Which of these s14's should we buy? Need some help....

[nsrZ32]

Hey everybody, my girlfriend and I have been looking for a 97-98 S14 for her for awhile. She's pretty picky and only wants those years due to the front end and the fact that they are newer. Also it can only be white and preferably 5spd. Also is had to be an SE. Smart girl huh?

Anyways, we have found two on ebay that fit the bill pretty much.

The first is a white 97 with only 58,000 miles on it that's bone stock. Really really clean nice car but its auto. We would do a swap anyway so it doesn't matter all that much. Here is the link to that one....http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...&rd=1And here's a picture of it.....

And then here is the other. The one she REALLY wants. It is a white 97 SE as well, it has 126K and is a 5spd. The mods are exactly what she wants : dark wheels with a polished lip, carbon hood, etc. Also is has an intake, exhuast, strut bars, springs, a cd head unit and new speakers in the doors. Now usually mods don't go the way you want but it would save us some trouble with her wanting the hood and wheels. Here is a link for it.....http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...&rd=1And here's a picture of it....

So now the questions....with how hard they are to find as she wants, what do you think each is worth? And is anyone local to either to go take a look at for us? I thank you in advance for your advice and help.

On a side note, if by posting this on here anybody bids and beats us out on these cars just know that my car is fast and I'll catch you and kick your butt. lol

[Bruno240]

i would be worried about timing belts on both of those. The 1st one will need a timing belt change soon. And hopefully the second one recently had one done.

[PalmerWMD]

nsr:

I would have posted this in 240sx general for better response.I can move it there for you ,if you like.

Fred..

[nsrZ32]

Fred, thanks a bunch! Good looking out as always.

And as for the timing belts, I figure normal maintence will have to be done on any.

[MaineExport]

KA = timing chain not belt.

The first one is worth more in terms of actual book value. However, if you were planning on mods similar to the second one.. it may be worth more to YOU. I wouldn't pay a penny more than $4500 for either of them... but that's up to you. They are 7 years old... but both beautiful cars.

[base9se]

I'd take the first one because you at least know the motor is in better condition considering that it doesn't have any aftermarket bolt ons. Meaning never ragged out. Also it only has 58K miles that's very good. As for MaineExports statement of no more $4500, I've seen Zenki's around here sell for more than $4500. Kouki's go alot higher because of its agressive looks, I think.

[Onizuka]

I've seen plenty of low milage stock 98 240sx se's go for more than $10K. If the price stays low (which it wont) it would be worth picking up.

Honestly, you'll get a better deal localy than on ebay.

[turtl631]

Yeah, back in May I was looking for a 5 speed kouki. THe prices are ridiculous right now..even with high miles and minor problems they go for 7000+. Zenkis look better anyways....angular front on rounded car-thumbsdown. If I were you, I'd have a hard time putting down that much money on a relatively old car with quite a few miles on it. You might want to consider that the second one has 19s, which is ridiculous and will kill you in tire costs.

[nsrZ32]

For what its worth...there are no white kouki's local, or anywhere remotely close. I actually was looking for one in 2002 for a long time, and they're just not around.

Also KBB on the first one is around 10K and the 2nd one 8K.

[ForsakenTH]

from what i have seen most 240s sell close to KBB. finding a 240 up north like us can be done but they are very rare...esp kouki. if i were you id get the second one just cause its already 5spd...even though you plan to swap it out it just seems like one less thing to mess with.

ps you should sinc her licence plate with yours

[TachyonS14]

Wow, I'm suprised that modded one has the reserve met at 7k. He could get much more for that car.

If I were you, I'd pick the modded one because you said it already has a lot of the stuff your GF wants and also because a 5spd swap is a pain to do.

[KDashy]

4500 for either of those cars would be a STEAL.

7K is a good price for the second one as well.

[Chingon]

1st one in my opinion. no high mileage, no mods. 2nd one has some cosmetic and a few "power mods" but that may also mean it was raced here and there. Timing chains would be fine on both i'd say. 5 speed swap can't be that hard can it? I changed a clutch in my brother's car the other day, and I don't see it getting harder than that. But maybe it will. Anyways, good luck. BTW, you can always turbo the 1st one w/o too much worries if it's decently taken care of.

[MaineExport]

I am VERY surprised to see the KBB so high on those cars. That is CRAZY!!!

I bought my 95 in February of Y2K for $5000. That means I got a 5 year old car (with only 40g miles) for half the price of a similar car that is 7 years old? I realize this is four years later... but seriously... that is just not right.

