New to Board, Why used 240sx so expensive?

[69Muscle]

I just rebuilt my KA24E engine in my winter beater (95 nissan p/u) so I learned alot about the engine so I figured a cheap 240sx would be fun to play with and work on since they are older and I know my 95 p/u isn't worth @#$!, I figured they'd be dirt cheap. So I rolled over to the classified and my jaw dropped.

Why are cars with 15x,xxx+ miles on a 10 year old car $5k+ with a stock 4 cyl KA24DE or KA24E engine? There's some with a shell of a car for $3k, another one has been wrecked with high miles for $1500+.

Guys, these were cheap ecno's boxes back in the day (I remember when they were launched). A 4 cyl nissan with 150,xxx+ miles that's 10 years old should be under $1500.00 IMO.

You guys can buy a 98 Camaro Z-28 with 350hp for about $10k, or an older mustang (yeah I know, domestic cars aren't cool) for less then that. I'd kick my kids in the nuts if he wanted to plunk down $6k on a car that has 200,000 miles on the chassis but only 80k on the engine (non-turbo). They aren't rare, they are a nice RWD car that lacks power and has some decent style.

So why are they so much money?

[aw4g63]

Supply and demand? Im new to Nissans too.

[69Muscle]

Must be, but those things are a dime a dozen. I think it's just one of the only RWD cars that insurance doesn't rape younger people on.

[SeVa-S13]

Where on earth do you live? The most I, or any of my friends, has ever spent on an S13 is $1200, and we have plenty of 'em. I'm sure there's some better deals on this board alone, let alone some female driven one in the local newspaper...

[Nathan]

I bought my shell for 200 and for under 7k I'm at 326whp and climbing quick They dont HAVE to be expensive, you just have to pick up one with a blown motor and build it from there. Stock they are good cars, but nothing to write home about.

Edit: Just checked out your car...looks nice, what have you done to it? (I'm also a domestic fan)

[69Muscle]

I bought my shell for 200 and for under 7k I'm at 326whp and climbing quick They dont HAVE to be expensive, you just have to pick up one with a blown motor and build it from there. Stock they are good cars, but nothing to write home about.

Edit: Just checked out your car...looks nice, what have you done to it? (I'm also a domestic fan)

Look in the classified here on this fourm, the prices are crazy high. Even for a shell ($3k for a shell). I like the cars, but not worth putting $7k into it just to drive it. (figured $4k would get me a decent one)

As for what I did to my car, Mostly suspension mods to run Watkins, and 315's tires, basic bolt ons and 100 shot of juice.

[nametakennow]

They're expensive cause every ricer and their uncle wants a 240 to go drifting anymore. Supply and demand. They've always been expensive here cause so few were ever sold down here, which is all the more reason why I don't have one.

Damn FWD and it's mystical understeer...

[[Zero-S]]

I got one for free:)

I'm getting one for 200 today.

The most I paid was 2700, and it was in pristine condition.

[HongKongChick]

no, they shouldnt be THAT expensive! i am looking into buy two shells for $700, might even be able to get it a bit cheaper.

[SeVa-S13]

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....69767

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....69720

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....63589

And that's like 2 minutes of searching.

[Bubba1]

I think it's most influenced by where you live. In the northeast, for example, where 240's are plentiful, you can find a clean one for under $1500. They're far from collectible.

[StrangeLove]

89 - 6811890 - 6058291 - 3453492 - 2703393 - 2147194 - 116795 - 2511496 - 733497 - 365598 - 2178

Total-251,186

You said this car isn't rare, what are you smoking?

Thats not alot of cars, and its even less considering tons of have been wrecked!

To add to the rarity, the car is VERY popular, so people buy them very quickly.

Quote »Guys, these were cheap ecno's boxes back in the day (I remember when they were launched). A 4 cyl nissan with 150,xxx+ miles that's 10 years old should be under $1500.00 IMO.[/quote]

If you don't like what the price is this don't pay it and shutup

SUPPLY AND DEMAND

[[Zero-S]]

I got one for free:)

I'm getting one for 200 today.

