SFSU for College + 240SX = Bad Idea?

[nthiogen]

I think this may be my first post here, but I'll skip the introduction cuz I have a serious question.

I was planning on selling my car (a 2003 I35) and using some of the money gained from that sale to buy a 240SX. I really do love my car, but I couldn't afford to insure it up there, and I would really like to have a car handy. My brother has finished his first year at SFSU and really wants to bring a car up there.

Also, the I35 is a little too decadent for me. It is very powerful, but it's heavy, FWD (), and doesn't have impressive handling. Then again, it's a luxury car.

So my plan was to buy a 240SX, preferably one with an SR swap, and only pay for liability insurance (as the car would not be worth enough for me to pay for comp collision).

However, I'm worried about getting pulled over and getting my car impounded, picking up a beater SR and paying out the a** to keep it running, or buying a 240 that seems deceptively clean when in reality it's two thousand miles from the end.

Buying a KA 240 would be too slow. And, as far as I've observed, pulling significant power out of it requires more resources than I am willing to put forth at this time.

Bear in mind that I would be driving this car from LA to Frisco, so the chances of my fears being realized seem fairly high on that trip.

Sorry for the long post. What do you all think?

[FolkertSX]

i noticed you said you wanted to buy a preswapped SR. do you not have the skill, time or money? also what are you looking to spend? the best route would be to buy a clean stock 240sx that you know hasnt been beat on or even owned by a kid. then buy a SR, rebuild it and swap it yourself. that way you know everythings how it should be. but of course that is a decent amount of money and time.

[turbotofu]

well I don't daily drive my 240, but if the car you got now is fairly problem free, I think you should keep it.

I don't imagine playing "Will my motor blow, will I get caught with an SR" is too fun lol. That said a lotta guys are running SR's and if you think you can afford the potential repair costs, then I suppose go ahead.

Not having to worry about your car not working really is nice though.

[K3Fallout]

Being that it's California and San Francisco no less, I wouldn't take the risk of a SR swap. It's going to be a pain to find parking at SFSU by the way.

[nthiogen]

i noticed you said you wanted to buy a preswapped SR. do you not have the skill, time or money? also what are you looking to spend? the best route would be to buy a clean stock 240sx that you know hasnt been beat on or even owned by a kid. then buy a SR, rebuild it and swap it yourself. that way you know everythings how it should be. but of course that is a decent amount of money and time.

To be honest, I probably have neither of the three. I am a car enthusiast and I really would love to delve in to these cars more, but I have other priorities at the moment. That being said, I did read 400 pages of my auto shop book out of pure interest.

Also, I really want a car for college, and the I35 is too big and thirsty for me. What really attracted me to the 240SX was the fact that everyone says they handle on rails. I have no interest in street racing or drifting, but I wouldn't mind taking my car to a track, and good handling is always a good thing. Also, they get better MPG than my I35, and they're not econocrap.

Being that it's California and San Francisco no less, I wouldn't take the risk of a SR swap. It's going to be a pain to find parking at SFSU by the way.

Do you really think they'd impound my vehicle? I am, after all, just a kid. Then again, I suppose that can really work against me.And I might have a shot at living off campus. We'll see.

[K3Fallout]

I wouldn't know from personal experience nor have I heard of any cases but I would say it's extremely likely. In general it's a gamble really, especially trying to get the thing smogged.

[nthiogen]

I wouldn't know from personal experience nor have I heard of any cases but I would say it's extremely likely. In general it's a gamble really, especially trying to get the thing smogged.

Unless I get one that's bone stock. But then again, even my I35 would be quicker than a stock 240SX. But a stock 240SX does get better gas mileage and does handle a lot better.

Hmm. Anyone else want to share their expertise?

[93240cooool]

buy an 89 and get historic tags imo

[GIJOE69]

KA24DE's aren't slow....its the driver is that causing to make it slow haha!! besides KA24DE's are dependable and reliable haha

[nthiogen]

buy an 89 and get historic tags imo

wat?

