s13 owners, pros/cons

[PantherRacer]

it's a great car...I think I wanna S14 though .

great styling.pop-ups can make it look like a frog though

mine doesn't really handle or drive well due to a mash and some missing parts.

Quite powerfull, it might just be me trying to be careful but right now it doesnt shift too well. (yea...need a proper shift knob lol.)

power rear view mirrors are awesome.

I gues my prob is that everyone has a 180sx/200sx hatch. it's a good community though some guys will try to rip u off. badly.

I wanna S14.5 Silvia, it's different, got a new look, isnt played out, and I could make it more luxurious I guess.

We'll see how I feel after I get the S13 fixed up.I HATE those holes in my hatch though! I need to learn how to fiberglass those holes...

[one85_db]

Miatas cost around 5-20k for the good years with mx-5 94 and up. You can spend around 800 for a shell 240sx, put in an sr20det with transmission and still have extra for suspension, and a good set of wheels and tires. MR2-GT (200hp USA version), 32-GTE(245) or 32GE(172hp) also can have a high price tag. With that amount of money, I can also do a repeat and instead of upgrading suspension, I can upgrade the engine and externals. Im not saying they are bad cars, but with the current prices they're sold at you can easily upgrade a 240sx that can easily compete. Besides, why spend 10k on modified cars when you can do it for way less? You can even have Spencer down in LA to install a nice engine RB20DET that can own miatas and mr2 for under 4.000 including complete engine, tran. and install.

Thank you!!!

Even keeping a KA and doing a turbo on it for 2-3K and pretty much a whole new suspension for 1-2k will get you a car that can hang with most low to mid priced performance cars (cars in the 25-50 K range new). There is a reason that behind the AWD cars the fastest cars in the AutoX and Solo are the RWD 240SXs! And drag racing... I mean the 240's engine bay is able to handle a twin turbo LS2 for crying out loud! Drifting? Lets see your Honda or Mitsubishi do that with out MAJOR modification.

Anyway I just believe that there is no other car out there for the price that can be as Flexible and well balanced as the 240sx.

[one85_db]

I HATE those holes in my hatch though! I need to learn how to fiberglass those holes...

Just thought i should say that fiberglassing is NOT a permant solution. After time and mostly heat the fiberglass will warp and start new rust problems. The only solution is new sheet metal and a paint job or a new hatch without the foam spoiler.

Before i fiberglassed mine i used to keep tape over the holes.

[dickie]

They seem to have some funky smell in the interior (at least mine did and I've heard others say this).

Stock seats are normally worn out and aren't so great anyway.

Ugly front on the 89-90's :P

Semi hard to find good offsets for them in four lug but not as bad as it used to be.

Getting to be a little to popular. I'd worry about car thieves and the like. Not to mention some complain endlessly about being profiled by police.

Handles decently.

Reasonably lightwieght.

Automatic seat belts! Blech!

4 wheel disc brakes (harder to find on some older cars... and, sadly, some newer ones (The Xterra comes to mind.).

Tiny backseat that's sometimes reffered to as "Nissan's Patented Padded Rear Shelf." Notice the apstrophe "s" on Nissan there. That's because if you sit in the backseat you've pretty much just been owned by some Nissan engineer.

fixed that for you.

the cons for me usually involve people looking at my car and always thinking i drift or street race, and they want a challenge. f***.

also theres the cooling system here in tx. i dont know anyone that hasnt had some issues with it recently in our triple-digit heat wave.

my a/c needs recharged often, and a lot of ppl's compressors die quickly.

pros: its a (relatively) light and maneuverable rwd with a 4 cylinder. fuel economy could be better when you think about how it performs tho. . thats pretty much it.

[mirochuki13]

I think you can find enough good things about the S13 on NICO. I especially chose a 240SX because of the incredible availability of aftermarket parts for this car and its low price.

The only bad things about the S13 is the lack of power in stock form. The 1989-90 models only make 140 hp, and the 1991-94 models make 155 hp. Also, there are the inevitable problems due to the age of the car. The initial maintenance costs might be up there, and you may have to deal with a good amount of rust.

[partymonster 975]

Well I plan to get s15 seats and take off the wing. So there go 2 problems.Anyone else. thoughts about the car, i think we covered a lot.

