At least you'd probably mod yr car yrself and not buy it all modded with fully sick SR20 innit, then just chuck some seats in it and think you've done the whole car yrself. And at least you've never owned a 120y or a GTI Barina, the latter latter of which you need baggy pants, a XXXXX Large t-shirt and sideways cap just to drive.
I agree, everyone at my work have there vn commodores and make jokes about my 180b, but what do they really have? a heavy metal box with a oversized fuel munching engine. and lose control through every corner trying to keep up even with my stock datsun
That's like at my old work, all the coqheads kept telling me to stick a V8 in my 180b and be done with it. Only until i took a few of the more vocal ones for a drive to the lunch shop. Had it doing snakey's lock to lock the whole way down the road with them shitting their pants. They walked back to work and said they'd never get in a car with me again and never did comment on my sh*t box 180b again
Depending on how limited yr cash flow is how about a Mazda MX6 or an early Honda Civic? Both very capable cars and with a few suspension mods they are awesome.
_________________
dattos aren't MEANT to be nice - they're meant to hardcore - occasional road use only, semi rally / racing cars with stripped interiors, full cages and a pair of webers.