To sell... or not to sell, 'tis the question.

[The Green Goblin]

Hi gents,

So I have reached a position in my life where i have owned & enjoyed my dream car for about 6 years now.. its a nissan 200sx s15. It's pretty clean, reliable, quick ofcourse & represents a solid definition of a true japanese FR sports car. Since ownership it's use has been limited to weekends only, never seen the track..ive been to the drag strip a couple of times but mostly street driving/cruising around the coast, natio park etc. Iv’e looked after it quite well, transformed it from stock form..it’s basically been my pride & joy.

A little while a go i acquired a 'run around' (random/serendipity) car being an auto na6..within the back of my mind i knew that one day it would turn into a track car...although i need to pour some funds into it before i can call it that..being the manual conversion & all associated parts, tyres/wheels, suspension/sway bars, larger brakes/calipers, bucket seat/steering wheel, roll bar, full exhaust + intake perhaps. Otherwise as a base, it’s a fun little car with a great chassis & much potential.

So I have attended some mx5 nsw club track days/skid pans as a spectator & this only made me want to persue the mx even more..i also attended a track school track day & drove a well prepped NB which again solidified my thoughts. Though the hard part here is.. sadly i cant keep both cars as its not really practical nor financially viable..really, there can only be one fun/hooligan car.. so given this, here are my thoughts & questions to any of you here who have been in a similar position - or have had a similar decision to make, also for those of you who currently own & use your mx5 for a similar purpose (appreciate if you can be completely honest here):

• Would it be worthwhile letting go of the beloved s15.. in order to persue the mx5? i.e. what can I expect from the mx..
• has anyone here owned a silvia or any other turbo FR car..if so how would you compare it to the mx?
• can I see the same sort of adrenalin/fun in it being a underpowered n/a?
• are they reasonably cheap to run & or fix if breakage happens?
• Would it cost much acquiring the above mentioned parts?
• Is worth just dropping in a 1.8 motor + gbox instead of the manual conversion?
• What, if any.. are the cons of owning an na6?

My main goals are to improve my driving skills, experience & get into circuit racing.. not be too anal about damaging it like I am with the s15 & basically have fun. Im not very mechanically skilled, the plan is to learn as i go but initially would take it to workshops to have the above done..so would need to factor in labour also.

So what would you do if you were in my shoes, knowing what you know about the mx? P.S apologies for the long post.. had to give some context.

The cars in question: Gilbert the s15


The Green goblin:


Cheers,
Jas

[rossint]

Sell both, buy a turbo manual NB for the track/fun weekend car, you'll have the best of both worlds. I'm not sure it's worth putting the money into an auto MX5 unless there's some sentimental connection to the car.

[The Green Goblin]

a) plan is it wont stay auto for long..
b) i think the high reving nature of the motor suits it.. wouldnt want to go turbo in this car
c) the mx has grown on me quite a bit.. even though its noisy, uncomfortable at times & i swear at the way it shifts (damned auto box)
d) i wanted something under 10k.. the turbo NB's go for much more than that..

[NitroDann]

This man speaks the truth.

Build something like this and never look back.



Dann

[sailaholic]

1) dunno we can help there
2) not me
3) depends on how you like your fun
3) yes.
4) how longs a piece of string? What level of gear new or used ?
Guessing
Good used wheels with I'm tires 1200?

Suspension (don't bother with bars spend it on the shocks and springs and get the correct spring rates) 1600 plus fitting

You won't need the bigger brakes until your better or turbo. Just use good pads and fluid. Maybe 400? 500? For na8/nba set up. Close to 1000 for the NBb units. Somewhere in between or more for aftermarket (willwood etc)

Sparco spint v. $400

Wheel? Depends. I'm happy with factory.
Rollabr 800
Harness 250? Cheaper used, particularly if out of code for FIA (still good for club level)
Exhaust depends.

