Hey I'm new. Just have some question to ask...

[Nightmaree]

Hey everyone I'm new.

I'm also looking at buying... my first car. Now do go telling me get a different car first before this... Just no. If I wanted to waist money on a crappy beater that I could put toward the car I actually want I would be jumping off a cliff out of stupidity :P

So I LOVE the 240sx (S13) and 180sx but I live in Canada so I want to stick with the 240sx cause it's easyer to find parts and all.
But I have some questions I need to ask cause while looking around I'm finding all these trim's like coupe, se, hatchback. I would eventually like to build it up into a nice drift/racing car for local clubs and tracks and I'm assuming the coupe is the one I want to go with but the question is if I can't find one whats the difference between them all. And want kind of engine do I want and which one I want to stay away from... if there is any different ones...? :/

After that I'm wondering is there anything I should know about this car? Know problems, good things to look for, recommendations for upgrades, and where to get parts. I personally when I get mine want to change it to the 180sx body cause then it doesn't have the pig nose. I saw one that this done to it. The 180sx is so much sharper and faster looking.

Any other info or advice you could give me would be much appreciated!

Bare with me, We all have to start somewhere haha :P

[PANDAemic]

Well first things first, Coupe (Silvia), hatch (180sx), SE (Trim) It doesn't really matter, its all on what you prefer. And if you're in Canada I think they're called 200sx up there? The 180sx is the hatch and theres not much you need to "change" unless you're going for either Zenki, Chuki or Kouki OR an aftermarket body kit. You shouldn't have to worry about too much but you will see some problems cause you;re going to by a 20+ year old car (S13). Engine wise, I'd say stay stock KA and if you feel the need, swap in a new engine yourself. I run a CA18 (not too common) and most run SR20's and the occasional RB's.

I can tell you don't know too much about S13's except for what you've seen in magazines and such but everybody has to start somewher like you said.

[Nightmaree]

Ah Okay. I just wasn't sure if the trim changed any of the performance of the car. You'll probably see me around here more in a couple months time when I buy the car. :P
I have found a couple that have had a engine swap already riding at about 50 000k. Just I've had people been telling me its better to go stock and work on it yourself cause you have no idea if it was a really dumb kid that swapped it in and drove the hell out of it. I don't plan to start drifting in the car until I've don't a decent amount of work on the engine and so on. Then on you don't have to worry about a bunch of stuff breaking and just swap stuff in and out every while along with tires. Won't be driving it in the canadian winter thou haha. I'll get a $200 beater for then.

Yea pretty much all the info i've gotten was from wiki and watching a ton of videos on it and the 180sx jdm.

[rc1honda]

If you are in Canada then you can buy the 200 or the 180 which had the JDM engines at stock from the factory. The newer 200 and 180's have the SR20det from the factory so thats a good buy.

If you can find a nice stock unmolested 180 or 200 with a SR i'd say that's a better buy performance wise then the 240sx. Also, finding parts for a SR is just as easy as for the KA.

[asoomal]

We have the 240SX in Canada, that's call.

Where in Canada are you from?

[Nightmaree]

@rc1honda I thought the 180 is the JDM version of the 240 just with a smaller engine and stock turbo? And The 200sx is a little old and I can't seem to find any.

I did find this beautiful 180sx for $3500... but I think its been sold >.<

@asoomal I'm in Calgary Alberta. Where about's are you?

[es sex0727]

Dont go dumping all your money into a really nice car and then go to a track and learn to slide. you will literally be throwing money out the window watching your new parts be destroyed. Pick up a car that needs some work, most likely an s13 hatch, and you do the work. It builds charachter and familiarity with your vehicle. Then learn what you can when you can about the whole sliding thing. Most have said it but stock ka, welded diff, slap an intake/ exhaust, some coilovers or some struts/springs. and drive the pants off that bad larry. That way when you wreck, and you will it wont be so painful...........................and just remember, an unfortunate side effect of these cars is that they're not really worth as much as were asking. so talk em down, and just keep talkin em down. If u dont u WILL be kickin yourself.

[asoomal]

@rc1honda I thought the 180 is the JDM version of the 240 just with a smaller engine and stock turbo? And The 200sx is a little old and I can't seem to find any.

I did find this beautiful 180sx for $3500... but I think its been sold >.<

@asoomal I'm in Calgary Alberta. Where about's are you?

Vancouver.

[rc1honda]

@rc1honda I thought the 180 is the JDM version of the 240 just with a smaller engine and stock turbo? And The 200sx is a little old and I can't seem to find any.

I did find this beautiful 180sx for $3500... but I think its been sold >.<

@asoomal I'm in Calgary Alberta. Where about's are you?

Well yeah the 180 is the JDM version which I thought you can import into Canada so I assumed they would be everywhere.

As far as the motor yes it's smaller. The KA from the 240sx is 2.4L and the Sr20det is 2.0L turbo. The only thing is that the SR20 has factory forged parts adn can handle a lot more boost with appropriate support.

The KA is a nice motor to slap a turbo on, but (flamesuit on) anything after about 280ho and the KA is ready to throw a rod. That's really just in my experience with about 3 all stock (but the turbo and fuel and ECU)KA's.
I know there are some guys in the KAT subforum that might flame for this. But every stock bottom ended KA turbo i have seen has either fried the rings or threw a rod at about 280hp. Now a built KA is truly a great motor and would really be my choice if i could start over.

