As to capital gains, what accessible record remains of what you paid for it 45 years ago? I don’t think maintenance costs over the years count against gains, just improvements...like the costs of a new interior or paint job. And pretty sure any costs of selling it is also deductible, like advertising or consignment fees.  What it’s current taxable value is and whether or not you use the proceeds from it’s sale to buy something else may also come in to play. You may want to speak with a tax advisor if you’re talking major money.  ... View more

” The cold harsh truth is kids getting into the hobby is at an all time low. ....“ Do you have any data? Because anecdotally in my area that’s certainly not the case. And yes, $3000 back in the day bought you a nice car. But adjust for inflation. Back then if a teenager made $3000 in a year, he was, in today’s vernacular, a “baller”. A working kid these days working part-time might clear $12k. annually. And that buys a decent used car with something left over. It’s relative.  The author above is 14 years old. A middle-schooler with no source of income. He’s trying to extrapolate reality from a game because he has no real experience...as yet. I guess I did some make-believe with plastic models and HOT ROT magazines.  But I knew it was make-believe. A couple more years, a job and with a modicum of passion and he’ll be able to connect with any number of others in his demographic with the same interests. Social media is wonderful for this. Just look at us on a car forum. I think the hobby is still growing.  ... View more

To be completely honest I see ALOT of teenagers at shows. Their interest typically leans to 80’s and 90’s, often imports. But your demographic is common and growing.  Believing that race car gaming is like a track session or an autocross run is like believing a war game or confronting some animated criminal is like the experience of really being shot at. I personally assure you it is not.  Noting your age from earlier posts I’m not taking offense, But I encourage you to spend some real money, get a real car along with some real tools, skin some real knuckles and maybe start off with a real autocross and then reflect on your opinion of gaming as the “ultimate” way of getting started in the car scene.  ... View more

Perfect! Off-topic apologies, but wondering how a Cobra IRS would fit under the back. 🤔 ... View more

I like it too. Can’t say the car is exactly “mean looking” from the change. But a definite understated “edgy side” with the new grille, wheels, and knowing about the out-of-sight 5.0 HO.   👍 ... View more

“Racing games today are what make car guys and car girls.  Racing games are important because it’s introduced a new generation to the thrill of cars. Being able to build and modify your own cars, almost exactly to your liking.....It's the ultimate, and to be honest, the only way young people are being introduced to cars and Motorsports.” I couldn’t disagree more.  I’m glad you enjoy gaming. So do I ...occasionally. But it will always be just substitute for reality.  ... View more

Out of Street-Prepared too? ... View more

Oh...I think this is just ending phase 1. Those that are in positions of power, especially the non-elected  bureaucrats, have gotten a little giddy with the influence they’ve wielded over the past (nearly) year. It’s going to be a fight to wrest them of it. And media gave up claim to objectivity long ago, so they’re no help,  ... View more

Well, that seems to be a $64,000 question, but I’d be interested in reading that response too for my car. A lot of variables I think....what’s the track to street driving ratio, are you using R compounds for track and HPS off-track, and in what size(s).  Car type, suspension type, and tolerance level for harsher-than-stock ride combined with the state of local roads. I struggle with the effects of slightly more aggressive negative camber on directional tires too. Subscribed.    ... View more

Well, I’m not familiar with the others mentioned, but I’m  dealing with my own retracting headlight issues on my 93 RX7. Mine will, occasionally develope a mind of their own and flip up and down fast enough to send Morse code messages to ships at sea. I haven’t disassembled yet, but from some other’s dissections, it’s probably an issue with worn or fouled contacts.  Regardless, Guitar’s mention of headlight woes reminded me to put it on my winter list,  ... View more

Have to check some resource material first so I don’t remove all doubt about being a dummy.  But I just might have one or two questions coming up on a particular project. 👍 ... View more

I’m with @bhart , that’s really nice and it makes the jealousy meter move. But rationally that’s way more than I’d ever need...even with my larger car.   I do want something that will house both the car and I in order to search out all those beautiful picturesque two lane roads I see in car commercials. But my wife’s not a camper and my needs are modest. I also couldn’t store that at my house so it would have to stay at my commercial property.  ... View more

Another thought....given how trends sometimes start. Most carbon brake rotors on high-end cars have a kind of black mat look. I’m wondering if those are trying to emulated the look.  ... View more

