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So I'm saving for a S13 240sx this summer, working two jobs. I'll have roughly $3000 saved, and another $3000 already made that I can use.
My question is if this 240sx project I'm trying to do will be worth it, or if it will leave me broke, with a half-finished car.
Now that I become ready to purchase an S13 (about one month away) I'm having second thoughts. I should be putting money towards college, etc. I'm really wanting an S13, for a few reasons though. Its a nice ride, its clean, can be quick, and easily modified (can put out numbers a bit easier than my 3g, and is FR :metal
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My entire family is telling me not to do it, that it is a 'waste' of money. I'll be paying for insurance, gas, mods, and maintenance.
I'm looking for opinions on this, and some actual input. I'm planning on doing an SR20DET swap, along with brakes, and suspension by the end of this year.
My question is if this 240sx project I'm trying to do will be worth it, or if it will leave me broke, with a half-finished car.
Now that I become ready to purchase an S13 (about one month away) I'm having second thoughts. I should be putting money towards college, etc. I'm really wanting an S13, for a few reasons though. Its a nice ride, its clean, can be quick, and easily modified (can put out numbers a bit easier than my 3g, and is FR :metal
.My entire family is telling me not to do it, that it is a 'waste' of money. I'll be paying for insurance, gas, mods, and maintenance.
I'm looking for opinions on this, and some actual input. I'm planning on doing an SR20DET swap, along with brakes, and suspension by the end of this year.
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*sigh* Put that money towards college, dude. Six thousand dollars is in no way, shape or form sufficient to buy a 240sx and do the swap effectively. You'll need a minimum of roughly $5000 straight cash out of pocket unless you do the labor yourself and from your age and naivete, I'd say you couldn't.
And then what would you have? A 15+ year old car that puts out smaller numbers than a Mustang or F-bod V8, still have a wet-noodle-flex shithole of a chassis with more than likely about 200k miles on it, bad traction, deal with constant fuel tuning, overheating and running lean on hot days, breaking parts from the extra stress boost puts on your drivetrain... I could go on and on. I've been there with my old roommate and his SR20DET-swapped S13 and it's not worth it. He wound up spending $1500 for the car and an additional $15,000 for mods and maintenance. Wound up selling it for $8500 and this was at the height of the 240sx craze. Are you prepared to spend and lose that much money?
And then what would you have? A 15+ year old car that puts out smaller numbers than a Mustang or F-bod V8, still have a wet-noodle-flex shithole of a chassis with more than likely about 200k miles on it, bad traction, deal with constant fuel tuning, overheating and running lean on hot days, breaking parts from the extra stress boost puts on your drivetrain... I could go on and on. I've been there with my old roommate and his SR20DET-swapped S13 and it's not worth it. He wound up spending $1500 for the car and an additional $15,000 for mods and maintenance. Wound up selling it for $8500 and this was at the height of the 240sx craze. Are you prepared to spend and lose that much money?
If I were you I would save it for something you are sure you want, first of all. Second, modding cars is a great hobby and very fun when things go right. But, it's not something you should venture into unless you have the excess cash to do so. If you don't have your college stuff settled out, then I wouldn't spend your extra money on anything until you do. Living paycheck to paycheck while you still live at home with your parents isn't a time to be throwing money away. You should focus on school, moving out, and establishing a life for yourself.
Taking all your money and dumping it into a car is stupid. It's a hobby and should be done with spare cash only. Education, Career, Family, etc should come first... and cars/trucks/bikes etc. can come second.
Your family is telling you no for a reason.
Your family is telling you no for a reason.
:agreed:Living paycheck to paycheck while you still live at home with your parents isn't a time to be throwing money away. You should focus on school, moving out, and establishing a life for yourself.
+1 with what everyone else said.
Trust me, right now you think $6,000 is a lot but wait until you purchase the car. Its over 15 years old, most if not all of the S13s are rusted out so you'll need to get that taken care of and painted. Then your going to have to replace the struts if they arent blown out and many other tiny parts. Basically to have a good running stock 240sx your going to be spending some money. Its either you buy one that need work for cheap and dump the money into it or buy one that needs nothing for a little more, either way its going to cost money. Then factor in the engine swap, random parts you'll need for the swap and god knows if the engine you get from whatever importer is reliable. Always factor in how much a rebuild will cost. In the end how much would you have spent, about $10 grand just getting the car running nicely and the swap done. I bet you itd get its doors blown off by most modern stock cars of today.
If your dead set on spending your cash on a car, why not look into a newer used car which is likely to have less problems? Or you can just keep that money on the side and have security knowing that you have some extra cash if you ever needed it.
