I am thinking of buying a GS-R or a VTEC Prelude, 94 or up. I am planning on putting performance parts on it. But Everything I find in my price range have 90K plus miles. I have come to ask myself if buying one of these cars and putting performance parts is worth it? I mean you spend let's say 9,000K getting the car and you add about 6,000K to 9,000K in perfomance parts. Then when the car gets top like 150,000K miles you got to get ride of it. And when you sell the danm thing you will not even cover the cost you put on the car. So you LOSED some serious money for what? Weekend cruising, Racing a few cars, Talk about how much **** you have on your car. I guess I am at the point where the glamour of this performance car **** has faded and the reality has come forth. The only way I think it is worth putting all that performance **** on your car is when you get it almost brand new. In my situation does anybody else agree with me??????
Please tell me what you think I am going CRAZY just thinking about it all the time

 

you're adding 6K to 9K in parts?!?!

you better be making a ****** mustang spanker, jesus

my total spent on parts right now is like $900 (subtracting prices i sold my stock parts for)

 

i agree but it's a hobby. Your gonna be losing money w/ the new car anyways. besides, by getting a used car, think of replacing broke parts. Upgrading, less guilt then replacing w/ new parts. I got me my used car for that reason. It's an expensive hobby.


[Modified by John-GSR, 1:47 AM 7/4/2002]

 

As a lot of people are probably going to tell you, I think you don't have the right mentality for it. Why are you buying parts for your car? Is it to be cool? To impress other people? Because you think you're supposed to since you're getting a Honda? If you're worried about the "glamour" of the "import scene" then maybe it isn't worth it. Not that I know everyone on this board personally or anything, but I think it's safe to say most of us spend our time and money on our cars for ourselves. Whether it be for looks or performance, we enjoy getting that pesky tenth off our 1/4 time, taking that hairpin just a little faster, or hell, even just merging onto the highway with a little more confidence (hmm, guess I'm a little biased towards performance). Do whatever YOU want to do. Don't let others dictate your actions.

 

Well stated...

 

i agree is a hobby if you can't effort its don't play wit its.....

 

i agree

 

I agree with everyone else, this is a hobby. Also, you mod your car for YOU, not anyone else. And why would you have to get rid of your car at 150K miles??? I've got 143K on mine and just had the engine rebuit with some pistons and cams. And I did the rebuild because I wanted to upgrade, not because I needed it. When the mechancic tore down my engine, he said it was fine and that I didn't need a rebuild, but thats where the hobby comes into play.

 

i do it for my own personal satisfaction.

i enjoy driving my car. it's fun. i don't race others, i don't bling-bling rev. the only exterior mod i have is rims.

i put money into my car for the driiiiiiiiiive. that's 95% it. the other 5% is to put a on my face whenever i look at it.


[Modified by dLo GSR, 10:41 PM 7/3/2002]

 

you never get back wut you put in ur car. fact is most ppl would much rather have a stock car.

this is a hobby, have fun with it.

i do it for ***** and giggles

 

my sis has a 92 civic wit +200k miles and still runs farily well. (the a/c dont work any more). u shouldn't have to worry about givin up ur ride after 150k. these cars are engineered to last. like every one eles said. it's really just a hobby. just have fun wit it. if ur that concerned buy 2. use one as ur daily and the other as ur baby.

 

Weither you are driving the car, or moding the car, you are loosing money on it.

Very few cars actually gain value, and thats just what you have to live with while owning a car.

You spend money on oil changes, gas, maintenance, washes, wax, tires, and that doesn't increase the value of the car. Fact is, cars are just money pits

 

Welcome to the real world. Unfortunately you are finding what most people realize after dumping tons of money in a car already. And as people have already stated, you will never get back what you put into the car. That's just a fact of life. Whether you have the right "mentality" or not is irrelevant. It's whether you want to spend the money on your car or something else. The car may not be what's important to you or be a priority in your life and that is perfectly fine. I know for me, all that changed when my daughter was born. Now the 2 door GSR is not as practical anymore and one day soon I may sell it for an SUV.

However, to prevent wasting a lot of money (ie - $9k+), plan your mods out. Figure out what you want to do to your car like it's purpose (looks or performance, street or track, etc). Once you figure out what you want, make a budget and plan out your mods to get to your final goal. And if your final goal is the daily commute and save gas, budget for the regular maintenance and tune ups for your car.

The point is to do what makes you happy and not what the "social trend" dictates, because in the end, you are the one that is driving and enjoying the car, not the idiot revving on you in the next lane.

Good luck on whatever goal you choose!

 

Ok, if you think you'll be losing the money on your car by doin the mods and stuff, then I'm off the opinion that you don't quite understand the whole 'plays with cars' life. my integra has 121000 miles, and every mod I've done and will get done will be worth every penny. here's why: the driving excitement and joy I get when I feel the difference each part made and the satisfaction in knowing that I did it all myself. I improved on what honda considered excellent.....that's worth it for me!

 

I don;t know if it's a matter of "understanding" the whole car thing. I just think the guy has different priorities in life and his car is not a major one for him. just because he doesn't feel the same way as many on this board it doesn't make him less of an enthusiast.

I can understand both sides of the coin. When I was into the car more I would add things then dyno and tune the car to maximize performance and see if the part was beneficial. I think my AEM CAI and cams were some of the best mods I've done. But now I have a kid and the car is not as important anymore. Sure I'd like to do more to the car but I don't feel spending the $$ on a JDM header and bigger brakes is as important right now. I love road racing and I feel these would benefit me greatly, but I'd rather use the money elsewhere at this time. maybe on an SUV or some other car with 4 door.

But it all comes down to your priorities, not understanding of the "scene". Just ask the guy that spent $80k restoring the Yenko Camaro and selling at auction for $50k. He does it for the love of the car, not for the $$ return at sale, just like Carlos. Or ask 95blcklude what his priorities are. There is nothing wrong with changing priorities.

 

It's a hobby.

You do it for the love of the game.

You don't get rid of the car b'coz it's got 150K miles. You get rid of it b'coz you found a new love ie, another car that you wanna get your hand on.