Should I buy this 280ZX? Part 2!
 

Well I have kept my eye open and seen a few more Z's, most not so nice. I stumbled across this one. It belongs to a mechanic that I deal with from work. I deliver parts to him. It's a 1980 280zx which he bought in 1982. He told me about all the work he has put into it. It has 206,000KM on the body, and block, but he rebuilt the head 100,000KM ago. It has no rust, I looked everywhere and couldn't find a spec. If i wasn't working he told me he'd get it in the air for me. It ran perfect.

I don't want to be picky but its automatic. I love 5spd but i may convert it in time. He never drove it in winter. Always garaged in his shop. He doesn't know about the owner before him though. He is asking around $10 000 Canadian he said. Safetied and the works. He might take $9000. I love the car. He's not actively selling it but if a good offer came around he would take it. He says it has no problems at all.

Well here are the pictures guys. Tell me your thoughts.

EXTERIOR:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...3r/front-1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...t3r/side-1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...3r/quarter.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...gSt3r/back.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...St3r/wheel.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...St3r/motor.jpg


INTERIOR:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...teriordoor.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...eringwheel.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...t3r/gauges.jpg

MORE INTERIOR:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...gSt3r/dash.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...driverseat.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...3r/console.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...iorquarter.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...teriorback.jpg

Man... I could think up a huge list of cars I'd rather buy for $9k-$10k than a 280zx. Especially a non-turbo.

Ive always liked Datsun though. I had an 87 Camaro and it was fun, but too much of a shit box so I sold it. I hate mustangs.. I don't know, I cant seem to find a car I like.. but I do like these cars.

You're on crack

lol ok...Datsun's are not nearly as available up here as they are in the US. I'm lucky if I see even one all summer here in Toronto.

So tell me what other car you would buy for 10g?? out of curiosity

z32 Twin Turbo for starters.

up here they go for a lot more then 10g. This is a search for 300zx. Look at how many are available in Canada. This is why we have to pay more for certain cars up here. Good condition rare cars are even harder to find.

http://search.ebay.ca/300zx_Cars-Tru...40QQsacatZ6001

BMW E39 530i, Lexus LS400, GS300/400, SC300/400, older RX7, Supra, Z31T, Z32TT, yada yada yada...

Spending $10k on a bone stock nothing special 280zx non-turbo is crazy.

anything older then 1995 up here is as good as scrap metal if it isn't stored during the winters. If it was stored and mint condition it is worth a lot more then 10.

Maybe the price for cars is just lower in the US. If you find a car here for less then $2000 it probably doesn't run, or even have motor.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Nissan-300ZX-Twin...QQcmdZViewItem

ummm, thats not too bad for $10k cdn, other than the stupid bodykit and inerior. and damn, there are a ton of verts for sale up there.


http://cgi.ebay.ca/Nissan-300ZX-TWIN...QQcmdZViewItem

this guy, on the other hand, has his head up his ass.

maybe come buy from the US.



http://cgi.ebay.ca/Nissan-300ZX-COUP...QQcmdZViewItem

thats not a bad deal at all for a NA.

If it would seriously be cheaper for you to buy a car down here why don't you drive or fly down and find a car in the US?

I mean if you're okay on wasting 10,000 dollars why not find a good car in AZ and then dump all the money in goodies and maybe turn around and sell it for more in Canada?

Up here that first one is worth about $17,000-$20,000
The second one is worth about $12,000-$15,000
Because they are much more rare up here the prices are ridiculous. The US population is at least 5 times larger then Canada's. So at least 1/5 the amount of cars up here.

Bringing a car into Canada is very expensive. Taxes and duties alone would cost almost half the cost of the car. We also have stupid safety requirements, like day light runners etc. which all have to be installed before the car can pass safety. If you have money go for it, but if your like me you don't have a lot you have to settle for whats already here.

Ya, if you live in the US. You've obviously never tried to get a car across the border. If i bought that down there for $5,400, by the time i get all the paperwork, taxes and safety done it will cost me over $10,000 easily.

Its not as simple as purchase and bring it home. I wish it was. (If the car is already in Canada it is). The only cars that are brought from the US are rare cars because they will be in better condition. Then because someone spent X amount of money bringing it across the border, they want money for that, and they want more money because its a rare car from the states.

That $5,400 car is now $12,000..

i just noticed it was in texas. i thought the link you provided was for canada cars only.

