What should I do?

[BearTrap]

Need some different, unbiased opinions from you guys..

I'm 27, just married and working on kids, minimal debt, own a townhome but casually looking for a house, wife and I both have good jobs. I have a good truck that has 140K on it and still going strong. I do alot of hunting/camping so I'll need some kind of a 4x4.

....and my 240, which I've had for 11 years (1st car when 17); but I don't have anywhere to work on it and I'm in fear of it's potential to be a money pit.. It wont pass emissions, is in good shape; but needs some TLC bad to get it where I want it to be...

Should I:

1) Sell the 240 and keep the truck. Buy a good running 350z for my DD and tinkering toy.

2) Sell the 240 and the truck. Buy a bigger truck ($20k+) to carry kids/fam, and buy a fun/tinkering toy when I hit my mid-life crisis. lol

3) Keep the 240 and the truck. Work on it's current engine (rebuilt ka24e) to get it registered. Because of the cam and other performance upgrades, I'll have to use premium and 12mpg...so daily driving wouldn't be ideal.

4) Keep the 240 and the truck. Swap in a solid n/a v6 (vq pref), and slowly add to it to get it where I would like it to be (suspension...body....etc.). With the parts I'd like, it'd probably twice as much as a used 350z would be now.

Looking forward to the responses. Thanks!

[KromCube]

Id go with option 1 or 2. Option 1 being my choice but Im only 17 and have no clue about having kids.

[zenkistic]

I would say either option #1 or swap in a KA24DE, do the TLC and in the future consider a turbo upgrade.

[bigjcvegas]

consult your wife,and do what she says

[BearTrap]

Hmmm, interesting about swappin in a DE.

I'm just at a point where I'm wondering if the 240 is at all worth it? Don't get me wrong, it's a great platform...But the $ required to get respect outside of the 240 world, is nuts.

[BearTrap]

consult your wife,and do what she says

lol! You are the smartest man alive!

[zenki-S13]

keep the 240it was your first car and had it for 11 yearsit must mean something to you, right?

[BearTrap]

Yeah, it does mean something to me, you're right. Like I said, that car and I have been through alot...

I know, i'd be kicking myself if I sold it; but man, it's just hard to keep something that isn't necessarily a priority now...and a few years down the road with kids, I have a feeling it will be even less of a priority...

[J14cm7]

I say option one. Although last year i finally sold my 89 Toyota 4runner that I had had since i was 16 and had put countless hours of work into and i regret it but the new s14 in my garage is pretty much worth it.

[norcals13]

don't sell it...I see so many guys on here sell theirs only to buy another one within a short amount of time. They usually wish they had just kept the first one. Plus you know more about that car than anyone. 11 years is a long time so you know what it needs and dosn't need. thats a big advantage.

or option #1 would be my choice but chances are with the insurance/taxs being much higher it might not work out long term anyways. and seems less of an option when it comes to kids.

just my view

[BearTrap]

Good point norcals13. Though, if I was to sell it, I don't think i'd buy another one. There are too many options out there which would offer alot more fun (i.e. 350z, 300zx,). Your insurance aspect was something I hadn't thought about yet. Insurance for a 20 year old "4 cyl" coupe is probably much cheaper than a 5 year old sports car (i.e. 350z).

Thanks for the input

[SxMachine]

3) Keep the 240 and the truck. Work on it's current engine (rebuilt ka24e) to get it registered. Because of the cam and other performance upgrades, I'll have to use premium and 12mpg...so daily driving wouldn't be ideal.

4) Keep the 240 and the truck. Swap in a solid n/a v6 (vq pref), and slowly add to it to get it where I would like it to be (suspension...body....etc.). With the parts I'd like, it'd probably twice as much as a used 350z would be now.

Looking forward to the responses. Thanks!

