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At A Bit Of A Crossroad.....

Duchie

By Duchie,
in General Automotive Discussion

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Duchie Enthusiast

Duchie

Posted
Posted

A quick background..... I am currently a green P plater (in QLD) till october of 2013.

I have an R33 GTS series 1, learnt to drive in it and have used it ever since.

Now it's a nice looking car and if I spent a little more money on it it would be a schmick car, but it's quite a big car, fairly slow, doesn't handle amazingly (has some potential) and isn't great on fuel. Not as bad as i thought with the police, only been pulled over three times in over a year (they never even went over the car just breath test) must be because i don't drive like a dickhead all the time and ALWAYS BE POLITE TO THE POLICE!

Now about a month ago i started looking at buying a 180sx (turbo) as a second car to work on for experience. The 180sx was my first love, so beautiful. Test drove a couple and love how they handle. If i were to buy a 180sx i would apply for an exemption (I don't want any questions or personal input on the matter of how and why) and also use it as a daily along with the Skyline.

My other choice is to buy an NB MX-5 (1.8L) from 1998 - 2000. Heard they handle amazingly, fuel efficient and with some coilovers, nice offset rims, hardtop and a Garage Vary front lip look sexy!!! Only problem is the MX-5 might be a little slow unless I get some cams, port polish, shaved head straight up.

So here's my choices:

1) I can keep the Skyline and buy a 180sx

2) Keep the Skyline and buy an MX-5

3) Sell the Skyline and have just the MX-5 as a daily and then get a 180sx when i have my open license

4) Sell the Skyline, buy and MX-5 as a daily and also buy a 180sx as a project/track car

5) Spend about $5000 (motorsport discount) and work the Skyline(keep NA) and get about 200rwhp, coilovers and sway bars.

Please tell me what you think. I do love the Skyline and it would be sad to see her go but I'm looking for something more fun, take to the track every now and then. Any other reasonable suggestions welcome!

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Duchie Enthusiast

Duchie

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Not a bad MX-5, dont mind the NA but prefer NB. Either way would be a beast.

If i wanted a track only car I could probably use one of my dad's cars to tow anything and a prado would be good, do some 4wding but it's not for me sadly hahah.

So maybe get rid of my beloved Skyline, get an MX-5 as a daily which could also be used a bit at the track in the meantime, would be a fun car and look pretty sexy.

Then maybe get a 180sx in the near future, doesn't matter if it's not in great condition and work on that.

Endgame...... Have two nice track cars that are street legal (wouldn't go crazy modifying them).

adamskill Mentor

adamskill

Posted
Posted

do you HAVE to have 2 cars? for a start, unless you are keeping the skyline as a stock daily, dont spend a cent on it. its na. just let it get you from A to B. If you buy a 180, i guarentee you will stop driving the skyling, and realise hoe average an na r33 is compared to a 180sx. so keeping it will be pointless. as for an mx5.. REALLY? like, yeah i get.. "they handle like a go-cart and blah blah blah, but REALLY?

in summary, your on your p's. wait it out. if you want a new car NOW, buy a forester and drive ya mates round in comfort. if you still want to go fast and shit in 2013, deal with it then.

Duchie Enthusiast

Duchie

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well I like the idea of having two cars so that I can have one car in bits and still drive around. Driving a 180sx was amazing, you can just feel it's a light car and it just made me want one even more.

I like the idea of an MX-5, small, fuel efficient and good handling but still, just thinking of the 180 just makes me fall in love again.

GAHHH why does this have to be so difficult?!!

ras1983 Experienced

ras1983

Posted
Posted (edited)

Importantly, both the MX5 and 180 will be a hell of a lot more fun than a NA R33. As for the MX5 and the 180, you have to ask yourself what you want from a car.

The MX5 is convertible, handles like a go kart, is fuel efficient, and has been very popular for tarmac rallies and club days. So it definitely has the cred to be a great car. Downsides are that MX5s are quite slow in a straight line unless modified, are as practical and have as much storage space as a shoebox, and you can only take one passenger along for the ride.

