I return

[nismo212]

Hello all of NICO Club; past, current, and post members since my demise as a previous member

Some of you may remember me, others not.

Previously know has "naladude911" I was a past member of NICO club and haven't been active for over 4 years.

Why do I return?

Frankly, I missed the forums. This is a great forum to increase knowledge about the automotive industry. It is a place to learn about, news, mechanics, engineering, maintenance, and car culture. Not only that, but it's a great source of entertainment as well.

What's happened to me since I left NICO?

The QX4 is gone. It got totaled two summers ago. A carting truck (one that has the roll off dumpsters) ran a stop sign and totaled the front end of the car. We used the insurance money to lease a 2013 Honda Ridgeline Sport (as of now I hate being a Honda owner and want to be back in the Nissan crowd asap)

I just graduate college with my civil engineering degree

I have a sexy girlfriend I love and adore.

On with the pictures.

I wish that this forum gives me a positive experience and that it will help me gain more knowledge of the automotive industry.

Thank you,

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I uh... I don't know what to do... or how to feel.

Welcome back I guess? How's your dog (nala... right)?

[Eikon]

Do you still have the snowplow?

[nismo212]

Hahaha yes I still have the "plow"
It's sitting in my garage, I'll take it apart this spring.

Dog is well! Getting old but she's good.

Wouldn't mind coming to Carlisle this summer. I'm trying to save some money and get a project car soon.

[numbnuts240]

I uh... I don't know what to do... or how to feel.

Welcome back I guess?

[frapjap]

Welcome back!
How many more years is the Ridgeline leased for? Honda usually does 3, right?

Did you end up with a job after graduating?

[MellowZ32]

*tips fedora*

[themadscientist]

[nismo212]

1. 3 year lease, expires june 2016
2. Thank God above said lease is over, Honda sucks both with quality and customer service. I can only say three positive things about the ridge line, the rest are negative.
Positive:
A. It has lots of room, the hidden trunk is very useful for storing misc items that would otherwise clutter the interior
B. It's good in the snow. Haven't gotten stuck. Although I would have to say that the 4WD system from Nissan I experienced in the R50 Pathfinder/ QX4 is significantly more effective. The ridge line has a "diff lock" but it's pretty fake. Its full time AWD, aka supposedly 2WD FWD in good conditions and 4WD when the vehicle detects a slip. Pretty sure it's a very sensitive system due to (see Negative A)
C. It's safe. The thing is a tank. You can feel the weight of the vehicle when you drive it. I would rather get hit in this thing then a compact sedan.

Negative:
A. Horrible gas millage for a 3.5L v6 Regular gas VTEC, 4 door crew "truck". I average 17 MPG Highway. Thats with setting the cruise control on at 65 mph. It goes through a fill up every 4 days with approximately 40 minutes of highway driving per day average. Gas guzzler. Dad's 2007 V8 Tahoe gets 23 highway and goes through a tank of gas in 7 days with same amount of driving. A Dodge ram 1500 V6 gets better MPG and is 2x as big
B. Horrible craftsmanship. The car is one year old and has paint chips in the hood already, 1mm-2mm diameter. The paint on Honda's is very thing supposedly to save money of course. Horrible paint. Cheap plastic everywhere. The whole interior minus the seats is hard cheap plastic.
C. The brakes suck. It takes forever to stop this thing. I feel like they installed brakes from a CRV.

I'm looking to buy a car under $5,000 that I can use as a DD this summer to save miles and gas on the ridge line. 350z, 240sx etc. Won't invest in mods due to the car will probably have high miles at that price range. I want to turn the ridge line in once the lease is over and buy a Infiniti G37x or the new Q60X. Both certified pre-owned of course. Then make that my build car and invest money into either or.

[nismo212]

What do people recommend to get as a daily driver?

I would like something: Sporty, reliable, mildly customizable, with decent gas millage for a budget of under $6000. Something that will last with 100,000+ miles at this price range I assume and won't be in the shop everyday. I was considering a P71 Crown Vic PPV even. Cheap, easy to maintain, very reliable and quick. So far on Craigslist I have seen for sale, Lexus Is200, Infiniti G20/first gen g35, Bmw 3 or 5 series that fall under this price range with 120000+ miles. Reliability will be harsh with european cars at this millage but ok with Japanese I assume. I do not want a subaru. Not a fan. Suggestions?

[RicerX]

[AZhitman]

Welcome back, Stephen!

For those that don't know, "nala" is rather famous around these parts. He provided us with countless, innumerable laughs (usually at his expense), and endless head shaking, face-palming, and more than a few exasperated sighs.

Congrats on the CE degree - What's the plan for that?

As regards your request for suggestions on a fun, sporty, inexpensive, reliable car, the answer is, and has always been, Miata. I love mine, and since you left, several of our staff own one.

SIDE NOTE: Guys, think on this for a moment: How brutal is it that nala would rather be here than continue to drive a Honda? Sochiro must be twirling in his grave.

