S13 or S14 for Pure Driving Funness Factor: Can't Decide

[corbin]

As the title says I am so split between s13 and s14 I just don't know what to do. The car would be a daily driver with possible Autocross use and I plan on doing lots of work to it.

I know s14 is probably technically faster but since this car is my daily driver I still want it to be really fun to drive. I've only driven s14's but the ones I drove seemed to have numb steering feel and this is my main concern... do you guys find s13's to be more fun to drive? I've read reviews saying that they are more of a "driver's car"... or is that just because the s14 I drove was stock? If you can do some steering changes to an s14 and make the steering way less numb I would chose s14 hands down... anyone have any input?

Please don't mention how the s13 is uncomfortable for daily use... I know it is but I would change the seats/interior so it won't be as much of a problem.

I'm mainly concerned about how fun the car is to drive (how connected you feel to the car/road) after the basic suspension modifications.

[TurboSE]

I drove both before I decided (S14 was 5-speed, S13 was a hatchback auto) so my comparison is kinda apples/oranges.

Both were pretty much stock, sway-bars on the S13.

The S14 felt "bigger" I guess is the best way to say it, I felt like I was driving a larger car than I really was. It also felt a bit clumsier. But they were really similar. When I started shopping my list of preferences was:

S14 Kouki
S14 Zenki
S13 Hatch (S15 conversion because I hate flip-ups)
S13 Coupe (didn't like these at all until I saw one with Bricks)

I ended up with an S13 coupe for the following reasons:
Price - clean, unmolested S14's are expensive (to me anyway)
Stability - coupe vs hatch, coupe needs less reinforcement
Year - (big reason) in Pa, my 92 just gets a gas cap inspection vs. a 95+ getting a real smog check (Swapping an RB26, I don't want any nosy mechanics snooping around if they don't have to be).
Difference factor - I see a fair amount of hatches and S14's...not too many S13 coupes

I know this isn't exactly what you wanted, but the nice thing about the S-chassis is that aftermarket support is so strong, if there is something about yours that you don't like...someone has a way to improve it.

[ZilviaKid]

s13's are way more fun to fuck around in. soooo toss-able.

an s14 would make a better daily i would imagine though. its the old man s chassis imo

[corbin]

Thanks for the replies guys... so far I'm leaning toward an S13 coupe.

Anybody driven both cars with suspension upgrades?

[s15specR]

base model s13 coupe

[sterlinge]

i have driven both s13 coupe 5spd with coilovers/s13 hatch 5spd with new struts and s14 5spd with strut spring combo so a litle like the other guy with apple's and orange's s14 felt big and heavy but inside the car is really comfortable and extra room. my s13 feels small and light, inside a little less space but with some s14 seats feels nice! go with the 13 coupe!!!

[jspecusa]

s13 base model coupe
most fun car I've build in my experience
of owning more then 10+ s chasis
Specs (http://www.jspec.com/specs1.html)

[sLOW14]

my buddy got the 13 hatch/ full suspension and I got 14/coilovers. both fun as hell but the 13 does feel more connected to the road/ better response

[jspeedm]

S14
If you were doing road racing I would say S14 because they are much more stable at higher speeds.
It is much more comfy for a daily driver

S13
For auto-x go with the S13. They are much more nimble.
for me 6'2" it is too cramped inside and too hard to get in and out of.

Both
experience+mods(the right mods)=awsome fun cars to drive.

[ManoNegra]

how the hell do you expect random strangers to know what YOU like?
be like me then, 2 hatches and an s14.




coupes looks like ass.

[CrimsonRockett]

If I were building a car simply to daily drive, S14 would be the way to go.

S13 for all around.

I've got two S13 fastbacks and my brother has an S14.

It's all personal preference.

[widebodyseven]

I currently have a S14 for daily and trying to pick up a fastback for strictly track use.

[CleanAndLegit]

i got a s13 base model
its really fun to drive been in a s14 i like it but it seems a lil bigger, idk but im 6'ft i feel ok not crammed or nada
and uhmm
only suggestion id say issss get an se harness and do power windowsss!
im in the process of doing this!
cause roll ups are such a P.I.T.A.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stinky_180]

i daily drive an s14 and its pretty comfortable, its completely stock

i have a project s13 hatch and its not comfortable. but damn, it is way too fun to drive!

[sLOW14]

how the hell do you expect random strangers to know what YOU like?
be like me then, 2 hatches and an s14.




coupes looks like ass.


+1




lol :wiggle:

[fos240]

i've got a sohc hatch, a sr20 coupe and a ka-t s14. my wife has a stock auto s13 ka coupe. they are all different, but i enjoy all of them.

frankie

[CNDC]

I got a weekend track/ daily s14. It's perfect for that job.