Im almost in your shoes minus the kids but close to marriage and a lil older. 3 and 4 are def the better options. Im just now in a position to upgrade where needed. If I were you I would def fix the 240 at least back 2 stock and running. Ive seen babyseats in em lol. Trust me you can get modest power upgrades 2 your 240 for WAY cheaper than a Z (hell a stock sr/kat setup is only around 2k at most). Just add a bit here and there slowly and over time. The z is just another money pit. Or you can sell everything get a g35 sedan and be good all the way around . When you got real responsibilities all those dreams take a back seat.

[zenki-S13]

have you considered keeping it off the road for a while to get your family going good and then start it up again?

[BearTrap]

SxMachineGood info. Your last sentence is what's ringing in the back of my head lately. "If I haven't had the time/$ in the past few years, when I've been single/no kids...how the hell am I going to be able to have the time/$ when kids are here...".

zenkiI haven't had it registered or regularly on the road for 4 years. It hasn't been able to pass emissions here in AZ. Probably just needs a cat (removed lol), timing retard, and seafoam/alcohol treatments. My truck is my DD.

[Krew126]

I say keep both, and like what Sxmachine said, I would do a basic SR swap and with probably that 4 grand you would put as a down payment on the Z, you could be beating Z's. But then again it would of course never pass emissions unless you know someone.

[ricebike]

Yeah, it does mean something to me, you're right. Like I said, that car and I have been through alot...

I know, i'd be kicking myself if I sold it; but man, it's just hard to keep something that isn't necessarily a priority now...and a few years down the road with kids, I have a feeling it will be even less of a priority...

i'm in a similar boat +10 years and have 2 NICOtots, had purchased a nissan quest minivan because they're getting too old to be kicking their legs in the back seat (plus i need to haul their cousins as well; i'll get in trouble if i put them on the roof rack or trunk of my 240sx )

& since the original SOHC has better gas mileage than the van, i will drive my 1st daily/commute car until it's original engine will die

how about option 2A) transfer title to a family member, let them give it the TLC it needs (w/ your help at times in the wrenching side if possible) and if you decide to take it back, have that in the contract between you and your family member

[BearTrap]

Very true Krew126. If I do anything in the swap department, I'd like to stay N/A, so I'd have an easier time tuning/maint/emissions. If the M/T conversion for a vk56 was available, i'd do that; but the vq35 is starting to look pretty nice.

oh man ricebike...a minivan? I would have to take a long hard look in the mirror if I was pushin a Quest...Good thought on passing it down to a youngin' though. My wife has a couple nephews that are getting to that age....Good thought.

[r34 gtr]

How about throw it in storage and start working on it with the kids when they hit about 2-3, and continue on from there?

You could keep it in good enough shape and then when they get a bit older it can be a father/son or father/daughter project for their first car. Then they would get to drive a classic in high school. Would keep them out of trouble too. This cannot go wrong.

My dad did this with me and my 240sx (first car, got it when I was 17) and it just means soooo much to me. I could never sell it, and that is the primary reason.

You should consult with the wife too. Factor in everything, so whichever decision you make is the right one.

You are in a great financial situation right now too, so you should consider that. Buying a new truck will seriously effect that, and why get rid of something that has been so faithful to you? (current truck).

Good luck!

[BearTrap]

r34It's currently in our parking space outside our townhome...in the sun...in AZ... It just kinda punches me in the trunks every time I walk by it, wanting to just tear into it...or sell it...or at least do something with it. It just seems like a waste. The wife is just in the eye rolling stage right now...She wants me to get a big truck to make sure I can tote the family......I'd love a big truck; but I'm kinda liking not having a car payment right now. I'm trying to convince her that kids will fit in my Ranger (ext cab) and the 240...so we'll see.

Good idea about passing it down to kids. My Gpa and uncles are all kicking themselves for selling their first cars...so it would be pretty cool to still have mine.

[Krew126]

Well then I say wait a little while, then put it under a car cover to keep it out of the sun. And if you still are making good money, you should go for a VQ35. Then you could probably be pulling on corvettes, of course with I/H/E and a tune. I say that's the way to go.

[BearTrap]

I like the way you think Krew

[Gabes13]

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