Datsun 280ZX: which version to buy

If you are choosing a Datsun 280ZX rather than reading a model history, the catalogue only lists one generation and two named versions: 2.8 MT and 2.8 AT. Both are Coupe cars from 1978-01-01 to 1983-12-31. The engine, power, fuel type, drive, clearance, suspension, and brakes match.

Datsun 280ZX: which version to buy

If you are choosing a Datsun 280ZX rather than reading a model history, the catalogue only lists one generation and two named versions: 2.8 MT and 2.8 AT. Both are Coupe cars from 1978-01-01 to 1983-12-31. The engine, power, fuel type, drive, clearance, suspension, and brakes match. The buying decision is therefore the gearbox: Manual with 5 gears versus Automatic with 3 gears — plus one measured kerb weight on 2.8 MT that 2.8 AT does not have.

There is no second generation to “wait for” and no restyle listed as a separate generation. Extra money, if you are comparing these two, does not buy more horsepower, a larger engine, all-wheel drive, or a different body. It buys (or costs) a different transmission and, on the data we have, a measured mass only on the manual car.

Specs that actually differ between 2.8 MT and 2.8 AT

VersionhpkWDisplacement (cc)FuelCylindersLayoutBoostGearboxGearsDrive
2.8 MT1451072753Gasoline6InlineNoManual5RWD
2.8 AT1451072753Gasoline6InlineNoAutomatic3RWD

Power is identical: 145 hp and 107 kW on both 2.8 MT and 2.8 AT. Displacement is identical: 2753 cc. Fuel is Gasoline. Cylinders are 6, layout Inline, valves per cylinder 2, boost No. Feed is Distributed injection (multi-point) on both. Compression is 8.8 on both. Bore and stroke are 86 × 79 on both. Drive is RWD on both.

Torque (Nm) is not measured on 2.8 MT. Torque (Nm) is not measured on 2.8 AT. Engine rpm for peak power is not measured on either version. Engine rpm for peak torque is not measured on either version. Engine location is not measured on either version.

The arithmetic that is allowed from these numbers:

So a “more powerful 2.8” does not exist in this catalogue. If a listing claims more than 145 hp for these names, that figure is not in this dataset.

Gearbox: what the extra ratios buy

2.8 MT is Manual with 5 gears. 2.8 AT is Automatic with 3 gears.

That is a 2-gear gap (5 − 3). Relative to the automatic, the manual has 67% more listed ratios (5 ÷ 3 ≈ 1.67). Relative to the manual, the automatic has 40% fewer ratios (3 ÷ 5 = 0.60).

Nothing in the data measures shift speed, launch, or how much of the 145 hp reaches the wheels after converter losses. What the numbers do say:

If you want the version with more listed gears and a measured kerb weight, that is 2.8 MT. If you want Automatic, that is 2.8 AT — and you accept 3 gears and a kerb weight that is not measured.

There is no fourth or fifth named gearbox in the data. There is no dual-clutch, no extra Manual with a different gear count, and no Automatic with more than 3 gears.

Performance and mpg: what is not measured

0–100 is not measured for 2.8 MT. 0–100 is not measured for 2.8 AT. You cannot rank them on sprint from this catalogue.

Top speed is not measured for 2.8 MT. Top speed is not measured for 2.8 AT. You cannot rank them on vmax.

City consumption is not measured for either version. Highway consumption is not measured for either version. Combined consumption is not measured for either version. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured. Fuel grade is not measured.

People search mpg and 0–100 for this model; for these two versions those figures are not measured. Do not treat a blank as “this car has no consumption.” It is unmeasured in the source.

Because 0–100, top speed, and consumption are all not measured, you cannot claim 2.8 MT is quicker or more economical than 2.8 AT from these numbers. The only performance-adjacent measured mass is kerb weight on the manual (see below).

Dimensions and weight: the one number that splits the pair

Kerb weight 2.8 MT: 1281 kg. Kerb weight 2.8 AT: not measured.

Gross weight 2.8 MT: not measured. Gross weight 2.8 AT: not measured.

Ground clearance: 135 mm on 2.8 MT and 135 mm on 2.8 AT. No generation later in this dataset raises or lowers that figure.

Tank size: not measured on 2.8 MT. Not measured on 2.8 AT. Wheel sizes: not measured on either version.

Weight per horsepower, 2.8 MT only (kerb ÷ hp): 1281 ÷ 145 = 8.83 kg per hp.

