240SX or 300ZX (Z32)

[Janky240]

Hi, Im new to the forum and I am deciding on whether I should buy a 1990 300ZX for $6,500 ( they might take $6,000) or should I go with a $4000 Nissan 240SX. I currently drive my dads 04' GTO and I like the power that it puts out. I just dont want to get my car and be highly dissapointed. So should I go with the 300ZX with 126k miles, or should I go for the 92' 240SX and have 2k leftover to drop into it engine/performance wise etc. Thanks a lot.

[JesusLikesKFC]

you will be disapointed, serverely

[One_Love]

is the z32 TT. BTW you can buy a swapped 240sx for 6k. It might have some good power.

[JesusLikesKFC]

btw how does a 17yr old guy have 6500 bucks to spend? 2 n a half years ago i was lucky to bust my *** for 2k.

[HashiriyaS14]

I guess that it depends on what you're looking for.

I think that the NA Z32 gets largely ignored, even though it's a very very nice car, for what it is.

For a track/all-out performance car, I'd go with the 240, as you will get more bang for your buck than you would with an NA Z32.

You will be VERY disappointed with the power in either car, stock, coming from a GTO. Honestly, even with substantial mods and an SR swap on the 240, the GTO might continue to embarass it.

I mean, a modified twin-turbo Z32 would be comprable to the GTO, but even then the GTO would have more low-end grunt.

VH45DE into Z32 maybe? Or just buy a Q45, lol.

[whiterps13]

Hmmm, I can can say for sure I would go with the Z32. If you can afford to keep it running well, it will turn out to be a much better car. Faster, more precise handling, etc. But, they are expensive to work on and parts dont come cheap. Look at the prices of aftermarket parts as well, a good cat back exhaust on a Z32 is damn near $1,000.

Bottom line, if your budget allows, the 300zx is far superior to the 240sx.

[JesusLikesKFC]

it looks sexier too. but a n/a probly wont exite u. drove one with pullys, i/e/h and i wasnt thrilled. then again my dd is 230whp so i guess that statement rules me out.

[9240sx]

SR20'ed 240..Best bang for ya buck..Easy to work on,Easy to get power out of the sr20.. You cant go wrong..You can make the sr20 240sx as fast or faster then the GTO easy..And without braking the bank.

[AmoebAssassin]

SR20'ed 240..Best bang for ya buck..Easy to work on,Easy to get power out of the sr20.. You cant go wrong..You can make the sr20 240sx as fast or faster then the GTO easy..And without braking the bank.

+1

My buddy has a stock motor with GT2871R, fuel support mods, bolt ons, and a tune. He makes 351whp. That's enough to embarrass a GTO in a 240. Fact of the matter is, it's pretty simple to make power from an SR20.

[Black95s14]

If you get that 92 240sx for 4 grand you got ripped off!!!!!!!!!! i see s14's go for 4000 not 92 s13's. it better be imaaculate, probably has over 120k miles

[SeVa-S13]

You'll likely wreck whatever you get so whatever's cheaper.

[LiteraryCannon]

Get the 240sx, it's a better tuner friendly car and has a great chassis and suspension base, you can modify it however you like and it will always reward you, it is a responsive car that is fun to drive, it is nimble and exilerating.

Yes, you will be dissapointed, but that's because 240's are slow compared to modern day standards, but that can be changed with mods, motor swaps, etc.

I've had both a z32 and 240sx, and the z32 wasn't that awesome, the best thing about it was the amount of attention it got.. but i'm not even sure if that's a good thing, considering theft, etc. Ladies love to wave to you in a z32.. in a 240sx.. not so much, haha. The z32 is heavy, not so good with handling, and extremely difficult to work on yoursef. There is almost no space to wrench.

Hope that helps. either car will be a dissapointment, so get that thought grounded in your mind.

[nvrplzd240]

240 fo sho!

i lol'd at you asking this in the 240 forum.. what answers do you expect to get

[JesusLikesKFC]

You'll likely wreck whatever you get so whatever's cheaper.

TOLD

[RB20DETodd]

You'll likely wreck whatever you get so whatever's cheaper.

[nsrZ32]

I'd get the Z32.

I've driven and worked on a lot of swapped s13's and have a ton of z32 experience.

I realize this won't go over well with many here, but the Z32 is a sports car. The 240sx is a sporty car. Very different cars with different intentions out of the factory. If you want a sports car with the potential for more power than you could ever want, buy the Z. If you want a fun sporty car that can be stupid fast, buy a 240.

[lrb_2000]

I'd get the Z32.

I've driven and worked on a lot of swapped s13's and have a ton of z32 experience.

I realize this won't go over well with many here, but the Z32 is a sports car. The 240sx is a sporty car. Very different cars with different intentions out of the factory. If you want a sports car with the potential for more power than you could ever want, buy the Z. If you want a fun sporty car that can be stupid fast, buy a 240.

