Hello everyone.

I posted a thread in off-topic about stopping the current project and starting another but with a far better Datsun.
Here is the situation.
Im studying at uniSA, in my final year now. I have a fantastic fiance and a fantastic 2yr old son. I purchased a very run down datsun 4dr and did alot of work to it, but I am running out of time to get it on the road as it was purchased to alleviate the single vehicle-small family problem. We are currently driving a Hyundai (don't laugh!) hatchback and it is seeing the end of its days.
My fiance and I both work in hospitality and our shifts often clash leading to a chaotic rush around sorting out baby-sitters and whoever needs to start work first. We desperately need another vehicle to help out with transport. I have enough money to purchase maybe a cheap 4dr or ANOTHER DATSUN!!
Being an international student my visa workhours are limited to just 20hrs a week During university so I need to decide now whilst I have the money.
So here we go guys, do I purchase a safer 4dr vehicle and completely halt any datsun interests using the hyundai for me. Or do I purchase a Datsun and keep the hyundai as the main family car??

I'm thinking about getting the datsun (of course) and perhaps trading the Hyundai in (with some cash from a Dad-loan) for a bigger 4dr.
Im after Topgears' 1000 and I haven't yet heard from him about buying the beautiful coupe.
Im 21 and have a definite passion for the beloved Datsun, the missus not so much but she is okay if I do get the new Datsun.
To everyone out there your advice would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for so much writing.

For your situation I'd say get a safe family car. If you happen to find a top quality Datsun in your price range go for that as your family runabout, but look at other options as well (don't limit yourself to a Datto).

Once you've finished uni you'll be able to land a good fulltime job and earn the cash to buy a sweet Datto. Your family should always come first, so the Datto can wait (your passion for them won't die).

i with whorida on this one. my datoo is my car, there is a family car (newer and safer, and faster too:( )..
for the family get the newest, safest car you can afford.

Commodores and falcons are usually good for these duties (unfortunately)

Camry is also sadly another good recommendation - ideally the first of the widebodies...but you'd be up for aroun $4500-$5500 for one of those.

I concur get something bigger and safer for the 2 yr old - once you can afford a play car go the Datto.

Took my till the boy was about 7 or 8 to get into my play cars (1200 coupes)....just couldn't afford it before then.

For the hours that you work and the fact you have a child, i would guess you would like to keep the costs down.
I would go for something like a 1988 Holden commodore wagon. Say on gas, you can pick them up for around $2,000 with rwc and some come with a/c power steer (that will keep the missus happy). And best of all has got the nissan motor in it. For that matter the 1988 nissan skyline would do the trick.

i agree with them, get a nice safe family car, and when your situation becomes easier i would suggest getting the fun -mobile!

EL Falcon, my other half had one and it was great fora family sedan, id had everything, and you can get them on gas. don't cost too much and are pretty darn relaible.

not a vl wagon, lots of head gasket roblems, better of finind an r31 wagon.

its got to do with the height of the radiator top tank to the engine thermostat out pipe. causes a hot spot on the head gasket.

problem not found in the r31s.

vn to vr wagons can be had for up to $5g.


ditto on the camry. reliable as all hell and cheap too.

My viance and I got married december last year (2006). I owned my datto and also a VW golf Mk1 1.8L fuel injected motor, 1994 model that I bought cash in 2002.The datto is and was always my project. The golf I bought for vacation and also runabout as the datto was changed into a hobby.

After we got married december, we decided to get a family car.Reason is for the following:
1. A Mk1 is very small and when buying groceries it is not all getting into the boot.
Back seats are always also used.Damn pain.
2. The specific Mk1 I have is a sports model that is called here a CTi. 1800 fuel injected.
LOTS of torque in town driving. firm suspention and uncomfortable on our roads because we don't have very good quality roads.
3. freeflow exhaust that is drowning in your ears at certain rpms.

We used both our bonus checks we received the end of the year and shopped around. Going to use it as a deposit.
I bought about 3 to 4 months ago a Nissan Almera 1.6 2004 model with full service history and only 60 000km on the clock.
Don't you guys have such a car there in Australia?
Big boot.
Soft ride.
quiet ride.
good fuel economy.
airbag.
Damn good brakes.
All I am looking for.
Looking at the engine bay I can see that it is very close to the datsun's layout. Everything is easy to get to and I will be able to do most of the stuff myself on the car. This car I am planning to drive at least 10 to 15 years as cars are VERY expensive here in South Africa and I hate debt.And luckily we bought at the right time as my wife is now 19 weeks pregnant and it was not planned.

To get to the point. Keep the datto but as a project and spend money on it only when you have spare cash to do so.
Buy a good quality new car or close to new because it is your family's safety. Don't buy someting old and with lots of kilo's on the clock because it can drop you anytime and you don't know how it was treated by the previous owner.
Goodluck.

can you post up a pic of it 1200GXMAN?

congrats on the baby on the way!

Picture of a Nissan Almera sold in South Africa

Sorry, I can't post pics to Photobucket.Blocked by work proxy.
Above is the link to a Nissan Almera.
Oh, and thanks for the good reply Team_Dat. On one side it is something to look forward to and the other side it is less money to spend on the datsun.
Basically a and a at the same time.