KIZAWDinKC wrote:I've been mulling over that one for the past year or so lol. I bought my Kiz in late 2010 and still have it. Although I have not put as many miles on it as I have other cars in the distant past even though it's been my daily driver since I've owned it...73,000 miles. My usual pattern has been to drive a car 4-5 years, then trade it. But I bought a "fun" garage queen car several years ago, C6 corvette, of which I have and do not want to get rid of. The Kizashi is obviously paid for by now, but even with the lower miles versus time/aging, it's getting to be that time where things need replacing...water pump, belt, shocks, etc. New tires again probably by this summer. I have always treated my cars well, but because this one is my daily driver and has seen years of close parameter parking lots at work and at store, it's got dings and has one nasty grocery cart ding on the front fender along with scuffed/rashed rims. The Kiz has turned into a semi-beater that gets me from point A to point B still. Which has saddened me from time to time, but I always intended on being one of those guys that keeps his car looking flawless & brand new no matter how old it is.
When I have traveled, I would drive brand new rental cars, and my Kizashi always felt better to drive than the brand new rentals when I got back to the airport parking lot.
My 3 options I've thought about:
- Since it's paid for and still has moderate mileage, have it totally reconditioned to make it look brand new and just keep driving it for more years. (replace parts, replace scuffed wheels, fix dings & paint damage). I've always used synthetic oil and I've always been very easy on the engine, so the engine itself its in excellent mechanical condition.
- My Kiz and I have had years of good times and bad times together. Going to work, going to bars, dates, etc. It has some sentimental value and I appreciate the vehicle. So maybe recondition it to be like brand new, and just park it and buy a new cheap daily driver.
- Just trade it and get a few thousand off my next trade-in.
Decisions decisions!
The first option sounds best as the other two don't really make sense , at least to me. If I was looking to move on from the Kizashi, I'd sell it privately. Yeah, more work, but you'd get more for it and sell it to someone who'd actually appreciate the vehicle (as the actual owner) rather than a dealership who's going to act like they're doing you a favor and then auction it off.
I think it makes sense to keep the Kizashi given you actually like the car, it's reliable, and actually doesn't have many miles for a Japanese car. Well maintained Japanese cars without finicky powertrains can easily go 200,000+ miles on mostly maintenance. As a multiport normally-aspirated engine with a timing chain, I think the Kizashi's J24B motor will be fine for a long haul. I don't see why you'd replace it with another daily driver or beater. Like you said, you already have a C6 'Vette as your garage queen halo car so why not keep the Kizashi you fully own and ride it out for longer? I think it makes sense for most people to keep the Kizashi until at least after the powertrain warranty period. Even then, the CVT looks to be more reliable than many out there. For manuals, it's just a matter of finding clutch-related parts online.
My Kizashi is my daily driver, but I also take care of it. I deliberately park away from conditions that may risk door dings and bumper damage. I park further away in parking lots, on lower levels in parking garages, and use a Bumper Bully when parallel parking. I've also had dings taken out with paintless dent removal when they inevitably happen.
I'll share more in your thread. 
