yo2001 Posted December 27, 2003 Share Posted December 27, 2003 Mine is. (not bragging) I want everyone's opinion. Is it as pratical as the newer car. I'm heart broken between selling my 78 turboed Z and keeping my 90 Talon (turboed AWD) as a daily driver (Modifying it to be a 11 sec car) or sell the Talon for some profits. Then making a solid 12 sec. turboed Z. (about a whole sec faster than what I'm running now) So I guess what I'm asking is how pratical/reliable to drive a 12 sec 1G Z everyday? Anyone out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bastaad525 Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Mine is a daily driver, but you KNOW how much bad luck I've had I think once all the bugs are sorted out (which you've come a lot farther at accomplishing than I have) and with a better efi system (which you already have) they are super reliable. I know the mechanical aspect of the Z drivetrains are awesome, that is why my last 3 cars have been Z's... they will last a very very long time as a daily driver if you maintain them, and they are extremely easy to work on when things do go wrong. I think selling a Z to drive a talon is bogus. A Z turbo is something classic and relatively rare, DSM's are everywhere. A 12 second Z is also something relatively rare... fast DSM's are much more common. I think I'd rather NOT be a part of the crowd... Strange for you to ask this as involved as you are here on the board Yo... you know as well as anyone just how many guys here are daily driving their turbo z's to get a good idea of how reliable they can be. Not sure just how many are into the 12's but I know high 12's - low 13's doesn't seem to take too much work and doesn't seem to impact reliability IF you do it the right way and dont take unnecessary, stupid risks (like ... "if I just turn it up a couple more psi"). I say stick with the Z and leave the DSM's to the ricers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Until a few weeks ago I have had a Z as a daily driver for the previous 5 years. 280zx 2+2 Automatic - No mods. My first Datsun and one I learned to do a lot of wrenching on. Pretty reliable car, but dead slow. 240z - Dual SU, 2.4L, 5spd, 3.36 - Lots of issues with this car, daily driven for a year and a half. Looked good, but wasn't my favorite as a lot of stuff didn't work. Rusty in the bad spots, and ended up being parted out. 260z - Dual SU, 2.8L, 4spd, 3.90 not many other mods. A really quick car around town, and a lot of fun. Z's are strangely practical, you can fit quite a lot in the back. Gas milage was decent. Had no issues starting in the cold using the choke, though usually had to wait a minute before leaving or the car would bog. 240z turbo - The latest/last incarnation of a daily driven Z for me. EFi is great, starts well, runs well, and makes tons of power. Everything else I drive feels slow now. Good stereo, loud exhaust, and stiff suspension. I got a thrill out of driving this car every time I got into it. I've decided that the turbo car is too nice to drive daily in the winter (not to mention too squirrley) so I bought a winter beater. (95 Sunfire) No fun, good ecomony, everything works... but it's pretty boring as cars go. It's nice to have a trunk, and 4 seats do come in handy sometimes... but I couldn't care less about the car itself, and can't bring myself to put any money into it... it is thoroughly uninspiring. For me, I think I am happy daily driving a Z for 8+ months out of the year. The other 4 months I need to find something a bit better suited to the snow/rain/ice that is still somewhat fun to drive. (talon? ) My 2 cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl327 Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Been on the road 80 percent of this year, with the exception of when I was driving some of my come and go cars. My v8z was the same way, pure daily driven street machines. Ive been driving mine everyday and while mine isnt the prettiest, Ive gotten my money back plus knowing I have the ability to run within .3 of my track times on the street, at any time I so feel like it, when I get into the 12s on the ol' L motor, I cant imagine or tolerate it being any other way but daily driven. My cars arent trailer queens, show cars, gossip magnets, or slow :twisted. The sheer glory of being able to drive something I made everyday is awesome, its one of my goals when I do a car and wont accept it if its anything less than that, no exceptions- I am the guy who would restore a 1st camaro and drive it everyday like a jerk, I am that guy. Yo, theres no reason why you cant drive your car everyday, and if you want the talon, thats your choice and not a bad car at that. I like your car and think you put too much work into it not to keep it. You could always fix up the talon and sell it, and pick up a spare car like a 240sx or a crx or something. Just Opinions Len168 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 Actually I now have two daily drivers. I have the 1977 280Z28 with the LS1/T56 which I run unless I've got it in a shop or the weather is really lousy. I don't want to take a chance playing bumper cars with some other idiot that overdrives their ability in bad weather. The other one is my '83 280ZX that is bone stock with over 208,000 miles on it. My wife even sports around in it occaisionally. The "family" car is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited. I would have