[Juujai]

there are miatas out there for the same price and year as s13. 1-3k~

and also what said can be done to the s13 can also be done with an mr2. can buy a cheap chassis and swap over a 3sgte. 3sgte value is way lower than sr20det atm.

those are just options but i'm saying in the long run a 15 year old car isn't cheap to keep at all. (done right) again

bushings for one are all shot completely which most 240 owners are too cheap to fix. steering rack, tension rod bushings, rear arm bushings, rear spindle, lcas, ball joints, subframe (spacers doesn't count its still shot), motor mounts. add up the cost of bushings alone its already 500 bucks. oem motor mounts cost more than nismo... exhaust bushings come on thats like 40-50bucks for 4... sway bar d/endlink, diff.

a lot of 240 owners are a joke don't even keep up with their maintenance other than oil changes. it reflects upon them when they think its a cheap car to own but to do it right it costs 10x more. i think if the owner isn't willing to go all out... either drive it as a beater or buy a newer and better car. thats my opinion. guaranteed with a newer car you can bring it to a track day and drive it home. its 10 years old man... can't skimp out on repairs... wonder why theres so many rattling noises coming from a 240? because the owner is too cheap to fix it.

most 240 owners don't even bother changing their headgaskets, check oil pump, water pump... etc even though they know thats its been over 100k miles since its been last change or if not changes at all since brand new... thats just one of the things that adds up. its not as cheap as it sounds OH YEAH BUY CHEAP CHASSIS FOR 500DOLLAARSSZ swap RB20, slap on coilovers... my car>ALL!!!

brakes are insufficient to do 300zxs = $, wheels and tires all season tires stock are a joke. add up the total amount and you'll quickly realize that all the mods are just to hide the 240s flaws... to bring it up to par with other cars.

like i said i've put over 10k (all labor by me) into the car repairs/maintenance/upgrades and it doesn't look like its worth 10k at all. just think about all the mods you're going to do and in the long run think about if its going to show its value. a lot of guys throw like 20-30k onto a 240 but when people look at it it doesn't look like much.

in the end i feel it costs more to maintain a 240 than it is to buy a newer car 2000+ with everything still functional. but i'm in love with the 240 and willing to also throw 20-30k easily if i can. but i know the 240 isn't superior to everything out there but i will try to make it into that.
Modified by Juujai at 2:27 PM 8/18/2006

[adrianfromthecastle]

Good:Ugly:Timing chain Mysteriously cracked coolant reservoir

its not mysterious... its trolls that hide in the engine bay

[adrianfromthecastle]

cons: trolls in the engine bay

[SuLoS]

this topic has been beaten well beyond death.

bottom line: there is no other 2 door rwd car for this price. everything else has been said already. just look around for a good deal and you won't regret it.

[rowlatt]

my personal opinion is that my 90 hatch has a shape as pretty as most european cars that cost as much as my house. still have to deal with the spoiler issue though. probably will go spoilerless until i find a wing that is perfect, if such a thing exists.

[tyrannix]

this topic has been beaten well beyond death.

bottom line: there is no other 2 door rwd car for this price. everything else has been said already. just look around for a good deal and you won't regret it.

INCORRECT sir

your cheaper options (considering your 'good' s13 will be >2k these days on average)

Starquest... seen mint ones go for around 1500AW11 MR2... also 1500-2000

and theres many people who would agree that both are superior to s13s in stock form (because once you leave stock trim, all bets are off)

but pro of s13.... you can build one like mine V

CJ

[moyea]

S13Pro:1. Car pretty much has a 50/50 weight balance2. Is RWD3. Has a inline engine and drivetrain with IF&RS (true sports car set-up)4. Great suspension5. Is pure sex in a bottle

Con:1. Low quality interior materials2. Metric and BSPT parts and fittings3. They are soon becoming like the 240z/300zx. Old and hard to find in good condition4. Are made for small and skinny Asians5. Quickly becoming underpowered

[Drunkendonuts]

Pros: I love my car handles like its on rails hasent failed me yet its not a ford probe its not a 90s integra great for cruisingcons: no cupholder you get mistaken for a probe/integra by idiots I actually had someone ask me "is that a cavalier" the engine rattle (easy fix, just lazy) older car so things tend to wear ie rough looking steering wheel, 4lug stock KA stops pulling shortly after 5k every little **** asking "ZOMG DO JOO DRIFT MANG?"

[kanecain]

Pros: I love my car handles like its on rails hasent failed me yet its not a ford probe its not a 90s integra great for cruisingcons: no cupholder you get mistaken for a probe/integra by idiots I actually had someone ask me "is that a cavalier" the engine rattle (easy fix, just lazy) older car so things tend to wear ie rough looking steering wheel, 4lug stock KA stops pulling shortly after 5k every little **** asking "ZOMG DO JOO DRIFT MANG?"

Call me an idiot. I thought my 240 was a Probe when I seen it at the dealership... I walked around the dealership for almost 30 minutes before I noticed the familiar taillights.

[PantherRacer]

Just thought i should say that fiberglassing is NOT a permant solution. After time and mostly heat the fiberglass will warp and start new rust problems. The only solution is new sheet metal and a paint job or a new hatch without the foam spoiler.

