240 sx advice???

[BiXLL]

Hi guys. I am a Nissan loyalist, in fact I am admin/mod of http://www.clubtitan.org. I am thinking of buying a 240sx to replace a lease car my wife drives. The plan is for us to drive it for about 6 months, working the bugs out of it, then selling it (payments) to son when he turns 16. I have one I am looking at, but do not know much about these cars yet. Can you guys advise me on what to look for, and what I should expect to pay?

1993 Black Nissan SX Limited Edition Convertible - $3500

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1993 Black Nissan 240 SX Limited Edition Convertible. 108,000 miles. Automatic transmission, air conditioning, CD player. New battery and starter. Inspection due April 2008. Looks good, runs good. Must sell before winter. Asking $3,500 or best offer. PLEASE, NO OFFERS TO TRADE.


Modified by BiXLL at 10:14 AM 9/23/2007

[Eikon]

Hi Bill,

Welcome to the forums. Great to have you aboard.

Looks like a very nice 'vert you've found there!

Here's my take on 'vert values at this point in time. The average 'vert goes for about $3,000. That average car would have around 125k miles on it. Would have no powertrain issues, but some small cosmetic issues and flaws in the interior would be expected. Model year seems to have no impact on the going rate.

The 240 convertible is a spectacular car! You'll love it! It does have some pro's and con's. Most of these come with the conversion from 240 coupe to 240 'vert. The company that did the conversion did a great job with the mechanicals (chassis bracing, top operation, overall design, etc..) But the did a poor job with the execution of cosmetic and interior work (door panels, switches, mouldings, etc..)

Some common issues that should be expected, and shouldn't detract much from value: - Door panels were very poorly made for the 'vert model, and will most likely be seperating from the door. The arm-rest inserts will most likely be seperating from the rest of the door panel. - Rear 1/4 window switches may be missing. Those little caps often break and are lost. But the mechanism should still work. - rear window will most likely be foggy. Hopefully it will not be ripped.

Some common issues that should cause a drop in value:- rips in the top- any engine / trans issues- missing interior panels- damaged weatherstripping. (be sure you inspect the weatherstripping! It's very important to the 'vert to keep water out.. and it's no longer in production.. so it's exceedingly difficult to replace)- rear 1/4 window operation. They often come off their tracks, or fail to work entirely.

Some transmissions have trouble upshifting due to a sensor issue.. Check out the 'vert faqs thread for a link to that info. This can be a way to get a nice deal.. if the previous owner is unaware that the fix is so simple.

Gen 240sx issues: Listen for the timing chain guides.. they cause a terrible racket!Check out the condition of the suspension bushings, joints, etc..

Anyhow.. my take on the car you showed.. Looks like a very clean car. Factory leather is a nice find. AC is rare on 'verts. The miles are pretty low. The body looks very straight and clean. If the top is in good shape, and you've checked out some of the above issues.. i'd say that car is certainly worth $3500. Perhaps you could talk them down to $3k. If you find some issues (as you most likely will), then you should be able to get them down a bit under $3k.

One last note.. If the owner still has the original boot to place over the top mechanism when it's down.. that piece of vinyl is very rare, and worth $300+. just an FYI.

Hope this helps.. let me know if you have any further questions. I'll be back on this evening.

Surely other members will chime in as well.. since I most likely forgot a few things..

[BiXLL]

Wow, GREAT POST Eikon!!! Very imformative and much appreciated! Looking fwd to hearing from others with their tips as well.

[DirftKing102]

I would get that car. Since it is in very good condition it would be a great buy and leather on the 240sx interior is a plus! You can't find a lot of 240sx's with leather. If you decide to swap the engine and tranmission to a manual it would be a great project. Also Eikon is right about the wheather stripping it is very hard to find. But If it is missing some then you could probably get a paintshop to make you some wheather stripping from scratch. Thats what they did for me to repair that part. Also the car looks good for the paint job. Other then that the car would do good. There are lots of upgrades you can do on the car. It is just if you have the time and money to do them. if you need any other advice on it then feel free to ask me or the other members on the forum.

Also the miles is a +! I got my car with 140,000 miles on it when i first bought it. 108,000 miles is a really good deal! That means it hasnt gone through a lot of driving and abuse and has been kept really clean and probably in the garage or on the side of the house or in the driveway.

Tell us when you get the car!!!

