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<div>Hello Everyone,</div>
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<div> I have been around this list more years than I care to count. I lurk most of the time because I know others out there possess more knowledge on the issues than I do, but I am still around. I bought my first SE-R off the showroom floor in August of 1990. And it was love at first drive. That car got totalled out about 4 years and 90 thousand miles later. I replaced it with a 1995 240SX (not sure what the hell I was thinking about there) and after about 3 years found myself a used 93 SE-R that I still have to this day. I got rid of my 240SX and bought a truck that I used for work and finally got rid of it and stepped up to a 2005 350Z Enthusiast. </div>
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<div>No matter how much fun the Z is to drive everytime I get in the SE-R I have that big stupid ear to ear grin on my face. The Z is much nicer, more comfortable and gets a little bit better gas mileage on the highway (at least it does until I swap in 3.9 rear end gears into the Z) but I still cant bring myself to get rid of the SE-R. The Z will also run Circles around the SE-R in handling but thats ok. The SE-R is a different type of car and thats what I love about it. It does everything well and even though it doesnt stand out in any one category I will always love it still the same. MY brother in law sold his SE-R and comes down to my house every once in a while to drive mine to see what its like. Everytime he does he still kicks himself for selling his. Mine needs more stuff done to it to get it back to where it needs to be than I care to think about but I will tackle them one at a time. Little by little the SE-R will get back to it true form and maybe a little stronger in the process. Plus the one deciding factor for me is that I know if I ever need a dependable car that is fun to drive when I get into the SE-R I know its going to start everytime. Its never failed me yet. Well that my two cents, I am going back to lurking now.</div>
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<div>Bill E.</div>
<div>2005 350Z Enthusiast w/ Nismo package</div>
<div>1993 Sentra SE-R w/ a lot of needs</div>
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<div> <TT>Message: 17<br>
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2006 19:15:48 -0500 (EST)<br>
From: <A href="mailto:davidpertuz%40mindspring.com">davidpertuz@mindspring.com</A><br>
Subject: Re: moving away from the SE-R<br>
To: <A href="mailto:se-r%40lists.deskmedia.com">se-r@lists.deskmedia.com</A><br>
Message-ID:<br>
<<A href="mailto:4528122.1163290549014.JavaMail.root%40mswamui-swiss.atl.sa.earthlink.net">4528122.1163290549014.JavaMail.root@mswamui-swiss.atl.sa.earthlink.net</A>><br>
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Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"<br>
<br>
James's comment about keeping the SE-R as a DD all those years (btw, hi James) <br>
brings out a related question that I will bring out since it's a freindly <br>
audience, even <br>
when leaving horse heads on peoples' doorsteps :)<br>
<br>
When I got my G20 2 1/2 years ago it became my primary DD, and my SE-R, which <br>
had already been through 6 Michigan winters anyway (the previous 6 years in GA <br>
seems <br>
to have helped keep it almost entirely rust-free, amazingly) and had snow tires, <br>
became <br>
my winter DD and occasional DD during the rest of the year. However,because of <br>
the <br>
particular responsibilities of my job as an engineer at one of the Big 3, I find <br>
myself <br>
driving company-owned cars with considerable regularity. It's been a bit extreme <br>
lately, <br>
as I have driven my SE-R mabe four times and the G20 once since late August. <br>
This has <br>
made me extreeeeemely spoiled by the niceness of new cars, esp. compared to my <br>
SE-R.<br>
<br>
I have entertained thoughts of sort of retiring the SE-R and using the G20 <br>
year-round, even <br>
though it is a Texas car and squeaky-clean underneath. In practical terms, this <br>
would mean <br>
getting rid of it, since I have tooooo many cars, only two of which actually <br>
run. It would be <br>
much easier to have one reliable everyday car (the G20, since the G20 is a <br>
vastly nicer choice <br>
than my SE-R) and one fun sports car (either my existing, currently non-running <br>
Fiat Spider, <br>
another Fiat, or a Miata). The problem with that, sensible as it is, is that the <br>
SE-R was my first <br>
car (and only driver til I got the G20), I bought it new, and I am very <br>
sentimentally attached <br>
to it and will regret ever getting rid of it. As it is, right now it needs new <br>
rod bearings before I <br>
can drive it regularly for the winter (220k out of the originals, no <br>
complaints), new rear brakes, <br>
probably one axle (pulls strongly), maybe a wheel bearing, fixing the PS leak, <br>
new rack boots, <br>
tie rod ends, maybe BJs to be thorough. I think one spring is sagging, and a <br>
host of little things. <br>
I have been putting all of these off all year. I would really prefer to put the <br>
car up for a while, <br>
drop the engine, give it a light rebuild on a stand, and clean up and deal with <br>
a bunch of engine <br>
and chassis stuff with the engine out since it's so much easier - anyone in SE <br>
MI got some heated <br>
space I can rent cheap for a few months? :) <br>
<br>
In short, new car niceness and the practicality I get from my mom is pulling <br>
strongly against my <br>
sentimentality. I figured this would be a good, highly sympathetic bunch to give <br>
me ideas for <br>
solutions that might cater to both pulls. I love my cars but with my lack of <br>
organization they sort <br>
of hang over my head a bit.<br>
<br>
David<br>
<br>
P.S. I enjoy list traffic when it appears. And I swear I will make SaltFest <br>
eventually.<br>
Not to come across as threatening, but you're talking about buying a Mazda and <br>
staying in touch <br>
with the SE-R community as if you have a choice.<br>
<br>
</TT><TT><br>
<br>
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