240z Vs 280z questions (not the usual ones!)

Robotsan

Club Member
Apologies in advance - I'm still asking questions and generally mithering you lot for answers, and I've still not bought a Z!

But - I've now driven a 73 240z, and I liked it a lot. It was as cool, great sounding and exciting to drive as I hoped - but also as rattly, noisy and smelly as I expected. I want a car that my other half will actually enjoy being in for road trips and won't be fearing for her life in. But some things about the 240z made me think she may not like setting foot in it! So I'm kind of thinking maybe the (allegedly) more modern and refined 280z may actually be more suitable for me. So I have some questions on the differences..

1. Seatbelts - the 240 I drove had the strange vintage ones where you somehow (I didn't figure it out, and the owner doesn't use them!) clip one thing into another clip and they both go into a 3rd part?! It had barely any give in it - not sure it was even an inertia reel?). I think she would run a mile if that was the offering. So would a 280z have a more modern inertia reel seatbelt as you'd in find in 80s and onwards cars? I'm aware I could probably fit more modern seatbelts to a 240z, but its just another thing to pay for.

2. Smells - the 240z was a smelly experience as I expected! Lots of fuel fumes with the windows down, and up I think, which I gather is either a design flaw regarding air flow, or faulty seals? Question is, did they fix this in the 280z?

3. Noise - I hear the 280's have better/more sound deadening? Are they noticeably better for road noise etc than the 240s?
 

Faster Behr

Club Member
I don’t think the 280 is going to offer any substantial improvement over a 240 on many of your points.

To be honest it sounds like you’ll need an inertia reel retrofit, an A/C retrofit and a good dose of sound deadening. All of which I’m doing to mine and are fairly easy to achieve. I see no shame in these kind of modernising touches.

She might find being in the opposite seat of a 280 more terrifying. I know I hate being a passenger in a LHD car!

I appreciate you mention costs / but a set of Securon 500/30 seat belts (as recommended for our cars) are £45 a set. Sound matting also not really that expensive.
 

AD240Z

Club Member
Apologies in advance - I'm still asking questions and generally mithering you lot for answers, and I've still not bought a Z!

But - I've now driven a 73 240z, and I liked it a lot. It was as cool, great sounding and exciting to drive as I hoped - but also as rattly, noisy and smelly as I expected. I want a car that my other half will actually enjoy being in for road trips and won't be fearing for her life in. But some things about the 240z made me think she may not like setting foot in it! So I'm kind of thinking maybe the (allegedly) more modern and refined 280z may actually be more suitable for me. So I have some questions on the differences..

1. Seatbelts - the 240 I drove had the strange vintage ones where you somehow (I didn't figure it out, and the owner doesn't use them!) clip one thing into another clip and they both go into a 3rd part?! It had barely any give in it - not sure it was even an inertia reel?). I think she would run a mile if that was the offering. So would a 280z have a more modern inertia reel seatbelt as you'd in find in 80s and onwards cars? I'm aware I could probably fit more modern seatbelts to a 240z, but its just another thing to pay for.

2. Smells - the 240z was a smelly experience as I expected! Lots of fuel fumes with the windows down, and up I think, which I gather is either a design flaw regarding air flow, or faulty seals? Question is, did they fix this in the 280z?

3. Noise - I hear the 280's have better/more sound deadening? Are they noticeably better for road noise etc than the 240s?



Have you thought about a hybrid or trading the other half in ?



After a couple of hours of lovely fumes , she won't give a sh1t if shes got a seatbelt on.


Im only joking . I get the seatbelt thing, but the noise and smell can be minimised as above - but are part of the experience for me .
 

Mr Tenno

Digital Officer
Staff member
Site Administrator
2. Smells - the 240z was a smelly experience as I expected! Lots of fuel fumes with the windows down, and up I think, which I gather is either a design flaw regarding air flow, or faulty seals? Question is, did they fix this in the 280z?

My understanding is this is a combination of the two and inherent to the shape of the car. Any poor seals will allow the exhaust to be pulled into the cabin.
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
That 240Z has 'classic' seatbelts (lap plus diagonal - believe it or not I can remember lap only belts!) quite rare now. They can be changed (but keep the old ones).