[BiXLL]

OK, I talked to the guy again today. I have a little more info. He is the second owner, and he, and the original owner are both in their mid 40s. It was bought new in Florida, this guy has had it for the last 4 years here in Pa., but it has been stored each winter he has had it. It had a new top put on it just before he bought it (5 years ago) It has a new battery, and starter this summer. All electric windows work, and he states absolutely clean and intact interior. I asked him if there is any rust on the car, and he stated he just found 2 spots at bottom of fender where there is a few little bubbles in paint where rust is trying to start!!!!!!

I am starting to think this guy really does not know just what he has. He stated to me that the day he bought it, is the day he met his current wife. He bought it with intentions of it being a chick magnet, but he ended up marrying the one he met the day he bought it! He has put about 3000 miles a year on it since he has owned it. He just wants it gone before he has to pay for another winters storage!!! He also told me the $3500.00 is not a firm price seeing as I have a 3 hour drive to see it.

I am pretty sure this car is going to be mine. Then you guys will be seeing a lot of me on here!

[Loki]

Do you know where this car is located?

And welcome to NICO! Best of luck to you with this vert Always great to see another somewhat local member.

[BiXLL]

Yeah I know wh

Do you know where this car is located?

And welcome to NICO! Best of luck to you with this vert Always great to see another somewhat local member.

Yup, I know where it is located, about 3 hours away from me.

Thanks for the welcome! I drive truck for New Penn, I am in Scranton (Dunbar) area a lot!

[ishkabibble]

Cool. If that's the only rust, $3500 is about the going rate for the car. $3000 would be a nice price, $2500 would be a steal.

If it's in BFE, PA, you can probably get it cheaper than if it's in Philly or Pgh.

That said, I would not get a 240SX vert for a 16 year old, unless he was one of the most responsible 16 year olds around. 240SX verts are not good winter cars, and do not stand up well to side impacts and rollovers.

[BiXLL]

If it's in BFE, PA, you can probably get it cheaper than if it's in Philly or Pgh.

That said, I would not get a 240SX vert for a 16 year old, unless he was one of the most responsible 16 year olds around. 240SX verts are not good winter cars, and do not stand up well to side impacts and rollovers.

What is "BFE" Pa.??????(bum f8cked Egypt?)

I have been thinking the same about turning car over to him, but I have a feeling wife will not want to give it up anyway!!! I can always call it my middle aged toy!!!!! I need something to play with anyway, my Titan is pretty much done the way I ewant it, and mods on them are WAY EXPENSIVE anyway!

[ishkabibble]

Also the miles is a +! I got my car with 140,000 miles on it when i first bought it. 108,000 miles is a really good deal! That means it hasnt gone through a lot of driving and abuse and has been kept really clean and probably in the garage or on the side of the house or in the driveway.

The mileage is a +, but you really need to ask about a car's history to make an assessment about how it was driven. For example, I recently looked at an NX2000 with 60,000 miles, and it was in worse shape than my 160,000 mile vert. The NX was used as a daily driver for thousands of short trips, and the vert was used for long highway trips, only in the summer.

[ishkabibble]

BFE, you got it.

[BiXLL]

The mileage is a +, but you really need to ask about a car's history to make an assessment about how it was driven. For example, I recently looked at an NX2000 with 60,000 miles, and it was in worse shape than my 160,000 mile vert. The NX was used as a daily driver for thousands of short trips, and the vert was used for long highway trips, only in the summer.

From my earlier postQuote »He stated to me that the day he bought it, is the day he met his current wife. He bought it with intentions of it being a chick magnet, but he ended up marrying the one he met the day he bought it! He has put about 3000 miles a year on it since he has owned it.[/quote]

[BiXLL]

BFE, you got it.

Pretty quick for a dumb old truck driver hugh??? LOL Yes, car is in BFE, way out in the boonies!~

[ishkabibble]

From my earlier post

My post was more about advising DirftKing than specifically about (soon to be) your car.

[BiXLL]

My post was more about advising DirftKing than specifically about (soon to be) your car.

Ah, understood!

[Loki]

Yeah I know whYup, I know where it is located, about 3 hours away from me.

Thanks for the welcome! I drive truck for New Penn, I am in Scranton (Dunbar) area a lot!

Heh...I'm actually asking, WHERE is this car located? I'm not looking to buy it out from under you, I'm just wondering if it's near me.

That said, I would not get a 240SX vert for a 16 year old, unless he was one of the most responsible 16 year olds around. 240SX verts are not good winter cars, and do not stand up well to side impacts and rollovers.

They are one hell of a champ in front-end collisions though!

And yeah, be careful giving a car to a 16 year old. I'd hate for him to do something stupid and have another Vert off the road.

