Good Project Car?

[Vindesh17]

I'm looking for a car that I can modify a bit that could still work as a daily driver if I wanted it too. I've narrowed it down to two cars (don't bother suggesting any others because I've settled on either two of these cars). They are the 1995 Nissan 240SX SE Coupe or the 1998 Honda Prelude. These cars are both automatic (there's a reason for that), and they're not expensive, since I'm going to be putting money into it, it can't be. I've seen a '98 Prelude with a rebuilt engine that has 225,000 KMS on it and the rebuild was at 200,000 KMS.

I'm basically asking which car you would take, mileage and condition aside. I also wanted to know if there is any disadvantage of buying a car with a rebuilt engine, I'm leaning more to buying the Prelude btw.

The car is going to end up being my girlfriend's hence the auto tranny.

[clutch-monkey]

i would go the 240sx if you wanted to mod it... but insurance and prices are high for them i think. the prelude is pretty much best left alone but is a good daily driver...

[Mr.Tiv]

I would go with the the prelude, then mod the suspension and engine and call it a day.

[johnnynumfiv]

I would say the 240sx because isn't it rwd?

[Mr.Tiv]

I would say the 240sx because isn't it rwd?
You're right. Go with the 240

[Rockefella]

Yeah, probably couldn't go wrong with the 240sx.

[Mr.Tiv]

You're girl can't handle a stick?

[Vindesh17]

^^^not when its that small ;)^^^

[Rockefella]

You're girl can't handle a stick?
+1. All of the girls I know in my area can't drive a manual though. :)

[Vindesh17]

Thanks for the opinion guys now onto the second question. Is a rebuilt engine more prone to have problems? I mean in the case of the '98 Prelude I saw with 225,000 KMS with a rebuild at 200,000 KMS.

[johnnynumfiv]

If it's rebuilt, it should be better than a un-rebuilt motor.

[Rockefella]

Thanks for the opinion guys now onto the second question. Is a rebuilt engine more prone to have problems? I mean in the case of the '98 Prelude I saw with 225,000 KMS with a rebuild at 200,000 KMS.
Well, no unless you screwed up somewhere. A rebuild is like a refresher so your car's life is prolonged, rather than cut short.

[Mr.Tiv]

If it is done properly rebuilt engines are fine. If is done by a less than reputable shop, like some of the ones on Route 40 in my town, it is not a good idea; that's kind of obvious though.

[whiteballz]

go the 240 SE! my silvia has changed my driving life :D its sexilent:) awesome lot of cars.

[Mr.Tiv]

+1. All of the girls I know in my area can't drive a manual though. :)
I don't date chicks who can't drive, I mean what happens when I get wasted, someone has to drive the car.

[Vindesh17]

go the 240 SE! my silvia has changed my driving life :D its sexilent:) awesome lot of cars.

The thing is, the car is going to be driven in the winter and I've heard everywhere that it handles badly in wet weather.

[Mr.Tiv]

The thing is, the car is going to be driven in the winter and I've heard everywhere that it handles badly in wet weather.
Get better tires.

[Coventrysucks]

You're girl can't handle a stick?


+1. All of the girls I know in my area can't drive a manual though. :)

Poor excuse, if they can talk on the phone whilst driving, they can certainly drive a manual.

Just get an empty car park, a car with manual gears and a spare 30mins; it isn't rocket science or anything - anyone who can't summon the most basic level of coordination required to do it shouldn't be driving in the first place.

[Rockefella]

Poor excuse, if they can talk on the phone whilst driving, they can certainly drive a manual.

Just get an empty car park, a car with manual gears and a spare 30mins; it isn't rocket science or anything - anyone who can't summon the most basic level of coordination required to do it shouldn't be driving in the first place.
Well, I'm not saying they can't be taught, they just don't know how to drive a manual. :) 90+% of cars in my area are automatic.

[Quiggs]

Ability and inclination to learn are two completely different things.

[whiteballz]

The thing is, the car is going to be driven in the winter and I've heard everywhere that it handles badly in wet weather.

oh its not bad, they have a habit of getting abit sideways though :D

though maybe thats just how i drive it? :D

[taz_rocks_miami]

Go with the 240, it's RWD as a few have said and and you can find a lot of NISMO high perf parts for it. Just a question, are you sure you want to give the car to your GF? What if you guys break up?? You'd be out a girl AND a car!!

[kingofthering]

I don't date chicks who can't drive, I mean what happens when I get wasted, someone has to drive the car.
This reminds me of a story... My teacher once had to drive his drunk dad home in a Corolla. He wasn't old enough to drive.

[NSXType-R]

That sucks lol. The GF thing works. If you break up you're screwed.

And are you sure you can trust her with the car with all it's power? Even if you don't break up, if she crashes it you would be pretty annoyed.

I'd stick with the Prelude just because it's FWD and it's easier to handle for a novice. I'd keep it stock too though. Why invest all that money? Do it for your own car first.:D

[Mr.Tiv]

Teach her how to drive before you build her a car.

[coolieman1220]

heh my cousin used to drive her stick 328i and talk to her boyfriend on her cell. when she had to get onto the highway she'd throw the phone in the passanger seat or give it to the person sitting there, do her shifting and drive. lol.

[mehrshadvr4]

240 FTW.you can do any thing with it,i would buy that and drop a sr20 engine on it ,then you will have more option like bigger turbo and more.

[h00t_h00t]

Does she want the performance, or do you?

[Vindesh17]

That sucks lol. The GF thing works. If you break up you're screwed.

And are you sure you can trust her with the car with all it's power? Even if you don't break up, if she crashes it you would be pretty annoyed.

I'd stick with the Prelude just because it's FWD and it's easier to handle for a novice. I'd keep it stock too though. Why invest all that money? Do it for your own car first.:D

I already have my own car (see sig). This is just going to be a second car for me and when I'm not using it, which will be most of the time, she'll use it. I'll still be the owner of the car though. And I have no doubt that she won't crash. I've driven with her before, trust me she knows how to handle a car, just not a manual.

[Vindesh17]

Does she want the performance, or do you?

What do you think?:D

[h00t_h00t]

And she wants a fast, unreliable, noisey and uncomfortable car as a daily driver, that is if its ever allowed out of the garage thats upgrading it?

[Vindesh17]

And she wants a fast, unreliable, noisey and uncomfortable car as a daily driver, that is if its ever allowed out of the garage thats upgrading it?

Well she wants my car but I told her thats not happening, no matter what she does for me. :D

[PerfAdv]

If you get a stick, then your GF can't drive it...isn't that a good thing?

240 with manual. The rougher the better, then you can enjoy fixing it up. What's the point in getting a partially modified project car? Get a "project car"!!

[SupraMan22]

im sayin you mod up a 240sx. my family just got a scion tc. its a stick and i refreshed my manual abilities in about 5 minutes. actually i got the hang of it agian before i left the our neighborhood. :D i know like 1 girl that can drive a manuel. and she not too smart. lol it couldn't be that hard.

[NSXType-R]

And she wants a fast, unreliable, noisey and uncomfortable car as a daily driver, that is if its ever allowed out of the garage thats upgrading it?

Who said anything about unrealiable? Honda and Nissan both have a good reputation. It depends on how far you take the modifications.

[clutch-monkey]

old nissan's do not have a good reputation for reliability.....

[whiteballz]

i should know :(

but it will be back shortly.. better then ever.. go the nissan.