Looking into a vert.

[Harman850T5]

Sorry for starting up a new topic on this. I've been looking into getting a 240sx convertible because I've always wanted a convertible and something rwd so it's a win win. I've gone through 5 auto transmissions in my Volvo, two of which being my fault, but I'm sick of the money pit and have found a nearby vert. I'm a little scared about getting one after reading the transmission thread, but should I be really worried as I go look into one of these cars? The car I found is a 93 with 133,000 on the body and 60,000 on the engine and trans. Is that something I should be a little worried about? He also stated the top is original and that for it's age he would start getting a little worried. I just started this thread to see there are some things I should be worried about if I go through and get this car because I've had a lot of bad luck with my current car. It also to go a very hilly 50 miles a day from school and back.

I don't know the policy on ebay links so I don't want to break any rules by posting it. It's sitting in Aston PA if there is anyone who lives close to that area. It's about a 2.5 hour drive for me, so I want to make sure it's worth it before driving out there to look at it. Thank you for your time and help

[Eikon]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...77170

That's the one eh?

We're pretty relaxed around here, so don't worry about the ebay link.

Body and Paint look very clean!!!

The top and rear window actually look very good for the age. Sure you'll find a few nicer ones that people have replaced for new. But I wouldn't touch that top or window.. they are really clean.

This crack in the fender/bumper sort of sucks. But it wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me either. You can always replace the bumper with another used one for pretty cheap.

I don't see any rust anywhere. Still, check out the undercarriage, fender wells, etc.. to be sure. If there is zero rust.. that's a really nice find.

I'm a bit concerned about the stains on the trunk carpet. I'd ask him what that's all about. Hopefully no oil leaking from the top motor.

Those door panels may look terrible to you.. But to be honest.. they are the norm for these cars. They really did a TERRIBLE job on the interior door panels. So that's to be expected. There are a few work-around to replace those if you feel adventurous.

Be sure to test the rear quarter windows as those are prone to falling of their tracks and not working.

Overall.. It's a really clean convertible. $3500 would be a very fair price. Of course if you can talk him down to $3k or less then you'd be getting a very good deal. Assuming the mechanicals all work as stated in the ad.

Hey.. ask him if he's got the convertible boot sitting around anywhere.. those are worth $300+. Also.. if you get it, watch out for Bill, he'll want your wheels. So if you have plans to upgrade those wheels, he's in PA as well and I'm sure he'd like to have them.

Let us know if you have any more questions.

Welcome to the forum btw. I hope you get that car and stick around. We're a great group!

[Harman850T5]

Thank you, from what I've read so far this is a really cool site. One of the guys I work with has a black vert and a built coupe, I'm not sure if he's registered here or not thouh. On the Volvo forum I'm registered at posting others ebay links is prohibited, so I wanted to play it safe. Hopefully I can get that car for around 3000 if it all checks out. I'm not worried about the battle scars, but that stain in the trunk had me thinking too. I'll be sure to let Bill know if I get some new rims, haha. I'll send him an email tomorrow to see if I could come take a look at it over the weekend, and by next week hopefully a happy owner of a Nissan.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Welcome.

The vert you're looking at looks pretty decent overall. Most of the issues see pretty minor and can be easily fixed or replaced. Just make sure you look things over thoroughly before you make your purchase. Personally, I wouldn't pay over $3500 for that. You can probably get it for somewhere around $2500-3000. $3500 is the most I'd spend.

My vert has been pretty good to me since I got it. It's my daily driver so it better be haha. Just keep up with regular maintenance and it should be fine.

And remember, if you don't get this one, there's always another one for sale.

[Loki]

I wouldn't pay more than 2500 for that. It's decent, but there are some problems that will give you headaches, especially the bumper and door panels.

[BiXLL]

I think $2500 is more realistic also. Oh andQuote »Bill know if I get some new rims, haha.[/quote]I'll be waiting to hear from ya!!!

[DeXteR]

For 2500-3000, it'd looks like it'd be a great find. Can you find better for cheaper? Maybe, but you'll have to sit around and wait for months for the right deal to come along.