KA24DE's aren't slow....its the driver is that causing to make it slow haha!! besides KA24DE's are dependable and reliable haha

Well, numbers don't lie. The I35 does 0-60 in around 6.5-7.5 seconds, and 240Sx is somewhere in the high 7's- mid 8's. My numbers could be wrong though. It seems to me that a car that small and light would be very, very quick.

[93240cooool]

wat?

find an 89 s13 with an sr in it or even a ka-t and you can get historic tags no inspection emissions or anything at least thats what you can do in md not sure about cali though.

[mrgrape]

buy a frickin miata.GREAT handling, decent power more than ka, and reliable compared to SR>

[nthiogen]

find an 89 s13 with an sr in it or even a ka-t and you can get historic tags no inspection emissions or anything at least thats what you can do in md not sure about cali though.

I think it has to be 76 or later to qualify for that in CA

buy a frickin miata.GREAT handling, decent power more than ka, and reliable compared to SR>

Not practical enough, tbh. Also, my parents are freaked out about the small stature of an S13 as it is. I can only imagine what they'd think if I went smaller. And I'd much rather push a 240sx than a Miata.

I can always look for a legal engine swap, though by the time I have enough money for that, I'd probably have a different DD.

[GIJOE69]

Just buy a SC300 5spd and put a 2JZGTE safe car alot heavier than a S14

[superJoy]

I think you're underestimating the fact that it is 100% ILLEGAL to have an SR20DET in a road car in California.

Illegal as in they can punish you, and you can't do anything about it.

You seem pretty oblivious to that. As well as the fact that a swapped 240SX will be anything but reliable. It won't be"get in, turn the key, go" it will be "get in, pray, turn the key, weird valvetrain noise, pray, go, bad clunk from suspension, 3rd gear is a little crunchy, speedo needle is twitching, windows down, no A/C, can't hear radio, sweating, weird engine noise, crappy idle, stop." Then you'll have done 19 mpg around town and need to fill up with premium. And your power steering rack is leaking because it's 20 years old. And so is the speedo sensor on the transmission. And how old is that diff fluid? I think my subframe bushings are bad.

Basically start doing some research.

Do not buy a car blind, or you'll be in for it, esp. in California. It's like a whole 'nother layer of the modified car experience.

All that being said. I'm going to college this year, and I drive a CA18DET swapped S13. But I live in Texas (no emissions) and have a couple years of fixing the piece of crap under my belt. If I was a noob to this stuff, I think college would probably be the worst possible time to try and get involved in 240s.

Basically wait it out a bit, skip the entire 240SX scene, and buy an S2000/350Z/IS300/RX8 when they get cheap. Then you can have a reliable, sorta fast, cool car that handles but isn't a 20 year old illegal piece of crap S-chassis.

Woo.

[nthiogen]

I think you're underestimating the fact that it is 100% ILLEGAL to have an SR20DET in a road car in California.

Illegal as in they can punish you, and you can't do anything about it.

You seem pretty oblivious to that. As well as the fact that a swapped 240SX will be anything but reliable. It won't be"get in, turn the key, go" it will be "get in, pray, turn the key, weird valvetrain noise, pray, go, bad clunk from suspension, 3rd gear is a little crunchy, speedo needle is twitching, windows down, no A/C, can't hear radio, sweating, weird engine noise, crappy idle, stop." Then you'll have done 19 mpg around town and need to fill up with premium. And your power steering rack is leaking because it's 20 years old. And so is the speedo sensor on the transmission. And how old is that diff fluid? I think my subframe bushings are bad.

Basically start doing some research.

Do not buy a car blind, or you'll be in for it, esp. in California. It's like a whole 'nother layer of the modified car experience.

All that being said. I'm going to college this year, and I drive a CA18DET swapped S13. But I live in Texas (no emissions) and have a couple years of fixing the piece of crap under my belt. If I was a noob to this stuff, I think college would probably be the worst possible time to try and get involved in 240s.

Basically wait it out a bit, skip the entire 240SX scene, and buy an S2000/350Z/IS300/RX8 when they get cheap. Then you can have a reliable, sorta fast, cool car that handles but isn't a 20 year old illegal piece of crap S-chassis.

Woo.