no qualms - from a reliability standpoint - on taking either Z cross-country. I won't do it with the 280Z28 though as it is too set up for performance and would beat me silly after about 2 hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ON3GO Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 well i kinda have no say in this as my Z never really was on the road with me.. but i can say a few things. with my setup my Z is getting it should DEFF be in the 12's on street tires and it has a pretty stiff suspension, but it will be my daily driver, in all weather too. and about 1st gen DSM's, i have had my fair share with them, and there AWESOME cars, but once you start dipping into 11's in those cars, things break and parts become $$$$. dont get me wrong there awesome cars and i love them, and theres 10 sec dsm's out there that are street driven, but still. best of luck, but keep the Z mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240hoke Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 My '74 260zt has been my daily driver since i got my liscense. Only a year lol. The thrill of driving it makes up for the lack of creature comforts. I drive my Z unless im working on it, which seems to be alot recently. I should definitly be in the 12's when im done with this go around on the engine. i drive the family's 1990 300zx N/A its a really nice car for driving has grteat handling, but boy does it make the 260 feel fast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bastaad525 Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 The thrill of driving it makes up for the lack of creature comforts. I drive my Z unless im working on it, which seems to be alot recently. Same here and same here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chris240turbo Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 I drove my 73 turbo car daily for about 3 years here in Houston, this year I finally wussed out and bought a new ser spec-v as a daily driver, no A/C finally got to me I guess, but the 240 is much more fun to drive than the ser, ON3GO rode in it here a couple months ago also, so he can better answer how it runs than me, as I am biased Plus now I can tear the car apart without borrowing my wifes Jeep, in fact, it's apart right now, getting a new I/C, and piping I also had a 93 Talon, TSi, and it was OK, with an HKS EVC, and RRE intercooler, but the transmission wouldn't stay together very long... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 There is no way mine will ever be a daily driver. You have to be Gumby to get in and out of it. Too many of the conversions are not Vehicle Code compliant. I put too much work into the little princess to have it dinged up in parking lots etc. Weekend warrior all the way 8) Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 I dont' honestly think you will get a Talon to be an 11 second daily driver and be dependable... The AWD bits and tranny are the weak links... I'd keep the Z, pocket the money and be happy... Uh, keep in mind I say this with a FLEET of back up cars... My current "backup" car is a 1990 civic HF hatchback with a Civic DX motor and 5speed in it... I'd NEVER have JUST a Zcar (Or any sports car) as a primary vehicle, although I DID from 1988 until 1995. Mike 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ON3GO Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 I drove my 73 turbo car daily for about 3 years here in Houston' date=' this year I finally wussed out and bought a new ser spec-v as a daily driver, no A/C finally got to me I guess, but the 240 is much more fun to drive than the ser, ON3GO rode in it here a couple months ago also, so he can better answer how it runs than me, as I am biased Plus now I can tear the car apart without borrowing my wifes Jeep, in fact, it's apart right now, getting a new I/C, and piping I also had a 93 Talon, TSi, and it was OK, with an HKS EVC, and RRE intercooler, but the transmission wouldn't stay together very long...[/quote'] the car fricken screams! very cool car, very fast car, very cool color car .. i should have mine soon, a month or two and we gotta have alittle race mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yo2001 Posted December 31, 2003 Author Share Posted December 31, 2003 Well, 11 sec car is bound to break. weither Z or DSM. IMO I'm not worry about that as long as I can drive it on the street every now and then. It'll be hard to do on the Z car since you would have to trap alot more or hook like MOFO Well, I got to sell one of the other, I can't afford to keep two cars. I just can't make myself keeping a car older and slower as a daily driver. Even though, I love my Zcar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Yo, by that defenition, You won't have a "Daily" driver... Driving it around once in a while on the street squarly puts ANY car into the "Hobbie car" catagory. So what will it be? TRUE daily driver, or Hobbie car? This type of wording keeps me in constant battle with my kids EVERY TIME they get a new car magazine and read about some HOT import "Daily driver" that runs 9s in the 1/4... Never mind the lexan windows, full tube chassis and NO wipers... Or the fact that it can't idle in traffic in 95 degree 100% humidity summertime weather! My defenition of daily driver is any vehicle I can jump in and drive from my home in Fredericksburg Va. to Miami Florida or Lost Angels California and back in on a minutes notice. