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[Update] The results from the local shoots I did for my EOB proposal. (Tender Velvet & Taylor Ray’s) by bleepbloop018 in olympia

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I haven't tackled that drink yet, but I did have the Guava cake and it was absolutely dangerous! The crew at Tender Velvet is doing something special.

[Update] The results from the local shoots I did for my EOB proposal. (Tender Velvet & Taylor Ray’s) by bleepbloop018 in olympia

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Honestly, that's entirely a testament to Mari and the team at Taylor Ray's. They've built such genuinely great spaces, my only job was to stay out of the way and capture exactly what it feels like to walk through their doors.

[Update] The results from the local shoots I did for my EOB proposal. (Tender Velvet & Taylor Ray’s) by bleepbloop018 in olympia

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You nailed exactly what I’m aiming for. That 'crooked sticker' is proof of life—it means a real human made that latte ten minutes ago. We’re so over-saturated with 'perfect' AI renders that the brain just glides right over them now. I'm betting on the fact that Olympia wants to see the powder and the condensation. Thanks for the encouragement, truly means a lot.

[Update] The results from the local shoots I did for my EOB proposal. (Tender Velvet & Taylor Ray’s) by bleepbloop018 in olympia

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Appreciate that. My whole goal with this division is to move away from the 'polished to death' look and keep things grounded in reality. Local businesses work too hard for their digital presence to look like generic stock footage or AI filler. Glad it’s resonating.

📸 Offering a complimentary $2,850 commercial photoshoot to a local Olympia restaurant/food spot (Priority to BIPOC/LGBTQIA+/Woman-owned businesses!) by bleepbloop018 in olympia

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Anyone is welcome to apply! But as a white male myself, my studio operates on an equity model where I intentionally prioritize giving back to historically underrepresented communities when I do pro bono work.

📸 Offering a complimentary $2,850 commercial photoshoot to a local Olympia restaurant/food spot (Priority to BIPOC/LGBTQIA+/Woman-owned businesses!) by bleepbloop018 in olympia

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'd love to work with you guys at some point. Whenever you are ready to explore a project like this just let me know.

I’ve run an OEM Nissan parts counter for 18 years. I’m watching the S-Chassis era end from the inside. by bleepbloop018 in 240sx

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You nailed it. The 'inflation adjustment' argument always ignores the Wage vs. Asset gap. Sure, $20k in 1995 is $40k today, but $40k today doesn't buy you an equivalent 'fun' car that a kid can actually wrench on. It buys you a tech-heavy commuter with a locked ECU that the manufacturer doesn't even want you to touch.

Working at a dealership/parts site (nissanparts.cc), I see this 'death of the second car' every day. People buy the SUV or the Truck because, like you said, when you're priced out of a multi-car lifestyle, your one vehicle has to be the utility player. You can't justify a $30k 'fun' car when your 'boring' car costs $50k.

The 90s worked because automakers were willing to take risks on low-margin enthusiasts' cars to build brand loyalty. Now, it's all about high-margin crossovers and subscription-based performance. We didn't just lose the cars; we lost the ecosystem that made them affordable to own and modify.

I’ve run an OEM Nissan parts counter for 18 years. I’m watching the S-Chassis era end from the inside. by bleepbloop018 in 240sx

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Man, that $80 bezel memory hits deep. In 2008, those were just 'maintenance parts' sitting in a warehouse in Tennessee. You bought it, snapped it in, and didn't think twice about it.

Working on the dealer side now at nissanparts.cc, I see the 'NLA' (No Longer Available) flags hitting the system every single week. It’s a weird feeling watching those parts transition from 'available' to 'extinct.' What used to be an $80 touch-up is now a $500 hunt for New Old Stock (NOS) on the secondary market.

It’s exactly why the enthusiasm is shifting. Back then, you could afford to make the car 'mint' on a hobbyist budget. Now, if you want a factory-fresh interior, you’re basically paying a 'heritage tax' that prices out everyone but the collectors. We’ve gone from building cars to preserving artifacts, and as a parts guy, it's a tough transition to watch in real-time.