You cannot compute kg per hp for 2.8 AT because kerb weight is not measured. You also cannot compute payload (gross − kerb) for either car, because gross weight is not measured.

If you need a documented mass for registration, trailering estimates, or comparing power-to-weight with other catalogue cars, 2.8 MT is the version that has a number: 1281 kg. Choosing 2.8 AT means living with kerb weight not measured.

Clearance does not help you choose: both sit at 135 mm. Tank and wheels do not help you choose: both not measured.

Chassis that does not change with the gearbox

Front suspension is Independent, spring on 2.8 MT and Independent, spring on 2.8 AT. Rear suspension is Independent, spring on 2.8 MT and Independent, spring on 2.8 AT.

Front brakes: Disc on both. Rear brakes: Disc on both.

Body for the only generation: Coupe. There is no second body type in the data, so you are not choosing coupe versus another shape — only 2.8 MT versus 2.8 AT inside that Coupe.

Boost is No on both; you are not choosing a turbocharged 280ZX in this list.

Generations: there is nothing later to skip to

1 generation is the whole production window in the source: 1978-01-01 to 1983-12-31, body Coupe, 2 versions.

There is no generation 2 in the data, so there is no “buy the last generation for more power.” Power stays 145 hp. Displacement stays 2753 cc. Drive stays RWD. Clearance stays 135 mm. Both versions share the same start and stop dates: 1978-01-01 to 1983-12-31. Neither version outlasts the other in the catalogue.

A restyle is not listed as its own generation here. Do not count a facelift as an 11th (or 2nd) generation; the dataset has 1 generation.

Engine shared by both versions (so you are not choosing a different motor)

Both 2.8 MT and 2.8 AT use:

Displacement in litres: 2753 ÷ 1000 = 2.753 L. hp per litre: 52.7 (see above). Compression 8.8 is the same, so you are not choosing a high-compression versus low-compression 2.8 in this pair.

Nm is not measured, so you cannot pick the “torquier” auto or manual from the table.

Which version to choose

Choose 2.8 MT if you want the only version with a measured kerb weight (1281 kg), the only version with 5 gears, and Manual control, at the same 145 hp, 2753 cc, Gasoline, 6 Inline, boost No, RWD, 135 mm clearance, Independent, spring front and rear, and Disc brakes front and rear. Power-to-weight you can state: 8.83 kg per hp.

Choose 2.8 AT if the requirement is Automatic. You get the same 145 hp, 107 kW, 2753 cc, Gasoline, 6 Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 8.8, 86 × 79, RWD, 135 mm, same suspension and Disc brakes — with 3 gears. Kerb weight is not measured, so you cannot quote kg per hp for this version from the source.

Do not choose between generations — there is only 1 generation. Do not choose on 0–100, top speed, or mpg — all not measured for both 2.8 MT and 2.8 AT. Do not choose on tank or wheels — not measured. Do not choose on torque — Nm not measured. Do not choose on body — both are Coupe.

What extra money cannot buy in this dataset: more than 145 hp, more than 2753 cc, a different cylinder count than 6, a layout other than Inline, boost other than No, drive other than RWD, or clearance other than 135 mm. The measurable extras are 2 more gears on 2.8 MT (5 versus 3) and a published 1281 kg kerb weight on 2.8 MT only.

If two cars are both labelled 2.8 MT, they are not split by power in this catalogue: there is one 2.8 MT at 145 hp. If two cars are both labelled 2.8 AT, they are not split by power either: one 2.8 AT at 145 hp. Distinguish them only as 2.8 MT versus 2.8 AT.

Reliability and problems

The source does not measure reliability, failure rates, or known problems for 2.8 MT or 2.8 AT. Those topics are not measured here. What is measured and relevant to ownership comparison remains the shared Gasoline 2753 cc 6 Inline engine at 145 hp, Manual 5 versus Automatic 3, RWD, 1281 kg kerb on 2.8 MT only, and 135 mm clearance on both.

Short buyer recap

Datsun 280ZX in this catalogue: 1 generation (1978–1983), Coupe, two versions with identical 145 hp and 2753 cc. 2.8 MT = Manual 5, kerb 1281 kg, 8.83 kg/hp. 2.8 AT = Automatic 3, kerb not measured. 0–100, top speed, consumption, tank, wheels, Nm, gross weight: not measured on both. Buy the gearbox you need; the engine and chassis figures do not pick a winner.