Is This 240 Worth it?
Is This 240 Worth it?
I am looking at a '91 240sx se. Here's some of the things i noticed about the car that concern me; the calipers look real rusty. The rear wing seems to have a lot of bondo (or maybe something else? not sure) where it meets the trunk and seems flimsy. That doesnt really bother me seeing as I will replace the wing eventualy anyway. In the trunk, under the cloth and near the right hand cornor it seemed damp, so i checked the weather stripping (it had rained in the past couple days) above that area on the trunk lid and only found a couple of cracks(?). There seems to be mild rust around the front strut towers. The dealer replaced the exhaust from the cat back and also replaced the rotors. Aside from that, the car is amasing, real clean, all body panels and whatnot are flush with the body and the tread on the tires is good. They are asking $1,995 which seems like a fantastic price. What do you guys think?
I'd pass on that car. The Bondo is most likely promoting a nasty case of rust under the spoiler (a common prob with the 240SX). Bondo is often used improperly, resulting in terrible cases of rust. It's not meant to be slapped on a car with a trowl, it's supposed to smooth out minor surface imperfections. It also has to be properly sealed from moisture, as I believe it's very absorbent.
I would be very careful with rust around the strut towers. Be sure that it's just surface rust. They are obviously important structural areas, and you don't want any weakness.
The water in the trunk might be coming in through your tail light lense covers. They might be cracked, or the gaskets are dried out and useless. Probably not a big deal unless you have rust in the trunk.
If the strut tower rust was surface only (it's hard to tell sometimes) and if it wasn't for the rear wing problem, the car might be a good deal. I bet if you take that rear wing off, you'll fnid some serious rust on the trunk.
Of course, this is all just my opinion. I haven't seen the car, and I could be wrong. Just be careful and don't make any snap decisions.
I would be very careful with rust around the strut towers. Be sure that it's just surface rust. They are obviously important structural areas, and you don't want any weakness.
The water in the trunk might be coming in through your tail light lense covers. They might be cracked, or the gaskets are dried out and useless. Probably not a big deal unless you have rust in the trunk.
If the strut tower rust was surface only (it's hard to tell sometimes) and if it wasn't for the rear wing problem, the car might be a good deal. I bet if you take that rear wing off, you'll fnid some serious rust on the trunk.
Of course, this is all just my opinion. I haven't seen the car, and I could be wrong. Just be careful and don't make any snap decisions.
No, I would suggest getting a professional to check the rust around the strut towers. There is no way to tell from a description. You can find a used hatch in a junkyard for relatively cheap that has no rust and no wing, and for the love of god please don't put a wing on our nice-not-rice cars. Weather-stripping wear in the rear hatch is normal, mine still leaks like a ******.
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The thing is 240s can not be found in my area at all, and I can't really go running around looking for one either, so this may be my only chance. Is it possible to fix the rust around the strut towers? Maybe graft in some new metal or something like that?
It may be possible, but it has to be evaluated by a professional. It would probably be some serious work seeing as how the shock towers absorb something of a pounding when you go over bumps. I'd say pass and get ready to do some traveling, I know several places within a few hours drive of you with fine S13s, and several people that source things like this for people.
Heres an update: I took a 2nd look at the car and realized that there wasnt any rust under the wing, it was just lose, the bondo i saw was about an inch in diameter near the brake light on the trunk. I have yet to take a mechanic to check out the rust, but im thinkin its not as bad as i made it sound before. Anyway I have a guy in mind but the dealer says I have to get the mechanic to go to the dealer, he wont let me drive it to the mechanic, I thought it was a law that they had to let you DRIVE the car to the mechanics. Also, he mentioned geting a peice for the odometer? He says the mileage is accurate though which it is 'cause i checked it on CARFAX (it has a clean record). So anyway, what I'm askin is say the rust around the strut towers is mild or I just mistoke it for something its not, is it worth it then?