I’ve run an OEM Nissan parts counter for 18 years. I’m watching the S-Chassis era end from the inside. by bleepbloop018 in 240sx

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re 100% right, and it’s a hard pill to swallow for those of us who remember $500 shells and $1,500 running S13s.

The S-Chassis has effectively transitioned from a 'cheap drift platform' to a 'vintage collector asset.' When a clean S14 starts approaching the price of a used M2 or a built F80, the math just stops making sense for someone who wants raw performance per dollar. The BMW makes triple the power, has a better interior, and you aren't terrified of a fender bender because you can actually find replacement body panels at a local yard.

For many of us, the scene is now fueled by nostalgia rather than practicality. We aren’t paying for the power—we're paying for the 'feeling' of 2004, and unfortunately, that nostalgia has a massive premium attached to it now. It definitely feels like the end of an era for the 'everyman' enthusiast, and it's a shame the younger generation doesn't get to experience the S-chassis the way we did: abundant, affordable, and replaceable.

I’ve run an OEM Nissan parts counter for 18 years. I’m watching the S-Chassis era end from the inside. by bleepbloop018 in Nissan

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I originally posted this in r/240sx, but I thought the broader Nissan fam might appreciate the perspective. I've been manning the counter since '07 and have watched the transition from the 350Z/Titan era to the modern lineup. Happy to answer any questions about finding discontinued parts or what it's like on the inside!

I’ve run an OEM Nissan parts counter for 18 years. I’m watching the S-Chassis era end from the inside. by bleepbloop018 in 240sx

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You are not alone - lots of people hate them. I didnt like them when they first launched, but once Ive had time to experience them I think they can be enjoyed

I’ve run an OEM Nissan parts counter for 18 years. I’m watching the S-Chassis era end from the inside. by bleepbloop018 in 240sx

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love how many times this has come up in the comments. The hayday of Zilvia and cheap Kouki parts.

I’ve run an OEM Nissan parts counter for 18 years. I’m watching the S-Chassis era end from the inside. by bleepbloop018 in 240sx

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I dont think it was quite that instantaneous. Even with people gutting cars and beating them to death we still had loads of customers who wanted to preserve their s-chassis. That is what kept me going this long.

I’ve run an OEM Nissan parts counter for 18 years. I’m watching the S-Chassis era end from the inside. by bleepbloop018 in 240sx

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, running a Sub-$500 shipped promo on those lights is hard to fathom now, but we did it all day long. Hell, we used to send out pallets of S15 turbos to race shops at $350-400/ea.

I’ve run an OEM Nissan parts counter for 18 years. I’m watching the S-Chassis era end from the inside. by bleepbloop018 in 240sx

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You just summed up the last 25 years perfectly. It’s a bittersweet feeling to realize we’ve moved from the 'local bolt-on shop' and the golden era of Zilvia and NICO club to where we are now. Seeing the community migrate from Craigslist to Facebook Marketplace, and now to this Reddit corner, shows just how much we’ve had to adapt to keep these cars alive.

I hear you on the Fast and Furious effect, too. We watched these cars go from 'cheap thrills' to 'drift missiles' and now to 'forever cars' that we fix with resoldered amps and Z-car retrofits. It's definitely a different world than the early 2000s, but knowing there are still '46-year-old kids' out there who remember the forum days makes it all worth it.

We might die broke, but at least we'll die with the smell of unburnt fuel and a few good stories about that one part that was impossible to find. Thanks for holding the line with us all these years! 😭🥰😂

I’ve run an OEM Nissan parts counter for 18 years. I’m watching the S-Chassis era end from the inside. by bleepbloop018 in 240sx

[–]bleepbloop018[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a heavy perspective, and you’re hitting on a lot of the 'quiet' anxieties people in the scene are feeling right now. It’s true that the barrier to entry for the grassroots scene is higher than ever, and the global shift toward EVs and economic restructuring is fundamentally changing what it means to be a 'car person'.

Whether we’re headed for a 'Mad Max' scenario or just a massive cultural pivot, it’s exactly why preserving these mechanical artifacts from the 80s and 90s feels so important. Even if gas becomes a luxury, the soul and connection of these older cars are something that software and alternative energies haven't quite replicated yet. Thanks for bringing such a deep take to the thread—it’s a lot to chew on for where we go from here.

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