Porsche v 240Z

atomman

Club Member
Having had an early hot rod 912 and a 914 , I'm on my second 240z now and to be honest I prefer them and they are more exclusive than a Porsche in my opinion, if only in number on the road,

be interesting to read any articles from motoring magazines back in the day, I'm sure they must have done a comparison at some point
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
I've got a booklet of mag reviews from back in the day, and I'm sure there is one comparing 911 vs 240/260. I'll have a look maybe next time I see it.
 

atomman

Club Member
Not sure that they did....
You maybe right Sean!, I did a quick search last night and couldn't find anything comparing them , apart from a couple of articles comparing Sung's and Magnus walkers cars ,

Perhaps it was the price difference back in the day ?
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
Perhaps it was the price difference back in the day ?

I think this is the key point. Possibly less so in the USA, but in UK and Europe the majority of 911 models were in a different price bracket/running costs bracket. Most of the UK based mags were putting 240Zs up against the likes of Ford Capris, Triumph Stags, Volvo 1800ESs, Lotus Elan +2s, Reliant Scimitar GTEs and 105-series ALFAs.

I do wonder whether it is possible for the average old 911 owner to make the perceived 'step down' to a Z, especially in the social aspect? The Porsche brand has always had the cachet that came from being a specialists sports car and race car manufacturer, and - whether it is accurate or not - for them the 'Datsun' and 'Nissan' brands simply don't carry that weight.
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
I do wonder whether it is possible for the average old 911 owner to make the perceived 'step down' to a Z, especially in the social aspect? The Porsche brand has always had the cachet that came from being a specialists sports car and race car manufacturer, and - whether it is accurate or not - for them the 'Datsun' and 'Nissan' brands simply don't carry that weight.

That is the age-old fight !

For ex, Jaguar made more in quantity and more profit from their saloons but are remembered for the sports-cars. Datsun are remembered for Cherrys and Sunnys, Nissan for 4x4s !

Our make was 'let-down' by an absence of consistent competition which in turn was due to Nissan relying upon individual country-specific franchise importers.
 
Its a numbers thing also. There's 1000's of old 911's about, they're starting to think that they'd like something a little rarer, thats a good sign. The fact some are looking at the 240z, shows that they've got taste.

I can only see it as a positive as i'd imagine that whatever they get will be done properly and actually help lift the perception of our rarer and prettier cars.

I'd love a 993, that boat has sailed though.
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Its a numbers thing also. There's 1000's of old 911's about, they're starting to think that they'd like something a little rarer, thats a good sign. The fact some are looking at the 240z, shows that they've got taste.

I can only see it as a positive as i'd imagine that whatever they get will be done properly and actually help lift the perception of our rarer and prettier cars.

I also see it as positive but which is the general trend - most owners are caring more, spending more.....but I don't agree with your 'numbers thing' !

There are also 1000s of 240Zs about - people aren't buying them because they're rare (despite the fact that they are here in Europe) but because :

1) they're cheaper than Porsches and 'more interesting' than Ford Escorts

2) people are simply more aware of the 240Zs now after many years 'in the shadows'

So people are looking to buy because they want one and not merely by opportunity ie fits into their limited price bracket and/or happened to notice one with a 4sale card in the window whilst passing in the street.
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Ok. There's 1000's of 911's in this country. Not many 240's.
this was very evident at Bicester last weekend - it was almost like LMC with literally (?maybe) thousands of (mainly modern) 911's littering the place.
you don't see 'em on the road in any great numbers, but open the gates on a classic car show and they're there like a plague.
 

Paul Henley

Club Member
Interesting read. I have a 911 (996) that I've had for about 3 years and although I enjoy the car on the rare occasions I actually get to use it if I were to choose which one to part with it never be the Z.
Many reasons, I've put a large part of my life into my Z, it's rarer, it's "cooler", I can work on it and fix it, If I ever sold it I doubt I could replace it. The Porsche is a great car, but it's replaceable any day of the week, I'd struggle to replace the Z with another.
Interestingly, if you were to ask my 2 sons aged 26 and 36 they would both say that they prefer the Z :)
redDSC01577.jpg
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
I were to choose which one to part with it never be the Z.

If I ever sold it I doubt I could replace it.

The Porsche is a great car, but it's replaceable any day of the week, I'd struggle to replace the Z with another.

Thanks Paul for the insight.

No belittling Porsche but this, I feel, is the main point : Zs must be sourced, searched for, rebuilt and only the lucky few can just write a cheque for one and even that must be done in front of the right car from the right person or company.
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
No belittling Porsche but this, I feel, is the main point : Zs must be sourced, searched for, rebuilt and only the lucky few can just write a cheque for one and even that must be done in front of the right car from the right person or company.

He was talking about a 997 Carrera 4S though. Hardly an age-for-age, rarity-for-rarity, value-for-value situation.
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
No belittling Porsche but this, I feel, is the main point : Zs must be sourced, searched for, rebuilt and only the lucky few can just write a cheque for one and even that must be done in front of the right car from the right person or company.

Point of order: The comparison being made was between a 240Z and a 997 Carrera 4S. Hardly an age-for-age, like-for-like, cost-for-cost, rarity-for-rarity comparison is it? It's not hard to imagine why somebody could be quite attached to one and not the other.

If it was between a 1972 Datsun 240Z and, say, a 1972 Porsche 911S it might well be a different story I'd imagine...
 
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