Datasun

They tried to make me feel like an idiot, they asked me why I spent $3000 on a car so old. I explained the car was in perfect condition when I bought it. They said they would do some research to see what they were worth these days, in other words see if they were worth more than the blue book said. They couldn't find any, so they couldn't proove it was worth less than what I paid. In the end I had to supply the part to fix it with no reinbursement (now I realise that it would have been more fare if they had paid the value of the part, $500 was the cheapest and only rear hatch I could find at the time before the accident, I unfortunately decided it was too much money for the part, a part impossible to find now, and at the time of the claim) and they paid for the labour. I was just happy I was able to negotiate a deal that didn't end with the car in the scrap yard. In B.C. they have a scrap it program for any vehicle over ten years http://www.scrapit.ca/. Don't get me started. It's this kind of thinking that contributed to me loosing faith in the B.C. government and egged me into moving to Alberta. They also have an air care program in the lower mainland (B.C.) that requires all old vehicles to be tested for air quality/emissions. This program is going to be eliminated in the next few years because it doesn't actually record any legitimate data in terms of the environment, for example the test can be "cheated" by adding air flow to the exaust pipe as this is how they conduct the test, not by the engine or actual fuel mileage. Although the test is bogus, my car used less gas than the average while driving (I now know I have idle issues so once remedied this might be lower than average too). This is beacuse people are choosing to buy gas guzzling trucks and suv's instead of fuel efficient vehicles. So even if the test worked, it doesn't stop companies from making vehicles that are bad for the environment, or stop people from buying them. I've seen on here one reference to a datsun sucking gas, but I think this is due to a mechanical problem, not datsun engineering. If one follows the reccomended speed for ideal fuel mileage in their datsun manual, they will use an average amount of gas. I think that in the 70's datsuns may have been the most fuel effecient vehicles of their time.* *you have just witnessed a portion of the spiel

I think I am going to keep them just so I can can keep coming onto this forum, I love you guys! Back in the day I would have given you a whole speech about sustainability, I was so good at it that I managed to convince the insurance company not to buy me out but to pay for the repairs when I was rear ended. I think scrapping cars is totally unethical, and that many newer cars are much worse for the environment for a long list of reasons.

That is seriously inspirational stuff. Thank you for letting me know about that thread, I've subcribed. With two engines at my disposal a rebuild is a great down the road/alternate option that has been suggested to me while I've been out here. Albertans may be partial to American cars, but they know how to make do with what they have.

awesome, totally awesome. I have never seen that year and model in person before. I am so happy this one will live again.

Letting them sit and rust is not an option for me, that is why I am trying to do the responsible thing, if I can't get my shit togeather and fix it, than I should sell or give both vehicles to someone who will. That's the decision I am trying to make, and I am getting some really good info here that is helping me with that. Than, if I decide to keep them, I need to figure out if I should plan on having another vehicle that is my daily. I agree though, what's the point of a car that never gets driven.

I know it seems crazy what I spent that much moving them, but I was moving my belongings anyway, the cost of renting a bigger truck (I loaded one inside a truck and packed my stuff all around it) and than a trailor on the back for the other vehicle, really wasn't that much more than moving just my stuff or only bringing one car. Moving is expensive, any way you go about it. The real question is, is it ethical to daily drive a car that parts are getting harder and harder to find for.

izzo: my pockets aren't deep but my soft spot is. Body is great, and I have a parts car, only part that I don't have a duplicate of is the rear hatch door because I was rear ended and used the spare one. All mechanical at this point.

yes, thats a good deal, I paid $800 for a 710 wagon five years ago and it was worse in appearance than that one. I agree that you should make sure the car is safe before you drive it. Also check out the thread "the cash costs of a daily driver" in the stories section, someone bought a truck for $800, owner said they had just driven it that day and did daily, and it broke down on the way, ended up costing over $1600. He was happy in the end. Usually cars under $2000 end up needing some repairs within the first few months. Mine needed a few minor repairs, I drove it for a year before I got another nicer one. MAKE SURE THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE BEFORE YOU DRIVE IT AWAY. Does the car stop when you press the breaks, do you see gas leaking under the air filter when its running. If not you should tow it if you still decide you want it.

The other one just looks ruff, haven't started it in a few years, it never ran as smooth, but never let me down either. If I keep one I'll keep both. I can't take either right now, I will have to come back for them and many other things. I got them both here with all my stuff for about $1500-$2000, so its doable. Carb should be rebuilt, but I couldn't tell that it needed it when I was still driving it, the mechanic told me when I brought the carb in to him to see if he could use it to rebuild the other one. After reading what happened to a guy in "the real costs of a daily driver", it would be wisest not to drive either of them through the mountains, even though it would be pretty hilarious to be the one to doop myself, "it drove fine until I parked it"

I could try to be at the datsun matsuri, this is the first I've heard of it. I would rather fix it myself, I may need a vehicle before I am able to fix it, there were days when I stared and stared, and removed and put back on a bunch of parts, each time bringing it inside to find out what the heck it was on-line, putting on the part from my parts car, and it having no effect. So it is a very slow process for me. I am just trying to figure out all my options right now. It would be really nice to have one of the cars running right away. But some of the best things you have to wait for. I have heard of that club, but good to be reminded that they are there, thanks.

I'm origionally from B.C., but I am an hour outside of Edmonton.

Moving to the Southern Gulf Islands, close enough. I am now considering trying to see if the parts car still runs. I bet it will. 510freak: do you have any mechanics in victoria you trust? Or do you do all the work yourself?

Oh, and I bought my first datsun for $800, not only did I make it home, I drove it for a year, had a rusted gas tank that needed to be welded a few months later. I bought a nicer datsun for $3000 that wasn't rusted out so I started driving that to work so I could stop being embarrassed. It got stolen and went missing for a couple weeks so I pulled the old rusty out of storage, had to replace the alternator, got one for $40 and replaced it myself, my first repair job on a car couldn't have been easier. I drove it until my stolen car was found. I suppose it's rare, but getting a crazy deal on a good car does happen. (Everyone thoguht I was crazy and spent too much on both vehicles, I now realise I scored both times) I am having problems diagnosing a problem in the nicer car, also idle and acceleration problems. I am now considering putting putting the carb that wasn't rebuilt back on the phil the beast, and seeing if it will fire up. I bet it will. Its not as nice, never ran as smooth, but it never let me down. I appreciate this thread, good to hear some people admit that they poured a lot time and money into vehicles that never ran again. This is something I have to consider with the "nicer" car that has yet to be properly diagnosed.