Opinions on using a 280z everyday

AgingGeek

Club Member
Just looking for some opinions here on whether or not I could use the 280 as a daily (ish) driver.

I currently barely do any miles tbh. I work from home and I only use my car (SL55 AMG) to pick up my son on weekends and go for a country road blast when I feel like it. We have a family car for shopping and general driving etc.

The Z is under cover on the drive due to my worries about rust etc. But I was wondering, if I got a rubber kit to get all the seals replaced and had the underside treated, I assume that there is little worry about it rusting in the future? I assume it wasn't rain that killed them all, but salt on the roads and lack of maintenance?

I'd like to sell my SL to get a chunk of cash back, spend a nice chunk on the Datsun and just use it as my only car, but I am not sure if this is a reasonable use case? I honestly think that once my reg comes through so I can get out in the Datsun, I cant see me ever wanting to drive the Merc again ;)
 

Robotsan

Club Member
You definitely could - depends on how much you'd miss all those creature comforts really? But do you really want to leave that lovely car that you've spend a lot of money on out in the rain every night? And would you drive it in winter? Rain alone will rust a car eventually. Especially these cars as I believe they have certain design flaws where water gets trapped.

Maybe consider getting a cheap smaller car for winter months? I've got a little 03 Mini Cooper S for daily duties. Cost me £1400 and I've chucked another couple of grand at it to improve various things, but still makes for a cheap runabout that's fun to drive while the M3 (and soon the 280z!) are inside for winter.
 

AgingGeek

Club Member
Sorry, I should have mentioned that this is for the spring / summer and maybe autumn. I expect I will just get a cheap runaround for the winter, then the datsun will go under cover again until the weather gets better
 

Robotsan

Club Member
Then yeah! Why wouldn't you want to drive it every day :) It's not exactly a great commuter car, but if you're just driving it for errands and for fun, then course! :)
 

Huw

Club Member
I used my 280ZX every day even in the winter for almost three years back and forth from Bristol to Bath. Had to stop when it started raining inside the car through the windscreen. Languished in the garage after that. But that’s another story
 

toopy

Club Member
The one thing that really bothers me about using these cars on an almost daily basis (not Winter though) is the fact they have no wheel arch liners.
So on the front the tops of the inner wings/air tubes slowly collect more and more crud, which ultimately starts to hold damp for longer periods etc etc!

It's something i would be a little paranoid about and would want to be taking the wings off every winter layup to see whats what, thoroughly clean the area and reapply a good wax coating. Obviously mileage is a big factor though, and just how much wet weather driving you actually end up doing.
 

Robotsan

Club Member
The one thing that really bothers me about using these cars on an almost daily basis (not Winter though) is the fact they have no wheel arch liners.
So on the front the tops of the inner wings/air tubes slowly collect more and more crud, which ultimately starts to hold damp for longer periods etc etc!

It's something i would be a little paranoid about and would want to be taking the wings off every winter layup to see whats what, thoroughly clean the area and reapply a good wax coating. Obviously mileage is a big factor though, and just how much wet weather driving you actually end up doing.

Yeah it is a bit of a weak point. My e46 M3 is similarly badly designed - you'd think they'd have learned, 30 odd years later!

Something like Bilt Hamber Dynax UC would probably be a good idea in the arches. Dries to a hard clear wax and has corrosion inhibitors in it. Similar to Lanoguard. I coated the new Koni shocks on the M3 with it, and a year later they have zero surface rust. You can blast it off with a pressure washer too.
 

status

Well-Known Forum User
Upgrade the headlights the brakes is a good upgrade then you have a good daily driver,better car to drive over the 240/260 due to fuel injection maybe sort suspension out you have a good daily driver,wots not to like,I use to see a bloke coming down from Norwich in his 1930 s wooden made Morgan going to work wearing his goggles and helmet in all weathers,now that’s dedication so you have no worries
 

AgingGeek

Club Member
Thanks all, really useful info and opinions! I have BC coilovers already, so maybe a good wax oil, update the headlights and brakes and maybe a refresh of all the rubber weather seals and I should be good?
 

