Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Wanted to introduce myself and congratulate you all on a great website.

I've got a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata which I love. However, I am looking for a classic sports car (assuming I can get my wife's permission) and am considering a Datsun 2000.

So, I'm looking. Not much locally. There's one in Las Cruces, NM on Craigslist but I haven't called yet.

If I find one, I'm sure I'll be posting a lot.

Bob Scott

Hi, Bob
If you see yourself owning a datsun 2000 i'm sure you can accomplish that. Good luck on you search, and welcome to the community.

Julio

Welcome Bob
Good luck with your search. Why the Datsun 2000?
Just looking at all of classic sports cars at this point of the search?
These cars our under valued for what you get. More bang for the buck as they say.

Rodney

67 2000 restro project
67.5 1600 driver

Welcome and good luck with your search.

Steve

Welcome and good luck with the search.
The big questions are:
1600 or 2000 or "exotic" meaning some kind of swap. Sounds like you have chosen 2000 - do you know the differences?
and Low or High windshield, this is preference only.
Once you decide on these, buy the best you can afford - and ask here if anyone knows the car or can give recommendations!

rslcott wrote:Wanted to introduce myself and congratulate you all on a great website.

I've got a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata which I love. However, I am looking for a classic sports car (assuming I can get my wife's permission) and am considering a Datsun 2000.

Bob Scott

Welcome Bob,

I live in the Phoenix area and own both a Miata and a Datsun Roadster. My Datsun is a 1970, 1600.
The Miata is my daily driver and they're great cars. I wouldn't want to drive my Datsun 1600 daily.

However on the weekends when weather is less than 100 degs, I enjoy driving the Datsun more. I love the nostalgia of any classic Datsun. I think you will love one too.

Also, since your fairly close, there is a great show in Williams Arizona coming up in October. Its called "The multi-state Datsun Classic" Its filled with Roadsters (and other Datsuns) from near and far. Some really awesome cars and people attend. There are several people that come from Albuquerque, in fact one of the nicest red late model roadsters I've ever seen is from your area. I recommend making it to this show!

Again, Welcome

Dale

Thanks for all the replies.

From what I've read the 2000 is the faster and more lively model. But, I've never driven one or a 1500 or 1600. So, I wouldn't know ... yet.

I've considered considered MGs, Triumphs, Alfas, and Fiats, but have read that the Datsun roadsters were much more reliable.

Is it okay to post a craigslist ad for a car and ask for opinions?

Thanks in advance.

You bet-post away. And you will get plenty of advice.

Steve

Is this the proper forum to post a craigslist for comment?

Thanks.

Yes, you can post here-no problems.

Steve

Bob

I have owned a 1969 Fiat 124 spider,1970 triumph spitfire and 1970 TR6, AH 1962 box and 1959 bugeye sprites. Now I own a 1967.5 1600 and can tell you they all were different. I want to get my 2000 going so I can see how that feels. Depending on the condition and upgrades, I am sure different 1600 or 2000 will not drive the same. Try to buy the best condition car you can afford.

Rodney

67 2000 restro project
67.5 1600 driver

Welcome, Bob!

Other than the obvious difference in horsepower, the 1600 and the 2000 "handle" the same. Personally I like the 1600 more than the 2000. You can flog the 1600 (SPL) a bit harder without getting into trouble quite as quickly as with the 2-liter (SRL), but the siren song of horsepower is sometimes hard to resist. A competent driver in a 1600 keep up with many more modern cars, and have more fun, to boot.

Either car is much simpler than your Miata, and there are numerous examples of people having car trouble in the middle of nowhere but were able to affect a roadside repair that got them home or to their next destination. High windshield models (1968 on) have more safety features than the earlier models, but many like the look of the low-windshield models better (me included).

I also agree with almost everyone else here on the forum: Buy the best and most complete car you can afford and drive it for a while before taking it apart to "restore" it, "modify" it or whatever you want to call it. If you take it apart right away, you will probably lose interest in getting it to drive again because you never got the opportunity to get to know the car. "She" will respond to your attitude and so it would behoove you to pat her gently once in a while and keep her clean and greased (sorry about that).

You will find most on the forum here will support you no matter which direction you choose, while some will vehemently defend "their" position. It'll be your car, so do what you want to it. Just keep in mind that modifying a Roadster is like dressing up a dog: It looks cute to you, but embarrasses the heck out of the dog.

No power brakes, no power steering and a stiffer suspension make for a ride that's more connected to the road. "Back in the day" the feeling was that for a car to "handle" it had to ride like a brick. Thanks to another Nissan product we now know that you can have good road manners with good handling. Driving a Roadster really becomes more of a visceral experience than just "point A to point B," so if you "enjoy" driving, you'll really like the Roadster.

Lastly, this site is an unparalleled source of knowledge on the Datsun Roadsters, from the earliest models to the time Nissan ceased production of them. Use the Search feature, but if you can't find the answer you're looking for, feel free to ask. The only "dumb question" is the one not asked.

Bob:

I live in Albuquererque and would be happy to get some local roadsters together for you to see. At a minimum, we can come up with a low windshield 1600, a high windshield 1600, 1600 stroked, 2000, and (hopefully soon) a running SR20. All of these are on the east side but I know of at least two more on the west side. You might even catch two or three at Cars and Coffee on Jefferson.

I'm out of the country right now but will be back in town the first week of August. PM me and I'll give you contact information.

Shannon

Hi bob.

I have a nice original 1600 that I'd be happy to show you and let you drive. I live in Albuquerque and I'm part of the local Datsun community that we informally call Duke City Datsun Club (DC^2). Pm me for contact information. Currently we have the roadsters that Shannon mentioned (he's part of our community). I also have a 411 wagon.


Buddy

Sounds like you have all the help you need to make a good choice.
That is what is so great about this site, it is the people!


Rodney
67 2000 restro project
half year 1600 driver