Trust me, right now you think $6,000 is a lot but wait until you purchase the car. Its over 15 years old, most if not all of the S13s are rusted out so you'll need to get that taken care of and painted. Then your going to have to replace the struts if they arent blown out and many other tiny parts. Basically to have a good running stock 240sx your going to be spending some money. Its either you buy one that need work for cheap and dump the money into it or buy one that needs nothing for a little more, either way its going to cost money. Then factor in the engine swap, random parts you'll need for the swap and god knows if the engine you get from whatever importer is reliable. Always factor in how much a rebuild will cost. In the end how much would you have spent, about $10 grand just getting the car running nicely and the swap done. I bet you itd get its doors blown off by most modern stock cars of today.
If your dead set on spending your cash on a car, why not look into a newer used car which is likely to have less problems? Or you can just keep that money on the side and have security knowing that you have some extra cash if you ever needed it.
+1. Also, do you live in an area with emissions testing?Six thousand dollars is in no way, shape or form sufficient to buy a 240sx and do the swap effectively.
Well, then any other suggestions for a project? In the next year, I will be looking for another car- I'm considering something for under $5000, and putting $5000 into it. Was considering DSM.
DSM's are reliable from what I hear. Wait till you set in a career to have a project car.
Yes, you should buy a Tuition. It's made by the company College.Well, then any other suggestions for a project? In the next year, I will be looking for another car- I'm considering something for under $5000, and putting $5000 into it. Was considering DSM.
DSM's are reliable from what I hear.
If that's what you heard, you're obviously deaf.
:lol:If that's what you heard, you're obviously deaf.
What do you want out of this "project car"? Do you want it for track, street, etc. If your seriously that dead set on getting a project car pick up a 5.0 and mod that. Parts are EVERYWHERE and dirt cheap.Well, then any other suggestions for a project? In the next year, I will be looking for another car- I'm considering something for under $5000, and putting $5000 into it. Was considering DSM.
+1. I swear to god at times I thought my car had a mind of its own because it would just do the wierdest shit and the simplest and most annoying things would go wrong. I LOVED it when it was actually working right and I was getting full boost, but if you don't have the skills to do an engine rebuild pass on DSM's. That car was a flat out whore bitch but I loved her...:happysad:If that's what you heard, you're obviously deaf.
I'm looking to make it a daily driven street car, yet take it to the track thats close to me- run some autox and test it's 1/4 mile time.What do you want out of this "project car"? Do you want it for track, street, etc. If your seriously that dead set on getting a project car pick up a 5.0 and mod that. Parts are EVERYWHERE and dirt cheap.
I've never really considered a 5.0- Always been into the Japanese cars. I was looking into the S13 to possibly start some drifting, but I'm still in the decision process. DSM is pretty much out of the runnings: I could hit over 300awhp if I dumped $4000 into a stock DSM, but I could pretty much do the same for a 240sx. How much do you think I'd get from a 5.0?
Right there your screwing yourself up. You want it to be a daily driver and a street car? If you think $4,000 is enough for that good luck dude. If you want a reliable, powerful car go buy a newer car with some power and throw on some basic bolt-ons. You do NOT make your project car a DD unless you have a spare car or have the money to do a complete engine rebuild and do everything right the first time. Your thinking irrationally.I'm looking to make it a daily driven street car, yet take it to the track thats close to me- run some autox and test it's 1/4 mile time.
I've never really considered a 5.0- Always been into the Japanese cars. I was looking into the S13 to possibly start some drifting, but I'm still in the decision process. DSM is pretty much out of the runnings: I could hit over 300awhp if I dumped $4000 into a stock DSM, but I could pretty much do the same for a 240sx. How much do you think I'd get from a 5.0?
Your family is right, stick to what they say. By the time you even have a good condition and good running car your money to pay for "insurance, gas, mods, and maintenance" is going to be gone.My entire family is telling me not to do it, that it is a 'waste' of money. I'll be paying for insurance, gas, mods, and maintenance.
Also, something my dad tells me, don't talk about how much money you MIGHT make in the future and concentrate on whats going on now. You say you should have roughly $3,000 but you never know whats going to happen. Don't dig a hole for yourself, your still a kid.
save your money, its not very exciting...but $6000 in a good savings account for a few years is worth ALOT more than a 15yr old modded car.
everyone else is right.
everyone else is right.
Finish school, start the career, and then get the toys. If you do well for yourself, at that point 6k for a project will be much easier to come by then having to work 2 jobs for 6 months to cover the cost.
As for the 5.0, find a decent LX, buy some used parts off one of the 1,000 5.0 boards out there for chump change, and throw a 100 shot on it. You'll be in the 11s easily and well north of 300rwhp. If it blows up, buy another short block for 500 bucks.
As for the 5.0, find a decent LX, buy some used parts off one of the 1,000 5.0 boards out there for chump change, and throw a 100 shot on it. You'll be in the 11s easily and well north of 300rwhp. If it blows up, buy another short block for 500 bucks.
1 - 20 of 24 Posts
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