[Rogue One]

Welcome back, Stephen!
As regards your request for suggestions on a fun, sporty, inexpensive, reliable car, the answer is, and has always been, Miata. I love mine, and since you left, several of our staff own one.

Enter at your own risk! You've been warned!

Miata Madness
Since so many NICOclub staffers and members own a Miata, here's a spot to discuss the car Nissan wishes it had built!

[dasoupdude]

now Isn't this a blast the past.. you were mentioned in a earlier thread not too long ago too

As for your affordable sports car, I vouch for the 350z / g35- especially any model pass a 2005, they are pretty affordable now.

-miatas are good too though plus they're even more affordable.

[Pento240sx]

Oh damm. Long time no see nala. Welcome back. I would recommend getting a G35 2 or 4 door. The 2003 to 2006 models are pretty affordable.

[themadscientist]

Is that a bottle of quik detailer in your pocket or are you just happy to see us?

[nismo212]

Thank you for the welcome backs!

Unfortunatly from what I've seen so far, a ~2003-2004 350z Is going for 10,000+ dollars. G35's are in my budget of 6,000 but are 4 door and in bad condition with high miles (130+) from the Bronx (city miles)
Miatas are rare in my area and not my Personal taste if it's going to be semi stock. Miatas are great for autoX which I don't do. The only mods I would do for this purchase is suspension, mild cosmetics, intake and exhaust. If that. I would probably sell this in June 2016 along with the ridgeline and aim for one of the newer infinitis or bmws. The only car Ive been seeing frequently under budget is the first gen Lexus is200.

[2008AltiCoupeDan]

Nice to see you back!

Saw this post on my fbook page. Had to chime in lol.

Go to carlisle. Screw the Honda. Get a miata lol. And be able to mod it haha. Or spend a bit more of your budget and get a z or g35.

Greg is never wrong lol. And this year a lot of the guys (me including) who couldn't make carlisle last year are going. Should be a blast!

Again. Welcome back!

[Kompresshun]

Ditto on the Miata. I bought one too and it was money well spent, especially when you already have something with 4 doors to drive when needed. Easy to maintain, easy to mod, good fuel economy, and fun to drive.

[Ace2cool]

Hey, duplicate accounts are against NICO's Terms of Services... But feel free to use your old account.

[nismo212]

I'll look into miatas more for when the time comes. There seems to be a lot of lightly modded ones on Craigslist in my area. Im ideally looking for a car under 6000 I can DD from about June 2015-june2016 that's safe, semi sporty and efficient. If I do mod, mods will be under $500 since it will be old and I won't have it for long. That's why i was thinking of a p71 crown vic. They have low highway miles in my area, RWD, fast, cheap, and easy to fix and sell back after . Plus if you make it legit ( tints, push bar, no emergency lights of course), no one screws with you on the highway or with parking tickets lol

[Kompresshun]

I would like something: Sporty, reliable, mildly customizable, with decent gas millage

I was considering a P71 Crown Vic PPV even.

These two things do not fit into the same categories. Reliable maybe, but none of the rest. A Crown Vic would fall into the beater category more than anything.

There is one positive to a Crown Vic though - You could always restart your Taxi service:

[numbnuts240]

"all sett"

[sx moneypit]

[AZhitman]

Hey, duplicate accounts are against NICO's Terms of Services... But feel free to use your old account.

I couldn't get it to function properly - temporary waiver of Rule 17.3(A)c.3 granted. Sorta. For nao.

[nismo212]

Thank you Greg!

Actually, looking at Craigslist again, S13's fit in my budget.

What do you think of this guy?
http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/cto/4859768218.html

most appear like this. Already SR swapped and decently modded. I've always driven automatic and want something manual as well

[nismo212]

Thank you Greg!

Actually, looking at Craigslist again, S13's fit in my budget.

What do you think of this guy?
http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/cto/4859768218.html

most appear like this. Already SR swapped and decently modded. I've always driven automatic and want something manual as well

I feel like if I purchased something like this I may end up keeping it and restoring it depending on the condition it's in or if it's worth the money and effort.

[frapjap]

He is never going to be able to sell that car. Good running or not, that thing in its current condition isn't worth more than 3k.

[float_6969]

Welcome back Nala! As for the car situation, if you're looking for a temp car, the Crown vic isn't a bad choice. The Miata is a good one too. The S13 you posted is not. A car like that will NOT be reliable, and unless you can DIY, hard to fix.

[numbnuts240]

s*** body from the city. suspension is probably toast from all the awesome roads they have there.

ok, so far you've considered:

crown victoria
is300
g20
g35
3 series
5 series
350z
miata
240sx

are we still doing the whole wide range of options only to eventually ignore all the good advice given? do some good research on what cars you're interested in, narrow the field down, then do more research, narrow down again, then do even more research. at this point you can talk to people about the small nuances that you may have not read about or want better information on.

also, research yourself. you haven't driven a manual, and the last rwd car you had, you totaled.