No, I sent that link to show how many were available in the US compared to Canada. Out of 25 listings there is 1 in Canada and its old with a buy it now price of $6,300.

hahah ^^^

anywho, ill sell you my car for 10k then okey?

blue is correct with all he is saying, remeber i keep telling you guys to sell your cars up here if your gonna. ive been offered over 10,000 for my car. a good 240-280z is 10-15k up here and 1500-3000 down there. it also sucks big donkey to get a car up here. in blues area of the world, 9000 for that car is normal. you guys may not think so, but it really is. that car is super rare in toronto, and almost as rare even on the west coast. ppl up here crush cars that get older and rusty, so gone are all the car prior to 88ish. try getting parts at the wreck yards for anything old up here. you just cant. thats why i ask for stuff from the helpful members here. my 620 truck is worth 3500 bux up here. down where bleach and others are from its only 500 bux. thats the kind of market canada is. in my opinon blue, if he would take 9 for it, and you truely want it, then get it. but dont drive that thing in the winter!! and yeah 5 speed swap for sure. enough of my ramble

my car has a few inperfections with the interior but im working them out, wont be amazing but clean, the body is rust free and dent free but does need paint since almost all the clear is gone. but its a early 260Z with a perfectly running turbo swap FINALLY! and its manual, soooo... 10k american? deal? lol

But then it'll cost him another $5k to get it into Canada. I'm not sure it's worth $15k to him to have your car snw.

fixed........

5k to ship. BAH... thats blasphemy. lol. way i sees it, a completly rust free turbo swapped s30 that just needs paint and a better than 4speed tranny is worth morth than a clean but high ass mileage auto s130.

Okay, I paid $8,500 U.S. for my 1981 280ZX 3 1/2 years ago so we're in the same ballpark... with shipping it ended up costing me $9,300... later added louvres, t-band for extra.

I wanted something in very good-excellent condition since i don't work on cars myself so i was willing to pay for it just because i liked the way the car looked and its 'rare' around here.

Mine has original miles/engine, upgraded exhaust and Power windows, A/C, T-top and manual transmission were my other requirements (didn't care about turbo or not), so i wouldn't be as interested in buying your particular car myself, but it's up to you.

If you like it and can verify its condition, it's your money so buy it if it makes you happy. :038:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g3...ntruck-1-1.jpg

Snwy, pay attention to what is said. The extra five grand was for importing the car and making it legal in Canada. Similar to bringing a car from japan to Canada or the US. The Canadian government gets that money. Transporting the car would be another cost not even considered.

Sell him your car for $3000 and maybe the cost can be justified. :)

legalize in canada? come on, what could there really be that much to do.... thats stupid, we can drive our cars over there so why cant they own our cars over there? weak....

I think there are a few folks posting here that are forgetting the MAJOR difference between Canadian dollars and American Dollars. I won't name any names (snw) but... Thinking you'll get 10K American for a home built 260ZT is the first sign of being a crack head in training. :D


Rod.

It's not really to "Legalize" it. It's a TAX on imported goods. If you drove your car into Canada and sold it and the person who bought it there didn't go through the "proper" procedure, it would be a Canadian felony and they'd never be able to register it for street use there.

You'd be amazed at what it costs to ship a car from Japan and make it legal to drive in the US. Why do you think Skylines are so rare here.

And, we're talking Canadian dollars here, not US dollars.

...Difference doesn't seem that major, though.

Monday, September 10, 2007
9,000 Canadian Dollar = 8,533.23 US Dollar
9,000 US Dollar (USD) = 9,492.30 Canadian Dollar (CAD)




Median price = 0.94724 / 0.94814 (bid/ask)
Minimum price = 0.94724 / 0.94814
Maximum price = 0.94724 / 0.94814

There is also a lot more to it than simply the conversion rate...

They are two totally different economies. What's the average hourly wage in Cananda VS. the USA????


Rod.

Yeah, but i'm going by the OP's posts as well as conversion rates.
It appears to be affordable to him and pricing compared to other Z's he's seen advertised... you can vary the prices of Z's and personal income by city or by state in the U.S. too.