The most I paid was 2700, and it was in pristine condition.

[UncleBen]

Your camaro is VERY nice. My dad has a silver '96 z28. Nice car.

The 240's are expensive because of all the reasons given above. Supply and demand. The magazines do a damn engine swap and put stupid lighs and wings on 240's and every 16 year old says HEY I WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE MAGAZINE DID!!!!!!!! So he begs his mommy and daddy to buy him a 240sx so he can turn it into a silvia w/ the JDM tYtE sr20det yO!!!!!

[[Zero-S]]

Yay dee em!!1one

[Rockenreno]

All the above, not to mention they are good, reliable cars with (as you mentioned) decent style. I truly enjoy driving my econobox because it's cooler than all the other econo-boxes. My car was $4000 1 year ago. It's not going to win a drag race againt anything other than an econo box but it feels great to me and I wouldn't ever drag it anyway. The twisties are where it is fun and skill, and for a $4000 econobox, this is where a 240sx shines.

[Mr1der]

maybe you live in an area with a high rate of crack usage:D

that is pretty damn high.

I blame it on the drift craze!

[SmithSR]

The trend is up. It's a bit like a slow moving stock market. Two years ago, there was no craze. Two years from now, a second-hand 350z will be available at the same price point that some of these dreamers are trying to pawn off their 240sx at(10k+).

Kudos to the people selling and making a profit on the car. That is a real rarity outside of collector cars.

[Nismo_Freak]

Guys, these were cheap ecno's boxes back in the day

Not really...

My 92 Honda Civic SI hatchback was about 13,000 to buy back in 92. For comparison, the cheapest 240SX was the base model coupe, which was 15,200. The most expensive model at 21,000 for the convertable. In 92, thats not really a cheap car. For the money you paid for a 92 240SX SE you could easily buy a Z28 Camaro of the same year for the same price.

My 96 240 cost someone 18,500 back in 96 with the SE model taking in 22 - 24k. For what someone paid for my 240SX they could have gotten a 300+hp LT1 powered Z28 (which cost 19,300).

Granted these are all MSRP's but you get the idea. The 240 never was a "cheap" car. It's on par with most F-Bodies from the same year.

[Dattebayo]

maybe you live in an area with a high rate of crack usage:D

Har.

that is pretty damn high. so are you if you pay it. Just stick to the connections here. We wont let you down. (well, not all the time)

I blame it on the drift craze too. But it hasnt really caught on about 240's here. People here looooooove them subarus and Z32's.

[yashin]

The rarity, and high demand of the car make it expensive.

You caught the car at a bad time. If you had wanted one 3 years ago it would be much less.

3 years ago an s13 cost around 2500-3g's CDN with around 160-200kms. Now this same car will run over 3500 easy. Also these are reliable well built cars.

Comparing them to a Z28 is not really fair. A well built japanese car will always hold it's value for longer than an american car.

So to sum up:

High demand+rare+japanese+high resell+ FNF+ricers+drifting craze= expensive car.

Btw your Z28 is amazing, although I personaaly am a bigger fan of the TA. Any more pics? That one is your sig is amazing.

[Altiman94]

I honestly dont know why they are so expensive. THem being mildly rare is part of it, as is the growing popularity of them and the swaps out there that you can do

[69Muscle]

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....69767

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....69720

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....63589

And that's like 2 minutes of searching.

That first one has almost 200,000 miles on it and is almost 14 years old and a 'few dents' for $1,300.. I'm not bashing the cars, as I want one to play with but i'm 25 and I can resist the impluse buy because I know a car with 200,000 miles is going to need almost everything replaced in it to take it to a race track. (I run at watkins and even my new Camaro falls apart after 250 miles on that track). I agree with everyone here that's it's demand, similar to a clean TT Supra (aren't going to find one for under $25k and those are creeping up on 10+ years).

