A&Q about 350Z
Q:
i really love my 300zx but i just started going to college and now i can not really afford to pay the maintenance of the car and school.... my car is mainly stock, the engine is in good condition even though it has 189000 miles on it ( the last owner did an engine rebuild), it is candy red, has new wheels and tires, a kenwood stereo, and i was wondering how much can i ask for it??
and which car you guys recommend the most.. i was thinking on maybe get a 240sx, or a Honda, or maybe a Toyota celica... which one you guys recommend having in mind that the main point is to avoid spending a lot of money on the car.....
thanks
A:
honda civic hf for low costs and great fuel mileage. why is the z costing so much most people get rid of a car because it costs to much to maintain, but sell it just after they fixed everything that was wrong. like a five year old chevy everything that would go wrong did and its fixed...now its great for the next 20 years. maybe thats your z31, its good now and you are selling it just when its all straightened out dont give up hope. besides its more fun to drive than a civic hf! LOL!
A:
lol i know it is just it cost more on gas, mantainance and i have to pay a lot for school, so i dont want to have any problems with money being used only for the car,,, i hope one day i can get another 300zx twin turbo, but right now is too much for me.....
are the 240sx economic in gas a mantainance too because i really like nissan more than honda..
A:
honestly it would be stupid of you to sell the 300zx for another car unless you can get one that is only a few years old (much more expensive than what you will get for your 300zx). Any car you get that is used and is in the same price range of the 300zx is going to have the same issues your 300zx. All used cars require constant maintance, seem expensive, etc. My friend did the same thing you did and bought a 91 civic and had the same kind of issues. Then his dad made him sell it so he could get this "good conditon" olds and 4 months after it constatly left him stranded on the side of the road. Old cars are only as good as the previous owners and if you have had your 300zx for a while chances are you know whats wrong with it and what you have done which makes it a much better gamble to stay with than starting over with another car. You mentioned the 240sx, they get roughly the same gas mileage, cost roughly the same to fix, and will be about the same to maintain as your 300zx. Just stay with your 300zx. Also what do you consider good gas mileage? If your Z is in proper tune it should be getting 20-22 in town with a soft foot and 28-30 on the hwy. I mean it's not like a honda civic but it could be worse. Like I said, the 240sx isn't really much different. I know school is expensive but there are ways to do it without killing yourself, it's called financial aid and loans. I'm not sure why so many people are against them but college is an investment. I started college owning both my 84 and 77 Z's and now I'm in the middle of my masters. Up until doing my masters I had a small part-time job. Basically my loans paid for school and my job paid for my gas, Z's, going out, fun, etc. If you try to pay for school out right you are going to kill yourself. I think it's something like 99% of people who work to pay for school don't end up finishing because they always put work first and school second.
College is hard and expensive but it's no reason to get rid of your Z. Mark my words, if you get rid of it in exchange for another used car of the same value you will not be any better off.
1977 280z: Intake, exhaust, high flow cat, header, euro damper, cam, MSD, adj. FPR, 3.7 lsd, F+R sway+strut bars, 2580lbs
1984 300zx: intake, exhuast, high flow cat, headers, JWT ECU, F+R sway bars, F strut bar
06 WRX TR
Post Edited (Nov 1, 8:35pm)
A:
well you got a good point... i really think that loans are the way to go... but im studying in the US with a student visa, because im mexican, which means that i can not get loans and i cant work, so right now i im paying my gas with what i got in the summer working, but im running out of money and my parents dont earn that much money, but you really have a point with that thing of the Z, by the way im studying automotive teachnology so im probably going to be able to do my work on the car without spending that much money....
Post Edited (Nov 1, 8:44pm)
A:
Well not being a citizen will hurt your ability to get aid but I would suggest going to the financial aid office and talking to them. You would be surprised what is out there to help people who want to go to school. Also go to an office called EOPS which helps minorities with scholorships, grants, loans, etc. Lastly try searching online for scholorships and grants.