That was honestly the most negative diatribe towards the seemingly highly-idealized 240sx that I've ever seen.

The reason I ask these questions is for the simple fact that there are quite a few SR20 swapped 240's out there on craigslist, ebay, Autotrader, etc. And to my knowledge, they aren't being impounded any time soon. There are also many owners of cars like these who still haven't had the government's d!ck up their butt about it.

So I made this thread to ask some questions. I'm not totally blind, I'm just limited to the intarwebz for my information, so excuse my narrow perspective.

However, you've pretty much changed my mind, though I'd had it almost nearly made up when the whole impounding thing came up in my research. I was told, however, that SR20's aren't terribly unreliable.

Anyway, if I do get a 240sx, I'll get the cleanest, bone-stock 240 I can get. th3n pu7 a JdMTyTE sp01lar on 1t!!!

[i240sx]

KA24DE's aren't slow....its the driver is that causing to make it slow haha!! besides KA24DE's are dependable and reliable haha

i agree...sr is not wroth the smog problem and cop harassment unless its a track car...i would just go ka and keep the stock height if you going to live in SF..SF street are FAWK..i rather walk if i live in SF..

[superJoy]

That was honestly the most negative diatribe towards the seemingly highly-idealized 240sx that I've ever seen.

The reason I ask these questions is for the simple fact that there are quite a few SR20 swapped 240's out there on craigslist, ebay, Autotrader, etc. And to my knowledge, they aren't being impounded any time soon. There are also many owners of cars like these who still haven't had the government's d!ck up their butt about it.

So I made this thread to ask some questions. I'm not totally blind, I'm just limited to the intarwebz for my information, so excuse my narrow perspective.

However, you've pretty much changed my mind, though I'd had it almost nearly made up when the whole impounding thing came up in my research. I was told, however, that SR20's aren't terribly unreliable.

Anyway, if I do get a 240sx, I'll get the cleanest, bone-stock 240 I can get. th3n pu7 a JdMTyTE sp01lar on 1t!!!

Hmm, "negative diatribe" is pretty intense English to be throwing down via internet. I am flattered that you think I would be impressed by such words. Excellent.

California SR20DET 240SXs exist, as do people who say "intensive purposes" instead of "intents and purposes". Existence has nothing to do with being proper. They won't impound it unless you really piss them off, but they'll certainly ticket you, fail your inspection, and make sure it never drives on the road legally ever again. Remember, if it's got an SR, it's automatic emissions fail. It could output butterflies, baby kittens, and pure, sweet oxygen from the tail pipe and still fail, because it is not a federally legal engine.

Sorry to be a bother about the thread starting business, but in years on the internet I have never started a thread for any kind of help other than pure technical questions. (Say, does a 85 200SX fan clutch interchange with a 90 Silvia? Am I really as a big a jerk as I sound?) Honestly if you can't make the "big" decision yourself you aren't ready.

Regardless of me being an e-thug, you sound like you are now on the right track. I will admit that I am mostly responsible.

That about wraps things up, then. You asked what I thought and I gave it my everything

[Wc240]

look, just becouse peaple have stuff, doesnt make it legal. You could have pot and lsd in your trunk, doesnt make it legal. if they pull you over with an SR, you have a 95% chance of getting towed. 100% chance of being ticketed for multiple things. and probably a good 60% chance of getting it crushed. now, im gonna say to keep your car based on the fact that you know its reliable; you can save your money and look for a good one to come up for sale, instead of buying one in a time limit(like i did); and driving a stick in the bay kinda sucks.if you do want a 240, buy a stock one. stock has less reliability issues(notice i didnt say none) you dont have to worry as much about some hack that did a bunch of work. you can build it to what you want, and its LEGAL. Concider the facts that IF you buy a swapped 240, how you gonna get it registerd? or when you get pulled over goin to school and you luck out and they dont tow it, they send you to BAR instead. and as a last note, the chp are much more likely to mess with you becouse your a kid. they wont show you an ounse of leniency for anything.

