1982 Datsun 280ZX 2+2 from North America - Comments

I got mine with 195000 miles on the car and drive train after 4 previous owners. Nothing has gone wrong with the car while it has been in my ownership, but it came to me in need of a valve job and a brake job. I got those fixed as well as a few other things (oil change, fluids etc.) I still have yet to get it smogged and fully registered, but both my mechanic and I don't think it will be a problem. The interior has some wear, but nothing beyond cosmetic. The stereo is shot, but I could care less because I would have replaced it regardless. Mine came with new tires which was nice and I know the power steering and fuel injection system have been rebuilt. The body is fine except for fading paint on the roof in between the t top roof and the back window.

This is my first car and it is also one of the first cars I considered as a desirable, affordable, first car. The 2.8L engine is quite a power plant when under the hood of one of these cars. On the freeway this thing goes like a bat out of hell and goes from 65 to 100 or so in no time. However I believe the strong point of this car are its handling and steering capabilities. This thing hugs the road like a much more expensive European sports car according to my Dad who owned a Triumph TR4 and my Mom who used to have a Triumph Spitfire. I don't think I could have gotten a much better deal than I did with $1400 for the car and a total repair cost of $1100 or so although I think the Blue Book value for one of these is about $2500 As far as economy goes I think it is pretty decent for a car of its age and size (18 mpg. average). I especially love this car on the long, windy country roads with strangely high speed limits that seem to be all over the place here in the Northern San Francisco Bay Area. I also love this thing because I can actually fit my entire drum set inside it (2+2 yay!) and go jam elsewhere. Someday I might want to upgrade this one or hopefully buy a similar 280ZXT with a 5 speed and upgrade that. Overall this a fun and reasonable car for just about anyone, especially a 16 year old high schooler like myself.

Just an update on the condition of my car. Last week I used the AC for the first time on a fairly hot day (95 degrees maybe). Nothing happened except I noticed that the AC compressor was making a rubbing/grinding sound. I got home just fine. But the next morning there was at least a quart of coolant spilled out under neath the vehicle. I took it to the shop immediately after looking in the hood and checking all my main fluid levels which were all normal for some reason (the coolant reservoir was overfull in fact). On the way to the shop the engine started losing power and misfiring a little so I stopped at a parking lot and opened the hood. Sure enough the two coolant lines going to the AC/Heating unit in the dash had ruptured and were spewing coolant all over the rest of the engine compartment! I think there was too much fluid pressure in those old hoses and that's what finally made them give way. The engine was still running well enough to get to the shop where they replaced the hoses along with a few others all for only $160 (what a ripoff). Anyways, car still runs great and I still love this thing.