ZR8ED Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 Well as you are all probably in the same boat as I. Tax time... end of the year accounting time.... etc.. Well I've gone over all my $ and all my Z and car related expenses for the year, and even though I went through a tough year after killing my brand new engine, I was still more than shocked ...made me want to cry.. Absolutely ridiculous what I spent on all my transportation (minus fuel costs...that is bad on its own..) Something has GOT to give and I have thus drawn a line in the sand. I have talked recently here about projects and budgets... With all my years experience with cars, things can still spiral out of control...add some costly breakdowns with stubborness to give up really adds $$$$ quickly...and if you need it fixed NOW?.. even more $$$$$$$. I did some calcs and some serious thinking. I WILL NOT sell my 280 nor will I stop spending $$$$ on it every year.. PERIOD... ok ok ok so something has to go.. = ALtima gone... Yup the Altima is sucking up valuable resources that I no longer want to spend on cars. Payments and ins is pushing just over $700.00/mo Do some math and ya get 8400.00 and I haven't even had one repair. I still need a reliable car to get to work etc, but I currently live less than 2 miles from work, and for the odd time I have to travel I figure I can rent a car when my job takes me out of town (2-3 times per year) Come spring, I'm going to sell the Altima and put my 70 240 on the road. I don't trust the car at all yet but I figure the only way to do it is to drive it and work out the bugs.. I can always walk or bike to work if I'm really stuck..or my GF can easily give me a ride... I will purchase a good Z later on this summer to use as daily transport in the winter. I figure I can maintain an old z for a lot less than anything I could possibly buy...as long as its stock...I'll just have to buy some stock in an oil undercoating company to keep it from rusting, but other than that I can't see too many probs.. I used to drive them all winter for years..with very few troubles. Its back to basics for me...to drive what I know and what I can fix, and what makes me feel good driving. I'd rather drive a beater Z than a slightly better plain jane car. When my daily driver starts interfering with the enjoyment of my Z.. I HAVE A PROBLEM!!!! Long live the Z!! 8) Think I'm crazy?mabye...but I'm a Z guy, and I have to be true to who I am and nothing more.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z-Gad Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 I feel ya brother!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ON3GO Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 damn so 3 Z's now!!! it might seem like a good idea but the Z bug will bite ya again and your gonna spend all that mone you think you will save on the Z.. but i still say do it lol. best of luck! mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZR8ED Posted March 2, 2004 Author Share Posted March 2, 2004 I'm pretty certain I can obstain from modding a new (to me) Z. My 280 demands a fair amount of attention, and I can't imagine building anything up that could take IT on. The 70 fell in my lap and I couldn't let it go...I will not mod that car either..I picked up a fuel filter and some brake fluid for it today. This past weekend I went out and started it... its been sitting all winter..battery hooked up and everything...I had to try it 2 times...the third time, it fired instantly!!! 8) It stalled above 3k...then found that the filter was pluged and was idleing on 0 psi of fuel pressure (checked with proper guage) It doesn't need mods anyways..it looks and sounds mean as hell. I'm not sure what to do with it in the long run... its needs a ground up on it...For now it can get some use as a daily driver, then it can be a cruiser...no track time for this car...It has a pretty hot engine in it...even has chevy pistons...It has a 5 spd I think and a 3.36 rear. Brakes are stock, so I wouldn't want to exceed the braking capability. It has been more than 12 years since it was driven, and I'm almost 100% positive I was the last to drive it back then.. I drove my 280 for 1 winter when I was in college, and I had zero probs with it, so I figure if I throw on some good winter tires, it will be even better. So I'll hunt down a clean stock 280z through the summer. I still have a ton of stock parts for the Z's and a HUGE access locally to all that I can use, so maintaining it shouldn't be too hard...and hell, after working on the 240, I'm much more re aquainted with working on z's again... I'm going to try and get the 240 working during the next month or so.. my 280 comse out of storage in mid April. I'll start driving the 240 while I still have the Altima, and that should smooth out the transition into ensuring the reliablilty of the 240. I'm not too keen on driving the 240 to work, but it is much safer than driving my 280...I'll never bring that bad boy to work..not a chance... At least the 240 is not as valuable...and looks a little rough around the edges... its a 20/20 car..hehehe I hope it will be ok... Im starting to get excited about spring again..It feels great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 Well, Scott.....It's only money, and you can't take it with you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bastaad525 Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 Dude, this subject has come up with me and my wife so many times. Though she loves my Z, and often she will persuade me to keep it in those times when it gets the best of me and I want just to be done with it. I've had SEVERAL major failures on this car in the 6 mos since I put the turbo motor in there (or has it been longer now??? I have lost track), that were $500 or more, many of them engine failures (bad rings, bent valve, blown gasket). It has spent more time parked than on the road. So I constantly think about selling, taking that money and putting it down on a new car. But then I think of it like this.... okay I shopped around and even on a cheaper new car, say $15-20k, my monthly payments would be around $300-400, and of course full coverage insurance is not an option, and last I checked that was going to be like $100ish or more a month. That's $500 a month. For 5-6 years. And I think... damn... if I put $500 a month every month into my Z for even TWO years, not only would I probably have every possible part that could break replaced, I'd probably have the car looking and driving like new or very close to it (better than new if you consider how fast it is and the upgraded suspension and such)! Insurance is nothing on this car... like $40 a month (of course, not full coverage). So in the end... I keep keeping the car... And fixing it and fixing it, when all logic tells me I should not... but... man do I love that car and I never get tired of driving it. And I know I'd regret it the rest of my life if I ever got rid of it. Well... good decision dude, I think. Left pretty stock 240's are very reliable, I think, and they are so simple that whatever goes wrong is not usually a big deal. I only really started having serious problems in mine when I went with the turbo motor. And they are definatley more fun than any Altima Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 My 280Z28, over the past 12 years, has cost me about $350/month including insurance, repairs & upgrades. I also have a 280ZX that is costing me less than $250/month - but it is a weekly exercise in will power to not start upgrading it. I think I would eventually lose that resistance if it weren't for a long-term plan to pick up a used 350Z in about 2-3 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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