With the mileage that thing has, it should last another 70k easy if it was and remains to be well maintained. I've got 215k on my ka24de and 210k of them were in the original vert.

[Harman850T5]

It took me a long time to find this one. I found a nice looking 1990 fastback, but it was only getting 15mpg and the motor was on its way out. He was still trying to get 4 for it. I really hope this one doesn't sell by Saturday so I can go take a look at it. There isn't a single one, listed online at least, around me in decent condition at the right price.

I could live with the bumper, but I'm sure sometime during the summer I'd be replacing the door panel.

If it does sell I could just stick around on here and wait for another one to pop up.

[Loki]

Local penny saver/paper shoppers are your friend. Found my first flawless vert for 2250 in one. Autotrader helps too.

I suggest you find a twin turbo 300z vert instead

[1SickSilvia]

I also think that its a good buy around $3000, its pretty clean for a 15 year old car. Just ask the guy what those stains are in the trunk, looks like they were hauling dead bodies, and ask him if his wife is alive or not?//???

[Harman850T5]

I've been using Autotrader, newspapers, and The Merchandiser, along with all the other sources I knew of. Most were a little too expensive or getting pretty close to 200,000 miles.

I'm going up Saturday morning, have to leave around 5am, so I can make it to his shop before he gets too busy. So I'm not too happy about getting up at 4, but it'll be worth it I hope.

So I know to look for rust in the fenderwells, under the car, battery tray, spoiler, and door jambs. Check for leaks and look at the ground where the car is sitting when I move it. Check the oil, trans fluid, and coolant. Listen for any wierd noises, make sure the top and rear quarters go down and up with no problems. Make sure all the lights work. Make sure all the features that I want to use in it work, not really concerned with the A/C. See how it drives and shifts.

Is there anything else I should check out while I'm looking at the car? Thank you

Oh, he says he doesn't know what the stain is, but I'll give it furthur investigation. I'll ask if his wife is around too, haha. He does own an atv shop, so maybe he just hauled a motor somewhere and the fluids drained onto the carpet in the trunk?

[DeXteR]

If you hear a nasty rattle from the front of the motor just under the valve cover, don't worry too much. There's a guide at the top of the chain between the cams that tends to break off. Pull the valve cover, remove the broken guide, install a new gasket, and you're good to go.

Not much else I can think of...

[Eikon]

Does anybody want to write up a "240sx convertible buyer's guide"?

I think we've already isolated 80% or more of the most important info in this thread alone. I'll make it a sticky thread and an article.

It would be really cool to have a nicely formatted article to highlight the most important things to look for when shopping for a 240 'vert. Where to look for rust problems? What mechanical body parts should they inspect closely? What suspension issue should they be careful of? What engine/transmission issues should they be wary of? What's a reasonably price? What extras should they watch for?

If nobody has the time, I'll try to find some time in the next couple weeks. But if someone else can jump on this, that would be way cool!!!

Thanks gang!

[240DrpTop]

The car looks pretty clean. I would want to see some documentation on that 60K engine and trans though...Some sort of receipt showing rebuild or replacement from an authorized dealer or repair shop. Ask to see a clean title before giving any sort of deposit. And its always a good idea to bring along with you,someone that knows cars...if you can. Good luck with that. BTW, Welcome!

(RE:Eikon) At one time I had a NADA buyers guide that showed you how to determine the true condition of a vehicle. I'll see if I could dig it up.

[Harman850T5]

I got this car a lot cheaper than I thought I would. The drive there sucked, and we took a couple wrong turns, but eventually made it.

I didn't see any rust on it, and he fixed the door panel, I'll post pics later, I need to sleep a little. When he got the car the timing chain was snapped, so he picked up a motor and trans in NJ and swapped it in. He is a mechanic, so he did the work to it. The car idled fine, ran fine, shifted perfectly, everything works, it just needs a headunit unless I can find a face plate off the same model head unit and it would work. It made the 120 mile trip with no problems, except for the part where I couldn't figure out how to pop the fuel door, and it dealt with heavy traffic fine. The title was clean and the vehicle history report I got last night checked out perfect in everything. I am pretty good with cars in general, I just needed to learn what to look out for in a 240.

