Originally Posted by
Rochester
Had my L reg S13 since August 1986 and she's been my almost constant daily driver ever since.
Modded to stage 2 and (almost) utterly reliable, within the limits of usual consumables and a sensible regime of water pump and oil pump change. And three automatic gearboxes... but if you're running stage 2 @ 247bhp that goes with the territory.
Had / have the parts on hand to go stage 3 for the last four years, but it's always been a case of if it ain't broke don't fix it. Same with most of the upgrade parts I have gradually accumulated and put away in storage over the years. Including full manual conversion gearbox and uprated bits.
My policy has been to wait until something has worn out or given way and then fit the upgraded parts in storage to fix and upgrade.
However, such has proved to be the quality of the car and its components when in daily use - and I think that is the key - I have hardly needed to. Instead I have accumulated a garage full of pristine new unfitted upgrade bits it seems I will not now ever use.
Big brake kit and brackets anyone ? Side skirts various and other stuff I'll never fit ditto...
174K on the clock and still going, though I think I have to make some big decisions in the very near future.
Either keep and spend what it takes, or sell as a straight and honest motor with (literally) a shedload of spares and a garage full of unfitted new and upgrade parts.
What you might call my "Gracie Moment". 'twas hard for Jonny I know. A little less hard for me now past the bit 6 oh and moving on, but still hard.
Lying on my back on concrete and gravel in the cold or boiling sunshine (it's only ever one or the other) with water and oil peeing in my face while my hands no longer have the strength that they once did is seriously leading me to question my way ahead.
Really, a very difficult thing to think about and get straight.
Apart from my two sisters my ownership of this S13 is the longest, most rewarding and constant relationship with anything I have ever had. Do I spend £4 or £5K making her pristine and future proof to beyond the day I die, or do I cash out now for what the market will bear and buy an nice new reliable 60mpg+ eco box to trickle on to the golden gates with...
Tricky one.