Recommendations for a good daily

[chris240]

And if you buy an MX5 you can also "do" everyones hair...

 

 

waiting waiting...

[herrods]

2 elephant and a symbol.....

 

fall on you

[FuzzyDropbear]

Steve, try and keep away from cam belt drive and stick with cam chains on any cheap little Japanese 4 Cylinder cars, they will go forever. ...

 

Agreed, my '90 Pintara (2.4L 4 cylinder) has over 330,000kms on the original timing chain and it hasn't even started to rattle! But it's still getting changed if I ever get holidays. I know of a few who have made it past 500,000kms before the chain broke or was replaced.

 

If I was to get another car, I rekon it'd have to be a 4x4 ute. You have your Z for a sports car, so why get another when you can get a vehicle which will enable you to pick up hardware, toys for the garage, car parts, shopping, chuck the dog and the women (the ones which are flocking to your Z  ) in the back and also pick the kids up from school. Convenient and you have your Z as your sports car.. Cause, you know that if you buy another sports car, you'll end up spending more money on it to 'improve' it. ha! 

[Scando]

One of my favourite dailys was a Datsun Sunny.  Very reliable and economical.  And in todays times there's something fun about a car you can drive constantly like you're in a race without breaking the speed limit 

[stevo_gj]

Wow what a great range of replies. Thanks guys.

 

4x4 ute is tempting, but we already have a 4WD that I can borrow for holidaying.

 

Also utes aren't quite cheap enough for what this car will mainly be. I think some time down the track I will get one, but for now I'll stick with a small sedan/hatch.

 

I'm leaning towards a Nissan Pulsar. I can pick up a 2002 N16 pulsar with 120K on it for around the $5-6K mark. It's an N16 though so not sure if it's still got the good reviews. There are plenty of the N15s too they just mostly have around 180-220K on the clock.

 

I've lived with a 2 seater car for two and a bit years now. No one expects me to be taxi driver anymore and now I'm the one getting frustrated by my lack of options.

 

Anyone got any feedback specific to the Pulsar's?

 

If you have another suggestion please speak up!

[.]

Pulsar GTIR!!!!!!

[herrods]

As I said, we have a 2001 N15 Pulsar SSS auto, so SR20de, 5 speed auto box.

 

Its a great little car, but I would HIGHLY reccomend buying one in manual.  the autos are smooth etc etc greatb to drive, but not if you are in any form of anything that may resemble a hurry.

 

the SR20 as you know has a timing chain, so you wont have any worries there, and the interior fitout on the SSS (dunno if its different to standard) is very good, and very hard wearing.

 

the GTI-R is a N14, is older, and has most likely been thrashed to within an inch of its life.  that being said they are an awesome car.

[Bruce]

I have an N14 sss pulsar, great car for the money. The SR20 is a great motor.  It just loves to rev

 

[stevo_gj]

Is the SR20 better from a reliability point of view? SSS would be alright but yeah I can tell from the ads that everyone selling them has thrashed them. High probability of getting a lemon I think.

 

Anyone have a pulsar that's not a SSS?

[Lynton]

Steve these are cool cars and you can swap bits to keep them running!!

http://digiads.com.au/carsales/used-cars/USED-1977-DATSUN-240K-SEDAN-CAR-FOR-SALE-SOUTH%20GRAFTON-NSW-2460.htm#adPhotoTop

Lynton

[herrods]

someone correct me if im wrong

 

a pulsar comes in three basic motor categories.  1.6L, 1.8L and 2.0L

 

the ONLY pulsar with teh 2L is the SSS, and above this is the GTi-R, having 2L turbo.

 

you cant have an SR20 pulsar without going a SSS.

 

if you go for a standard no mods one, you shouldnt have a problem, the SSS car is split between the sensible, never modded wants a daily driver probably bought it new, and the thrashers candy paint chrome wheels couldnt quite afford a sports car crowd.

 

if you dont want a SSS, then you cant have an SR20, u end up with the 1.8 or god forbid the 1.6L

 

as far as my pulsar knowledge serves me....

[Lynton]

The only decent Pulsar and engine is the N16 Year 2000/2003

Lynton

[stevo_gj]

hehe thanks herrods, that's what I meant.

 

I guess I should have written: does anyone have a 1.6L or 1.8L Pulsar?

 

240Ks, 200Bs, 120Y are all really nice. If I can grab a nice cheap one of them when I'm ready to buy my daily I might just do it

 

Did you own one of the N16 pulsars Lynton?

[Lynton]

I have driven quite a few of them, the hatchback is versatile and they have the same general mechanics almost as my S15. they drive very well and the manual is great. They also have air bags!! A really terrific economical car, cheap to service also. Lynton

[DatPilot]

What about the RMR30 Skyline? has the 2.4 EFI (L24e) R180 Independant rear, if you get the hatch back Ti version you get 4 wheel disks, power steering , aircon, electric windows and mirrors. Very comfy and cruisey, does 0-100km/h in 9 seconds flat (only weighs 1250kg) and the auto is fairly good (Ti only, has overdrive!) sits at 2100RPM at 100km/h

many spares could be had and interchanged from the Z cars, gets 10lt/100km with ease, easy to fix, cheap to buy and cheap to insure. I have bought 5 over the last 4 years, all were CHEEAP

$400 (good one, now turbo'ing)

$350 (ok, stripped and sold bits off making a $1600 profit)

$50 (very sad, stripped again and sold to scrap)

and the last one was $100, still in the garage, just about empty. (stripped_)

 

Its roomy, easy to fit everyone in. Room for bikes in the bak, can even fold everything flat and camp

still Nissan, its got retro 1980's nostalgia, so reliable its not funny. IF you get the bug, you can always slide in an L28e from the 280zx

 

 

BUT.... the Pulsar is HEAPS better on fuel, and likely would have less km (most R30 Skylines are in the 200k to 300k mark)

 

But cheap... a good regoed and rwc R30 would be around the $2000 mark

[chartoo]

Not that i would ever push my little pulsar hard  ...but a friend told me they do fantastic handbrakies round the corners with the front wheel drive

[bluerat]

Now fellas, I think you have all missed the point.

