YACT: 240SX owners, what should I be looking at if I decide to purchase one?

[Imported]

I'm looking at getting a '95-'96 240SX if my car is totalled by insurance. I want a 5 speed and an SE (thanks to atom). Should there be anything I should look at rather closely when looking over one? Anything I should know about this car?

 

[BatmanNate]

It has really really uncomfortable seats. Might want to invest in some new ones.

 

[Imported]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
It has really really uncomfortable seats. Might want to invest in some new ones.

I'm used to uncomfortable seats.. my Civic had the most uncomfortable seats in the world.. ass would start hurting after an hour of driving and there so was lateral/side support.

 

[PoPPeR]

I know you got your car jacked, so I'll tell you, get an alarm system for your 240, my friends just got taken the other day, no wires cut, no one knows how they started the damn thing. They're nice cars, other then security, I have no complaints about my friend's 240.

 

[PoPPeR]

well actually one thing... maybe it's just his, but his sounds like a freakin Vacuum. It's stock, but it's so loud for some reason. It's not a good sound either =/

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: Imported

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
It has really really uncomfortable seats. Might want to invest in some new ones.

I'm used to uncomfortable seats.. my Civic had the most uncomfortable seats in the world.. ass would start hurting after an hour of driving and there so was lateral/side support.

You have a point there. I'm only driven the 98 also, don't know about the seats in the older ones.

 

[Imported]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
I know you got your car jacked, so I'll tell you, get an alarm system for your 240, my friends just got taken the other day, no wires cut, no one knows how they started the damn thing. They're nice cars, other then security, I have no complaints about my friend's 240.

Yea, I plan on alarm, ignition kill, and whatever the hell else comes to mind when trying to protect a car. I'm paranoid now.

 

[atom]

Why don't you care if it's an SE?

Anyways when I got mine I just did all the standard stuff, compression/leakdown test, get frame checked, look for rust under car, etc. I don't think there are any particular problem spots for the car.

 

[Imported]

Originally posted by: atom
Why don't you care if it's an SE?

Anyways when I got mine I just did all the standard stuff, compression/leakdown test, get frame checked, look for rust under car, etc. I don't think there are any particular problem spots for the car.

Because finding a 95-96 240SX in my area is hard enough, can't be even pickier.

The only differences I see between the SE and STD model are the SE has an aero kit or something, allow wheels, CD player, fog lights, rear spoiler, and keyless entry.. unless theres more I don't know about.

 

[atom]

IMO it's worth it to get the SE because the price difference is not that great and you get some nice things with it (5 lug hubs, alloy wheels, more power options standard, sway bars). The base model wheels with hub caps look like crap.

 

[Imported]

Originally posted by: atom
IMO it's worth it to get the SE because the price difference is not that great and you get some nice things with it (5 lug hubs, alloy wheels, more power options standard, sway bars). The base model wheels with hub caps look like crap.

Ah, I see.. I'll edit then, as I'd rather have 5 lug than 4 lug.

 

[TechnoKid]

RWD is the way to go...

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: Imported

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
It has really really uncomfortable seats. Might want to invest in some new ones.

I'm used to uncomfortable seats.. my Civic had the most uncomfortable seats in the world.. ass would start hurting after an hour of driving and there so was lateral/side support.

The '88-'91 240SX have horrible seats. The '95+ have AWESOME seats, in leather anyway.

Nothing to look for really in 240SX. Just make sure you get the model with VLSD and ABS. That comes with leather and sunroof and a 6-speaker soundsystem with a Clarion headset (tape and cd).

They are very reliable, but they do have a few quirks. One of them is that the bushings for the rear subframe aren't the best, so they do squeak over time. However it won't cause any damage or anything like that. It just makes noise.

Also the model with the VLSD also comes with a rear sway bar and front sway bar, plus stiffer shocks. Note that the SE model is LE in Canada, while the SE in Canada is the LE. In short, if your in Canada, buy a LE model. If in US, buy a SE model.

I think all S14s (the chassis code for the '95-'98 240SX) come with 5-lug wheels.

Btw, my family bought a used '95 240SX. We put approximately 40,000km on it in the course of over a year. It was driven in winter, and even started up first time in -35C weather. Also you can have a peace of mind that the 240SX is VERY safe in a front-end collision. We lost our car when my dad hit the guardrail on the highway. He made out fine (the interior was in perfect shape apart from the whitestuff from the airbags). Also we got more money back from the ins company than what we payed for the car. That shows you well the resale value is on the 240SX (apparently some guy bought the car from the ins company two days after it got totalled).

