1Quick1:

I shift at 9000 all of the time. When the red light goes on I shift. I get to do it twice: 1-2 and 2-3.

There is no advantage to not reving the motor to the limit. No street motor taxes its valve springs to the point of fatigue or the crank, rods, pistons, or pins. Those are the areas for a race motor. My SBC late model motor goes through two sets of valve springs per year, piston pins and valves every year, pistons every two years, and the rods and crank on a 3-5 year basis. Now everything in that motor is light to point of not having much reserve.

Note: SBC's like mine use "honda" rod journal sizes: 1.88" vs the 2.0 or 2.1 Chevy sizes. Although on the next major rebuild it may go to piston guided rods with 1.771 journals (I think from a BMW, reduces rod weight from 515gm to 440 or so.)

 

My opinion:

If you have an '00-03, you'll love it.
If you have an '04 you'll love it.
If you go from a '00 to a '04 you'll get used to it and be happy.
If you go from a '04 to a new '00-03 you'll get used to it and be happy.

These are all great cars.

Therefore IMO there's only one real dimension along which you need to think: do you want the investment but risk of a four year old car, or the security but pricetag of a new one? Personally with that TL coming in, I'd keep your '00 for a bit longer unless you're concerned about its reliability. (How many miles?)

 

Another thread like this.........just search it's been discussed million of times before.

 

I have a bunch of cars (530 being replaced by TL, S2000 being discussed here, 94 Supra TT, 00 Yukon XL 2500, 38 Buick Special, and 97 Port City late model stock bodied as 99 Monte Carlo).

I would like some of the upgrades. Only 12.5k miles...but new tires coming up. A few parking lot dings.

Basically, this costs about $5k. The immediate loss (cash minus difference in trade-in values) and long term (relative trade-in values 4 years from now). Tires and warranty mitigate maybe $1-2k of difference.

 

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Pharrel
I ordered my '04 on 24 jan. 2004 and gonna get it on in the week of the 15 march.
I could take an '03 model right away. Then it was a second hand with 14000km on it. But we don't have de 2.2 with 8k, we still have the 2.0 with 9k. I spoke to another guy who already has an '04 (gyrofx) and he was amazed about the more torque it had.

 

I'm in the same boat as you, David. But, what I like about '04 is the cosmetic change. I like the new front and rear bumper, new lip, head and tail lights, wheels, etc.

Plus, if I order the '04, I got the chance to get the hard top, lip, and rear wing with it and have them all lump in to the car loan, so I don't have to save up the whole bunch of money again to buy them, have them paint, and install later down the road (which is really difficult and very sad for my wallet...).

What I don't like about '04 is it has only 2k in VTEC. In '03 you can stay at 7-8k and you still have 1k worth of RPM to slow down and 1k more to rave up, all within VTEC range. In '04, It would be much easier to fall off or hit the limitter. In this case, I think '04 is, indeed, more intense (or scary) since your eyes have to stay on the techo real closely!

If I stick with my '03 and put money to upgrade everything, such as a set of good 17' wheels+tires, lip, wing, hard top, etc, I will came out waaaay above $5,000. But, if I put this $5,000 down for an '04, I will have all that jazz and possibly even lower my car payment too!!!

'Till this minute, I still don't know what will I do. There's also a battle going on between my head and my heart. Let us know what you end up doing....

 

And you've been here for only 89 days!

 

Keep your MY00!!!!
Unless you have money out to ying yang, it makes perfect sense to enjoy your MY00


Do yourself a favor. Think!

 

i vote to keep your '00 too....
if you want to spend more money, why not just do some custom upgrades to your car?