Testdrive time

[muskrat]

Now that my car is being sold it's time to shop for my first 240sx. I'm going to be looking at and test driving 1991 and new models and looking at cars priced under $4000.

Since I've never driven a 240 before I'm looking here for your help.

What sort of things should I pay close attention to when buying a used 240? Body, undercarriage, engine, interior, etc...

What should the stock engine sound like, does it have any ticking noises like some other 4 cyl motors?

Give me any advice you have, I am mechanically minded and have owned and worked on a lot of different cars.

I'll only be shopping for 5 speeds.

Thanks.

BTW-If there is already a thread that deals with this sort of thing, please reply with a link to it.

[Dream240]

Don't know of a thread but, with my 96' when I test drove it I never paid attention to the idling problems it had. Look for spuratic idle, like fluctuations between 500 and 1000 constistantly. These generally mean leaks in the intake system that will give you oodles of headaches and leave you screaming WHY OH WHY? The engine should ping a little, only a LITTLE, just the injectors working, you know that usual sound. Also listen for squeals and rattles coming from the rear suspension. I never heard this when I bought mine but it turned out that everytime I shut my car door, the rear shocks would rattle like they were loose. Turns out I had to replace them on my own since I never mentioned it when I bought it. And also if you buy from a used car lot, ask them for a CARFACTS report that will give you any evidence of reported accidents no matter how small, people tend to try and hide that kind of stuff.

Good luck! And welcome to the club!! 240s kick ass!!

[muskrat]

To save myself some time, how can I tell from a glance the difference in an '89-'90 and the '91 and newer models? I see some on car lots, and would like to know a way to tell if it is an '89-'90 without having to go up and start talking to someone.

[91blk240]

89-90 is SOHC and 91 up is DOHC...i'm sure you will see when you open the hood

[91blk240]

here is a pic of 91 up s13....you can tell this apart from the 89-90 because the 89-90 had what i guess you would call vents between the 2 headlights right where the nissan emblem is

91 up s13


http://www.zilvia.net/photo/data/501/368alexs131-med.jpg

[muskrat]

Originally posted by 91blk240
the 89-90 had what i guess you would call vents between the 2 headlights right where the nissan emblem is


This is the information I needed, that makes it very easy to tell at a distance whether I should stop and look at the car or not.

[muskrat]

thanks for pointing out those vents, that helps so much I made this to help others:

http://boyracer.endoftheroad.ca/user/240diff.jpg

[Dream240]

Too bad when you find the 91-94 models you'll still have to hold your breath until you see if it's a five speed. I've been looking around too and very rarely do I find them in good shape and the owner is willing to sell. Maybe I'm just not looking hard enough!

Good Luck!!

[91blk240]

some guy that lives pretty close to me sold a 91 coupe 5 speed with blown motor....body was perfect for 400 dollars last month :/