Before i fiberglassed mine i used to keep tape over the holes.

yup, there's tape on my hatch lol

[Jiggyfry]

S13 pros: WTF, You drive an s13!!!!

Cons: Can you really only own one?

[mmm240]

my 93 (dohc) gets 28mpg city or highway, and i have my fun at every on ramp (everyday coming and going from work). i consider that good mileage for the way i beat on it. in regards to the back seat, you can get your feat under the front seats so it's not that badi also love the all rpm range power, i never have to downshift when i'm on the freeway!

[80watthamster]

my 93 (dohc) gets 28mpg city or highway, and i have my fun at every on ramp (everyday coming and going from work). i consider that good mileage for the way i beat on it.

I'd love to know how you get 28mpg city. The best I was ever able to do was 25-26 on 195s. (About 30-31 freeway, though). Now with the Hotshot, N1 dual, 225-17s it's more like 23/27. Of course, I probably messed something up when I put the top end back together the last time.

[g-ride]

I think in the consideration of rwd cars of the same age for the money there is a MAJOR player being left out.

BMW E30 325 is a damn nice car. Parts may be a little expensive but you can find them(the car) generally about the same price as an s13 240 and usually cheaper. They are rwd, have an inline, torquey 6 cylinder, dont weigh too much, handle alot better than a 240 in stock form, have GREAT seats, and on top of that they WILL run forever. I know at least 3 people with e30s that have over 250,000 miles and they arent burning a drop of oil while being beaten on alot.

[Veriest1]

I think in the consideration of rwd cars of the same age for the money there is a MAJOR player being left out.

BMW E30 325 is a damn nice car. Parts may be a little expensive but you can find them(the car) generally about the same price as an s13 240 and usually cheaper. They are rwd, have an inline, torquey 6 cylinder, dont weigh too much, handle alot better than a 240 in stock form, have GREAT seats, and on top of that they WILL run forever. I know at least 3 people with e30s that have over 250,000 miles and they arent burning a drop of oil while being beaten on alot.

That's the way it is now. Back when I picked up my 240 it was definatly cheaper than an e30 but now that the s13's are kind of pricy I'd buy an e30 first. Surprisingly Grass Roots Motorsports had a good article on supercharging the 318 a few months back which compared to even the 325 can be picked up on the cheap.

[mmm240]

I'd love to know how you get 28mpg city. The best I was ever able to do was 25-26 on 195s. (About 30-31 freeway, though). Now with the Hotshot, N1 dual, 225-17s it's more like 23/27. Of course, I probably messed something up when I put the top end back together the last time.

i got 28 when it was almost stock (clutch and flywheel). when i installed cat-back (2-1/2) e-fan, motor and trans mounts, 17x7 wheels (about the same weight as the stockers) and i still get 28, city or highway (weird to me as also). and it's an SE model (a little heavier than the base). i guess it was just well maintained. oh and it was an automatic, but the guy i purchased it from swapped a manual, kept the automatic ecu, but i don't think that should matter. because it actually idles a little funny when coming to a stop (when in neutral) kind of like it's planning for a downshift (revs up a little)

[Florida240sx]

Pros:It's a 240It's RWDTorque monsterBeats v8'sdrifting iconCheap enough to maintain and fix

Cons:tires break loose too easy...a Pro in my case only room for one passengerrear spoilersuspension is expensive1 wheel wondereveryone is stealing them since ff3

[s14_drifter8]

Just thought i should say that fiberglassing is NOT a permant solution. After time and mostly heat the fiberglass will warp and start new rust problems. The only solution is new sheet metal and a paint job or a new hatch without the foam spoiler.

Before i fiberglassed mine i used to keep tape over the holes.

Hail to you bro...I got black electric tape on my holes. What about you?

[jdm_master_X]

Pro: -RWD-excellent body lines-terrific aftermarket lineup (damn near a decade worth)

Cons:-drift tax-leaky hatch-tiny brakes

[Morph]

cons: trolls in the engine bay

Please those guys are easy to take care of. Just catch one kill it and hang him from the hood latch boom trolls are gone. \

I will list my cons first...Cons:Bad gas mileage even on a rebuilt engine (can be reduced with lower rpm

WTF were u driving b4 a mophed, or a .8L Geo???? I got like 30mpg when i wasnt beating it like a half dead whore.

[Bumnah]

Pros:Cheap to findCheap to swap an sr20 intoPlenty of knowledge on the webYou can get them barebone (not power windows, door lock)

Cons:Ugly as crapOld, so finding a good one is getting harder and harderElectrical problemsBody rollSoft suspensionStock doesn't have much power at all (not really a con if you aren't used to the rwd, but after a month of driving it, you really want more power)Lots of kids own 'em...