Is it worth keeping a car that you keep putting $1,000's of dollars into?

[DirftKing102]

Hey guys. I love my 240sx vert, but I have found that over the past two years I have put at least $4100 or more into the car. I originally bought it for $2800. I got a paint job for $1000,$2000 in engine repairs, $900 for the black leather seats including the new carpet, and the new top and $200 for the back lights. I love the car and do not think I would part with it anytime soon. Is it worth it to keep putting money in it? I will probably be putting in more money tomorrow because my car is having more engine problems and needs to have a wire put in for a new right headlight. I have no car experience as far as being a mechanic goes, so I get someone else to do it for me.

Thanks for your inputs! I really want a 350z and still want to keep my 240 vert, but I don't have enough money! I have kept my 240 in really good condition, but I feel like its beginning to be a money hole.

[cmkelly]

240sx vert = money hole. Yes this is true to a certain extent; you'll likely never get out of it what you've put into it. You have to decide why you have it. Is it your daily driver - if so having a reliable car for around $5000 seems to be a pretty good deal. You'll continue to have to put $$ into anything you drive unless you're driving fairly new cars but then you have a car payment.

Is it your fun car? Then you have to decide how much money you want to spend. It's old so it's going to break and require parts and labor to keep it going. A basic shop manual will save you some money - you'd be suprised at how much you can do yourself and how much you'll enjoy the car knowing you're are part of the process.

If you want something else is it because you want more - realiable, fun, less cost, etc?

240 verts are great cars and a pretty good bargin all things considered. But if it's making you nervous it might be time to rethink your decision. Just know that all that cool stuff you did will not increase the price that much. It's stuff you wanted so hopefully you've gotten some enjoyment out of it.

Good luck.
Modified by cmkelly at 2:14 PM 8/27/2009

[S15nS13vert]

all cars are a money pit, dude.... no matter if it is new or not......new cars you will put:!. air intake2.exhaust3. rims4.lowering springs or coilover5.tint the windows6. worry if you will void any warranty if you put aftermarket products

old cars you will need1.good tune up2.coilovers3.rims4. turbocharged engine5.drive fast, cuz you know you aint gotta worry about no damn warranty

[DirftKing102]

I bought the car for "drifting" purposes yet I never really drifted. I eventually began to fall in love with the car. As gay as it sounds, I really enjoy driving it and like the way it handles. I don't mind putting money into it, but do cars really last forever? I've had my 240 vert for 2 years as I said above and have gotten a lot of enjoyment out of having the top down and packing 6 people into my poor 240. Yes, we did pack six people into my 240. We had to do it with the top up and it was dark, but we had fun getting to each others houses. I guess its been really a fun car. I tired a mustang with a V6 or a V8 in the Summer of Junior year in high school and hated the way it handled. If I do part with the car in the near future, can I find another one like it or should I just stick with my 240 vert that I love so much?

[-RJ-]

lol I havent seen you in a while, anyway I would keep it. Your vert is already paid off right? I love my vert despite how many times I say Im gonna get rid of it. I thought about a newer car too. Heres my look on my car

New(er) car:Payments every monthFull coverage insuranceMore reliable

Old car:No paymentsliability converage

Yes its true that maintainance can be expensive sometimes but how many times do you actually have to fork up the money for it. Ive gone 7 months before something broke and paid about $150 for it. If you got a 350z, I bet your monthly payments are gonna be more than that. I just keep about $300 on the side incase something happens. And I like only paying $80 for liability insurance as opposed to $150+ for full coverage

[94_240sx]

Spend more time and money. You won't ask this question again. That's where I'm at.

[biggie]

Modifying and Maintaining an older car is supposed to gain you joy... not money.

[skilviavert]

I'm well over 9k into the hole but loved spending every penny, I'm the kind of guy who HAS to tinker and modify his car no matter what it is. bottom line is, if you love your car than its worth the cost. to me at least.

[DirftKing102]

Thanks guys for all the opinions! I just took my car into the shop last night since it started to idle rough and shake the whole car! I am also going to have them replace that wire in my right headlight to see if that works and fix the idling rough problem. I will be buying a new quarter window switch from Nissan soon because I found out that they are $62 and to get one on eBay is $100. Thanks for all your inputs!

[94_240sx]

Thanks guys for all the opinions! I just took my car into the shop last night since it started to idle rough and shake the whole car! I am also going to have them replace that wire in my right headlight to see if that works and fix the idling rough problem. I will be buying a new quarter window switch from Nissan soon because I found out that they are $62 and to get one on eBay is $100. Thanks for all your inputs!

Whole car shakes? Most likely, you have a bad injector. It's about time for you to read some articles on NICO and do it yourself. Bad injector is very common on KA. I've replaced 3 on mine so far. All you need is one baby step, so just go for it.

[timknippjr]

car shaking might be just as simple as a vacume line has come undone, check the small hoses attached to the firewall under the hood and make sure all tubes are connected.

[Kalypso]

to op

yes... if your building it well, you only have to do it once.

[DeXteR]

Spend more time and money. You won't ask this question again. That's where I'm at.

LOL!!!

You could always just give the car to me and you'll never have to sink another penny into it.

But seriously, you need to figure out when enough is enough. There does come a point when a car just isn't worth the effort anymore. For a clean convertible, that limit is hard to find. If your car was beat up and rusty, it's easy to give up on it.

When you've got a nicer old car that you're dumping money into, it will eventually plateau. I mean, you're putting money into big cost items that won't need to be done again for quite a long time. As long as you can afford to maintain it and keep it nice, it's worth it.

[DirftKing102]

Thanks Dexter! My 240 vert is in the shop right now and its getting some repairs. I told Integrity automotive repair that they can take as long as they want with my car as long as they fix the rough idle and the Headlight problem. As in one of my other posts, my right headlight is out and it was supposedly a wiring issue. I called them this morning and the guy was puzzled on whether it is a wire or not and he was still running some tests. They told me they would have the full report sometime this afternoon or tomorrow. I really love my 240 vert and don't want to see it dieing on me.

[Jdmstyles]

I suggest start working on the car yourself and start learning now. You'll save thousands alone with just do-it-yourself maintenance and fix-it yourself jobs.

I don't see how you can possibly spend that much on repairing the engine alone. Use your money wisely. Was it really necessary to install leather seats and carpet if your initial purpose was to make it your drift car? hmm.

I'd say keep it as you already spent that much on the car, unintentionally of course. You will not get any profit from selling it anyways..

[DirftKing102]

JDmstyles, I don't drift at all and this is an account that I started up 2 years ago and just never got to changing the Screen name. I use my 240 Vert for my daily driver and fun in the sun car. I have yet to change my screen name because I don't know how. Thanks for your opinion.

[Jdmstyles]

I bought the car for "drifting" purposes yet I never really drifted.

Well you did say that :d

Anywho yeahh... just get around to working on your car by yourself so you'll learn. Don't become too dependent on someone else to fix your car for you unless that's what you want.

Take good care of it.

[DirftKing102]

Yeah, I'm taking good car of the 240 vert and plan on putting some more mods to it interior wise. I don't do any engine mods, as previously stated. lol