There is only one vehicle that truly ticks all the boxes and that is a 80 series Landcruiser. There is simply no better daily driver on the planet.  First of all they are - reliable, mega reliable - ours has done nearly 500,000km and all we have done is change the oil and put tyres on it!!  Sure parts can be a bit expensive, but you don't need them, Toyota must have warehouses full of 80 series parts. Secondly they will tow anything, anywhere..get your Cat D9 bogged, roll in the Cruiser!!  Parking??  That's never a problem, people move out of the way when you're in a supermarket car park, that my friends, is real respect! Dent wise the only thing that will hurt them lives in a mine site, trust me nothing else will even scratch them. I once Liberarchied a lady in a Tarago who stopped in the middle of a merge lane and it shortened the people mover but didn't even scuff the chrome on the Cruiser. Want to head off around Australia, just chuck the tent and the esky in the back and off you go. Sure they use a bit of fuel, but once you're behind the wheel of the big girl the price of fuel will soon forgotten as the pure driving pleasure takes over.  Who needs handling at highway speed anyway, it's overrated.  They don't register on the Police radar, mine has 11.5 inch wide tyres, modified suspension, big air intake, flairs, and the coppers don't look twice, try this on any other car and see how many defects you get!  You can also hold your head up when talking to people...'so what do you drive mate?' 'A Cruiser', you can't do this with a Camry, or a Pulsar or some hairdressers car. Trust me and get a 80 Series Cruiser....or a Datsun 1600, but dont get me started on that!

[stevo_gj]

brilliant

[chris240]

just to throw a spanner in the works, try considering a 97-99 model celica...SX or ZR...just a little bit more nicer than a Poosar ...IMHO ..a lot of car for $7k & not too bad kms..

found this one within 30 seconds..

http://www.carpoint.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=8234447&YearFromShort=1640&__Qpb=true&keywords=&Cr=14&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Price_Decimal%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Make_String%7c0%7c%7cpCar_Model_String%7c0&SearchAction=N&__N=834%201216%201247%201282%201252%201246%204294962861%204294962171%20462%20443%20%201640&PriceFrom=462&PriceTo=443&seot=1&silo=1011&__Nne=15&trecs=33&__sid=12701DBCDA7F

[Bruce]

the ONLY pulsar with teh 2L is the SSS, and above this is the GTi-R, having 2L turbo.

you cant have an SR20 pulsar without going a SSS.

 

the n14 pulsars had the sr20 in the TI's and some Q's as well

they are getting on to 20 years old now, so getting one with reasonable kms is a task

[Scando]

It's possible to pick-up cheap GTI-R's but I'd steer clear.  Everything is impossible to get at in the engine bay which means big $$$'s for labour everytime you need something done.  Most places charge around $1000 labour to do a clutch!

 

Very hard to find a good one nowdays but AE93 GTI Corollas are great little cars.

 

Also, I've owned a couple of R30 Skylines like DatPilot and you can't beat that L series reliability.  One did over 500,000k's on the original engine.

 

 

[RBZ 260]

may have some light on this.

 

OK Pulsars..... not POOLSARS...

 

we had a 99 Pulsar Plus 1.6 manual with few mods. like JDM grill fog lights power windows 16" wheels and rear apexi muffler. car looked awsome. only done 80k km great to drive around city. he had made 19k on it in 2 years besides replacing the battery the car was faultless. though gutless around hills and lightly loaded. done approx 8-9l per 100km. we sold it to the first guy that came to see it. it was low kms for its time and we were asking a fair bit more than the rest. but sold it still see the car around with same owner so looks like he still enjoys it.

 

just before my 260z accident i was driving a 93 e36 318i bmw. great car to drive economy wasnt bad. if u get a good one its be trouble free as long as u stay away from auto and replace the damn alternator. if alternator is on the way out u get all sort of problems not pointing to alternator. LOL. parts were reasonable but insurance was a killer.

 

I used to drive a 1990 Pintara front wheel CA20 bak in the days of P plates never missed a beat. Pintara TRX the top of line model looks cool and are very cheap around 2-3 K

 

when my Z was gone i needed exactly what u after. but in a hurry.

 

my short list was for a budget that started from 1k and grew to 3k.

 

1.commonwhore ute : great for building the house

2. Cordia turbo

3.EXA ET turbo

4.calais VL turbo

5. Corrola SX

6. Celica SX

7. 300zx

8. sss bluebird

9.Pulsar sss or Q sr20 or cheap N15

10.280zx

11 Suzuki GTI

13. anything that was interesting sub 3k mark

 

ended up finding a 94 suzuki GTI for 2100 from advertised 2900.

 

books and reciepts, power windos and mirrors. nice racing seats. no power steer or A/C who needs it but its an awsome go-cart. fuel $35 for 2 weeks. or roughly 9L per 100 with heavy foot. insurance is cheap and parts are reasonable i had 3m "L" beams through it some 350kg

its rattly etc... but 95% of the time i dont bother even locking it up....

 

[peter t]

Hey Steve you can have my wife's 93 Subaru Liberty wagon cheap. Just needs a new engine.

[260Devil]

how about a toyota ke70?

cheap as chips, extremely light and its an old toyota engine so you know itll run aslong as the earth