$25,000 to spend on a car

[matt0941]

I have been looking at cars for about 1 and 1/2 years right now. I have gone from Supra, to 300zx, to 350Z, to 240SX. Right now I plan on getting a S14A 240SX and turboing the KA24DE. Please do not let this get into a SR vs KA discussion because I don't want some illegal motor in my car, period. But I am young, like sports cars, like fuel economy, dont like high insurance, and can't stand 4 doors. If it were you and you had this amount of money what would you do. The only reason I ask is because I fear the resale value of a car where you put in 10 thousand and never see that money again, only in performance. Thanks.

[UnderPressure]

ya, well word around my nopi store (norcross Ga, i guess the same on Chris May goes to) is that Chris May is selling his 240sx. he has the highest HP Ka-T on the streets in America, last time I checked. I would buy that and put some NICE suspension on it, and some navigation. Call NOPI or Balanced performance and ask about Chris's Car.~Chris Willis

[Former_240_s14]

Well, I don't have 20 or 25k but I am gonna borrow it. My plans are gonna be selling my s14 and buying hopefully "more than likely" a 96 BMW M3.

If you want good gas mileage, don't count on it with your ka-t. My friend has a ka-t and he gets terrible gas mileage. Insurance is still moderate for our age bracket "I am 20" and resale values I see actually staying the same or going a tid bit up for a s14, after the f&f2 comes out "did you see the pics of the mandarine orange s14 with boomex body kit, and NO stickers, sweet". I think alot of honda boys are gonna give their souls away for a sweet s14. all this is speculation though, and its just my opinion.

[BuudWeizErr]

Well, if you must go KA-T, and you have that much to spend. Build up the bottom end. That is a must. Start from the bottom and work your way up. You will have a badazz 240 with that much money.

[big jon's 240]

You dont want an illegal motor in your car? A turboed KA will be illegal. None of the turbo kits currently available are legal. If you sink a lot of money into the car you will probably get a good portion of it back when you sell it, but not likely all of it. Out of the cars you listed, id go 240 (of course, im biased) , you will have more money left to play with in the long run. Plus insurance on a Supra or 300Z really sucks at our age.

[MikeS14240sx]

Well a ka-t isn't really street legal. If you have emissions testing i wouldn't count on the car passing. I would go with the sr for better fuel economy.

[matt0941]

Well if you do get busted for a turbo on a non-turbo motor like the KA they will most likely fine you and ask that it be de-modded. If they see an SR they impound your car and more times than not they cube it. I saw it happen with a diff. motor than the RB26DETT that did get approved in a skyline, cubed it it sucks. But chances are you really aren't going to get busted for an engine, but I would like to play it safely. As for Chris May's car I do not like buying already modded cars, it is like eating a licked lollipop. Just MO. As for putting money into an S14... you rarely see that money again. I am not positive how it works with turboed/sr swapped S14s but I would imagine it is similar to modded Supras. And people pay more for them when they are bone stock. I could be wrong but I just assumed so because they are alike in the fact that they were both discontinued in 98 and are imported from Japan. I love the KA's power curve and displacement and basically the torque that you get out of it. The only thing that kinda nags me is the fact that it would never really win any JDM award. Not that I would ever enter it in a show it is just annoying to see my brother's Honda hatchback being slowly converted to JDM parts and getting an import motor. Atleast I can find some relief in the fact that the motor was built in Japan. But I don't support the argument that SRs are better just because they come in the JDM spec 240s. And please don't reply to any of my SR "bashing" with negative comments, I really think they are great motors just not for me.

P.S. If you think I can't pass emissions you are VERY VERY far off. I have researched alot for OBDII cars and all they will be doing is plugging a wire into my ECU and checking it. You will automatically fail with your SR when they see that the ECU isn't where it should be.

[Dano]

gimme all but $1.35, let me kick u in the nuts, ill buy u the Hot Wheels of ure choosing and we'll call it a day.

j/k, i think u should run for a SC400 and buildup a 2JZ-GT(T)E in it(supra motor if u didnt know)... OR get an M3, supra or 300Z...DONT GET ME WRONG, i LOVE the 240, but with that much money...o man...it would open up some possibilities... Just MO.

-Dan

[wingzero]

Wow, 25k? damn that's gonna be a pretty sweet car when your done with it. I also like the KA motor, but the main reason I would pick an SR over it is just all the beautiful parts available for it, plus the fuel economy. But if I had 25k in my checking account I would try to build a sick FD, but if you want to go for something with cheaper insurance I'd get an MR2 turbo.

[Former_240_s14]

OR get an M3, DONT GET ME WRONG, i LOVE the 240, but with that much money...o man...it would open up some possibilities... Just MO.

-Dan

Thats my plan, mummmmm M3,

[Dano]

mmmmmm, M3 is yummy! o yes it is... i still wish my buddy and i had ours (it was our project car) but then it got hit while it was parked:( o well, i got memories. i would definately buy one if i had the money.

-Dan

[UncleBen]

u still have your M3 dont' you? lol, its not like it wont run and it died because someone side swipped it.....