Depends on eventual plans. Are you going to compete in club champs? If so think about what class and base mods on that. If not turbo will give more power then just a 1.8 swap.

The auto engines ran different compression, smaller cams and a different computer so you need to change it all to equal a manual 1.6

B6 engine 400?
Bp engine is about 1000 used
5 SP Gearbox is about 150 used (same box for 1.6 and 1.
Pedals 100
Computer ?
Plus fitting ( good idea to do the swap while you still have the s15 to drive)

The cheapest way to get a good car is let someone else spend all the money then buy it complete.

There are a couple of turbo nbs for sale on here and a couple of road going race cars. I'd pick one of them if you plan upgrading bits.

Or do it Gurans way an take a complete stocker and spend the extra car money on tires fuel and entry fees and drive the balls off it until you get disqualified from stock class for being to fast but too short on hp to play to win in modified.





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[emily_mx5]

Another vote for sell both for turbo NB.
Nb8a are worth nothing currently, turbo system is like 4k max and that's everything perfect.
AutoNA6 is absolutely the worst mx5 to start with as a base for such heavy modifications, especially as you will be paying labour.


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[Aussie Stig]

This man speaks the truth.

Build something like this and never look back.



Dann

Don't listen to this man, he's about as dodgy as they come. Teases us with cars like this and never finishes them.

viewtopic.php?f=57&t=60963

Bah Humbug!

[NitroDann]

Dammit forgot that thread

[Magpie]

AutoNA6 is absolutely the worst mx5 to start with as a base for such heavy modifications.

I disagree mine started from an Auto NA6.
The Green Goblin what is your budget and timeframe?

Or do it Gurans way an take a complete stocker and spend the extra car money on tires fuel and entry fees and drive the balls off it until you get disqualified from stock class for being to fast but too short on hp to play to win in modified.

This is what I should have done first, then modified the car as skill improved. Now it is a case of skill getting to the level of the car

[TTT]

• Would it be worthwhile letting go of the beloved s15.. in order to persue the mx5? i.e. what can I expect from the mx..

If you don't require rear seats "at all" and don't get to use the power that the S15 has, then yes, sell and spend money on the NA. What you can expect is fun each time you drive it anywhere.. no power, but fun.

• has anyone here owned a silvia or any other turbo FR car..if so how would you compare it to the mx?

Yes.
1 x S13 SR20det - 160rwkw
2 x RB20det R32 GTST - 160rwkw
1 x RB25det R33 GTST - 175rwkw
1 x RB25det R32 GTST - 190rwkw

I sold the last one to buy the NA6 I have now. Forget about power... they have none, that's just how it is.
mine has exhaust, intake, coilovers, frame rail brace, rollover bar, braided brake and clutch lines, slotted/drilled disks, RE002 tyres on 15s and a fixed back seat.
I can't explain how much more fun it is to drive the mazda.
I only drive it on occasional weekends and only on fun roads (google maps mount nebo and mount glorious to find out what I mean).
It is not powerful but it can carry plenty of speed on corners and is so light and chuckable that you can't help smile.
even though it's not fast, the throttle response from off to on makes it feel very lively.. something you just don't get with turbo cars.
and the sound from the intake is great.
You won't miss the 200.

• can I see the same sort of adrenalin/fun in it being a underpowered n/a?

As above.. it's not the same rush as being pushed in to your seat that you get from a turbo surge, but more then lively chassis and instant throttle response.

• are they reasonably cheap to run & or fix if breakage happens?

As I said, only drive it for fun so I am up it at every opportunity. still get around 8L/100km at worst. not had an issue with it yet.
My work mate has one which has the short nose crank motor (read here if you are not aware of it http://www.miata.net/garage/crankshaft.html ) so we recently picked up a complete low km long nose motor for $400. There is also heaps of places to order new or used parts from in Aus and overseas.. plenty of sponsors on here do great deals too.

tyres/wheels, suspension/sway bars, larger brakes/calipers, bucket seat/steering wheel, roll bar, full exhaust + intake perhaps
• Would it cost much acquiring the above mentioned parts?