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chris240turbo Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Yeah ON3GO, let me know when you get her up here and we'll go for a little cruise down 1960 or westhiemer and see what the ricers think of it, I don't think any of them even know what my car is... Did you end up using that fuel pump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ON3GO Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Hell yeah, picking on some rice is what the doctors ordered... ill prob be afriad to get on my Z when its done, not that i wont beable to control it, but afriad ill snap my rear end, as its in pretty bad shape.. and na i couldnt use the pump, it sits in my garage so let me know when you want it back.. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akeizm Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Ahhh its fun racing all the little rice mobiles, kickin their arse. O and also they drive around like they are the king's. Then u go past in a z and its instant attention in your direction lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ON3GO Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 very true, but its not always the case... theres a few hondas, and or FWD cars where i use to live near tampa that would walk all over my Z, or other fast RWD cars like vettes, vipers, GN's, etc. hope i dont get picked on mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yo2001 Posted December 31, 2003 Author Share Posted December 31, 2003 Yo' date=' by that defenition, You won't have a "Daily" driver... Driving it around once in a while on the street squarly puts ANY car into the "Hobbie car" catagory. So what will it be? TRUE daily driver, or Hobbie car? This type of wording keeps me in constant battle with my kids EVERY TIME they get a new car magazine and read about some HOT import "Daily driver" that runs 9s in the 1/4... Never mind the lexan windows, full tube chassis and NO wipers... Or the fact that it can't idle in traffic in 95 degree 100% humidity summertime weather! My defenition of daily driver is any vehicle I can jump in and drive from my home in Fredericksburg Va. to Miami Florida or Lost Angels California and back in on a minutes notice. Mike[/quote'] Mike, it'll be the car that I can hop in and drive to where ever I needs to go. But any car is bound to break and I said I didn't mind that. The Talon I got is going to be just like my Z car, a full street car that I would drive as a primary daily driver. I've gone from my house in Birmingham to Alt, GA, down to Reynolds, GA, race and drove back up to Birmingham. Then drove to shool on Monday. That kind of car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chris240turbo Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 I had big problems with my 93 TSi, I bought it used from an Eagle dealer, in 95, had about 35k miles on it, and looked great, 5-speed, leather, AWD, LSD rear, and no ABS, I drove it around for maybe 4 months after purchase, and the tranny started to whine, every gear, so I took it to the dealer, I got underneath first, and didn't see anything wrong, no leaks, was full of oil, but oil smelled a little burnt, so to the dealer it went, they called in a couple days, and said the trans case was cracked, had leaked all the oil out, and burned all the bearings, and was not covered under warrantee, I went to the dealer and asked to see the damage, and they would not put the car back up on the lift for me to see, so I took it home, looked for myself, and saw nothing, still full of the same burnt smelling lube. Parked the car for a couple weeks (still had a 280zxt, and it was summer, so I was still mobile) then met a fella from the local DSM club, who worked at one of the local mitsu dealers, he told me to bring it in, and his dealer fixed it under warr. they said one of the mainshaft bearings had seized to the mainshaft, ruining the mainshaft, and the case, so I got a new trans at about 40k miles, car was then stock. at 60k less than a year later, I had the same mitsu dealer do the 60k service, picked the car up, and on the way home the timing belt delaminated, and all the intake valves hit the pistons, dealer fixed that one too. a few months later one of the guys in the club got rearended in his GSX, so I bought his HKS Evc, 18g, and roadrace engineering intercooler, and near immediately snapped the transfer case output shaft on the tranny, I got to fix that one, although I must say the 1g dsm's are pretty easy to work on, I moved to Houston from Denver right after fixing the car, and on the drive from denver to houston, the motor spun a rod bearing, sounded like a deisel, so the car sat here for a few months, until I found a used 4g63, again from a wrecked GSX, I sold the car shortly after to a wannabe ricer kid, who, even after being told not to mess with the boost controller, cranked the boost, broke a rod, and windowed the block, at least he was honest with me, and didn't give me any crap about wanting his money back, last I talked to him, he had a shop here in town build a new motor, and he had hung a 20g on a tubular manifold on it. sorry about the long post, but I had to say something, BTW I will never own another mitsu product, just too fragile for me, or maybe I got a lemon, I guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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