[milo]

**** i'd buy a supra with that

[y3llows14]

Sh*t.....with $25k.....I can buy a whole house in Vietnam and have $5 hoes over all day

[LincolnRacer]

Id take a loan for 10K dollars and buy a new svt cobra. Because I am God.

[Syntax360]

if I had that kind of cash to drop into a 240, i don't think i'd ever be able to part w/ it, let alone worry about resale value. oh ya, milo: i must applaud the H excerpt in your quote :-) :bowdown

[Dano]

u still have your M3 dont' you? lol, its not like it wont run and it died because someone side swipped it.....

[matt0941]

Sh*t.....with $25k.....I can buy a whole house in Vietnam and have $5 hoes over all day

Screw cars... this guy knows what's up, can you still afford to go to the hospital with your STDs though? But you guys do know that replacement clutches in M3s are like $1000+ right? And yes, 240sx2nr95, You are smart and yes I do know what the 2jzgte motor is, but I don't know... I have just never looked at the SC400s. And why hasn't anyone here said Camaro SS that's whats on my mind! :rolleyes

LoL but anyways, now I will allow you guys to comment (yea that's right... allow you) on the SR. Was I actually right about the impound thing? Cause I was kinda running my mouth and am not 100% sure if I am right. Has ANYONE ever been fined/arrested/car-impounded for having an SR in their 240 that you know of or KA-T?

P.S. Dude, why does it look like your M3 (beutiful) was painted INTO the picture?

[Dano]

crap, my comment didnt go in the post with my pic... Ben, its a long story, it wont ever look the same again:( o well, i got my memories...may get some $$ off it though...we'll have to wait and see...if so...may put it towards SR....

Matt0941, because i had to shrink the pics so much to fit them in the post... 2 large pics scrunched into 400x400 is a small pic when those are seperately 1280x960 so yeah, it looks crappy.

-Dan

[Munki4ce]

I have not heard that SR's are illegal? is this true in all states?OMFG this may change my mind about SR's for sure........

[matt0941]

The SR20DET motor sitting in your garage is completely legal.

Your 240SX sitting in your garage is completely legal.

The SR20DET motor in your 240SX is illegal. The SR20DET motor was never registered in the United States, therefore it is illegal to have it in your vehicle. To just make a general connection, the Nissan Skyline was never brought to the states through Nissan, as the SR. You can't just bring over a Skyline, it would be illegal.

On a side note... (in IL) if your 240SX is a 96 or newer you will be receiving OBDII emissions testing and your car must past. The first test is a ECU test. They will take a computer and plug it into your ECU, checking for any error codes to see if everything is running alright. If you pass, you have passed emissions... CONGRATULATIONS! :thumbup.

But if you fail this test (which your SR20DET motor will) you will have to go on to the IM240 test. What the IM240 test (called the 240 because 240 seconds is the longest the test will take) does is puts your car on a dyno and gets the sniffer test. The sniffer is where they collect all of your exhaust fumes and analyze them. Depending on the dyno and sniffer test, you will be graded on how well your vehicle did. The results from the IM240 test and the fact that you failed the first test will both be taken into account and the verdict based on this.

I would rather have a KA-T that will probably pass the ECU test, and if not then I would move onto the IM240; in which I would just lower my boost.

Still... if anyone could tell me any real experiences with arrests/fines for either the KA-T or SR in a 240SX I would like to hear it.

[JESTER]

The SR in your 240 is by no means illegal. It is illegal if you use it for anything other than off road. They are not street legal. Race/drag cars dont have to pass emissions.

Matt, you want a 240 or do you want a Chevy? If you want a 240 get an s14 and do s15 body conversion. Turbo the engine, set up the suspension, nice rims and tires, do the interior (leather seats), and get a nice loud sound system. If you want an SS, I cant help you. I dont buy any Chevys. Had too many problems with the past five that I have had.

Personally, if I had $25000 I would buy a nice, new, shinny, blue, Subaru WRX. You would have to get a few extra dollars but nothing you cant get.

[big jon's 240]

Even if you were to pass the ECU or the sniffer test, you will still fail the visual. Im not sure how every state works, but i grew up in Cali, and if you take a n/a motor, and turbo it, you fail. No ifs, ands , or buts. Does not matter how clean your car is. You have to take and pass the visual no matter what the ECU/ sniffer test says.When you first asked this question, you stated that insurance is an issue, which rules out an SS, supra, 300z, 350z, WRX. As far as the cops go, unless you get a car who really knows cars, they wont know what an sr20 is, or that the 240 never came with a turbo, it all depends on the cops car knowledge. I know there is a guy on these boards who is a cop, he will probably be able to give you a real good answer. Most of the stuff cops but kids for is silly things like cars being too low, illegal taillights, bulbs, etc., stuff that is general cop knowledge.

[matt0941]

Hehe, I was just kidding I hate Camaros man. As for the street usage of these swaps in 240s I assumed that was where everyone was headed. Yes you can take a SR 240 to the track or off roading :rolleyes , but by no means can you drive it there. I have gone off-roading in Attica, IN and there are alot of trailer driven cars down there that would be pulled over in a second if they were on the street. So yes, I did mean street legal, sorry if that confused anyone. As for using the SR on the street I am still curios if anyone has gotten in trouble for it.