I bought my wheels and tyres from this forum second hand for $800
Yellowspeed coilovers are about $1K - BC coilovers are about $1200
Sway bars are same for all cars really.. forum sponsors have them for under $300 and occasionally do deals or group buys..
brakes - if you are not going turbo, the stock brakes with good pads and braided lines with new fluid will do just fine. or there are NA8 brakes you can upgrade to cheaply.
Seat - brand new Sparco Sprint V can be purchased for $380 from GSL Rally - I got mine second hand for $200 then spend $50 to get bolster protector from MX5 mania
steering wheel - no air bag so price depends on your taste really.
Roll bar - I got second hand AGI bar from forums for $600. They do come up... or Forum sponsors Automotive plus in qld and mx5 mania in sydney have their own ones... about $1K give or take and depending on style you go for.
Exhaust/intake - like any other car.

• Is worth just dropping in a 1.8 motor + gbox instead of the manual conversion?

I believe there has been some discussion around the fact that the auto mx5's also got less powerful engines. not sure completely.. some research for you. as for 1.6 v 1.8 - I don't know.. I wouldn't bother personally because as I said... it's not about power in these things... and getting an extra 10-20kw for the cost of a conversion is not worth it to me personally.

• What, if any.. are the cons of owning an na6?

sunburn. because roof stays the ƒü¢k down!!! otherwise, why buy one.


/longest post in history

[NitroDann]

"even though it's not fast, the throttle response from off to on makes it feel very lively.. something you just don't get with turbo cars."

Not with compromised factory turbo cars.



HNNNG turbo NA's

Dann

[dave2221]

I did something similar, and went with the SE...

It was nicer for the street (having the leather, better stereo and better suspension, upgraded swaybars and brakes)

And if you want to track it, its a fantastic base car....

exhaust, air filter and inter cooler will net you about 140rwkw.
Decent brake pads and you have a very nice track day weapon that's civilized on the roads.

Past that, you have the same mods that all other cars have... (seat, rollbar, coils etc)
for the same money as your S15 and your NA6, you would have a well sorted daily with Air Con, and some supporting mods to make it fantastic at the track.

[Mr Morlock]

No one can tell you. Cars for those that retain an interest or start one and come back to it later often go the phases. I have a mate who started with US cars and dragsters and hot rods ( 45 years ago , and then to British classics , and motorbikes ( lots of them) and now the bikes are gone and the dragsters and hot rods and Mustangs etc are barely of interest but the Brits remain.

I would suggest that an NA which is a auto remain an auto not be chopped and buggered- there are plenty of manuals cars around and not expensive.

A 200sx is probably a good jigger but its never going to have much general appeal- another Japanese car that slipped thru the cracks. Racing cars can be very expensive and can be a phase and its something that will drop off the twig unless it is in the blood and one has the facilities or money etc to keep doing it. Chose between a house, a career, education etc- it becomes a balance for most people others just keep buying the jewellery and see little return in the long run.

Kws is not a big issue. A good driver gets results and has fun in a class or often with not the most powerful car .

[CQYD]

I went from s15 -> Evo 6 -> mx5

I've owned the mx5 twice as long as the other two and counting. Yes it is not a fast but it is so much more fun and cheaper to run. The fact that you don't get bothered by police is worth the change.

As said before, sell it and get a mildly worked example, savings in $$$, time and effort from engine + gearbox swap outweighs the change over cost to another car.

[WASP]

Hi as someone said earlier look around and buy one that has had the money and time spent on it. I currently have an SE 180rwhp. I did have an NA8 with a ROTREX supercharger, similar HP. The supercharged engine was much better than the Turbo, linear power, Turbo, little until 4000rpm then hang on to your hat. My ideal would be a Supercharged NB. Food for thought.
Cheers
Steven