I agree.

[JimmyMethod]

Seventeen year olds don't need fast cars.You'll end up doing something stupid like street racing or trying to 'drift' on a public road and end up with either a reckless driving ticket, or a crashed car or both.Get whatever's cheap and save the rest for college. If your college is already paid for, save the rest for alcohol you're bound to buy in college.

[mrzabala]

His dad may be well off so? Cause having 6000+ to spend at 17 is crazy. If you think about it he would have to work at age 15 1/2 all the way to now as many hours as he can and you have to consider school, hw, studying, projects, and maybe sports/ladies. Anyways go for the 240sx. Its not comparable to a 04 gto but hey the gto is a 04... not an 80's 90's car.

[240TweakerNewbee]

You'll likely wreck whatever you get so whatever's cheaper.

Awww, the place that sold me my SR20 clip said the same thing. I found out they actually had bets going on how long before I drive it off a cliff or wrap it around something. That was a year ago and Ive nearly doubled the HP since then from little mods here and there.

Whatever you decide to go with, just take time to learn it at each step of modification. And never think that boost is the only way to get more power.

I would also like to point out that the reason you can make a 240 fast with a smaller motor has much to do with weight; they are 2700(+ or -) vs the 300zx 3600lb (+ or -) ... 900lbs can make a real difference.

[wickedpelf]

Hi, Im new to the forum and I am deciding on whether I should buy a 1990 300ZX for $6,500 ( they might take $6,000) or should I go with a $4000 Nissan 240SX. I currently drive my dads 04' GTO and I like the power that it puts out. I just dont want to get my car and be highly dissapointed. So should I go with the 300ZX with 126k miles, or should I go for the 92' 240SX and have 2k leftover to drop into it engine/performance wise etc. Thanks a lot.

where does it say hes 17? both cars are going to be slower than the gto...but id say get the one you want more...which one do u like better...its ur money spend it how u want

[One_Love]

check his profile playa

[hannibal]

Jerry, stock for stock, the Z32 is leagues ahead of the 240. But I'd argue the 240 has more potential. Its only lacking power, as is the Z32TT compared to a GTO. And the 240 already has the Z's suspension. Put the Z motor in a S chassis, and its a completely different story. Its easier to add power to the S than shed pounds from the Z...

[nsrZ32]

you'd be surprised. Its actually not to hard to drop a few hundred pounds from the Z32 and still retain a livable interior

[slydin'240]

I say go with whatever you like more. They are both very nice cars.

[SeVa-S13]

I say go with whatever you like more. They are both very nice cars.

[hannibal]

600lbs is a big head start...

One place the Z will always win is styling. I would have never looked at a 240 if I hadnt loved the Z32 as a kid.

[k6kicker]

I own both so i can speak firsthand.....Z32's own man.....reliable as hell but when something breaks its a pain to work on and parts cost as if they were made out of rhino tusks but it is totally worth it when its running

[Janky240]

You'll likely wreck whatever you get so whatever's cheaper.

Just because a kid like me wants to get his sort of "lower end dream car" doesnt mean that he's going to go be irresponsible, but I know what your saying. Im just saying, I want a car that will satisy me lol. My dad offered to buy me a brand new Cobalt LT and I was like " no thanks dad "
Modified by Janky240 at 12:39 AM 7/3/2006

[redline19]

I owned a 90 z32 tt and currently have a 97 S14 SR and it all depends on what you want to do, they're both great cars.

The z32tt i bought @ 6,700 with about hte same miles that you're looking at, but don't be decieved, those cars are extremely high maintainence and parts costs triple or more the amount of 240 or normal sport compact vehicles. THe upside is the straigh line power is great and practically no turbo lag, and riding with the t tops down in the summer time. But that car is heavy as hell and is 16 years old, and you'll be spending thousands repairing parts over time.

The 240 is a very good handling car as everyone already knows. Stock, it takes corners like a champ and in comparison to the z32 its no contest, as the z32 is just to heavy the way it is. But as for the 240, you can always put off the swap until you've learned how to drive it properly or replace parts for it to be ready to be swapped and such - as in brakes, suspension, possibly 5 speed conversion if you're getting an automatic at a cheap price. But as far as power goes, stock is nothing compared to the gto you've been driving or even a z32 tt. and even with the SR installed stock, the straight line power is nothing compared to a tt or gto. I have my s14 sr at around 13lbs with fmic, tub. ex. manifold, full exhaust w/ split dp etc etc and its nothing compared to when i had my Z32 tt boosted at 12lbs stock or 19lbs when i had everything built.

either way you're going to spend a lot of the 240 with the swap and correlating parts to make it run decently fast, but with all that money spent it won't be as fast stock for stock with a gto or z32 tt. So ontop of the swap you'll be adding at least another 3k+ to make it the speed that you're looking for.

hope this helps in your decision