have I become too old for my 240?

[Ajax]

Finally have the car back again. Engine sounds and feels good. Car needs a thorough cleaning, including trying to get rid of the hydraulic fluid that leaked from the clutch master onto the driver foot well carpet. There's also a fair number of little things that aren't quite right with the car, but at least the car is a solid-running car again.
But here's the thing- I'm not sure I really enjoy driving it anymore. I've done so much to the car, some stuff I'm happy with, some not so much. The exhaust note is pretty incredible for a KA, though a bit loud, which makes it difficult to have fun without calling attention. I still like the look of the car, even with some fitment issues on the front bumper. But the main thing is that in order for the car to be fun, I need open road, and I just never seem to find that anymore- my schedule is so busy and my urge to go late night driving has been tempered. The suspension is too stiff for my taste (the coilovers I bought were just overkill since I don't think I'll ever go racing, and I'm no drifter), and it actually feels less tossable now. So much time and money was spent in developing this 200hp KA driven 240, that driving has been an afterthought for about 8 years.
I remember when I bought it in college- totally stock- and it was so much fun to drive. I would take it out on country roads and enjoy the curves. I moved to the city, and now I have no country roads- its all highways and potholed-residential streets. I can't leave the city- I need to be close to downtown for my theatre work. So what do I do now? Is this the end to this chapter of my car life? I still enjoy driving in general, but somehow the passion for my Nissan seems waning. And now that I'm a homeowner, spending money on car parts doesn't seem like a good idea.
What do you think NICO? I've spent quite a bit of time here (member since the 240sx.org days!- 1999,2000 or so) and you people are fantastic- I'd love to read your opinions. Any of you ever reach this sort of moment in life? Any advice?

[sebazztard]

I know what you mean. Ive wanted a 300zx for what seems 15 years. I bought one and its been sitting in my driveway for 2 years untouched. Nothing wrong with it ... just i never seem to have time for it due to working out of town. To me id rather stash nissan cars and not use them then to not have them at all. Hell i miss my old pulsar and that thing was a slug. Seeing as you are a homeowner, just keep it in your driveway or garage. Esp with all the work done on a KA it would be a shame to sell to someone that wouldnt appreciate it, just to buy it to swap it out cuz its the cool thing to do.

[Morph]

Yep, Im getting to that point too. I've finally got most of the work done I've been dreaming about for 5+ years since I have a job that pays well enough to do so. I got new wheels, coils, kouki front, SR swapped with a decent ammount of power, and I'm just not into it as I once was. I still get a grin from ear to ear when I stomp the gas, but my desire to wrench on the thing all day as litteraly gone to zero. I'm never going to get rid of the car b/c I've spend way more than I'll ever get out of it but, its not the same as it was 5 or so years ago.

[simmode1]

Keep it. It's better to have it & not need it than it is to need it an not have it. For me, I NEED to have something fun to drive to release tension. It's an outlet for me. You'll find time for a nice drive at some point. Actually, why not specifically go & make time for it? Get on a local board & meet up for a cruise or something.

I do relate though. I get the feeling every so often that I'm too old for a 240 and that I should get something more mature. Something that's not synonymous with teenage drift-kid ricers. But I'll stick with disposably priced 90's cars so I won't get to sad if I tear them up. Just when I think of switching to an MR2 turbo or Z32TT, some new S-Chassis R&D pops up and makes me reconsider.

Right now, ppl are bolting 350Z 6spd transmissions to SR's & 1/2JZ's. That alone is keeping me interested in our cheap platform at the ripe old age of 34. But I can't imagine how much effort you sank into building an N/A KA with 200hp... I might feel the same as you if I made that decision. Finishing that project would feel like a pyrrhic victory to me.

Your car feels less tossable now? Take a page out of the FRS/BRZ's playbook and put some skinny Prius tires on it...

[Lobo240sx]

Keep the car man. They'll never make cars like this one ever again without all the electronics and crap in the way. I'm 34 and love these cars as well as the Datsun 260,280Z's. (wish I could fine one in decent shape hehee) These cars are so easy to work on. Plus the effort, money, and time you put into the KA to get 200hp N/A. Nothing but respect for you bro.

[mechanicalmoron]

Of course you should keep it.

But if you decide not to, you can donate it to me anytime you want. You can even drive it to me, which involves several hunrded miles of twisty, scenic (mainly high speed) roads.

.....old folks wrench on fake cobras, anyway.

[ghx407]

I sometimes feel like I'm too old for the 240, or that there's not enough time for it...

Between my full-time job, my wife's full-time job, two young kids with all-sorts of classes and practices after school, loads of housework to handle, and a home that is always asking for some type of maintenance, or repair, or at the very least two hours of yardwork... Damn, three and four weeks will go by without the car even moving. I swear up and down that I jump-start the thing 60% of the time.

But whenever I do get a chance to drive it, especially on a nice backroad, I can't wipe the silly grin off my face.

If you know you won't regret selling it, go ahead and pass it on. But if there's still doubt in your mind, keep it because an opportunity to enjoy it will surely come along.

[Venkmen]

I'm 36, married, 9-yr. old daughter, wife is a full time student, I'm a part time student, and I have a full time job. I won't get rid of my kouki until there is no way to repair it. It seriously was the first car that I fell in love with and will never leave my garage. There have been many times where I thought about getting rid of it because I did not have the time or money to give it what it deserves, but I also was afraid that it would go to someone who didn't cherish it like I do so there it sat. I just didn't want to regret my decision later, because, as stated, there is nothing else like it out there.

What ever you do, best of luck, but I won't get rid of mine for anything.

[IanS]

Don't let her go Dave, you'll never forgive yourself. Also, I got dibbs on it if you decided not to listen to me, don't worry, I won't turn it into another rally car, promise.

