240sx Buying Advice

[gniknave]

I've been considering buying an early 240 sx for a daily driver, but also as a project.

Any advice on a good model year?

What should watch out for? And any known problems?

Time to get my 240 education so I can make a good buy. Help a brotha out!

[lofapoo]

Good model/year? 89-93, cause S13s are the lovin'.

I'd probably recommend a DOHC model (91-93) but I have a SOHC (89-90) and I'm happy with it. Make sure it is five speed!!! I cannot stress this enough!

As for body style, take your pick between coupe and hatch; it's all about preference. Personally I'm in love with the coupe

Make sure everything is in tip top condition under the engine bay and that the pop-up lights open and close properly.

Oh yeah, watch out for the tear on the drivers seat, and don't plan on fitting people in the back (it's an emergency only seat ). If the milage is above 120k make sure a timing chain job has occured or be prepared to plan one. Don't worry too hard about milage as if you take it fairly easy and change the oil without delays the motor will last you well beyond 200k.

Do your standard vehicle checks when buying a car, 240s have no 240-only problems. Good luck and have fun!!

[gniknave]

I must ask this since I drive an automatic only Q45 right now...

Why is 5-speed so much more preferred over an automatic?

[574-240sx]

Manuals are fun and it never gets boring. Watch out for spoiler rust on the SE hatch back models. Watch for timing chains. Since you are from Indiana, look for rust on the frame rails, strut tower upper and lower where the frame meets the sheet metal. There are the most common placed where rust is the worst and you have to watch for because it could be dangerous. watch for everything else too, the normal stuff like how dirty the oil is and if the records. Good luck finding one.

Nick

[skydragoness]

Manuals are preferred over automatics because:

1. Better gas mileage (because you control when your transmission shifts, at what rpm you shift, etc)2. More control (downshift for more power when you need it, for a turn, etc)3. More performance, automatic transmission=parasitic drivetrain loss, equaling a loss of hp at the wheel due to the car simply being automatic. V6's and v8's and then some do well with automatics, 4cylinder engines do not.4. Automatic transmissions from the last decade and the decade before don't have as many gears as present day automatics, and the technology wasn't as good. I'm sure the early s13 automatic has 3 gears.5. Manual transmissions last longer. There's a reason why Cottman Transmission shops only have techs that can deal with automatics, usually you have to ship out your 5spd somewhere to have it rebuilt. Because it's not often that they "fail." Sure, synchro's can wear down, shift linkages can be messed up, but it takes a lot of effort and time, (and a retarded owner) to do that. Plus they're cheaper to replace than an auto if you need to get one.6. Because it's fun! Your'e always thinking, it never gets boring. It keeps you 'interactive' with your car, than having a computer do it for you.

i think that's most of it

[SeVa-S13]

240 Auto's have 4 gears, just as tidbit.My very first 240 was from the second month of production in '88 and was auto. As my first car that was fine seeing as I didn't how to drive manual but gradually the auto started giving out. Like it would take an incredibly long time to shift into 2nd when cold, and had slow, jerky shifts when it worked ok.The manual just provides a whole other aspect of enjoyment if the purpose of the car is pleasure. Sports cars shouldn't have autos and the 240 is only about 50hp from being a sportscar and should be driven and enjoyed as such.

[skydragoness]

240 Auto's have 4 gears, just as tidbit.My very first 240 was from the second month of production in '88 and was auto. As my first car that was fine seeing as I didn't how to drive manual but gradually the auto started giving out. Like it would take an incredibly long time to shift into 2nd when cold, and had slow, jerky shifts when it worked ok.The manual just provides a whole other aspect of enjoyment if the purpose of the car is pleasure. Sports cars shouldn't have autos and the 240 is only about 50hp from being a sportscar and should be driven and enjoyed as such.

Thanks for correcting me on the automatic, i figured on a s13, it wouldn't have that many gears. 4? Wow. I had a 93 Corolla with 3, or at least it felt like it.

[gniknave]

Good reasoning guys and gals. I expected the only answer to be "because it's fun". 574-240sx I'm actually in Cali but from Indy. Rust usually isn't a problem here, but who knows where the car was before here right? I'm probably going to get one cheap and just fix it like I did my Q ($400 ).

[I Need $$$]

NO NO NO they have it all wrong. The reason to get a manual over an auto is because they sond better when you have exhaust duh. But in all seriousness it doesn't have the power or luxury of your Q so there is no point. Oh and it is never a good excuse saying you don't know how to drive a stick(I am not saying that you don't). It is easy and more fun, but learn before you go test drive one.

[dfw240_EE]

I believe on high-powered applications people have been running better quarter mile times on autos than manuals due to the faster shift timing. However this is for serious drag racing (600HP or better) where they are using special trannies.

For a typical four cylinder, I echo what skydragoness said. I have driven 4cyl cars almost exclusively for years (mom's Matrix on occasion, brother's CR-V, a Civic, a 2000 Accord, and the 240SX), and I have never been satisfied with an automatic. You can really feel it get sluggish compared to a stick shift. However once for work I drove an old F-250 with an auto, it felt perfectly fine.

[gniknave]

NO NO NO they have it all wrong. The reason to get a manual over an auto is because they sond better when you have exhaust duh. But in all seriousness it doesn't have the power or luxury of your Q so there is no point. Oh and it is never a good excuse saying you don't know how to drive a stick(I am not saying that you don't). It is easy and more fun, but learn before you go test drive one.

I can drive a stick better than an automatic if that says anything.

[Chingon]

in automatics you crash, in manuals you dont....

[mkory]

I crashed my car... and it's a manual. (don't worry I fixed it!)