I Need Help Making a Decision

[Salvarath]

For those of you who do not want to read that, it's either stick with the 240 or sell it and pursue cinematography/editing with the money I get from selling it. For more info read below.

Hi everyone, my names Jake and I'm seventeen in highschool. I bought my first two 240sx's when I was sixteen, sold the first one because it was a piece of shit and found my second one. I've been working on it as I have time and money, but because I pretty much pay for everything I'm not sure that I can finance a 240 build. Currently it's sitting on jack stands, has a bent frame, cracked windshield, unregistered, uninspected, etc. The only reason I should stay with this shell is that it has 70,000 miles all original, but I have other passions I would like to pursue instead of just dumping all my money into this car. So here's my dilemma: It's either stick with the 240 or pursue my passion in cinematography/video editing. Prior to being into cars I did a lot of computer stuff and filming. So it's either spend all my money and time on this car or spend my money and time learning and progressing with cameras and computers. I can only afford one because my parents won't help me so I have to make the decision. The way I look at it is build the car of my dreams or pursue the career of my dreams, but I don't want to just give up my first 240. There are some things that I could do to attempt to have both, but it would just put more strain on me, I have a hard time meeting ends meet in school and at home as it is. So what do you think I should do? I'm just looking for another opinion or some advice. Any reply is appreciated - Jake

[Salvarath]

So stick with the 240 or go into video editing? I'm not sure what to do and could use some advice.

[Driftwire]

You have to decide which is worth more to you. I know a kid whos seventeen and just got a contract with garret turbos. I also know kids who are gods with cameras. Decide which is worth more.

Slight example (may not be related) : Would you rather be the guy drifting around the track, or the guy taking pictures and videos of the other people drifting around the track. Which role do you like better

[silnv]

With a bent frame and high school money to work with, I would move on. Get something you can reliably use and enjoy the rest of your time in high school.

[Future240]

You choice is an easy one. One of those you can turn into a career. The other is a money pit that has a bent frame.

Who cars if it has 70,000 miles on it? It is a unibody car with a bent frame, sell it.

Cars are not investments they hold no value, you will never make the amount back you put into it. There are tons of s13's, get another years from now.

Life tip: formatting makes people take you serioulsy.

[Salvarath]

You have to decide which is worth more to you. I know a kid whos seventeen and just got a contract with garret turbos. I also know kids who are gods with cameras. Decide which is worth more.

Slight example (may not be related) : Would you rather be the guy drifting around the track, or the guy taking pictures and videos of the other people drifting around the track. Which role do you like better

First off, this is why I love zilvia, what a fast response time from the community. Next:

I would much rather be the driver, but in my eyes it's unlikely that dumping thousands of dollars into this car will pay off unless I treat it like a career. I don't mean to sound like a cocky teenager, but I'm a good driver; I've put 30 something miles of unregistered no license plate drifting around my neighborhood in the 240. Every time someone I know gets a car they have me test drive it, I get complements from adults all the time that I can drive better than a lot of people. I have confidence in myself that I can learn and progress as a driver but I don't have the confidence that I can make a living from driving. I do have the confidence that I can make a living from video production though, and again I'm very good at it. People ask me to film their weddings or to edit stuff for them or take a look at their projects because I know a lot about it. This is why the decision is so tough to me.

Any reply is appreciated

[Salvarath]

Life tip: formatting makes people take you serioulsy.

By this do you mean as a piece of advice if I have a more professional layout to whatever I'm doing people will take me more serious or do you mean that I should have formatted my post better? Sorry just trying to be clear

[Future240]

By this do you mean as a piece of advice if I have a more professional layout to whatever I'm doing people will take me more serious or do you mean that I should have formatted my post better? Sorry just trying to be clear

Second one. When you put up a wall of text like that a lot of people are just going to glaze over it (hence the second post) if you post like that in Zilvia chances are it is not the only written (typed) means you may do it in.

I personally believe whether on a message board or on a legal document one should always present themselves the best they can.

[Salvarath]

I personally believe whether on a message board or on a legal document one should always present themselves the best they can.

I understand, I edited the post to be more concise. I am heavily considering selling the car, but do you think that probably 5+ years from now when I have the money I'll be able to find a non-molested, low mileage, clean shell?

[stigo]

Sounds like you have not been driving your 240 and is not driveable...so is it possible that you can keep it and store it until you have time and money to work on it?

[eek]

Its your life you should do whatever you want to do. Why are you asking a bunch of people you dont even know for life advice?

Anyhow the educated choice is to stick with computers and film which may lead to a promising career. But getting into cars and learning about them isnt bad either. It can lead you into another path say shop owner, fab/design guru, master mechanich etc which can be a good career. Choice is yours, personally my thoughts are stick with school education, get a good job to make lots of monies so you can use it to spend on fun dumb stuff which could include building a beat up s13 240sx.

