Nissan faces possible bankruptcy

I had a little more time to look at the collection. That collection of cars is DEFINITELY worth a trip. I had no idea there was a collection like that in Florida. WELL worth the price of admission, even for the escorted tours.

If plans don't take me down to that area in the near future, I'd make a special trip.

Question: Can you stay longer than two hours or are you out of the building then?

Thank you for your generous offer regarding the restoration shop. I will absolutely take you up on that. I have done work on my classic cars' interiors, but I can't paint (at all) or do sheet metal work. My '70 Fairlady Z is getting new floorpans as I type. Several years ago Nissan had a program called The Z Store. They located Zs in good condition, fully restored them and sold them through Nissan dealers for $25K each. I found out their suppliers for carpeting and upholstery and purchased my interior items from them. Their carpet supplier was kind enough to do a one off for me for a right hand drive car (basically just flipped the pattern over). I also bought a lot parts directly from Japan using Japanese bidding agents. I hope to have the car restored to The Z Store level, but mine will be rarer considering it's right hand drive with mirrors on the fenders, etc.

 

One year I drove my '96 300ZXs down to my time share on Captiva. My GF and I were literally standing at the hatch area deciding what items to leave home due to the space constraints. It was worth it just driving around Sanibel and Captive without the T-tops, one of the few times I took the damn things off.

 

That's the best advice. The only thing you can do to prolong the life of that horrible Nissan CVT is frequent fluid changes. Use the correct spec Nissan tranny fluid, not the "one size fits all" fluids some mechanic shops will try to use." Similarly, don't let them tell you dumping in a 2 ounce bottle of some magic potion will turn their bulk fluid into Nissan spec.

 

Agree on second opinions but hey, she dropped off the car planning to spend around $220 for the fluid change. Ends up getting new CVT for $0. I’m going to take that every day.

 

I’m not a supporter of the magic potions but LubeGard ATF Protectant is excellent stuff. But definitely add it to the correct ATF for your vehicle. Most fluids have a little leeway with the specifics, but not ATF.

 

I'll touch base with them when I return from Europe. Never had any time limits mentioned before. Will pm you

 

I used to use LubeGard in my regular automatics. It was absolutely the best automatic transmission additive going after they stopped using sperm whale oil.

 

I learned about the sperm whale oil impact about ten years ago. To this day whenever I tell someone about it they think I’m making it up.

 

1978 was the last year of the 280Z, 1979 was the first year of the 280ZX.

This is what my 1979 280ZX GL (Grand Luxury) Black and Gold Special Edition looked like. LOVED that car.

 

According to my recently deceased best friend who was a Cottman transmission franchisee for decades before going independent, sperm whale oil was a superior lubricant to any of the tranny fluids that replaced it, hence the LubeGard additive, a product he used at his shop, btw.

 

I stumbled upon that issue years ago when I was doing a little research on GMs front wheel drive trannys on the Olds Toronados and the Cadillac ElDorados. Apparently the sperm whale oil was thin enough for the necessary hydraulic properties and did not thin out at high temperature so it maintained the lubricating properties. Conventional base stocks were not capable meeting both requirements simultaneously.

 

I follow the Nissan service schedule and have the work performed at a Nissan dealer. It’s not that much more than an independently owned shop. They are often sending me coupons via email and snail mail.

 

Apparently, Nissan has improved its product line although it may be a little too late to save the company. In its 2024 New Car Guide Consumer Reports recommended a number of Nissan vehicles. Going back a year or two they rated Nissans well below similar vehicles from Honda, Toyota, Subaru and even Hyundai and Kia. Although I never owned a Nissan I actually thought that the Maxima we rented in 2011 was pretty decent car.

 

Even has the old raised white letter TA’s on it. Nice!!

 

Condolences for your friend, but if I may add some humor, there is a lot of double entendre in this post.

 

I would cut the transmission service intervals in half, that's the only thing you can do to extend the life of that transmission other than to avoid towing. I cut EVERY service interval in half, including oil changes, for all of my cars.

Also, there is no such thing as a "lifetime fluid" unless you want an early demise to your car/its components.

 

Figures some rightie would perk up with the tranny and fluids discussion.

 

GM used it up to 1972.

 

Basically the adult version of my sons fart and balls jokes.

"Haha! You said: Sperm..Tranny..Lubricant!"

 

My first car was Mom's hand me down 73 Toronado; hell of a car.

Great on the highway.