The SR has countless 300hp plus stock bottom end setups, including my own with no issues. The only real downside of the SR is torque and weak valvetrain. But as another poster has suggested you may just wanna get a cheap fix me upper so you can worry about learning to drive instead of buying a already fast and expensive car.

Oh and 1 more thing. Don't get a hatch. If you going to get a S13 chassis get a coupe and be like the cool kids

[Nightmaree]

@rc1honda I thought the 180 is the JDM version of the 240 just with a smaller engine and stock turbo? And The 200sx is a little old and I can't seem to find any.

I did find this beautiful 180sx for $3500... but I think its been sold >.<

@asoomal I'm in Calgary Alberta. Where about's are you?

Well yeah the 180 is the JDM version which I thought you can import into Canada so I assumed they would be everywhere.

As far as the motor yes it's smaller. The KA from the 240sx is 2.4L and the Sr20det is 2.0L turbo. The only thing is that the SR20 has factory forged parts adn can handle a lot more boost with appropriate support.

The KA is a nice motor to slap a turbo on, but (flamesuit on) anything after about 280ho and the KA is ready to throw a rod. That's really just in my experience with about 3 all stock (but the turbo and fuel and ECU)KA's.
I know there are some guys in the KAT subforum that might flame for this. But every stock bottom ended KA turbo i have seen has either fried the rings or threw a rod at about 280hp. Now a built KA is truly a great motor and would really be my choice if i could start over.

The SR has countless 300hp plus stock bottom end setups, including my own with no issues. The only real downside of the SR is torque and weak valvetrain. But as another poster has suggested you may just wanna get a cheap fix me upper so you can worry about learning to drive instead of buying a already fast and expensive car.

Oh and 1 more thing. Don't get a hatch. If you going to get a S13 chassis get a coupe and be like the cool kids

Yea I have seen them around I just thought part's wise it would be better having the 240sx. But with the SR20 having stronger parts that makes me more consider getting a 180sx.

Im just curious how hard it could be to get parts... I know my borthers JDM Toyota Hilux... He had a hell of a time trying to get anything sadly.

[PANDAemic]

180sx parts are hard to get depending on what look your going for. Kouki obviously being the hardest, but other than that, 180sx = 240sx(USDM)/200sx(Canada) Hatch, parts are interchangable. I'm not sure if SR20's are sold stock in canada but I'd say buy a hatch and just swap it in yourself like everybody else said. I know 180sx in Japan came stock with CA18DET, SR20DET (red and black) and the KA24. If you do decide to swap I'd say go with the S14 blacktop SR20, yes the color of the top makes a difference. Just my personal Preferance.

[asoomal]

180sx parts are hard to get depending on what look your going for. Kouki obviously being the hardest, but other than that, 180sx = 240sx(USDM)/200sx(Canada) Hatch, parts are interchangable. I'm not sure if SR20's are sold stock in canada but I'd say buy a hatch and just swap it in yourself like everybody else said. I know 180sx in Japan came stock with CA18DET, SR20DET (red and black) and the KA24. If you do decide to swap I'd say go with the S14 blacktop SR20, yes the color of the top makes a difference. Just my personal Preferance.

180SX never came with the KA dood.


SR's are not stock here in Canada.

[PANDAemic]

180sx parts are hard to get depending on what look your going for. Kouki obviously being the hardest, but other than that, 180sx = 240sx(USDM)/200sx(Canada) Hatch, parts are interchangable. I'm not sure if SR20's are sold stock in canada but I'd say buy a hatch and just swap it in yourself like everybody else said. I know 180sx in Japan came stock with CA18DET, SR20DET (red and black) and the KA24. If you do decide to swap I'd say go with the S14 blacktop SR20, yes the color of the top makes a difference. Just my personal Preferance.

180SX never came with the KA dood.


SR's are not stock here in Canada.

Whoops, my bad, I sorta assumed since they are stock for S13 hatches almost everywhere else.

[Syrus33]

OK to make sure everyone is on the same page, in Canada we have the same exact model of 240 as the US, either hatch or coupe with a KAE or KA24DE depending on year. But unlike the US we can import cars older then 15 years. This means we have a tone of 180sx(SR20DET) and Silvia's also with he SR or maybe even a CA if it is older then 91.

Now for parts i don't think there is an issue with finding parts for the jdm as most of them are the same as the 240sx or can be found online.

Also not all 240sx have the pignose(09-90), there is also the chuki(91-94).

[Nightmaree]

OK to make sure everyone is on the same page, in Canada we have the same exact model of 240 as the US, either hatch or coupe with a KAE or KA24DE depending on year. But unlike the US we can import cars older then 15 years. This means we have a tone of 180sx(SR20DET) and Silvia's also with he SR or maybe even a CA if it is older then 91.

Now for parts i don't think there is an issue with finding parts for the jdm as most of them are the same as the 240sx or can be found online.

Also not all 240sx have the pignose(09-90), there is also the chuki(91-94).

Yea I've been looking at some 180sx's that are over here already. Although if none turn out good I'll be looking at jdm importers in my city. I just don't want to spend over $6000 on the car cause that's out of my budget.

Just lots of the people I know have been pulling the DON'T GET A JDM! THERE HARD TO SERVICE AND GET PARTS FOR! I wanted to know from others that have actually bought them if that was the case.