mate,

if for a daily, i would advise you to get a 5speed box and mate it to the a12.People have fitted l-series gearboxes to a-series with mods due to a-series boxes being expensive.Some in japan have mated the r32 gtst turbo gearbox to their a-series engines.
Also try and source a diff ratio that will suit the freeway drive and compliment the 5speed.Especially if you will be driving 5 hours to uni.A12s are very reliable if looked after well.This utes were designed by nissan to be reliable yet fuel efficient work horses!

Premium unleaded is now at aud$1.74.9 in melbourne...91 unleaded now around aud$1.58.
most "worked" or big capacity engine cars will probably be now weekend cars.its just not practical to fuel at $1.75, well atleast for me anyway.
Have a look on gumtree on the price drops of hsv r8s or other big capacity engine cars.

I wonder how much petrol will be by end of next year....