Noob all over again!

[BrianE]

Hello to everyone. Just joined a couple of days ago. I'm originally from another online nissan club. I've owned 3 altimas since 2000(95 GXE, 93 GLE converted to 5-speed, and 93 GXE parts car.) These were my first cars so naturally I came to love nissans. My GLE died about this time last year. Since then it's been the family car-2002 Chevy Malibu I moved to Chicago to attend UTI (better late than never). Which brings me to NICO! I've been missing my nissans and made up my mind to get back into the scene with a 240sx (preferably a vert). So i'm on the lookout. I've never seen as much info on the verts as I have here. And I thought I had pretty good knowledge regarding them. I look forward to chatting with and meeting fellow nissan/infiniti people.

[cmkelly]

Welcome aboard and good luck finding a vert. There are several here for sale.

[Eikon]

Awesome.. welcome to your new home!

We'll help you find a 'vert.. and when you do.. you'll love it!

Keep your eye on our classifieds sticky thread atop the forum, as well as the Nissans for sale classified forum. Also, ebay, craigslist, autotrader, etc.. are good places to find 'verts.

Expect to pay around $3k for a solid vert. with no major issues, around 125k miles, no rust, etc.. Less than that if it's got way more miles or is in really rough shape. More than that if it's got low miles, or some nice mods already done to it (5 spd for example).

If you find one with a boot included.. that's at least $300 right there!

Nice to have a technician on board. Hope you're enjoying UTI, and can share some of that expertise with us in the future.

Again, welcome to the family. Let us know what we can do to help.

[BMAR240SX]

Welcome aboard mate, what are you plans with the vert?

[BrianE]

Thanks again for the welcome. I look at the classifieds and craigslist just about everyday. o alcha3 here in the Chicago area has one posted for 2k with a bad transmission, but includes everything for a 5-speed swap except flywheel and clutch. I'm juggling alot between school and family so my delima is saving enough money intime to buy the car. Either I have the money and can't find a car or find a car and don't have the money. If I can get my hands on that one, the first thing to do would be a 5-speed swap. A few years ago I bought an Altima GLE converted to a 5-speed. A year later the 5-speed died and I converted it back to auto which was my cheapest option since I had a parts car laying around. 2 weeks later the motor went kaput!

[S13xCrazy]

Welcome aboard!

How are you liking UTI? Any information about it would be great!

I have been considering this route although i am still unsure. I would really enjoy to get into more of the engineering, but hey sometimes things don't always work out that way.

[sf_240-sx]

hey waddup... im from chicago too tryin to find a 240 vert.... AND i go to LTI... did you hear ... our teachers are on strike

[BrianE]

How are you liking UTI? Any information about it would be great!

I love UTI. Myself and classmates have met people with negative things to say about UTI. All of these people claimed it was "a waste of money" and "I didn't learn anything I didn't already know." These same people all also worked at Advance Auto or AutoZone. Not that it's anything wrong with these companies, but I'm not spending 20-30k just to work for $7 an hour. I have an advantage over alot of the guys (and girls) at the school. I'm 27, I'm focused, I've been getting dirty working on cars for 7 years. Alot of the guys fresh out of high school love cars but unfortunately have not learned that they don't like working on cars. It's hard work alot of times, but there's almost no better way to make time fly for me. Sooooooooo. If you done mechanical work before and honestly love it, I say go for it. It can be a costly way to learn that you don't like working on cars if you've never actually done some serious work before.

[BrianE]

hey waddup... im from chicago too tryin to find a 240 vert.... AND i go to LTI... did you hear ... our teachers are on strike

I hadn't heard about it. My cousin that lives in the same apartment building graduated from LTI a few years ago and my sister-in-law's boyfriend. I have to ask them if they have heard. How long do you have and are you doing Auto, Diesel or both?

[sf_240-sx]

i have only been there for amonth and now were workin on gas engines. but the teachers have been on strike for 3 days and my *** needs to go back to class ASAP... waisting my money.

[sf_240-sx]

your lookin at the same vert on craigslist... that black one with a bad transmission... i called him the other day.. i just want something i can drive NOW... and anyways i only got 1200 so im like not even halfway there for a vert.... im just dreamin for now

[DirftKing102]

Welcome! I look forward to seeing your vert once you get it. I will try and answer any questions you may have also! A lot of people on the 240sx convertible forum is nice. They are really friendly. So make yourself at home!

[S13xCrazy]

Hmmm, yeah i can see where you are coming from.

I'm young yet, only 17 and a Junior in high school. I have been around small engines/auto work all my life with my father always working on his equipment and trucks for his business. Only for the last 2 years have i seriously been digging into my cars.

None the less, at this moment in time I do enjoy it, and have considered it as a career although many people say it gets old fast and it's something to steer clear of.

So in the last months, i have been trying to get into more of the engineering of vehicles, and other things like that. I have a pretty creative eye on things, and the know how to take advantage of things i come up with.

for example...heard about the lack of cupholders in 240s...experiance it....and created something that looks good, and works.



Although because of my current and previous course selections in highschool, i do believe i may have a hard time getting into the field of engineering, although who knows, i may be wrong.

I have much to consider, and its always nice hearing things from people with first hand knowledge, and not just the guy who comes to the highschools and preaches how amazing there schools are.

Thanks for the info! I really do appreciate it!

[BrianE]

Considering you've been around this type of work all of your life, I don't think it would get old fast for you. Regardless of the classes you've had in school. You can still go into engineering. Worst case senario: you have to work a little harder. Most of the guys your age that I'm cool with have been around engine work all their lives and or had auto classes in high school. I had absolutely no shop classes in high school. I did my first oil change when I was 20! My only related experience before working on cars was building the craziest lego creations I could think of. I definitely think you should look into the engineering side of things if it interests you.

[DeXteR]

welcome!

you won't a better place for s13 convertibles anywhere on the net!

good luck with finding a car. if you want to get into a project, i got something that might be of interest...

[cmkelly]

Sage advice from a 40-year-old:

Do what you love. If it's cars then learn as much as you possibly can about them. If that requires school then do it.

The world of Auto Design and Engineering is very competitive. Only the top few dogs get to decide what we'll be driving next but it takes 100s of people to make it a reality. It means a lot of school and dedication but the rewards are huge.

If it's turning wrenches then do that. A buddy of mine and I used to work on cars when we were your age. Mods, engine rebuilds, etc. We were military brats so we had access to the auto shop and all the tools we would need all for like $1 an hour. He went on to become a mechanic and now owns his own place. Hell, he may own more than one now in the Washington area.

You're only 17; you've got plenty of time to make up your mind, change it and then try something else. I would recommend a college degree if it's at all possible. It'll make employment in any field more lucrative.

Good luck!

[BrianE]

You're only 17; you've got plenty of time to make up your mind, change it and then try something else. I would recommend a college degree if it's at all possible. It'll make employment in any field more lucrative.

Good luck!

I couldn't have said it better.