there comes a time in everyone's life where you have to prioritize. it's just come to my attention lately that i have a car that is a couple steps down from a full race car, yet the only action it gets is a humble drive from my house to work, and an occasional weekend cruise. i never have any time to work on it, or take it to the track... and here of late i haven't even had time to make it to any meets or events. add to it the fact that it's hard to get it inspected, is uncomfortable to drive (especially in the summer with no a/c), and i can't really fit my kids in it unless it's an extremely short trip- it just makes no real sense that i even have the car.

but here's the other side of it. i took out a loan to buy it a little over a year ago. the payments are miniscule, and the insurance even moreso. i don't want to just get rid of it only to replace it with some piece of shit beater that i can't stand to drive and costs me just as much in maintenance as this car does.

so what do you guys think? first off, if i did sell it i'd be asking around $11,500 for it initially due to the asking price of many other 240s being so high for cars that really i don't think compare much to mine, plus i've dropped quite a significant amount into it. that price may drop over time, depending on how much i really wanted to sell it. additionally, i'd have to have something else in mind before i REALLY considered selling it. so far, i can't think of anything. i'd want something that would be more comfortable to drive, extremely clean, but still fun to drive. maybe doesn't have to be a mid 13 second car, but would have to be at least in the 14s or so. and it would have to be at least less than $8k, more realistically somewhere around 5-6k for me to really think it's worth it.

i'm resorting to the vadriven community because i've been teetering on the edge of considering it for a little while now (ever since i had a hard time getting it inspected...), and for peace of mind's sake i'd like to get a few more opinions from random people, plus maybe some suggestions on what i could replace it with.

and for anyone who may not know what i'm thinking about selling, it's a 92 240sx fastback with a silvia conversion, sr20det, zeal b6 coilovers, 5zigen fn01rc wheels, etc. etc many more too many to list right now. these are the only decent pictures i have... the car now has a carbon fiber gtr grille and i'm STILLLLL waiting on an oem carbon fiber hood to come in, it's been paid for it's just a matter of it arriving.







edit- didn't think that pic of the taillights was that small, but oh well. when the hood comes in i'll take more pics of it anyway.

thoughts?

 

You know, I really don't know what to tell you. I've always loved your car; it is clean as fuck. However, if you want something to move your kids around in and still be pretty fun to drive, you could always boost a 2/4DR Civic/Teg and be at or under 8k. Granted, its a totally different feeling car, but still pretty fun.

 

I would keep it. You already have it and its done. Later on in life things come up and you might not have the money to buy it or something similar. If it dosent cost that much then just put it in the garage and wait tell you have more time. You could be one of the old guys that talks about how fast his car was when he had one. Then say wish I never got rid of it.

 

this has crossed my mind numerous times, and it's probably the only reason the car doesn't have a for sale sign on it already. 'you never miss your water till your well runs dry'. i already realize that all the shit i love about the car will become blindingly apparent the day after it's gone.

but there's a little more to it than that... IF i can find another car that i really like, that has a few more amenities than mine did, i think i can overlook how much i'll miss the car. for one, it's always bothered me that i was not the one who put the time and effort into making this car the way it is, and one thing i was considering is a few years down the road when the kids are older and Lord willing my income has nearly tripled after i get out of the navy, i can start all over and build one from scratch. this is a gorgeous car, and i have zero complaints, but there were a few things overlooked and not quite done exactly the way i would have done them if it were actually me who built this car.

so there still lies the problem of finding another car that i could maybe even leave stock or close to it that i'd be happy with until that day comes. a few cars i was maybe thinking about would be a 98+ prelude, ls1 camaro/firebird, 98+ mustang gt (although i doubt i could find either an ls1 or gt i really liked for less than 8k), or maybe an older 330i or if i'm incredibly lucky e30 m3... which still may be a bit out of the price range i was looking for.

 

If you don't think you can pick up an LS1 for less than $8k you should go take a look in the for sale section over on ls1tech.

Here's one for $5500 and you could probably still talk the guy down.
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=587079

Here's another for $7500.
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=589349

You could buy something similar to these cars for pretty cheap and still keep your 240.

Just a little food for thought.

 

There's a guy on base her selling his '99 SS for $7K.

 

sell it. You can always re-build one to your own exact likings later just as you said. I recently sold my s13 and while I loved it, the thought of any trip longer than 45 minutes was dreaded for the same reasons. It just wasnt practical at this point in my life. Which seems to be your state of mind as well.

 

i think i seen your car at the AIK meet a while back. i wasn't sure who's car it was til i just seen this thread. i would really like to paint my S14 the same color if you know what the paint code and stuff are. i need a paint job really bad and i really think that color looks good.

damn i say really too many times.

 

I would suggest taking it to the track for a HPDE and then make your decision.

If you are not using it for what it was built, then sell it, but at least give it a try once. Every time I take a car to the track I love it and dont want to change a thing.

 

The paint is custom (at least I thought it was) - but it is pretty much red w/ a shit ton of candy apple.


As far as selling the car. I'd say sell it, but at the same time I'd say keep it. It sounds like you don't like the coilovers, not the car so much. The kids are another story, it's hard to have a car like that w/ kids - there is NO room in the back of one at ALL. At the same time, I don't think you'd be happy w/ the price you'd get for the car - unless you're willing to ship it to Cali, or get some UltraSpeed guy who is interested in it. What I am saying is, the crowd that is interested in your car either can't afford 11,500, or wont pay 11,500 - just my opinion. If you were looking to get 8-9k or something around there I think you'd get that fine. Your car is HOT, and I love it, but it's still a S13, the interior is less than spectacular (not your car just S13s in general) and the seats suck. I can't remember if you have different seats in it or not.

You could always sell the car, then buy a S13 shell (or S14 ), put a SR in it, and keep the whole thing stock. That way you have no problem w/ the suspension or anything.