[X abisai X]

Just buy a SC300 5spd and put a 2JZGTE safe car alot heavier than a S14

+1

it looks like similar to the s14, it would meet your speed requirements, and less of a legal hassle if you get pulled over

[nthiogen]

Hmm, "negative diatribe" is pretty intense English to be throwing down via internet. I am flattered that you think I would be impressed by such words. Excellent.

Quote »California SR20DET 240SXs exist, as do people who say "intensive purposes" instead of "intents and purposes". Existence has nothing to do with being proper. They won't impound it unless you really piss them off, but they'll certainly ticket you, fail your inspection, and make sure it never drives on the road legally ever again. Remember, if it's got an SR, it's automatic emissions fail. It could output butterflies, baby kittens, and pure, sweet oxygen from the tail pipe and still fail, because it is not a federally legal engine.[/quote]I understand the legality issue, I was just pondering how common these scenarios really are considering the amount of SR's on the road here.

Quote »Sorry to be a bother about the thread starting business, but in years on the internet I have never started a thread for any kind of help other than pure technical questions. (Say, does a 85 200SX fan clutch interchange with a 90 Silvia? Am I really as a big a jerk as I sound?) Honestly if you can't make the "big" decision yourself you aren't ready.[/quote]I only asked for advice, not for an answer :P And I asked for advice to make myself more ready for the decision (which I don't have to make for another year anyhow).

Quote »I gave it my everything[/quote]<333

+1

it looks like similar to the s14, it would meet your speed requirements, and less of a legal hassle if you get pulled over

At the same time, it is not something I want to do at all, nor is it something I have the money for.

[OM3GA]

IMO its a bigger risk in socal with an SR than it is in SF however SF has horrible bumps and stuff (idk about your areas roads) but if its not going to be super slammed on coilovers you should be fine.

Just dont drive like an idiot around town and dont have the loudest exhaust you can find and you should be fine.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

GOOD:

smaller car (if you like that)cheaper insurance cheaper partsbetter mpg (if it runs right)more fun

BAD:

old carlegality issuesthings will need to be fixedconstantly repairing/upgrading thingsmoney pit

Most of the pre-swapped 240s you see in L.A. are just junk. They're people's projects that they gave up on, that's why they're selling it. Most half a** a swap and don't take the time to do it right.

Consider this when buying ANY kind of project car with a swapped motor/upgrade/whatever:

Do you have the money on hand to fix something substantial if it breaks?

Can you do it yourself or will you have to pay someone?

If you are willing to fix things yourself, do you have the knowledge, space, or tools?

ALWAYS expect something to break. It's an old car with parts that originally didn't come in it. Buying it pre-swapped means you're relying totally on someone else's work. There's always going to be problems and cars like these are pretty much just money pits. If you want something that is fast, reliable, and doesn't require alot of maintenance, buy something newer.

[nthiogen]

I wasn't planning on slamming it, really. I'd want it to look pretty much stock. If anything, I'd put lips on it or something.

I imagine I could get away with it indefinitely, but for my first year in college, I really shouldn't risk it. I may get a stock 240, but I'm not sure of that yet. How do G20's compare?

[AZ89two4Tsx]

A G20 is just basically a upscale Sentra.

[nthiogen]

A G20 is just basically a upscale Sentra.

Hmm... I'm assuming it's not much to write home about, then?

[snowyred180]

I'm in college. I bought an SR20'd 240sx and it blew up a month later. Now I'm out 5 grand, which could have gone toward something reliable or back to school. Just don't follow my path. Just remember, slow+ reliable > fast+unreliable. It's not cool if it's on the side of the road.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Hmm... I'm assuming it's not much to write home about, then?

What?

[krash]

dang. every time a cali member posts about their car, I find myself disliking cali more and more....

[nthiogen]

I'm in college. I bought an SR20'd 240sx and it blew up a month later. Now I'm out 5 grand, which could have gone toward something reliable or back to school. Just don't follow my path. Just remember, slow+ reliable > fast+unreliable. It's not cool if it's on the side of the road.

Yeah, I've been pretty much convinced out of the whole SR20 thing.

What?

As in, it's nothing special.

dang. every time a cali member posts about their car, I find myself disliking cali more and more....