180 will be faster in a staight line, has 4 seats (you can squeeze two people in the back for short trips), is a hatchback with a bigger boot than a MX5, and will be easier to mod. Drawbacks are that the 180 will consume more petrol and won't handle as well as a MX5.

EDIT: based on your last post, you should get a 180. The best car to own is the one that you think about all the time and get excited about.

Edited by ras1983
sneakey pete Grand Master

sneakey pete

Posted
Posted

Option. .. f?

Spend money on R33, but not on the engine. Coilovers, swaybars, brakes (5 stud conversion?) The works suspension wise. Build a RB30/25DET. Drop in in October 2013.

Also, i'm intrigued by how you'll get an expemption. A work exemption if you work at a mechanics won't let you daily drive a turbo 180sx around.

Cowboy1600 Grand Master

Cowboy1600

Posted
Posted

Hold onto the Skyline until you have your full license and then flog it off and buy whatever takes your fancy (personally I'd go a 33 GTST over the NA MX5 or 180sx).

I wouldn't spend a cracker on the GTS.

The Bogan Grand Master

The Bogan

Posted
Posted

Sell NA POS NA Skyline, buy MX 5.

Your stock MX5 will smoke most stockish GTSTs, Chubbs runs a 1:13 around wakefield in a 85ish kw MX5, I was 1:11 but in a 350ish kw GTST.

A MX5 is the best handling bang for your buck car money can buy.

With some good suspension, brakes and tyres it is budget performance at its best.

Wish I had got one instead of the boat.

Duchie Enthusiast

Duchie

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for all the input guys!

Well this is what i'm thinking of doing, put on the side skirts, rear pods and wider fenders i have for the skyline (maybe even get a GTR front bar made in plastic) so that it looks a little meaner.

Buy the 180sx; just a clean and lightly modded one for track and some street.

In the end the 180sx won't handle as great as the MX-5, but it's a big step up from the skyline and most of all I will be surrounded by the beloved Nissans.

I do like the idea of building a nice RB25/30 as I love the sound of the straight six, but for now I think the 180sx will be great. Who knows, maybe in the future ill come back to the sweet sound of an RB!

The Bogan Grand Master

The Bogan

Posted
Posted

If I was you I wouldnt waste money on "doing up" a NA Skyline, keep it stock and use the money saved on parts for the 180.

It will not be cost effective to upgrade the brakes, suspension, motor and all the other bits and peices for the NA, they are too heavy for the small amount of power they make.

Why have a car that looks quick but wouldnt pull the skin of custard, when you use the money to build a wicked quick 180.

sneakey pete Grand Master

sneakey pete

Posted
Posted

If I was you I wouldnt waste money on "doing up" a NA Skyline, keep it stock and use the money saved on parts for the 180.

It will not be cost effective to upgrade the brakes, suspension, motor and all the other bits and peices for the NA, they are too heavy for the small amount of power they make.

Why have a car that looks quick but wouldnt pull the skin of custard, when you use the money to build a wicked quick 180.

Because your on P plates. Fact is it takes time to get everything working right, might as well go about it all while on your p's because you've got nothing else you can do, then when you get your opens your car's ready to handle the extra power of an engine upgrade, if that's what you're after

The Bogan Grand Master

The Bogan

Posted
Posted

A NA to Turbo swap? FFS, better to keep NA stock then sell it when you get you blacks, then buy a car that was made to have a turbo, otherwise you will spend a shit tin of money in upgrading everything, and then maybe you will not be able to get it registered.

Remember that to do this and keep it legal the cost and engineering behind it will be a major PITA.

In the end do what you want, if you have money to waste then go for it.

Duchie Enthusiast

Duchie

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Ok so it looks like most people agree it's a waste of time and money to spend anything on the Skyline so i guess I need to move on from that.

Guess the only way forward is to buy something that handles better and in the case of my skyline being NA, also more powerful.

So for me, a large criterion is also looks. in that case it looks like the 180sx is for me and i can pick up a decent condition one for around the same price as an mx-5

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