Deciding between two cars, need advise. - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

jotronic · 05-14-2008, 08:39 PM

Gentlemen,

Great forum here that I've been a long time reader of but just today started posting. I have a dilema.

The requirement. A super reliable daily driver that will be my only car. Must have mild cosmetic mods (wheels, good paint, maybe a front lip,) and mild engine mods. I want a car that looks great without flashy graphics or wild colors and moves quick but without the possibility of being taken to the track. Basically I just want a good looking, strong and reliable daily driver.

I'm a big fan of the S13 Coupe so here is what I've found.

Contender #1 is a 90 Coupe that looks to be exceptionally clean based on the clear photos. It has an Rb20 turbo and the only thing that gives away that it is not stock are the Koenig rims, ricer exhaust and the intercooler as well at the Bride racing seat. No giveaway gauges (two are nicely hidden from view) and no big wings or paint graphics. It's a very mild cosmetic mod with what appears to be a very strong mechanical upgrade. Price...8000.

Contender #2 is an 89 Coupe that is bone stock, five speed, working HUD, working power moon(sun?) roof, AC, PS, the works. It has the funky spiral hubcaps but that's the only thing that looks bad. Small rip in the driver's seat, no cracks in the dash. Oh, and it has only 60K miles that I verified through Carfax. It is literally a one owner car that has a proven clean history and is unmolested and untouched. Just an old but clean 240. Price...3800.00.

So, the question is...do I risk buying a car that is already customized in a similar fashion to what I would do (cosmetically?) and be done with it? I would not have chosen the RB for my first swap choice had I to do this myself but everything else looks to be what I'd want. I just don't know about how easy (or not) it would be to get parts should the RB fail on me much less find someone that knows how to work on them properly.

The other option is to get the stock 89 coupe and slowy build up myself knowing full well that I'll probably wind up spending twice what the other car cost if I were to just buy that one. With the stock coupe I would just get the wheels/tires and suspension I want pretty quick then take my time to find the right engine upgrades I'd want. Maybe just turbo the motor it has with low boost? I'm not greedy, just want something that will hang with the newer cars out there and still look good but not brake down every week if I don't treat it with uber care.

I know this is kind of a rant as well as a question(s) but I don't have the experience you guys do with the swaps and upgrades so any and all intelligent opinions are appreciated.

Thanks!

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05-14-2008, 08:39 PM	#1
jotronic Join Date: May 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 16 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Deciding between two cars, need advise. Gentlemen, Great forum here that I've been a long time reader of but just today started posting. I have a dilema. The requirement. A super reliable daily driver that will be my only car. Must have mild cosmetic mods (wheels, good paint, maybe a front lip,) and mild engine mods. I want a car that looks great without flashy graphics or wild colors and moves quick but without the possibility of being taken to the track. Basically I just want a good looking, strong and reliable daily driver. I'm a big fan of the S13 Coupe so here is what I've found. Contender #1 is a 90 Coupe that looks to be exceptionally clean based on the clear photos. It has an Rb20 turbo and the only thing that gives away that it is not stock are the Koenig rims, ricer exhaust and the intercooler as well at the Bride racing seat. No giveaway gauges (two are nicely hidden from view) and no big wings or paint graphics. It's a very mild cosmetic mod with what appears to be a very strong mechanical upgrade. Price...8000. Contender #2 is an 89 Coupe that is bone stock, five speed, working HUD, working power moon(sun?) roof, AC, PS, the works. It has the funky spiral hubcaps but that's the only thing that looks bad. Small rip in the driver's seat, no cracks in the dash. Oh, and it has only 60K miles that I verified through Carfax. It is literally a one owner car that has a proven clean history and is unmolested and untouched. Just an old but clean 240. Price...3800.00. So, the question is...do I risk buying a car that is already customized in a similar fashion to what I would do (cosmetically?) and be done with it? I would not have chosen the RB for my first swap choice had I to do this myself but everything else looks to be what I'd want. I just don't know about how easy (or not) it would be to get parts should the RB fail on me much less find someone that knows how to work on them properly. The other option is to get the stock 89 coupe and slowy build up myself knowing full well that I'll probably wind up spending twice what the other car cost if I were to just buy that one. With the stock coupe I would just get the wheels/tires and suspension I want pretty quick then take my time to find the right engine upgrades I'd want. Maybe just turbo the motor it has with low boost? I'm not greedy, just want something that will hang with the newer cars out there and still look good but not brake down every week if I don't treat it with uber care. I know this is kind of a rant as well as a question(s) but I don't have the experience you guys do with the swaps and upgrades so any and all intelligent opinions are appreciated. Thanks!