Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I've always thought that struggling financially because you own an expensive car is one of the lamest things you can do to yourself.

Question for the OP...do you even want a stock AP2?

 

Totally!!!
"whatever is the cheapest way to make you happy is the smartest decision"

 

Not a bad thing, finally a not-at-fault accident on your record!

My guess is unless you take up visiting the track regularly, that an N/A S isn't going to satisfy you after being superfast. But I also don't see a cost-effective option to replace it and keep your need for go-fast satisfied. An e46 M3 might sound nice but it'll just numb your senses compared to the S, a Cayman would do it but $$.

I contradict my initial thought now and say go back to N/A and just enjoy the car for what it is, and start seeing the good in some other great aspects of it: appearance, top down cruising, awesome handling and track fun.

Save some cash! I've been tempted to sell my STOCK S to put a little more money in my pocket, though I know how happy it makes me and I'm not willing to sacrifice that just to have an extra few grand a year. I'd rather bear-down and work at little harder at the office and spend each day relaxing in my convertible dream car

 

Buy a beater

Switch insurance onto the beater (probably 120/mth)

Your now saving 160/mth you can put against the loan on the s2000

Take your time and repair the s2000 at your pace

When your loan is done, sell the beater for close to what you paid for it

Drive the s2000

*forgot the money savings on the fact that you're not using premium and you'll probably get 24+ mpg instead of 18

This will work if you can store your car somewhere where you won't be tempted by it's seducing qualities, else you will break pittifully within 2-3 weeks (I would put $50 on that).

I imagine it took you a while to get the car the way you like it and the time and effort into dissassembling the car then down the road looking for a new one, then the growing pains of getting a new turbo etc etc.

Your time = money, don't overlook that


Good Luck!


Your lady doesn't like a convertible but likes a civic???

 

Not really

 

It's funny, and I was talking to my girlfriend about what other car I could own as a compromise the other day. That since I've experienced such a fast car, my desire to have anything else has completely gone away. For instance, if I sell the car and buy a beater, I would have NO reason to want to own any other "nice" car. If the point of a car is "just" to get around, then a beater can do it just as well as any other $10K+ vehicle.

Why pay thousands and thousands of dollars for something that would get me around as well as a 1,000 dollar car? You can say for reasons like comfort, looks, more power, and reliability... Comfort I don't care about, looks I don't care about, the power of a typical street car is worthless to me now unless it's as quick as what I already have, and reliability is the only reason I can see buying anything worth more than 1K.

She has wanted me to get another 99/00 Si for years now (she bought a matching 96 civic EX 5spd because she liked the body style so much), and could not understand why I would have no desire to own anything unless it was as fast as what I have, or to get a cheap POS.

If I spent a ton of money on something like an E46 for example, I'd just be unhappy that it wasn't as fast as my S was, and I'd end up pouring thousands into it to satisfy my acceleration needs just like I did with the S.

This damn car has RUINED me!

In other words, I do need a running car and my car does have some issues that would need to take care of if I were to sell it. I don't think I really have the time to strip the car, box everything, and sell it piece by piece as I am in school or working nearly 80 hours a week. If I were to sell the car stock, I'd have to fix some body damage that I have, and rebuy back parts like injectors, air pump, and whatnot which would cost me a few thousand just to sell the car for a reasonable price.

I am going to keep it for now, and I think I will be putting on the 3mm headgasket and keeping it turbo for now. I am going to try and work more (yes, I know that sounds crazy despite working or at school 80 hours/week without a day off) and just see how things go. I will always be able to tear off the turbo in the near future if need be.

In the mean time, I am going to send my AEM logs and map to Ya at Inlinepro and see what he thinks, as he said that my tune may be too aggressive (I am beginning to believe him).

 

You never stated how much you spend keeping the turbo up. If you are about to pay the car off, then just do that. You will be saving like 50% of your money.

Besides, if you're getting engaged then you can use her money for other bills too. Also, you will probably start making more money after graduation.

I say, fix the turbo, pay off the car, and keep going.

 

Option 5 again.

"Honey, I'm spending so much on this car that I need you to pay the rent. That's cool with you, right?"

 

^hahaha... a little exaggerated though I pay my bills and get by okay, or else I wouldn't have gone turbo in the first place.

It's just that it's preventing me from really "advancing" in life in terms of saving and getting married and whatnot. I'm just more or less "stagnant" but I am going to be working more (I have a 2nd sit at home job where I make temperature sensors in my spare time that I haven't been doing much lately and a 3rd car detailing/paint correction job that I make roughly 30/hour doing that I haven't done much recently because it's been 90+ degrees outside) and hopefully this will help a bit. If not, the turbo can always be sold later and at least I'll have the knowledge to know how to change my headgasket since a friend is helping me do it!

Who knows though - I might just end up stopping by Honda and picking up an OEM gasket and headbolts before Sunday because I should be more financially responsible