Anyway, in short the 240SX is an awesome car and you cannot go wrong with it. There are very few affordable RWD Japanese coupes, and the 240SX is one of the most fun to drive.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN

Originally posted by: Imported

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
It has really really uncomfortable seats. Might want to invest in some new ones.

I'm used to uncomfortable seats.. my Civic had the most uncomfortable seats in the world.. ass would start hurting after an hour of driving and there so was lateral/side support.

The '88-'91 240SX have horrible seats. The '95+ have AWESOME seats, in leather anyway.

Nothing to look for really in 240SX. Just make sure you get the model with VLSD and ABS. That comes with leather and sunroof and a 6-speaker soundsystem with a Clarion headset (tape and cd).

They are very reliable, but they do have a few quirks. One of them is that the bushings for the rear subframe aren't the best, so they do squeak over time. However it won't cause any damage or anything like that. It just makes noise.

Also the model with the VLSD also comes with a rear sway bar and front sway bar, plus stiffer shocks. Note that the SE model is LE in Canada, while the SE in Canada is the LE. In short, if your in Canada, buy a LE model. If in US, buy a SE model.

I think all S14s (the chassis code for the '95-'98 240SX) come with 5-lug wheels.

Btw, my family bought a used '95 240SX. We put approximately 40,000km on it in the course of over a year. It was driven in winter, and even started up first time in -35C weather. Also you can have a peace of mind that the 240SX is VERY safe in a front-end collision. We lost our car when my dad hit the guardrail on the highway. He made out fine (the interior was in perfect shape apart from the whitestuff from the airbags). Also we got more money back from the ins company than what we payed for the car. That shows you well the resale value is on the 240SX (apparently some guy bought the car from the ins company two days after it got totalled).

Anyway, in short the 240SX is an awesome car and you cannot go wrong with it. There are very few affordable RWD Japanese coupes, and the 240SX is one of the most fun to drive.

The seats hurt my back.

 

[atom]

I thought all canadian 240's came with VLSD? Anyways, ABS/VLSD option is incredibly hard to find on US 240's. I wish mines had it.

 

[Imported]

Should I avoid any that are moderately modified? I found one that has quite a few Nismo suspension parts, an S15 LSD, and Z32 front brakes/calipers. Seen here.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: Imported
Should I avoid any that are moderately modified? I found one that has quite a few Nismo suspension parts, an S15 LSD, and Z32 front brakes/calipers. Seen here.

Personally, I wouldn't want to buy a modified car. Its a personal thing. If there are gonna be mods on my car, I want to be the one that selects and installs them. That's half the fun of modding a car. On the flip side, if the car does indeed have quality parts and its well maintained, then it shouldn't be a problem. Are you sure that guy installed S15 LSD? They must go thru a LOT of pain & $$ to get that, when they can simply put in a VLSD from the J30s or 300ZX or other 240SXs.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: atom
I thought all canadian 240's came with VLSD? Anyways, ABS/VLSD option is incredibly hard to find on US 240's. I wish mines had it.

No they did not. Atleast 240SX are abundant in the US. They are VERY rare over here. Only 8000 '98s were sold in Canada. And I guess half of that would be VLSDs.

 

[prvteye2003]

tires would be nice

 

[SammyBoy]

OLD OWNER, hopefully 1 owner car

LSD

The end

 

[Imported]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN

Originally posted by: Imported
Should I avoid any that are moderately modified? I found one that has quite a few Nismo suspension parts, an S15 LSD, and Z32 front brakes/calipers. Seen here.

Personally, I wouldn't want to buy a modified car. Its a personal thing. If there are gonna be mods on my car, I want to be the one that selects and installs them. That's half the fun of modding a car. On the flip side, if the car does indeed have quality parts and its well maintained, then it shouldn't be a problem. Are you sure that guy installed S15 LSD? They must go thru a LOT of pain & $$ to get that, when they can simply put in a VLSD from the J30s or 300ZX or other 240SXs.

Yea, I like to modify them myself too. I didn't know the VLSD was available on other cars though; makes finding one easier.

Now to hope insurance totals my car.. after driving a S2000, I couldn't go back to an automatic, front wheel drive car.

 

[atom]

Wow, that car you linked to has a lot of nice junk on it, all that Nismo stuff is money.

 

[LandRover]

If anyone here with a 240SX needs an A/C compressor, send me a PM. I was sent a used one by mistake and have no use for it. I'd be willing to sell it cheap if someone can use it, or maybe trade it for something.

I'm not sure, but I think it's from an early 90's model... I can send the numbers off it.

 

[wasssup]

dammit everyone wants a 240sx now, and by the time i get enough money saved up they'll be as impossible to find as an '84-'87 corolla gt-s :|

fvck college and the constant tuition hikes