I dont know what to do, fix? fix&sell? Sell&buy?

[Lances133]

Someone I know is selling his z24 for $3000 - Problem is i have nothing saved. This z24 is the first z24 i've driven and even for an automatic it's damn quick, i want a z so much more now. The novelty of my 2.2 is quickly wearing off I want to sell it so I can buy my friend's z, but the money i would have would all be from selling my current car. Problem with my current car is i think the transmission is going. So what i want to know, because i can't come to a decision myself, is what should i do? Try and sell my car as is? Fix the trans with a new one or a rebuild? (trying to avoid that because that's a hefty amount of money) or just drive this one around and save money? That's going to take awhile tho because i can only save about 500 a month tops, and i dont know how long my trans is gonna last. I want atleast 3k for the car, i'd be happy with that.

Also judging by the pros and cons of my car how much do you think it's worth?

Cons - Rot spot under the driverside door on the frame that'd im gonna be covering up with z24 sideskirts, trans might be going but of course i wouldnt let that be known unless they asked, numerous exhaust leaks from the clamps but i should be fixing those before i sell it, and it's not inspected yet but i should be doing that asap, and the lambo doors are a pain for a new person, certain way to open it and the drivers side you almost always have to push the latch inside the door back when you open it. I still have the stock hinges too.

Pros - lambo doors, clear blinkers, clear side markers, euro tails, Injen intake, Magnaflow catalytic converter, Magnaflow dual exhaust, Pace Setter header, Brembo drilled and slotted rotors, blue painted calipers and drums, 13" euro antenna, Eurolite headlight bulbs, brand new Toyo Proxy tires with a used spare, just installed Eibach Pro kit lowering springs, KYB AGX adjustable shocks/struts front & rear just installed, Konig 17" Blatant opal rims, z24 bumper and side skirts, very clean engine bay, lots of blue loom, blue painted motor, upgraded motor mount insert and upgraded lower motor mount, Vibrant front/rear strut bars, Sony X-plod cd deck, 2 JL 10" subs in box, 1600? watt amp, clean interior aside from floor, painted entire under carriage with black Rustoleum, within the last year replaced brake cables, brake pads twice, motor mounts, brand new water pump, numerous oil changes, valve gasket, serpentine belt, numerous fuel injector cleanings, cleaned the intake manifold. Oh and by the way i took the "shopping cart" off my trunk lol

[KustmAce]

If you decide to sell your car, PART IT OUT and sell it stock. You will get much, much more money that way.

[Lances133]

That's a good point kustm, i've never thought that way before, sadly enough.

[94VL]

With gas costs going skyward,the most economical engine is going to be highly prized shortly....the Quad 4s,and V6s are going to start growing dust...base 2.2s and EcoTechs will be the wave of the future market....
Slipping automatics will pale to fuel conserving standard sticks...

[spaceman88]

this is what my friend is doing or should i say did... he sold the engine and trans on his car... then went to the junkyard and bought a z24 engine and trans, and custom motor mounts and ecu.... works great... a little more work but saves money in the long run.

[OverAllComa]

Originally Posted by 94VL

With gas costs going skyward,the most economical engine is going to be highly prized shortly....the Quad 4s,and V6s are going to start growing dust...base 2.2s and EcoTechs will be the wave of the future market....
Slipping automatics will pale to fuel conserving standard sticks...

You know the Twin Cam gets 1 mpg less than a 2.2 on the highway, right? If memory serves, it was classified as a Low-Emissions Vehicle, even.

[angel_iz378]

what i would do (in fact I AM doing it) if you don't enjoy your car anymore, sell it (but be honest w/ yourself and others on the problems the car has) and buy the z. However you also have to take rising insurance costs and car repairs into account. If you think the tranny is on it's way out, it would be cheaper to just buy another tranny, but if that's not the only thing about the car that you're stressing about, then save yourself the headache and trade.

[Cold_Silence]

Originally Posted by angel_iz378

what i would do (in fact I AM doing it) if you don't enjoy your car anymore, sell it (but be honest w/ yourself and others on the problems the car has) and buy the z. However you also have to take rising insurance costs and car repairs into account. If you think the tranny is on it's way out, it would be cheaper to just buy another tranny, but if that's not the only thing about the car that you're stressing about, then save yourself the headache and trade.

J/w what are some signs of an auto transmission about to kick the bucket? Mine has a fair amount of k's on it but it seems to run smooth.

[Lances133]

When accelerating, instead of shifting at a high enough rpm it keeps reving for a couple seconds then it catches and kicks in and shifts. Or when you're at a dead stop and you try to go, it also revs for a second or two then kicks in and almost makes your head jolt back, depending on how much gas you were giving, or it just makes grinding or odd noises when shifting gears.

[Cold_Silence]

Ah ok thanks Lances, i should be good then, i was always worried if my tranny was gonna kick the bucket early..

[4dr92cavi4cyl]

It's even harder to decide with all these options now isn't it?

You could part it out and sell it, but are you sure you have all the stock parts, and the time to do it, just to do it all over again with the new Z24? I don't think you are going to get back what you have invested so far by just selling it, parting will get you some money, but wouldn't you like to have all those parts on the new Z? My logic tells me - Keep it!

Plus you don't have to go through getting new tags/reg., title, taxes, changing insurance premiums... yada yada yada...

My advice, keep the car and swap transmissions, since you have put a nice amount of work (and cash) into the car already. Cheaper and easy, junkyard trans and a few hours of labor...

OR - swap the 2.2OHV and auto trans for a 2.4orECO and 5-speed trans. It will take some work but it will be worth it, just need a hole in the firewall for the clutch, a brake and clutch pedal, and possibly a used center console. Other than that you'll need the usual motor swap stuff, ECU, harness, etc.

[Lances133]

Yeah, i'm just gonna keep it for now and save up some loot, i'm not gonna put alot more money into anymore tho, i had an epiphany the other day and i feel like i've wasted so much money, it feels pointless on a 2.2. I've spent over $3000 on it when i could have put that towards a 2.4 *sigh* oh well, live and learn.