I was surpised at how quiet and smooth this thing was going 65-70 down the freeway. The car is quite dirty so tomorrow I'll will be getting a good wash, buffing, interior detail, and waxing.

I cannot wait to get rid of the money pit when I get it back. Thank you guys for all your help, and I'll be on a lot, but right now I need sleep.

[Eikon]

Congrats!!!

PICS or BAN!!! After you've gotten a chance to sleep of course.

[Harman850T5]

tomorrow after the cleaning I promise to post the pictures.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Congrats. How much did you end up getting it for if you don't mind me asking?

[Harman850T5]

$1000, don't ask me how, but it happened.

Pics to come a little later.

[Loki]

Good! That's actually a very good price, especially since he fixed the door panels. Welcome to the family.

[krash]

NICE buy man 1k is sweet. and yes, PICS PICS PICS!

Eikon, Commencing thread construction.....

[Harman850T5]

It was really cold and windy, but I pushed through and got this looking a little better. Here are the pics.

His door panel fix.After a lot of wiping and vacing. I just need to clean the carpets now.It had an alarm, I may see what it needs and to reconnect it all.I'm going to clay bar and buff this car tomorrow at work.I need to get a head unit too, the lady that sold him the car lost the face plate.

I'll post up some more pics when it's looking as good as it can.

I just need to get it inspected, get a new headunit, and put in my cd changer when I get the other car back.

I love the comments and looks I've gotten with this car with only 1 day of ownership.

[DeXteR]

I love the comments and looks I've gotten with this car with only 1 day of ownership.

It's official, you're hooked. Welcome to the fold.

I have a spare white chuki bumper I'll sell you for $50 + shipping (if you can't find one locally). Start repairing/replacing broken/wore out parts and pieces and you'll love your car even more.

Stick around and you'll learn a lot.

[jamesblonde82]

congrats on the vert man. lovin the white verts!

[Harman850T5]

It's official, you're hooked. Welcome to the fold.

I have a spare white chuki bumper I'll sell you for $50 + shipping (if you can't find one locally). Start repairing/replacing broken/wore out parts and pieces and you'll love your car even more.

Stick around and you'll learn a lot.

I am so hooked right now.

It'll be about a month before I can buy it. But if it's in better condition than my current one I'll buy it. Right now there is a red one in the junkyard close to my house. (If the cars still there). There are some misc parts I may try to get off it. The tops been down for a few months, and we've had a lot of rain, ice, and snow so I don't know how good the interior will be.

As of right now it's getting inspected. It passed emissions with no problems, but it's getting rear rotors, pads, battery, and an alignment. It's at employee cost so it shouldn't be too bad. All the outside needs is the bumper, a fender, a little touch up and a lot of buffing.

[Loki]

Have you seen this red one in person or just know of it? It's possible you'll find my old one out there somewhere.

[Harman850T5]

Is it sitting in Eichelberger U Pull it? Between York and Spring Grove? It wasn't wrecked. I've seen it in person a few times when I was getting parts for a 5spd swap for my Volvo.

[DeXteR]

ORLY?!

If you can find parts local, that's definitely the way to go. Getting the bumper off isn't hard, but it's a bit tedious. make sure you score those fender extensions too. When you go, please take pictures of the top frame because I need a better one.

One last thing: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get the vin # and all the other information you can to add it to the registry!

Thanks.

Let us know when you need something.

[Harman850T5]

I'll be sure to add it if it isn't registered already. I'm going right now to pick up a driver side wheel well, trunk struts, and maybe a radio + whatever I think I may need.

The top is retracted but I'll try to get some pictures of it for you. What are the fender exstensions btw? Sorry I'm not thinking right this morning. I'd get the bumper, but it's red, so it would probably be cheaper to have a white one shipped. Unless I prep it and rattle can it, but my painting skills are terrible.

Edit) I just got back from the junkyard. The car is gone.
Modified by Harman850T5 at 8:31 AM 2/12/2008