1990 Nissan 240 SX

DWBOX2000 · 03-02-2017, 05:03 AM

Anyone know anything about these cars? My son is looking at one that looks like it has been beat to death. Sure sign to me is the mat black paint. Interior appears to be stripped with racing seats installed. There are stickers covering the center console which usually indicated something isn't right. The car also has 170k or more miles on it, dings, needs brake work and the suspension currently bottoms out on everything the owner said. He needs to find the key to adjust the coilovers. He is asking 3300. The car is a stick.

I know absolutely nothing about these cars. Anyone have any opinions? My gut says not worth it but figured I would ask.

Thanks,

David

masraum · 03-02-2017, 05:10 AM

Sounds like it was ridden hard and put up wet. Seems like it would be better to find one that hadn't been abused and have your son do his own mods.

stomachmonkey · 03-02-2017, 05:13 AM

Wife had one.

Fun car.

Typical rear wheel drive behavior in the wet, ie; not great so be careful and don't skimp on tires.

$3,300 sounds about right for the year and described condition although he should be able to do better than that, as in the car itself not necessarily the price.

Description indicates the things been beat to ****.

sammyg2 · 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBOX2000

Anyone know anything about these cars? My son is looking at one that looks like it has been beat to death. Sure sign to me is the mat black paint. Interior appears to be stripped with racing seats installed. There are stickers covering the center console which usually indicated something isn't right. The car also has 170k or more miles on it, dings, needs brake work and the suspension currently bottoms out on everything the owner said. He needs to find the key to adjust the coilovers. He is asking 3300. The car is a stick.

I know absolutely nothing about these cars. Anyone have any opinions? My gut says not worth it but figured I would ask.

Thanks,

David

Run forest run, POS, money pit.

I had a 240 SX that I bought new, traded it in after about 4 years.
it was reliable, underpowered, the handling was a little soft (understeer push), the only thing remarkable about it was that it was front engine rear wheel drive.
IIRC the only problem I had with it wast he power antenna took a dump and had to be replaced.

But the one you described has been trashed and should not be considered.

If you really look you should be able to find a good unmolested version for about the same price.

Quote:

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/6001274904.html

Nissan 240SX 1995 - $3900 (Rialto)
© craigslist -

1995 nissan 240sx
condition: excellent
cylinders: 4 cylinders
fuel: gas
odometer: 108000
title status: clean
transmission: automatic
type: coupe
LOW MILES! NISSAN 240 SX 1995, AUTOMATIC, AC, RUNS EXCELLENT, INTERIOR 9/10, EXTERIOR 7/10 FADED PAINT ON FRONT BUMBER, 2ND OWNER..ASKING $3900 YOU WILL NOT FIND A 240sx WITH THESE LOW MILES!!!!

BReif61 · 03-02-2017, 05:25 AM

I wouldn't touch it. Unmolested* 240sx's are basically extinct at this point. That sounds like a young kid's My First Drift Car and the "mods" you've listed scream that from the highest tower.

*manual transmission models for clarification, as Sammy blew up my spot by posting a cheap one lol.

targa911S · 03-02-2017, 05:28 AM

Had one. bought it new kept it 5 years, sold it to a friend, she drove it until the wheels fell off. Good reliable car. Fun to drive. Never had a major repair.

VincentVega · 03-02-2017, 05:55 AM

Pretty bland with the stock truck motor but one of the most common modified cars of the past ~20 yrs. I think you are asking for trouble unless you really want one and are ok with dealing with questionable mods. Or, motor swap and start drifting!

HardDrive · 03-02-2017, 05:58 AM

Always loved those cars. You can do better at that price point.

Fast Freddy 944 · Fast Freddy 944's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBOX2000

Anyone know anything about these cars? My son is looking at one that looks like it has been beat to death. Sure sign to me is the mat black paint. Interior appears to be stripped with racing seats installed. There are stickers covering the center console which usually indicated something isn't right. The car also has 170k or more miles on it, dings, needs brake work and the suspension currently bottoms out on everything the owner said. He needs to find the key to adjust the coilovers. He is asking 3300. The car is a stick.

I know absolutely nothing about these cars. Anyone have any opinions? My gut says not worth it but figured I would ask.

Thanks,

David

David, don't waste your money, its probably roached. Go find something Jr will like to drive and not worry about falling apart.

porsche930dude · porsche930dude's Garage

depends what engine it has and all the mods. the stock stuff is pretty worthless. but they are great cars. i had an 89 coupe for my first car it was more fun than my 911

asphaltgambler · 03-02-2017, 06:14 AM

Not much excitement in stock form which is good for a 1st ride, but they are the car to get for drifting. Engine swaps are very popular.