Robotsan

Club Member
Thanks all, really useful info and opinions! I have BC coilovers already, so maybe a good wax oil, update the headlights and brakes and maybe a refresh of all the rubber weather seals and I should be good?

Blimey, that car didn't come with new seals at that price? Everything else on it looks restored/replaced, so that's a weird one.

I wouldn't apply WaxOyl to it, in case that's what you mean specifically.. its a bit old school and very messy. Best get the underside done with something like Raptor paint these days I gather. If you're talking about the protective waxes for the wheel arches mentioned earlier, you want something light you can spray on (and remove later with a pressure washer if you want!), like Bilt Hamber Dynax UC.

Are the brakes totally standard?

Interested to hear about headlights options. I see a lot of those LED upgrades with the 'angel eye' style halo around the edge, but they're not for me. So would be good to see what else is out there.
 

AgingGeek

Club Member
Blimey, that car didn't come with new seals at that price? Everything else on it looks restored/replaced, so that's a weird one.

I wouldn't apply WaxOyl to it, in case that's what you mean specifically.. its a bit old school and very messy. Best get the underside done with something like Raptor paint these days I gather. If you're talking about the protective waxes for the wheel arches mentioned earlier, you want something light you can spray on (and remove later with a pressure washer if you want!), like Bilt Hamber Dynax UC.

Are the brakes totally standard?

Interested to hear about headlights options. I see a lot of those LED upgrades with the 'angel eye' style halo around the edge, but they're not for me. So would be good to see what else is out there.
Well, the seals are OK, the ones that run at the base of the driver and passenger windows feel more like plastic than rubber, and some of the ends look a little suspect, but then I am very particular, so I think I'll just get new ones fitted for peace of mind... the current ones don't even look like they were fitted too well. When I pressure washed the car recently (with little pressure) I was getting some drips coming through onto the driver and passenger seat, so clearly not sealing too well.

Brakes are standard, I'd like to have some upgraded pistons and discs.

Sorry, Its been a LONG time since I have owned a classic, so WaxOyl used to be what we used, but that was 20 years ago, glad to hear there are more modern alternatives!

I'm just paranoid about rust, the car is so clean, I'd hate to start getting rust issues that are going to cost me an arm and a leg to fix, but I also don't want a garage queen that never gets driven...
 

status

Well-Known Forum User
Willwood four pot fronts is all you need with the discs ,they bolt straight on ,if it’s a 240z you might need a spacer which should be supplied with the kit but that might not be the case now days ( back in the day )
 

Robotsan

Club Member
Well, the seals are OK, the ones that run at the base of the driver and passenger windows feel more like plastic than rubber, and some of the ends look a little suspect, but then I am very particular, so I think I'll just get new ones fitted for peace of mind... the current ones don't even look like they were fitted too well. When I pressure washed the car recently (with little pressure) I was getting some drips coming through onto the driver and passenger seat, so clearly not sealing too well.

Brakes are standard, I'd like to have some upgraded pistons and discs.

Sorry, Its been a LONG time since I have owned a classic, so WaxOyl used to be what we used, but that was 20 years ago, glad to hear there are more modern alternatives!

I'm just paranoid about rust, the car is so clean, I'd hate to start getting rust issues that are going to cost me an arm and a leg to fix, but I also don't want a garage queen that never gets driven...

No need to apologise! :)

The more knowledgeable people here will be able to advise on the seals and weatherstrips. You might want to see the thread I've started about that very subject - might be useful if you need to buy any.

I totally know what you mean - with a car that nice and so famously prone to rust, I'd have the same worries. And in the grand scheme of things some new seals are not much of an expensive compared to the car itself!
 

toopy

Club Member
Not sure if your aware but the chassis rails on these cars often rust from the inside out, so it would be wise to get some cavity wax in there while your doing stuff to the underside. Also the inner cill's, dog legs and rear inner wings.
 

Robotsan

Club Member
Not sure if your aware but the chassis rails on these cars often rust from the inside out, so it would be wise to get some cavity wax in there while your doing stuff to the underside. Also the inner cill's, dog legs and rear inner wings.

How do you get into them to get the wax in? Are there some bungs or grommets?
 
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