280Z vs 944 vs 951

cliff · 02-19-2002, 02:48 PM

I just purchased a 88 951 for a steal, which still means that it was a tidy sum. Around the same time a friend of mine purchased a good condition 1979 280Z for about $600. Runs good etc. You can see my frustration having paid allot more for my 951. How do the 280 Z compare to the 944 na and the 951. I need to make myself feel better, but please be honest.

wolfrpi · 02-19-2002, 03:31 PM

you probably bought a POS if you got a steal on it. It'll need an engine rebuild including $pecial machining, oversized $erman pistons, and a new crank, and also just about every rubber component will have to be replaced. meantime your buddy will be enjoying trouble free miles in his cheap Z and when it breaks he'll proabably be able to sell it for more than he has in it which is something you won't be able to do given you'll have about $10,000 plus purchase price into your "steal" to make it roadworthy. see if you can get out of the deal and offer your buddy $700 for the Z.

Blackfoot · Blackfoot's Garage

the z-car starter out as a true sportscar in the 240z, then morphed slowly into a sports-luxury car that kept getting fatter and fatter until it's fat zenith in '89. in '90 they came out with a real sportscar again.

the 280 should not be anywhere in the same ballpark in terms of acceleration, and for handling, forget about it. the 280 and a 951 are not in the same league. if your 951 is on par performance-wise to your bud's 280, it means either your car is hurting bigtime somewhere or his has huge mods.

cliff · 02-19-2002, 03:46 PM

Hey Wolfrpi - a steal to me may not be a steal to someone else. p.s. got the car from original owner, all records , mint condition. Original owner is a friend of mine. Guess the b s detector is on the fritz.

wolfrpi · 02-19-2002, 03:58 PM

no...its more like you're one fry short of a happy meal... - how can you compare a one owner 88 951 to a $600 79 280 Z POS and not expect to get ridiculed for it? And no that's not a retorical question. I really want to know.

wolfrpi · 02-19-2002, 04:21 PM

I'm not trying to be a prick here...but your 951 for a steal may have cost you $7000 (I don't know). Go out and price a new POS civic and see the difference. See - you actually got a comparitive bargain. If I had it I'd pay $30k for a Cup Car and not think twice. You wanna know why? Because that's even a bargain. I mean what else can you buy for that amount fo cash that will go, look, or handle like that? Even at 10x what your buddy paid for his 280 ZX you got a good deal on the 951 if it is infact a one owner, mint, etc.

fty · 02-19-2002, 07:38 PM

Whats a 951?

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

951 is the factory model designation for the "944 Trubo."

BTW are we really comparing a 79 280z with a 951? WTF? I think I just entered another dimension of complete weirdness....

fty · 02-19-2002, 08:05 PM

I was being sarcastic

thamlin000 · thamlin000's Garage

Blackfoot is correct. The 240Z was a 160 hp, lightweight pocket rocket of the early 70s. 0-60 in the upper 7s. Not shabby. Great looking car too. By the late 70s, the 240 became 260 and the 280Z. A larger bodystyle, heavy bumpers and strict emissions regulations turned the quick little Z car into a fat, slow boulivardier (ZX) in 1979. My brother had an 83 280 ZX, basically the same bodystyle as your friends, and his car was niether as fast or as nimble as my 83 944. I always liked the engine note on his 2.8 liter straight 6. A 79 ZX is a 0-60 in 10 sec car. I can't think of a better $600 car though.

Plumbroke · 02-20-2002, 08:43 AM

If you want a $700 79 280ZX I have one in my driveway where it has sat since i got my beat up 84 944. I use to like it but wouldn't go back after driving the 944.

Plumbroke

cliff · 02-20-2002, 08:47 AM

May be I mistakenly put the 951 in the same group as the 944 and 280, it is definitely a different animal. Maybe I meant to say a 944 na and a 280 due to their similarity in power band. The differences between the 951 and 944 I am well aware of and can extrapolate from there. But either way, my question was answered....... by some of you.

overkill · 02-20-2002, 10:17 PM

280z's are usually rust infested......

Booster · 02-21-2002, 05:28 AM

Hell......the complete 240-280zx range are rust prone. I had a 70 240 and it was a fun car but it's no where near the 951 catagory.

HammJames · 02-21-2002, 11:05 AM

I can speak from both sides of the fence on this because I have and currently own both a 951 and 280ZX. They are both excellent cars but they are very different. The 951 is a better handling car out of the box and it will draw more attention. Overall it's far more refined on the inside and it's very comfortable. The 280ZX plays it's stregth to long road hauls, far easier to repair and much cheaper if your on a budget. They are however very prone to rust because Nissan used recycled metal in all of their cars until 86. The early Z's hold their value far more than the second generation. I owned 4 Z cars before I bought the 944 and to show my preference I almost never drive the Z anymore. It's just does not compare to the Porsche in overall quality or appeal. Be glad you bought your car. Not everyone can say they drive a "Porsche" so be proud and blow your friend off the road. (The 79 never had good power)

ch944 · 02-21-2002, 03:33 PM

IMO 79 & up are over optioned junk. I had 71 240 & 77 280. Have no complaints other than rotted floors and frame rails. How much did u pay for the 951?

ch944