Haven’t seen them in person yet. A guess is that some feel it goes better with the black wheels that are fashionable today.   🤔 I’m assuming the friction surface still gets shiny with use though. Probably not going to order them up anytime soon, but as trends go it doesn’t really bother me. For my use, I’m more not-a-fan of those drill rotors.  ... View more

Some similarities in your first love affair, and mine. For one, we’re about the same age...I might have a year or two on you but we’re both boomers. For two, my dad was also in an automotive business...a collision shop and parts store.  I had a subscription to Hot Rod magazine at 13, and had been assembling AMX plastic replicas for a number of years. But for me the real passion happened at 15. In the summer of 1970 an airman from an AF base in our town brought in a brand new yellow Datsun 240z to the shop. Fresh from the dealer lot, it still had the In-Transit stickers on the window. All he wanted was the hood painted a flat-black. For the two or three days the car was there (painting a flat color with the materials and equipment of those days wasn’t a easy feat) it didn’t move without me knowing it. I had to wash it when finished if for no other reason than to remove drool marks. Black interior, the leather boot around the shifter with a wooden handle...even the diamond tuck touch in the rear hatch. To me it was impossible to envision anything cooler than that car. And it was something that I could realistically aspire to own.  ... View more

Yeah, and that time in this man’s life came several years ago. If you’ve got the space it’s well worth it IMO.  ... View more

Yep, here in the Midwest my stuff is usually up from about Thanksgiving to Easter. But on the bright side, I just got a second lift in my work-shop,  the cars have a few things that need addressing, the humidor is stocked and I just picked up a bottle that said the contents are 18 year old.  ... View more

Gosh, I wouldn’t have thought it would be so hard to come by one of those. No first hand experience but thinking it wasn’t  limited to just the C30 and fairly common.  I did see a video on a rebuild from “Mike’s Carburetor Parts (.com) and they show rebuild parts. https://www.carburetor-parts.com/search.asp?keyword=7023013 Sounds like a small cottage-type site. If you need the entire carb might try contacting him directly.  ... View more

” Make mine a medium” Medium? Oh now you’re just bragging! 😉 ... View more

Good Luck! 👍   ... View more

I remember having to deal with those way back in the day. They were a minor pain and I asked myself the same question...why? The only thing I ever came up with is that with time and corrosion those little screws (on the rings that used them) occasionally didn’t like to come out and the heads would strip. And tell your neighbor I’m jealous. In addition to the equipment, apparently TIG requires coordination, practice, a steady hand and intelligence enough for a passing knowledge of metallurgy. Who knew? ... View more

Seems like a friend just dealt with a related issue on his 280z with an RB swap. When he bought it, the stock tank had been kept but the location of the needed high pressure lines and fittings for EFI weren’t very...optimal.  I’ think he ended up making the move to a fuel cell.  If you keep the stock tank I want to say there’s some sort of foam you can insert into the tank in lieu of hard baffles. You might try an internet search. ... View more

“ I think it's pretty hard not to get into cars at a young age and not have some connection to a retailer” I guess I’m a rare demographic. My dad managed a gas station and later opened his own collision shop...they called them “body shops” back then, along with a multi-truck towing service. So I was just always around something with wheels. But rarely retail sales.  ... View more

So we can’t call it the ugly CHRISTMAS sweater contest? ... View more

My old 52 Chevrolet. As recently mentioned it was my first car 50 years ago. I got married in it over 30 years ago and more recently it featured in my daughter’s marriage. It’s still got marks from the kids plastic trikes that I refused to buff out. And in between I had a career that often dealt with the worst of humanity and encouraged washing hands BEFORE going to the bathroom. But a clear day, with the top down and my wife next to me was a spa for the mind and kept me going.   ... View more

Disagree. Flat colors depends on the type of car. Likewise CF, but I do think it’s best in moderation and with a clear coat.  ... View more

“It’s not just where you live. Bad taste knows no geographical boundaries” Well I hope everyone feels better now that you pointed that out. And just to prove it, most Pontiac Azteks were probably purchased by middle-class soccer moms.  ... View more

I think the mods referred to as “ghetto’d” echoed the rationale behind buying new jeans with holes in the knees or shorts 5 times too big. It was a style statement as much as anything. But they were still just as silly.  ... View more