According to him, the pricing doesn't seem too extreme and if he likes it, I don't think it would be that crazy if he buys it for approx. $9,000 or less Canadian... IF the quality of the car checks out... but personally, I think he should still try to negotiate for $8,000 or less.

damn canadian government with their flappy heads and all. i know you say they are rare up there and all but god damn 9k! i'd want a friggen rb25 pushing 400+ in it for that price. keep looking dude something seriously has to come up better then that. and if crap is that hard to come by you will never end up converting it

dont worry guys, i wasnt really serious, woulda been if it werent for the stupid importing crap, but i knew about the conversion rate and what not, but i neglected it since its really isnt THAT big. also rod, ive seen worse, sure it was a VERY VERY clean 280Z.... but all it had was a turbo swap other wise and the guy listed it for 18k..... dont know if it sold or not or w/e but it was still pretty damn high. anywho, thats alot of money but i understand the scarceity (is that a word even?) of the car up there and if its worth it to him, than its worth it, i still think the milage.... er.... kilometerage is pretty high for that price even with the rebuilt, id say 8k would be fair for that car, but the auto kinda makes me tipsy on it, sure you can convert, but its easier to just buy a manual car.


p/s dry rotted tires SUCK in any moisture on the ground... just learned that i could spin all of 3rd on my way home from school and thats rolling in 3rd not even ddropping it at all... i need new tires.... and then mix that with the open diff and at a low speed it forces you to go sideways...

If it was owned by a mechanic, and you dont plan on racing the thing 120+ mph (200 km/h) on the highway (if you have any of those around there) then go for it, thats a really good condition and its around the correct price going by the NADA guide. Don't listen to most people in here, I have friends in Canada that have imported TVR's from Europe, and cars from U.S. and just not worth it unless theres some sort of specail advantage with a curtian region release of the car.

I tell you now that Z is a sick ass cruiser/daily if you live out in the mountians or some small town, good for snow to *if you set it up for snow, I did with my Z it didnt do to bad, snow tires are nice though :)* iunno if they have a advantage in snow for being AT, since you lose torque but its not over kill, and it just right, might be that I lack enough throttle control. You also have a friend who did all that work on it, if you have probelms he can help you, even better.

the wages up here are 8 per hour min in b.c. i make 22 as a pretend mechanic. hehe, no ticket shipping from my house to fort worth texas on a car is 3000 non insured. was going to ship a car for a buddy, not any more. plus to get it in is a pain.

bleach and i could drive it up there and "forget" to bring it back :D.

he was metioning driving it to portland and forgetting to bring it back!

i thought NAFTA applied to Motor Vehicles BTW. or is that only on new cars?

only new cars, still sucks. although isnt easier to import to the usa?

i think it is. and isn't it supposed to be pretty easy to get a Skyline into the US if it has been registered in Canada? i wonder why it is so hard to get US cars in for you guys, but seemingly easy to get japanese cars, whereas it is the opposite for us.

Well I bought a Z! Not this 280zx, but pure luck I found a 1974 260z. A cop.. lol.. was selling it privately by my university.

1974 260z original motor with 53,000 miles on it. The 4spd manual was replaced with a 5spd from a 280zx. It is black and has a "g-nose" body kit. It has a header, performance exhaust, mild cam, 3 weber carbs, lowered, rims etc. No rust, no dents, runs mint. I love it. its a sweet looking ride. He let it go for $6000! I am very happy with my find. I have some small pictures I took with a friends phone. I pick it up Thursday :038:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...3r/Front-2.jpghttp://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...gSt3r/Rear.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...r/Interior.jpghttp://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...t3r/Engine.jpg

very nice. and a more reasonable price for what you got.

much much better than any of those other ugly s130 cars you were looking at. s30 is teh way to go. and also, its only a 5 digit odometer so for it to say 53k isnt reliable. lol. right now mine says 24k but that dont mean a thing

Well he is a cop, and he provided all of the documentation dating back to 1976. All the km's were recorded each year and they total up to 53,000 as of today. so unless someone was able to roll the odometer over in 2 years, its all original. I will be the 4th owner.

Very nice!! Looks like you got a great deal.:038:

wow, great deal, the g-nose itself is worth a crap load to get from japan. let alone all the rest of the stuff. now drive it and enjoy it. then next year drive it out to my meet in july!

Triple carbs, G-nose, GT steering wheel, nice shoes... FTMFW! :038:

Good job on finding such a nice Z for such a great price.

Aren't you glad you listened to us?

P.S. I'm about to cry right now because theres a sweet 280z in Texas for 950 dollars with about no rust. If anyone wants info on it its for sale on hybridz.

I like the G nose car. Good find! Welcome to the Z community

That's cool... paperwork documentation is nice to have... nice find! :)