I agree. I really hate the ZX bashing. I also love the early Z's. So my goal is to eventually have a 240Z along side a turbo'd 280ZX. That way I don't have to choose. When I started up and ran my 280ZX for the first time in a few months, since I put it away for the winter, I realized how much I love the 280ZX, and would never turn down a 280ZX. It's kinda become my car so to speak. So it seems unlikely that an older Z would replace it.

As said though, why the Mustang guys even care about you and your ZX as opposed to their own cars is beyond me. Hell I'm pretty sure that with a well built L28ET that 240Z or 280ZX is gonna go fast, even though the ZX weighs more it is more aerodynamic, and if you strip it down to the levels of a 240Z, as I think j, or lww said. You really won't see that much difference. Either way you're still gonna show up most of those Mustang guys.

The other thing I've come to notice is that all the people who bash the 280ZX and say the older Zs are the better choice, generally have never even driven a Z. Z drivers seem to know that all Zs have potential. So we can't listen to them.

Long live the 280ZX.

 

How can that be if the Stock 240Z was rated at 150hp, and had 0 - 60 times in the 8 sec & weighed less than the Stock 280ZX running in the mid to high 9 sec w/ 135-145hp?

I've owned & driven 240Z's, 280ZX's & 280ZXT's... I do know how they perform.

 

The 280zx has 10 years of aerodynamics improvment in it's design over the first gen Z cars and it is much more stable over 100mph than a 1st gen Z's in stock trim.

The 280Z was nearly as heavy as the '79 280ZX anyway, so there wasn't that much of a difference between the two.

 

I began to figure that aerodynamics will play a large role, even if the car is heavier. If you notice, all the reasons that people bash the 280ZX for are essentially the fact that it had a mushier suspension and was slower in the 1/4 mile than the 240z. As said they obviously have never driven either around a track or at high speeds. It's unfortunate that all anyone cares about anymore is the 1/4 mile times. Everyone worries about it so much it's easy to get caught up in worrying over it.

 

I was referring to times around a circuit race track, the one in question was a particularly difficult one to drive with a great emphasis on handling. The laps were timed too, the S130 simply did faster lap times than the S30, both were stock in good condition.

Not knocking the S30, have one of those too, great car.

 

Nismo lets not forget that whole net vs gross argument. I am just more comfortable driving a car that is more stable. I personally like it better does not mean that it is better or faster. Personally I would rather go slower feeling better about it regardless, plus pwr features own me.

 

It's amazing telling people that my car is now 23 years old, and that it has more power features than some of these newer cars. People are blown away. Especially when I bust out the heated side mirrors.

 

another thing about stability at high speeds, is that if these people tell you car sucks because it has softer suspension, tell them to drive a 240z down the freeway at 120 then hit a marker and then drive a zx down the freeway at 120 and hit a marker, the end result would be that a 240 would more then likely either spin out, or it would flip and start to roll, for the zx it would fell like you hit a small rock but you would mainly just ignore it and continue to drive. i have done it in both so i know what im talking about.

 

The official Nissan book on the 280ZX is worth a read. They put a lot of effort into impoving the S130 over the S30 including matters of stability. Its just a pity that they changed the rear suspension type instead of improving on what they had.

So my project S130 is going to lose its rear suspension and..............

 

well even though they changed it, I can definitely understand why. It's like everyone else has said. It was in part to give a better ride. I imagine at the time, people weren't looking for super sporty. You wanted something that was quick and sporty. Something that looked good, but at the same time something that rode nicely with features. So where can I get the book on the 280ZX?

 

The books comes up on Ebay pretty frequently, going for about $20. Luckily, the seller of the one I bought happened to live in the same city as I, so I didn't have to pay shipping. Aside from being an interesting read on the technical development of the car, it really makes me feel better like "I made the right choice".

 

would this happen to be the book? http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-Datsun-280Z...QQcmdZViewItem

or maybe this?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/187...Fencoding=UTF8

 

Its Cool Reading The Old Sales Ads And The Owners Manual To See How They Pitched There Products. I Have A Manual And An Ad In My Collection. Selling Cars Isnt Like It Is Now.

 

Thats the one, yeh it does make you feel better about the S130, a very neglected car.

 

Too bad that book was written in/about 1979, so it doesn't cover the later changes, such as the Turbo model, T-tops, etc.

 

Well, that and the later block, and the newer heads even in the non-turbo.

 

I only rag on the 280zx 2+2 ;-)

 

Ouch, Dont Let Nismo Or Drifto Read That. Theyll Kill For 2+2

 

2+2=2 2 many

 

Somebody has to stick up for the 2+2's! They're Z's too ya know! They have feelings just like yours!

 

I Like My 2 Seater Cause If A Bunch Of Use Have To Go Somewhere, I Dont Have To Drive And I Get To Save Gas Money For My Own Seat Time

 

I solved that prob... took out the back seat & put in the 2seater storage panel. 2+2 on the outside only!

 

Hey, I've come to like the 2+2, it actually does come in handy when you do have to take a 3rd person with you. My buddy's girlfriend was able to fit back there.

 

Ouch So it's not even about the extra seats. Thats the only reason I've ever though about one. So I can fit my wife, son, and myself in the same car. But I just cant tear myself away from the 2 seater looks. Just something about the sloping roofline and those quarter windows that just screams sexy. I'm thinkin of putting a rear seat in the 2 seater so I can put a carseat in so it'll be a 1+2 Great looks of a 2 seater with the function of a back seat. I ripped out the storage compartments behind the seats and am working up a carbon shell that will be bolted to the floor and will hold a car seat. Then my wife can stop complaining that we can never take the Z anywhere

 

Why I'm looking for a 2-seater. I'll have my 2+2 and then a 2-seater. I get the look of both! But I like the idea of 2+1.