so im 17, and i've got a year until my parents legalize my driving abilities. so, i figure having a a year until i can drive, it's about time i start unveiling my nissan passion. does anyone want to help a newbie? :-)
i know i want a 240sx, and i've been looking around for some local cars in the tampa area. there's a dealership here called 'z-docs' () it's a low end used nissan dealership. i think i found my car. a 1990 240 coupe. there isn't a posted picture on their site, so i've got to check it out in person. i simply want some basic advice on whether or not it's worth the buy, considering where i want this car to end up:
my reason for loving a 240 coupe is simply because i noticed it is very similar and can look very much like a skyline (and everyone wants a skyline right :-). besides, it's so adaptable. rwd, nice engine options, such and such. i like it all around. i found that the only 240 to fit my style and desired price however, is the older 89-93 models. so this 240 is two thousand dollars and has 180k on the engine...yeah i know. i wont be able to ride it for a whole year so i was intending to pay about $1900-2,200 for an sr20 (used) by the first month into summer.
i also wasn't sure if i could even make a 240 that old look new anyhow. i've seen a 240 with a nismo front and bomex side skirts and rear bumper...but i couldn't tell the year. is the cost of a new body and engine worth it? is it possible to make a mammoth out of this mouse?
by the way, if anyone's interested, here in the central florida area (i'm sure those who care know anyhow) i've found new grounds for the 18th's of most of my months in bradenton. there's a race on, i believe, the 18th every other month there...can't remember the name, but i'll be there this march 18 with the man with the teal green camaro.
anyone want to advise the beginning 240 enthuiast?
well, i wanted to do all that with my car too. but what you have to understnad is this car is 15 years old. so you need to keep a look out for problems. I mean make sure that the car is a good shell. if your gonna replace the engine dont worry about the 180k on the engine then, but there is still 180k on the chassie and make sure that chassie is still in good condition.
i mean i love sr20 240sx and silvia front ends look great but you will never be able to get that money back out of the car. dont expect to make moeny out of it.
Get the 240sx and upgrade it if you really want to, they are great cars but make sure it is in good condition to do all that stuff to it. you are gonna be dropping a lot of cash into making the car great and it does make a great race car. and u can make the thing a mammoth and it can be worth the cost if u intend to use it and race it. but if you expect to sell it and expect to make money you are going to be disappointed bc sr20 powered 240sx do not resell very well.
i mean i love sr20 240sx and silvia front ends look great but you will never be able to get that money back out of the car. dont expect to make moeny out of it.
Get the 240sx and upgrade it if you really want to, they are great cars but make sure it is in good condition to do all that stuff to it. you are gonna be dropping a lot of cash into making the car great and it does make a great race car. and u can make the thing a mammoth and it can be worth the cost if u intend to use it and race it. but if you expect to sell it and expect to make money you are going to be disappointed bc sr20 powered 240sx do not resell very well.
okay its best not to say youre 17, never driven before, want to race etc because it gives a bad impression to the rest of these guys on this forum
a 240 is a pretty nice car for the price 1-3k for s13 ~. lasts pretty long/reliable. it some what looks like a skyline if you say so. i think it looks a lot different unless youre to go converting a s13 up.
180k on the engine is fine as long as it has been maintained. i have 2 240s myself 1 with 140k and 1 with 19xk i forgot and the one with 19x000 miles runs better than the one with 140000 miles. weird huh i guess its because of the previous owner.
an sr wont reallly go for 1900-2200 unless you get the left over/bad condition stuff from ebay or if u got hook ups. youre probably looking at anywhere from 2500+for a sr front clip and also remember labor. besides if you havent worked on cars you're gonna end up getting it installed at a shop thatll end up being 1k+ not including the parts youll have to buy to make the car work.
what you must keep in mind is that things can happen to the car. not really happen but maintaining the car can sometime sbe annoying. tires, radiator, oils, pads, rotors, plugs, cap, can be pretty costly.
240 can look new with a new paint job, lowered, and with some good fiting wheels.
im not supportive of body kits as much but fiberglass bumpers can go anywhere from 100-up to 700 even and side skirts can go anywhere from 100-500+. it wouldnt be called a new body it would just be something like front/rear bumpers and side skirts usually.
if your egonna be doing things like this youll need serious cashcar, front clip/install, body kit, paint job thats gonan run u atleast 8k and up.
hope you have fun and try not to crash it theres enough younger drivers here that crash their cars and part it out here.
a 240 is a pretty nice car for the price 1-3k for s13 ~. lasts pretty long/reliable. it some what looks like a skyline if you say so. i think it looks a lot different unless youre to go converting a s13 up.
180k on the engine is fine as long as it has been maintained. i have 2 240s myself 1 with 140k and 1 with 19xk i forgot and the one with 19x000 miles runs better than the one with 140000 miles. weird huh i guess its because of the previous owner.
an sr wont reallly go for 1900-2200 unless you get the left over/bad condition stuff from ebay or if u got hook ups. youre probably looking at anywhere from 2500+for a sr front clip and also remember labor. besides if you havent worked on cars you're gonna end up getting it installed at a shop thatll end up being 1k+ not including the parts youll have to buy to make the car work.
what you must keep in mind is that things can happen to the car. not really happen but maintaining the car can sometime sbe annoying. tires, radiator, oils, pads, rotors, plugs, cap, can be pretty costly.
240 can look new with a new paint job, lowered, and with some good fiting wheels.
im not supportive of body kits as much but fiberglass bumpers can go anywhere from 100-up to 700 even and side skirts can go anywhere from 100-500+. it wouldnt be called a new body it would just be something like front/rear bumpers and side skirts usually.
if your egonna be doing things like this youll need serious cashcar, front clip/install, body kit, paint job thats gonan run u atleast 8k and up.
hope you have fun and try not to crash it theres enough younger drivers here that crash their cars and part it out here.
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1991S13
- Posts: 1230
- Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2004 5:59 pm
- Car: '91 240sx Coupe, '00 QX4 4x4, '02 Sentra Spec V
- Contact:
If you have a steady income then it might not be a bad idea. When I got mine I was still on the dumb side and thought I could build this fast car, overlooking the fact that the basics would need to be taken care of. I shelled out probably $2k just getting it in shape to pass inspection.
I have spent around $1000 buying a body kit and getting it installed, $900 on rims, and in the spring Im going to spend $2000 to have it painted, but that's just because I prefer having a slow, nice looking car than a fast, ugly car. You may be the opposite, and the $4000 I spent on looks you could put into the engine.
So, if you have the money to spend (and of course the patience) then go for it. I can't wait until I can get a new car I know I can rely on and not spend a lot of money on, then I can dump a lot of money into my 240 without worrying about keeping it in check for daily driving.
I have spent around $1000 buying a body kit and getting it installed, $900 on rims, and in the spring Im going to spend $2000 to have it painted, but that's just because I prefer having a slow, nice looking car than a fast, ugly car. You may be the opposite, and the $4000 I spent on looks you could put into the engine.
So, if you have the money to spend (and of course the patience) then go for it. I can't wait until I can get a new car I know I can rely on and not spend a lot of money on, then I can dump a lot of money into my 240 without worrying about keeping it in check for daily driving.
Just remember, it's like my parents always tell me, 'You'll never get what you spent on the car back.' I know this is true but it's my money for me too spend. Make it drivable on a daily basis by giving it a good and PROPER tune-up and take care of replacing worn out parts, it is an old car after all. After you bring up to factory running order, then you can start doing performance enhancing mods.