[bcar240]

when I got my new car earlier this year I couldn't even find a '95 in fair shape for less than $5 or 6k. Oh well, I really wanted an S13 anyway . I think more and more people tend to realize what they have is pretty unique and in demand.

[skydragoness]

I am VERY surprised to see the KBB so high on those cars. That is CRAZY!!!

I bought my 95 in February of Y2K for $5000. That means I got a 5 year old car (with only 40g miles) for half the price of a similar car that is 7 years old? I realize this is four years later... but seriously... that is just not right.

No love for the Zenki.

Seriously though, the Kouki is expensive because of its looks and rarity. I have to vouch for what J-Spec Tuner said, i live an hour away from him and koukis WILL sell for $6999 and up. (Would it also be because the initial cost of the car when new was higher? Not too sure. I have the original window sticker for my S13 and it was $18k when new).

What are your plans for the engine NSRz32? If you plan to rebuild the KA or swap out for something else i'd go with the second one. Hell, i'd go with the second one because it's already stick. The 5spd swap is kind of involved. You'll need a transmission, ecu, different center console, clutch/flywheel etc. And that stuff isn't easy to find, esp for a Kouki.

[cvex]

I would choose a bone stock over a modified or slightly modified car any day even if its 1 or 2 grand more, but thats IMO. God knows how much they beat on it . Plus the fun part of having a car to modified is you actually building it day by day. I bought my 95' 5 months ago for $5,700 bone stock from a lady and maan she took care of the car in prestige. While there are other that go for 4K n less with dudes beating on it like a step child. Transmission is grinding , ticking noises from engine, blah , blah. 97-98 runs around $8-10k from what i see around my area.Kouki's are f*ckin sexy!

[KDashy]

Sticker price for a 98 SE is around 22K.

I went to Inner Circle and they quoted me about a grand for a 5 speed swap.

[MaineExport]

I am psyched to hear about all this. My car is apparently worth more now then I paid for it almost 5 years ago!!! Who woulda thunk it?

Seriously though... $10,000+ for a 7 year old car that only sold new for twice that? INSANE!! THANK YOU WHOEVER TOLD KIDS THAT 240's AND SR20's ARE COOL!! I better dump this thing soon before the trend shifts to Cavaliers or something.

[KDashy]

To put it in perspective, a 1999-2000 Acura Integra sells for what...10K?

Dont expect to buy a 5 year old sports coupe for 5 grand again unless you get a deal.

[Chingon]

hmm...i can get constant s14's for less than 4000. Maybe i'm sitting on a land mine...oh..wait, I have no money.

[NSR_s30]

Fook man, Jerry just buy both and use one as a parts car. Lol I'd go with the 2nd one, going off the same basis as she did. It already has some simple stuff done to it and it already 5pd.

[HashiriyaS14]

I have the original window sticker from my '98 LE and it was like $25k. $4500 for a 58k mile kouki is INSANITY.

I paid $9800 for my '98 LE 5spd with like 66k on it, which was still under KBB. I only got it for that because I snapped it up soon, after I bought it people were still contacting the seller offering $11k and up.

[CybeRise]

I would go with the stock one cuz the guy/lady that owned didnt race the engine(maybe) and the car with the mods has probably had a lot of abuse plus it has more miles. If your thinking of the future I would get the one with the least miles and no evidence that the person that owned it raced the crap out of it.

Then again its automatic, I rather drive a 5sp CRX then drive any automatic :p

[LaughingBull]

I paid 6.5k for my 97 almost a year ago. 5 Speed, SE, LSD ABS and all that. But I was looking for it for almost a year before that. Sometimes waiting for the perfect one is better then trying to decide between two your not sure about. Although 58k miles is freakin amazing. But from what i can recall on the manual swap you have to some changes to the ecu or swap it out completely for a manual ecu, otherwise you have idling issues.

[SILVER97LE]

The cars will only go for the amount someone is willing to pay. It is all timing. I have seen cars like mine going for 11K stock not too long ago, but if there is no one out there to pay the $$$, you ending up getting less. Drifting has definately increased the value and "cool" factor of these cars. I could get a faster and newer car, but the rareness of the car is what I like. It is kind of like driving a ferrari. Everyone looks at you, you get alot of questions at the pump and with no badges on the back of the car, I am sure most people wonder what just passed them. I can't beat alot of cars at the light, but at 28yrs old that isn't the biggest thing on my mind these days.