Oh, and I know I was a little harsh in that 1 thread on the classified ad, but without me being a diehard fanboy of the 240sx I can't really see paying that much for a car with that many miles and in that condition. I'd rather go domestic do it for a fraction of the cost. But man u ripped on me pretty hard

I was just wondering cause these cars weren't featured in 2F2F like the Eclipse's or RX7's, so I was hoping for a cheaper deal. Guess not

Quote »Btw your Z28 is amazing, although I personaaly am a bigger fan of the TA. Any more pics? That one is your sig is amazing.[/quote]Thanks for the compliments, my roommate has a TA and it's a pretty sweet ride. He leaves his stock, while I have a few mods for apperance (including cutting those t-tops out)

http://www.ls1camaro.com/2004/front04.j ... /front.jpg

You guys want a decent video - http://www.ls1camaro.com/vids/z28z06.avi (Right Click save as - divx format)

Me vs a 02 Corvette Z06, I sprayed on him the entire time and it was a superclose race. Final times for that race was a 12.8 and a 12.9

[MainEvent212]

eh, i'm very proud of my 240...even tho it's sitting in a pile in the garage now...it'll get fixed...i love camaros (notably older ones) but i finally drove one and i have to say...WORST DESIGN EVAR lol i cant see out of the thing w/o hittin the uber gangster lean and it felt so heavy that i didnt think i was gonna make the turn out oft he driveway...i'm sure w/ race modification these things can cook though, i mean, if you can take watkins glen them i'm sure it can!

[69Muscle]

eh, i'm very proud of my 240...even tho it's sitting in a pile in the garage now...it'll get fixed...i love camaros (notably older ones) but i finally drove one and i have to say...WORST DESIGN EVAR lol i cant see out of the thing w/o hittin the uber gangster lean and it felt so heavy that i didnt think i was gonna make the turn out oft he driveway...i'm sure w/ race modification these things can cook though, i mean, if you can take watkins glen them i'm sure it can!

Agreed, I had to rip the stock seats out because they offered no side bolster, ditch the ghetto 245/55 16" on the z and put 315/35 17's on. PAnhard rod, boxed lower control arms, sway bars, strut tower, ditch the spare, tossed the rear seats, springs and shocks.

I got it up to .95 on the skidpad (not bad). The B pillars are a nightmare to see out of, the hood takes some used to.

But 350hp and a 6-speed for $23k is a great deal when I got it in 99.

[Meantime]

I can't see a bloody thing out of my '01 Z28 either. Heck, I can barely see over the hood (5'6"). Almost like driving a tank.

But for the price, can't beat the performance.

That's part of the reason the 240 is my daily driver, just easier to handle and better on gas for the state with 1,000,000 stop lights/signs.

[MainEvent212]

eh, i like my 240 because of the weight...it's nimble and fun to drive...now if only i could get wider tires on it...muahaha

[SeVa-S13]

Oh, and I know I was a little harsh in that 1 thread on the classified ad, but without me being a diehard fanboy of the 240sx I can't really see paying that much for a car with that many miles and in that condition. I'd rather go domestic do it for a fraction of the cost. But man u ripped on me pretty hard

Kudos for being a good sport about it. :thumbup

[UncleBen]

Trust me there are still plently of people out there that own 240's who are oblivious to the whole 240 'scene.' This in turn means you can pick it up for cheap, even an s14. My buddy recently picked up a '95 base 5spd w/ sunroof, abs/vlsd (RARE), perfect interior, pretty good paint, all for like 2500 bucks. He bought it from some couple that didn't want to drive a stick shift anymore or something. So if you want one that bad, you can find one for what you want to pay.

[Nismo_Freak]

I was just wondering cause these cars weren't featured in 2F2F like the Eclipse's or RX7's, so I was hoping for a cheaper deal. Guess not

No but it was in the first movie, and if you look at every magazine cover out there you'll see nothing but 240's because of the drifting craze.