you start doing regular maintenance you will be glad you didn't get that old Mercedes (or what-have-you).
|
Matthew Henry
> davedave1111
08/10/2013 at 09:02 |
|
I just read your article about the E30 on the Best of Oppo roundup. Good stuff. I can't believe you got as altogether a decent car as that for that price!
|
davedave1111
> Matthew Henry
08/10/2013 at 09:30 |
|
I can't quite believe it either. I keep looking for the catch.
WhatDaFunk
> Matthew Henry
08/10/2013 at 14:13 |
|
I was going to suggest an E34 BMW 5 series, then I saw that you wanted good gas milage (I average between 12-14 MPG on mine), so how about a Miata? Reliable, fun, good milage, and it might scratch that itch for an old british roadster.
|
Matthew Henry
> WhatDaFunk
08/10/2013 at 15:12 |
|
I'd buy a Miata, but I'm a gigging musician. I have to be able to take my acoustic guitar along with me. :-/
|
Matthew Henry
> Matthew Henry
08/10/2013 at 15:13 |
|
Yes, I could put the guitar in the passenger seat, but that leaves no space for a girl, and that might defeat the purpose of playing guitar in the first place.
|
WhatDaFunk
> Matthew Henry
08/10/2013 at 21:33 |
|
How about Porsche 944 S?
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/3978678442…
spartangeckos
> Matthew Henry
08/11/2013 at 20:51 |
|
It's not all that ridiculous. I just bought a '73 BMW Bavaria, and drove it 600 miles the first day.
As long as it's not REALLY bad, there's no reason not to drive what you love.
|
Matthew Henry
> spartangeckos
08/12/2013 at 09:11 |
|
Yeah... Really, my problem is that I really need something that won't cost me a lot. I'm going to school on a need-based scholarship, and my campus job will only bring in so much per month. So I don't have the spare money in my budget for something that will cost a fortune to insure or drive.
That being said, I bought my car last night (Oppo post coming soon). It's a 1997, has a manual 5-speed transmission, and is powered by a somewhat peppy 4-cylinder engine. It's also in a British Racing Green/Tan colour combination. And I already love it to pieces. :D
|
Matthew Henry
> GhostZ
08/12/2013 at 09:14 |
|
So, I bought my car last night (Oppo post coming soon). Unfortunately, not the 280z. Like you said, 200k is pretty high and I don't have other reliable transportation. I'm hoping to pick up something classic next summer when I have more time to work on it. Maybe a Z-car, maybe a Triumph or MG.
I bought a 1997 year vehicle, with a 5-speed manual transmission, powered by a peppy four-cylinder engine. It's in British Racing Green with a tan interior. I love it. :D
johncalvinyoung
> WhatDaFunk
08/12/2013 at 09:59 |
|
Re: the Porsche... wow. What an incredibly, terribly tempting bad idea. From what I've heard, a cheap Porsche is one of the few things more expensive than a cheap Jag to keep running. Pity. Because at $2900, that's just tempting right there. Just because. But I don't have to drive it 500 miles one way this week...
|
spartangeckos
> Matthew Henry
08/12/2013 at 22:11 |
|
Congratulations! Can't wait to see it.
|
Matthew Henry
> Giles007
08/13/2013 at 12:08 |
|
You would be proud to know that I made a responsible and mature decision. Oppo post just went up. Thanks mom. ;-)
|
Matthew Henry
> spartangeckos
08/13/2013 at 12:08 |
|
Just Oppo-ed it.
|
Giles007
> Matthew Henry
08/13/2013 at 12:30 |
|
Good show!