[Ilya]

Give man a fish and he will feast well, teach a man to fish and he will feast for his life...

[Future240]

I understand, I edited the post to be more concise. I am heavily considering selling the car, but do you think that probably 5+ years from now when I have the money I'll be able to find a non-molested, low mileage, clean shell?


Define clean.

I would not consider a bent frame clean. I think you can find one yes. There are a metric ton of S13's in the hands of older people. I know of an lady in my moms neighborhood that drives a candy red vert. I used to pass by one in a "buy here pay here" stealership every day. With enough time and patience<----Key word here, you can find just about anything.

[blueshark123]

Get a career! If you still think about building a car then do it once you have steady income but as of now whatever little money/income you have it will take you forever to fix up that car and in the end probably will be half assed due to money constraints.

I actually supported my car build in part by doing wedding photography and now I am in Finance, so trust me don't bother fixing it up now and later on revisit this idea. You can probably get a better deal in the future and get something semi-built already.

[tricky_ab]

Here's the thing. You are still very young. You're still figuring things out for yourself! Honestly cars are money pits, and it sounds like you can put that money to better use. The car is not currently doing anything but taking space in the garage.

I would sell it and see where your other choice takes you.


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[dluevanos01]

An s13 (20 year old car) will require constant maintenance and you will NOT leave it stock no matter how much you tell yourself that.

I'm currently in school (3 yr economics and math major) and I can assure you that having a project car will affect your grades and availability to work or study. My GPA is not the best but it could be higher if I did not have my car. Don't get em wrong, I love that pile of parts more than I thought. And I cant see me not owning it now. But if I could go back I probably would wait to buy a project car.

Don't know how bad the theft rate is in your area but I'm always worried about it being stolen or broken into. When I lend the daily to my sister It's hell going to work and school.

My opinion is sell it, go to school and buy a car when you have a steady income. OR keep the car and find a job. Honestly, I don't want to discourage you. It can be done, but it takes a whole lot of dedication and hard work. I couldn't sell my car and didn't want to drop out to work, so I've only been able to fund my car by starting my own business. Nothing beats being your own boss and not working a 9-5.

[sleepyS14se]

i dont see this bent frame s13 selling for much, keep the car and store it and just pursue your dreams of photography

[defcon86nwh]

I was in your position not to long ago. Sold my 1st 240 shell for a camera lens.

Last year sold my 2nd 240 BC I needed a back up camera if I was going to get serious with shooting weddings. Ended up with a canon 5d mark iii :)

This year I have my 3rd but I'm more established with the business and have a house.

You're young follow the cinematography path. It will lead to more doors.

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[spooled240]

your car won't make you money, but a career in cinematography would.

sell the car, get something reliable for a daily and focus on your career/future.

[akaina240]

"the things you own, end up owning you."
dude really? go cinema 100%. if u put ur best effort in, ull be able to have enough $ to do whatever the fuck u want with ur 240 later

[Future240]

Op I would hope by now your choice is quite obvious.

[Trinidrift3]

I'm with the career choice here. look at it this way; many media people such as Larry Chen, Dino, Shreeve, Hert etc they all make a living doing media, but they still have their fun with their cars.

[Salvarath]

Thanks everyone, although there may be an "obvious" choice, it's what I love, I've got to make the decision soon and I'm still torn between the two. Like all other enthusiasts I spend most of my free time looking at cars, parts for cars, working on my car, etc. And recently that's all I've done, it takes away from you like an obsession. It might be good to take a break. Haha in this area that's what I'm known for is this damn car, I'm gonna have to figure out how to tell people I don't have it anymore. Thanks for the input everyone, I appreciate it but I'm still torn. I go back and forth everyday. FUCK IT, I'm selling it or parting it out. hahahaha Hello nice camera gear!

[soundboy]

Cars won't do anything for you. Get a daily vehicle and use it. Modding cars gets expensive fast. Wait till your financial safe and then start on your vehicle.

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[DJ-of-E]

Thanks everyone, although there may be an "obvious" choice, it's what I love, I've got to make the decision soon and I'm still torn between the two. Like all other enthusiasts I spend most of my free time looking at cars, parts for cars, working on my car, etc. And recently that's all I've done, it takes away from you like an obsession. It might be good to take a break. Haha in this area that's what I'm known for is this damn car, I'm gonna have to figure out how to tell people I don't have it anymore. Thanks for the input everyone, I appreciate it but I'm still torn. I go back and forth everyday. FUCK IT, I'm selling it or parting it out. hahahaha Hello nice camera gear!

It's your life. Think of it this way, this guy had to do this judgement back then and choose career over building up his 240z.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VRnBKfPOvw

Hello, even after I had a career, I had to sell my 240sx because I choose to reassess my priorities earlier to have a better end. My goals is to have a neat retirement plan and buy a house so I could come home and work on the car. No "I work on car @ parent's place" or "need to pay rent or buy more shocks" decisions.