Like you said, you'll be going into automotive tech so doing work on your Z won't be an issue. I know a lot of people here that use their school work shops to work on their cars. I think staying with your Z is your best bet unless you would just rather have a different car because you aren't into Z's anymore.
Good luck and if you have more questions about school stuff just let me know. I've been going through the system for years now.
1977 280z: Intake, exhaust, high flow cat, header, euro damper, cam, MSD, adj. FPR, 3.7 lsd, F+R sway+strut bars, 2580lbs
1984 300zx: intake, exhuast, high flow cat, headers, JWT ECU, F+R sway bars, F strut bar
06 WRX TR
A:
"but im studying in the US with a student visa, because im mexican, which means that i can not get loans and i cant work"
LOL! from what i have read that is not the case! LOL! good luck, i think the loans are available, you just have to look for them the government gives money away no reason you can't get some too.
A:
You'll regret selling it. You'll hate yourself when you're driving around in a FWD honda and not having any fun. You'll drive just to get from one point to another like every other miserable person on the road. Instead of driving your 300zx and actually enjoying the drive and having pride in what you have built. You'll hate yourself. Just about everyone on here that has sold a Z regrets it. You can get the loans and make it work, you just have to try.
1972 240z w/L28, tokico shocks and springs, and a 5 speed waiting. Also running high performance ultra mega blinker fluid, that's at least an extra 50hp to the wheels.
1987 Toyota Supra Turbo 5-speed. Belongs to me until my friend get's back from Iraq.
A:
Catch the bus...
85' 300ZX NA
86' 300ZX Turbo
88' 300ZX Turbo
89' 300ZX Turbo
300ZX Turbo Project
A:
buy a $1k motorcycle. Maint is a joke. Gas is almost free. Insurance is a joke. If it won't start one morning, just push it, pop the clutch, and get on your way!
Seriously, I was stuck in situations like yours, and although honda's are much less costly to maintain, no older used car is faultproof. I spent 3k on my current sportbike and I've thrashed it for 10k miles and put a whopping 400 into, 240 of which was a new tire.
19[TT]91
My TT beauty is gone.
2[00]2 Honda 954RR
Suzuki 1200 S; sportscar eater
19[I4]94 Integra GSR Sedan
Long live the Z...
aka SAHTT
A:
Keep it. Hell, I got a 240sx because my Z died and I still wish I still had it. The sx is fun in corners, but the z is way mre fun in a straight line. Besides, the BEST mileage I've got out of the sx is 24 mpg HWY, and I struggle to keep an average of 22. My Z got a nice average 25 without trying.
'78 280z - RIP
'90 S13 hatch - current work in progress
'7x 240z - future work in progress
A:
Little money = Honda
Cars need virtually nill maintenance, last a long time, & get resonable gas mileage.
A 240 if you put the recommended gas octane (92) and keep up on maintenance then will last a long time as well.
The problem with both older cars is that you don't know what PO's have done to them.
Progress:
Z32 Had to sell for DD 06 Sentra :(
S30 one of these days I will get around to putting it all back together.
A:
I take a bus for commuting to work - $2 a day is cheaper than driving. I get to read or snooze on the way and let the bus driver have the road rage.
Check with financial aid office, there are more programs than you know and or work study.
Leave no possibilities out -
and yes you will regret selling the Z. If it's paid for all you will get is another used car with problems and not as fun.
1/2 the education of college is going through the hoops of real life and learning to overcome obsticles. The sheep skin just tells employeers you've got enough talent to go through a program. Then the employeer will train you how they want.
Ed and Jeanne's
ZXelda 1981 280 ZXT: ZXena 1990 300 ZX
1941 Buick Special Sedanette (Betty)
1956 Dodge Royal (Dorothy)
1971 Buick Riviera (Rita)
1975 Ford F-150 Stepside (Fiona)
1992 Firebird (Frieda)