Purchase advice - 4WD vs RWD Stagea!!

[Brazen]

Hi guys - new here - lookin to buy my first RB25DET, but a family man so going for a series2 Neo6 tiptronic Stagea.... a bit of a car noob,and I posted the following request for advice in the Stagea section but hoping some Skyline owners can help me with the pros and cons of 4WD vs RWD...

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Just about to finalise stuff for buying my 1998 Stagea... but just seen advertised today 2 newly complied 2000 year Stageas - but they are RWD (2000 year ones starting to come through yay)...

Now I am fairly lost when it comes to cars - so would love your thoughts on pros and cons, and an opinion on what ud buy if u were me out of the following choices... ALL under 50,000kms and pristine condition...

1. 1998 Stagea 4WD stock standard

2. 2000 Stagea RWD with 18inch Nissan 5-spoke 350Z rims and only 15,000kms... EXTRA $4000 purchase price probably over 1998 one

3. 2000 Stagea RWD stock standard with factory electric leather seats/woodgrain etc ... prob extra $4000 over the 1998

I can obviously see the differences not related to RWD / 4WD ... eg for the price of Option 1 + $3000 for a good set of rims/tyres/lowering I could just buy the newer one with 350Z rims already there, or the electric leather seats one and wait a year to afford rims (and always be a year behind on affording other mods)... so thats more a personal choice (but would still love to know your preference) - but I am most wanting input on the 4WD vs RWD and year of manufacture/kms pros and cons...

Feedback over weekend before its too late on the current deal Iam doing on the 1998 would be MUCH appreciated... what are the pros and cons u can come up with 4 me to mull over - weight / performance / parts & servicing / safety / future resale / etc etc?????

My intended applications are for a moderately modded engine daily city driver - kids in the back - with the (very) occasional towing of a small box trailer or MAYBE (not a decisive factor) a small boat in and out of boat ramps and of course SAU cruises!

Thanks!!

Adam

[32vspecII]

the 4wd drive will be heavier and offer less stock performance , although better in the wet

also the 4wd systems are more complex and therefore expensive

id get the newest car you can afford . rwd is fine for 99% of driving situations and more fun anyway

[Brazen]

Hmmm thanks Arkon...

The occasional bit of "fun" would be nice... but was told i can shift the 4WD to RWD by simply plugging and unplugging a fuse or more reliably getting a new computer to make it a programmable torque switch for the occasional bit of rear wheel fun ... although carrying 150kg more weight - but then again maybe weight could be offset by $1500 extra performance mods with the savings on the 4WD sale price... Plus with the Atezza 4WD i have a much easier option IF like years down the track I went to drop in a RB26DETT ....

argghh brain strain!! ...Thanks Arkon - others want to help me out a bit too please

[tang0]

personally i'd go for the 4wd ...

the r33 i have at the moment sometimes struggles for grip in the dry !

rwd is fun for 'drifting' it out, but as we all know, drifting is not exactly the fastest way around a corner ...

just my 2c

Hmmm thanks Arkon...

The occasional bit of "fun" would be nice... but was told i can shift the 4WD to RWD by simply plugging and unplugging a fuse or more reliably getting a new computer to make it a programmable torque switch for the occasional bit of rear wheel fun ... although carrying 150kg more weight - but then again maybe weight could be offset by $1500 extra performance mods with the savings on the 4WD sale price... Plus with the Atezza 4WD i have a much easier option IF like years down the track I went to drop in a RB26DETT ....

argghh brain strain!!  ...Thanks Arkon - others want to help me out a bit too please

[32vspecII]

yea its all good , i dont really think 4wd vs rwd is that much of an issue . there a pros and cons for both .

rwd - cheaper , less drive train loss , lighter , drift

4wd - easier traction

rb26dett will be a bit of work on stagea from what ive read due to the auto gearbox and hand brake configuration , even if it is 4wd . and you gonna have a lovely rb25det neo in there anyway , id just work that up .

the fuse trick may or may not work . Ive heard r33/34 gearboxes have problems if you do it but im not 100% sure on the details and it only works on a 32 . so it might not be applicable to the stagea . but a atessa controller should be fine if you can find one that suits the stagea .

like I said id get the best condition , highest factory spec , latest model car you can afford . You can add stuff like rims and mods and everything later but you only get 1 go at the base car and youll have to deal with that for ever .

[Brazen]

Thanks Arkon and Tang0... good info...

Ive been mulling it over heaps, and even phoned some tune shops etc today and I think I will go for the 4WD 1998... it is the best deal I can find at the moment by far in a Series 2 Stagea with the Neo6 - so should all be good - cant wait for all the paper-work to be finished with and to get the car in my driveway!

Cheers for taking the time to respond!

Adam

PS The series 2 Stagea 26dett conversion shouldnt have probs with auto gearbox coz the spec2 has the tiptronic auto same as the R34 skylines (not the standard auto of the series 1 stageas). An couple of stagea owners already converting the footbrack to handbrakes - so should be ok - but thats years away anyway when Ive had my fun with the Neo

[32vspecII]

the triptronic r34 wont fit the rb26dett . and even if it did it would die very quickly about 250rwkw is their limit in the 34gtt and a mild rb26 will start to push that out very quickly . its not that much of a difficult conversion tho , just a bit more expensive because of extra parts needed for the handbrake conversion , interior modification . but you will definely need a gtr manual gearbox for the conversion .

but the 25 neo rocks anyway the ecus are remapable allowing you to run lots of power with large injectors/afms and keep control of your auto which is not possible in the series 1 non neos.

[Maxx]

i think the S2 has a button to switch between 4WD & RWD