[BiXLL]

Heh...I'm actually asking, WHERE is this car located? I'm not looking to buy it out from under you, I'm just wondering if it's near me.

No, nowhere close to you, over on the south western part of the state. Thats all I'm sayin about that! LOL

[ishkabibble]

n/m, beat me to it.

[Loki]

Ah, alright. All I was getting at was possibly offering to check out the car for you and save you a drive. I've already purchased my new Nissan, and it sure ain't no black vert

[BiXLL]

Ah, alright. All I was getting at was possibly offering to check out the car for you and save you a drive. I've already purchased my new Nissan, and it sure ain't no black vert

Well in that case, awsome of you to offer!!! Seems to be a good group of people here!

[Eikon]

Well in that case, awsome of you to offer!!! Seems to be a good group of people here!

You have indeed found a fantastic group of people! I take a ton of pride in how cool the 'vert family is.

Good luck with your purchase Bill. Hope you get a nice deal on the car, and thoroughly enjoy it once you own it.

[BiXLL]

Back to subject at hand. Can you tell me more about the weatherstripping I should look at. Will it be attached to roof or where? Also, you mentioned suspension and bushings, anything in particular to look for on this car, or just a in general check?

Sorry if this comes across as mundane to you guys, but I am trying to learn all I can before I go and look at this car, as fast as I can. I need to do this, as if I am going to buy it, it will be at the first meeting as it is too far away from me to play back and forth games.

[Eikon]

Back to subject at hand. Can you tell me more about the weatherstripping I should look at. Will it be attached to roof or where?

There are three major areas of weatherstripping that I always recommend looking at.

First is the top of the windsheild. This is very important to be sure it's in good condition. There is a lot of plastic and rubber here, and if it's badly worn or ripped, you will get leaks, wind noise, etc...

Second is the joint between the front and rear windows. I didn't put up my front windows, but you get the idea.

Third is the top to side windows connections. You can see these two joints will straighten out and rest atop the windows. And yes.. you can see the my top is not in very good condition.

One of my passenger side rubber joints is shot.

As for bushings, joints, etc.. Take a jack with you so you can get underneath the car. You want to try to inspect a few things underneath the car. Check out the TC rod bushings. If they are cracked or degraded, you'll have to replace them, and they are expensive! Check the tie-rod ends as they connect to the hub. Take a look at the brake pads and rotors while you are down there as well. In the rear of the vehicle, look at the subframe bushings. It's hard to tell, but make sure they are still in place and solid. Do a search on the NICO forums for TC bushings and Rear subframe bushings to get some pictures.. I didn't feel like jacking up the car this morning.. sorry!.

On a completely unrelated note.. Here's some pics of the Packers vs. Chargers game yesterday. I was on the field for pre-game.. Pretty cool!

[BiXLL]

Thanks again Eikon! Oh and the Packers defiantly have it going on this year so far!

[Eikon]

Sure thing! Let me (us) know if you have any other questions prior to driving out to look at this car. 3 hours each way is a long drive.. so you def. want to be fully prepared and know what you're looking for before you leave.

For the record. I am NOT a Packer fan. I actually dislike the team. I'm a Denver Bronco fan since I grew up in Denver. But I will always take the opportunity to attend a game. And it was a great game!

[S13_convert]

Eikon, I'm envious of your Packer experience. I'm originally from WI, moved to CA 5 years ago.Also, BiXLL, that vert looks great so far w/o more inspection. I bought mine for $4200 pretty much sight unseen and a 4 hour drive to get it. I lucked out, but you should have a lot more knowledge going into this sale than I did. This site is great for that!

[ishkabibble]

Favre must be taking performance enhancing drugs. That's the only explanation for how a mediocre team with an old fart QB could beat the Chargers.

Sconnies

[BiXLL]

Favre must be taking performance enhancing drugs. That's the only explanation for how a mediocre team with an old fart QB could beat the Chargers.

Sconnies

OLD FART????????? I resemble that I'll have you know!

[otto_3478s]

HAHA, but you gotta admit Farve is getting pretty old to play football....

But also BiXLL nice find on the vert... 3000-3500 does seem to be the going rate for a bone stock vert... unless you can find one with a ridiculous paint job then you may get a steal!! You have to scoop that vert up before it goes to someone else!!!

[BiXLL]

Man!!!! Between his schedule, and mine, we are not going to be able to get together for almost 2 weeks!!! Oct. 6 is the tentative date, that is if he don't sell it before then!