[Ajax]

Thanks guys. Really appreciate the stories and advice. I figure I should at least keep it through 1 full season as is and see how I feel going into winter.
Ian, of course you're the 1st person I call if I decide.

[breadbox]

Too jump on this as well...

I feel like I have gotten to that point a few times.

I got the car in 06. I still have only driven it for a few months, took it apart inexplicably when I first got it. If I could go back and give my self advice it would have been to just have maintained it and made it fun, not to gut it first thing.

Over the years my mom and others have bitched about this car. Then were shocked yet not surprised when I bought my coupe. Had fun with it, fell in love with it as well. So now I have a kid, lots of friends still pestering me to build, yet having no time.

I even got a lift in my life that is just been ignored. So I get the loss in interest, but old flames never die. I have sold everything a thousand times before in my head yet is still unthinkable when I come to try and post it for sale. I got rid of a parts car to a good friend and feel like my S13 hoarding days are coming to an end, but my S13 owning days shall never end.

But in the end if you feel you can part with years of experience and trial and glory, you can always look back and know you've been there and done that and move on. But you may cry one day when you see it in local event kissing walls and getting dragged off the track, but at least you treated her well. *BOWS OUT*

[Venkmen]

But you may cry one day when you see it in local event kissing walls and getting dragged off the track, but at least you treated her well. *BOWS OUT*

This is exactly why I could never sell mine!

[IanS]

But you may cry one day when you see it in local event kissing walls and getting dragged off the track, but at least you treated her well. *BOWS OUT*

This is exactly why I could never sell mine!

I emailed this to the previous owner after taking the rally car on her first test flight. He never did respond lol.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYv-OB2bk-8[/youtube]

It has since flown much higher and farther, just not with spectator video.

[Venkmen]

I would probably be ok with Rally.

I would just hate to see mine fall in to the hands of some kid/guy who would rice it and think "I can drift now cuz I gotz a 240 yo!" All I see in my head is someone wrapping it around a pole while showing off to friends.

[pepesilvia]

i dont like when people say "im getting too old for this". i say screw it, why does there need to be an age-appropriateness to everything? I'm 21, i still go trick-or-treating, not as a joke either... free candy? uh yeah. i'll have some... you obviously bought the car because you liked it, then you worked so hard to make it yours, its unique and should be treated as a trophy of your accomplishments. I wouldn't even consider getting rid of it. no chance.

[mechanicalmoron]

i dont like when people say "im getting too old for this". i say screw it, why does there need to be an age-appropriateness to everything? I'm 21, i still go trick-or-treating, not as a joke either... free candy? uh yeah. i'll have some... you obviously bought the car because you liked it, then you worked so hard to make it yours, its unique and should be treated as a trophy of your accomplishments. I wouldn't even consider getting rid of it. no chance.

I feel so old and stuffy now.....

[IanS]

I would probably be ok with Rally.

I would just hate to see mine fall in to the hands of some kid/guy who would rice it and think "I can drift now cuz I gotz a 240 yo!" All I see in my head is someone wrapping it around a pole while showing off to friends.

Tree's count as poles......

[simmode1]

i dont like when people say "im getting too old for this". i say screw it, why does there need to be an age-appropriateness to everything? I'm 21, i still go trick-or-treating, not as a joke either... free candy? uh yeah. i'll have some... you obviously bought the car because you liked it, then you worked so hard to make it yours, its unique and should be treated as a trophy of your accomplishments. I wouldn't even consider getting rid of it. no chance.

Remember that you said this in 10 years.

I'm pretty sure we all did at some point.

[biggie]

F it. I'm old and have 2 still. I don't think I could daily a modified 240 these days, but its still fun to get into one for a drive at least once a week.

[amolao]

Bunch of ole' geezers!!!

[10psitx]

This may be and older thread but i would like to throw in my 2cents...i am 39 years old, i have 3 kids two teen boys and a pre teen princess. i own a mortgage that will come with a house in quite a few years. I work a full time job and i alos have a shop where i build/ repair 240's.. In short i have NO extra time. I built a 240 vert and a type X clone both from ground up, spend a lots of time and money on both. Then i sold them to two separate idiots...that was 3 years ago, i still keep in contact with the owners and i actually drove the hatch a few days ago.
I typed all of that just to say this.... i REGRET selling my cars every time i finish some one elses car or see one that looks well put together...keep your car, wash it often and take it to the corner store, change the coils overs to something less jarring....take it to work on Fridays....you will never get too old to show off your accomplishment to the world or to take pride in something you built. That does not get old.

[eclipse2001gt]

I wouldn't get rid of it.

I got rid of a 93 hatch back and i never forgot about it and it sucked knowing i ended up with a piece a crap instead of a 240. Then one day i went shopping and was looking at a supra and did not get that car do to had more problems then i like to have to fix before i could even drive it home. And i just happen to look on cragslist and know i am a proud owner of a 89 240 coupe with a 350 sb block that i am going to be pulling out and putting in a sr20det in its place.

[ricebike]

i'm on the same boat... had kids, got a minivan as the main transport... put the car by the side of the house for 4 years

now a mouse or some other critter chewed a wire & i can't get it started

need to replace windshield, fan clutch, clutch bypass, steering rack, exhaust header, install those frame rail sections i got from excessive engineering, drain the stale gas, change oil & other fluids & see if i can get it road-worthy again by early summer to use as my commuter car (anyone close by wants to tackle this for me send a PM)

[10psitx]

To bring some more proof that you never get old and you should not sell the car....I bought my Type x clone back this past Saturday...its in bad shape....so to reiterate...do not part ways!