Laneco · 03-02-2017, 06:50 AM

The 240sx is divided into two generations - the early cars are S13 and the later ones are S14 (with a facelift late in the S14). The 89/90 cars have a KA24E engine. It's a 2.4 liter that makes decent torque but only about 140 hp. After that, they went to the double overhead came KA24DE. Minor power increases. Nothing to get excited about, they're all pretty slow. Body style wise, the S14's are the prettiest in my opinion, and the S13 coupe is my next favorite (S13 available as coupe or hatch).

If you can find one that has been a drift pig, you'll find they are fantastic driving little cars. Great road feel and shifting.

The worst issue with these is that every single one of them has been a kid's drift pig. It's been punted and shunted into assorted objects and foolishly modified on teenager's budget. If it is a MANUAL transmission unmolested car, you would be extremely lucky to pick it up for under $3,500. The automatics are such a good deal that some people buy them and go through all the effort to retrofit a manual transmission.

$5 to $6,000 is more the typical range for a nice manual transmission car. Not a show car, a nice driver. These get snapped up FAST. I've seen really nice, nearly pristine models go for $8,000 plus.

Don't even get me started on the modified ones... Our son's car started out as a completely reliable KA24E, then a Japanese spec turbo engine (which crapped out), and now has a Chevrolet 5.3 LS engine...

angela

DWBOX2000 · 03-02-2017, 07:05 AM

Thanks everyone, very helpful.

I was hoping to get him thinking about Miata's. Give him a year to mess with it and then he can use for driving to school and autocross if he chooses. Lots of them out there, bigger fan base if he ever decides to sell (which he will), super reliable and not too expensive.

Fast Freddy 944 · Fast Freddy 944's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBOX2000

Thanks everyone, very helpful.

I was hoping to get him thinking about Miata's. Give him a year to mess with it and then he can use for driving to school and autocross if he chooses. Lots of them out there, bigger fan base if he ever decides to sell (which he will), super reliable and not too expensive.

Now that's a good car. Be sure to "macho" it up with rims and a cool paint job!

scottmandue · 03-02-2017, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBOX2000

Thanks everyone, very helpful.

I was hoping to get him thinking about Miata's. Give him a year to mess with it and then he can use for driving to school and autocross if he chooses. Lots of them out there, bigger fan base if he ever decides to sell (which he will), super reliable and not too expensive.

Excellent choice!

I wanted a 240SX bad but never dropped the coin on one... both the 240 and the Miata can be riced out (sounds like the 240 you son is looking at) either can be nicely upgraded or cheaply chopped up, be careful or you could end up with a money pit.

On the other hand a reasonably stock version of either car can run 250K miles.

stomachmonkey · 03-02-2017, 07:19 AM

May be a time to teach him that lesson that will serve him well for the rest of his life and ward off all manner of misery brought on by poor decision making, "don't fall in love with it".

masraum · 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBOX2000

Thanks everyone, very helpful.

I was hoping to get him thinking about Miata's. Give him a year to mess with it and then he can use for driving to school and autocross if he chooses. Lots of them out there, bigger fan base if he ever decides to sell (which he will), super reliable and not too expensive.

The 240 has a pretty extensive fanbase of drifters and ricers (is that redundant?), but the miata community is huge, and you can do anything with them that you can think of. I had 3 if you count the time that the missus and I both had one. Great fun little cars, cheap, reliable with tons of aftermarket and a great forum like Pelican for support.

Otter74 · 03-02-2017, 07:32 AM

Stock S13 240SXes are fun-to-drive cars that handle well and don't have a lot of power by modern standards, but it is almost impossible to find a decent stock one, as seemingly all of them have gotten the dorifto treatment and 2/3 of those have been beaten to within an inch of their life. A 240SX SE hatchback was what I really wanted in 1993, but it was over budget and I got my close-second choice instead, a Sentra SE-R that I still own. I would still love to have a really nice stock '92-'93 SE hatch with HICAS if I had garage space and could actually find a good one.

Jim Richards · 03-02-2017, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBOX2000

Thanks everyone, very helpful.

I was hoping to get him thinking about Miata's. Give him a year to mess with it and then he can use for driving to school and autocross if he chooses. Lots of them out there, bigger fan base if he ever decides to sell (which he will), super reliable and not too expensive.

This is I exactly the way I'd go if I was in your shoes.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

I wish I never sold my 240 SX, nice chassis, unfortunate North American drivetrain.

I was stunned at how inexpensive insurance was for my turbo Miata, less than half what it was for my Integra. Dead simple to work on, not quite air cooled VW, but pretty close.