Fumes, poor seals on the rear hatch and probably missing rubber bungs at the bottom of the hatch. Bulkhead grommets missing or ineffective too?

Noise - well that depends on the sound-proofing and can be rectified.

Like for like the 280 will be more refined but it's still an old classic.

240Z - my wife preferred my 'standard' car to any of my modified cars - however who are you buying this car for in all seriousness. Most wives like the refinement of modern cars over the experience of the classic car. To be honest now I'm older I do to.
 

status

Well-Known Forum User
The 280z s a much better car to drive due to the fuel injection set up,240 is a fun car if you’ve a good one the 260 is same as the 280z inside so has in my opinion a more refined interior, so compromise and get a 260z stick a decent set of carbs on it and you’ve the best of both worlds
 

Robotsan

Club Member
I don’t think the 280 is going to offer any substantial improvement over a 240 on many of your points.

To be honest it sounds like you’ll need an inertia reel retrofit, an A/C retrofit and a good dose of sound deadening. All of which I’m doing to mine and are fairly easy to achieve. I see no shame in these kind of modernising touches.

She might find being in the opposite seat of a 280 more terrifying. I know I hate being a passenger in a LHD car!

I appreciate you mention costs / but a set of Securon 500/30 seat belts (as recommended for our cars) are £45 a set. Sound matting also not really that expensive.

Me neither, and I'd rather "spoil" a 280 with non-original parts than a 240 :)

Haha well maybe she will! Although she's used to being the passenger in various fast cars.

Thanks - I'll look up those seatbelts.
 

Robotsan

Club Member
That 240Z has 'classic' seatbelts (lap plus diagonal - believe it or not I can remember lap only belts!) quite rare now. They can be changed (but keep the old ones).

Fumes, poor seals on the rear hatch and probably missing rubber bungs at the bottom of the hatch. Bulkhead grommets missing or ineffective too?

Noise - well that depends on the sound-proofing and can be rectified.

Like for like the 280 will be more refined but it's still an old classic.

240Z - my wife preferred my 'standard' car to any of my modified cars - however who are you buying this car for in all seriousness. Most wives like the refinement of modern cars over the experience of the classic car. To be honest now I'm older I do to.

Thanks Rob! Yeah, to be honest even though I'm 39 I'm not quite as into noise and speed as I was. Well, speed! I definitely want my Z to make a good noise!

Yeah I'm hoping maybe a 280 will just take the edge off slightly and be slightly less off-putting.
 

Robotsan

Club Member
The 280z s a much better car to drive due to the fuel injection set up,240 is a fun car if you’ve a good one the 260 is same as the 280z inside so has in my opinion a more refined interior, so compromise and get a 260z stick a decent set of carbs on it and you’ve the best of both worlds

If one were to present itself to me within my budget then I would absolutely consider one, but I've not seen too many in the last year like that. The ones in the US always seem to be 2+2s, and the few I've seen here have either been wrecks or out of my budget.
 

Robotsan

Club Member
Hi mate, as you are local to me, you're welcome to a run out in my 240 which has had DIY retro belts, sound deadening and new seals. Still has a hint of petrol - which is how it should be!

Haha! Yeah I forgot we didn't actually go out in yours last time did we? Yeah I might well pop round. Going to visit @BenjEtch soon to have a ganders at his 280 so might be good to compare!
 

yellowz

Club Member
Give us a chance, only just got the car! Nothing is insurmountable in this respect, the Forum is full of answers.

I love the sound, the smell and the riving experience but won't be choking on fumes for long! Not got much in the way of brakes either so its a work in progress.
 

Robotsan

Club Member
Give us a chance, only just got the car! Nothing is insurmountable in this respect, the Forum is full of answers.

I love the sound, the smell and the riving experience but won't be choking on fumes for long! Not got much in the way of brakes either so its a work in progress.

ah sorry mate, didn't realise! :) Is that the auto 280 from Will Gallier by any chance?
 

Paul_S

Club Member
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