so i was headed to the store and i saw a 280zx 2+2 parked beside a building, after about a week of seeing it day and night i decided to ask about it. the owner says its had a tune up new plugs and wires. the body is in good condition as well as the interior. and its an auto. the owner says its got a bad oil ring so it spits a bit but that it runs great. i know body work not motors is $700 to much for it and what kind of trouble am i getting myself into??


E_M

 

if we had some pics we could decide that...s130 z31 2+2's are ugly IMO

 

only 2+2 Z that looks good is the z32 2+2.

 

i dont care about looks i just want a daily driver so i can fix up my 280zx turbo

 

If it burns a lot of oil... it's prolly not going to pass emissions (legally anyway). Talk him down to $500.

 

texas doesnt do e testing as long as the smoke doesnt impair vision it passes

 

2+2 auto = Too expensive at any price


Rod.

 

You guys... We need more info.

How many miles are on it, what year is it, what kind of rust issues does it have, are the tires any good, if it spits oil it'll ruin the catalytic converter.

If he's already down to $700, he's only a day or two away from $500...

 

$700 is the starting price i'm headed back today to get a better look and see about a cheaper price. will have pics tonight if i can find the camera


EDITED: NEVRMIND... rose went with me to check it out and the guy didn't know jack about the car. he kept calling it a 1992. once rose got an ear full of what was wrong she almost tore my arm of pulling me away from the guy. i can find a better use for $700

 

i bought my 280zx turbos 2+2 5 speed for 500 for the blue one and 300 for the grey one.. but i got a steal of a deal.. on the grey one..

 

I picked up my 80 2+2, 5spd, NA for $450. Also, they are so not ugly, look at the lines! I call mine a Japanese Jaguar. Seriously though, the C pillar itself is art! Just go get it, worry about fixing it later.

 

i just want a daily driver for now if its still there in a few weeks I'll pick it up. but for now i need something thats runs well and has up to date tags.

 

Normally I'd say go for it, but seeing that evil is looking for something kinda running, this one will have to wait. From what I got to see it had a rust hole next to the driver side tail light big enough to fit my fist threw, a smaller one near the passenger tail light, rusted runners under the doors, and various paint bubbles on different parts of the car...those being about all i was able to feel. Also, it has a fried ring for sure and blows some serious smoke, and the seller wasn't able to to tell me too much more about the history of the maintenance or any other mechanical problems. Mind you, this is a "mechanics special" for $700 that he's not willing to come down on since it's an "exotic 1992 import." I'd heard about enough after that, and from what Evil told me, there was also some "minor" body damage from impacts that i hadn't seen when going over it the first couple of times. There are other Z's out there.

 

where in kingville is this z at?

 

Corpus, jalapeno, corpus. You should come visit so i can show it to yaz

 

Sounds like this ZX is basically more of a parts car canidate than a driver. I paid $750 for my sons '79 ZX n/a auto in fairly good running condition, and paid $250 for our '80 2+2 T-top 5 speed n/a parts car with minimal rust. I traded a rear stub axle, hood spring assembly, and old fuel pump (maybe $100 worth of parts if you went to the junk yard?) from the parts car for my '82 T-top n/a 5 speed, and it runs and drives great. I'd definetly pass the ZX in question up and look for something in better condition before paying $700.

 

So far, I've only paid more than $500 for a 280ZX twice. Once in 1982 and again in 2004. Surprisingly, I paid nearly the same amount both times! Although those were both VERY special occasions for VERY special cars.

Every other 280ZX I've bought was $500 or less. 280ZX Turbo 2+2 in my sig was the most expensive at $500. The others were $350, $400 and $450. All runners with varying degrees of rust, but still serviceable. The $500 turbo is currently a daily driver for a friend that's on hard times and only needed a "new" battery, oil change, front brake pads and brake system bleed and it runs like a champ. I did get new rear KYB GR2 shocks for $25/ea.

They are out there, you just have to be patient and smart when you're looking. The smartest thing you've done so far is find someone who really knows these cars to help you weed out the bad one's so you don't burn up your wallet on the incredible amount of crap that's out there.

There were nearly 335,000 280ZX's sold in the five years from 1979 to 1983. Even after 25 years of rust and accidents, there are still a surprising number of decent examples out there for cheap money. If you want to bring one back to "factory" condition, it's going to cost much dinero, but if you just want a decent, reliable daily driver, you can find it, you just have to be patient and don't let your "instant gratification" impulse get the best of you.

 

yeah i'm lucky to have stumbled into this site and found a great person to help me.

 

If the car is located in Corpus think rust. If you can see holes I would strongly suggest you look carefully under the car and check the frame, floor pannels as that will cost more than an engine. Oh, I am in Texas and yes they do have emitions testing in Austin which is in Travis county, but I live in Hays county (ha ha). I check out the local chartity car auctions where I have had the best luck (over the past 3 years I picked up 3 280zx for a total under $2,000.) Good luck on the car, but be carefull.

 

P.S. On the cars I bought I was able to drive them home and they have great pick-up.

 

...............................

 

Just a little side note, any 280Z 1983 or older after Dec 31st of this year will be exempt from emissions checks in Travis County. That's what I'm waitin for for mine.

 

dude that rocks