[TurboSE]

i've got a sohc hatch, a sr20 coupe and a ka-t s14. my wife has a stock auto s13 ka coupe. they are all different, but i enjoy all of them.

frankie

looking to adopt? I'm 29 and housebroken...almost...ummm....nevermind...let me get back to you

[fcken_engus]

the newer the chassis, the better it feels inside imo. go w/ what your wallet says

[Dustxking]

If i was a 17 year old and i was looking for a dd i most deffinatly wouldnt buy a rwd car. I was in the same boat when i was your age. And one day when it was wet outside i realized what drifting was.

and now my garage is full of tires and my wallet hasnt seen a dollar bill in over a year.
all my paychecks go to bills then parts.

Just watch your self.

[drift freaq]

If i was a 17 year old and i was looking for a dd i most deffinatly wouldnt buy a rwd car. I was in the same boat when i was your age. And one day when it was wet outside i realized what drifting was.

and now my garage is full of tires and my wallet hasnt seen a dollar bill in over a year.
all my paychecks go to bills then parts.

Just watch your self.
When I was 17 I bought a Datsun 510 and it did rain a lot in Palo Alto. It made a fine daily driver for me at the time.
Anybody who pusses out on RWD just because of rain is a pussy. I am not saying you are but to give advice like you give above is just asking him to wimp out.

Buy a RWD car if you want one and learn how to drive. You know it used be FWD cars were not all that common and people got along fine with RWD cars in Snow and rain.

[jim1234664]

When I was 17 I bought a Datsun 510 and it did rain a lot in Palo Alto. It made a fine daily driver for me at the time.
Anybody who pusses out on RWD just because of rain is a pussy. I am not saying you are but to give advice like you give above is just asking him to wimp out.

Buy a RWD car if you want one and learn how to drive. You know it used be FWD cars were not all that common and people got along fine with RWD cars in Snow and rain.

seriously, man up.

my first car was a 240 that was a dd in BUFFALO, NY. sometimes I would be driving in snow up to the rockers...

this guy cant handle a RWD car in the rain!? :rl:

[driftsilvias13]

S13 Coupe > S13 Fastback. Ive owned both 2 s13 coupes, 1 s13 fastback, and 2 s14s and say either go with the s13 coupe or s14. I just did not like the way the s13 fastback felt compared to the coupe.

[Bubbles]

I drove my s13 and I was just so connected to the road and the spirits or pure driving that I knew I had to have it.

[slidewaysmn]

I have a s14 that I dd with coils, lsd, wheels and sr.
My roommate has a sr'd s13 coupe, welded diff, same stance gr pros, and built sr.
I truly like driving the s14 5 times more. Gets as sideways, much cleaner interior styling....if you wanna dd a car, get a super clean s13, or s14. imo

[pignose4life]

just get one of each and call it a day

[93nismo]

If i was a 17 year old and i was looking for a dd i most deffinatly wouldnt buy a rwd car. I was in the same boat when i was your age. And one day when it was wet outside i realized what drifting was.

and now my garage is full of tires and my wallet hasnt seen a dollar bill in over a year.
all my paychecks go to bills then parts.

Just watch your self.

thats what my mom tells me everyday. why dont you sell that pile of a car and get a fwd car so you can drive in the snow? i no longer respond. i prefer rwd in snow tbh. i feel like if it kicks out i have a better chance at getting it back were it needs to be. ive driven but ive never owned a fwd car in the winter so i guess i wouldent know. i own a hatch and ive driven an s14 a few times. both were pretty much stock. but i prefer the hatch, the 14 seems like a boat and i like tiny cars. you should see if you can find a dealer with a 13 and see if you can test it. then you'd have first hand experience :]

[Bubbles]

i feel like if it kicks out i have a better chance at getting it back were it needs to be. ive driven but ive never owned a fwd car in the winter so i guess i wouldent know.


A fwd isn't necessarily better in snow because of control, it's based on the traction, when accelerating specifically.


However, they aren't amazing by any means.


I drove a 2wd truck with shitty standard tires and a shitload of weight in it through deep snow and the thing was a champ.

Way better than any fwd car.

[XperienceM5G]

S13 imo. They're nice and straight forward. Easy to find parts for used or new, and very customizable to your own tastes.
Also less expensive than S14's.. For the most part.
But really, you can't go wrong with either if you ask me.

[limited240]

so far i had 3 s13 hatch's they are alot of fun to drive. specially when boosting. just love driving them.

[corbin]

Thanks for all the replies guys...

I've decided to basically just get whatever comes along first, whether it be an S13 or an S14.

[udon!]

ive had both a s13 coupe and fastback, 100% stock 5 speed.

i prefer the coupe, im not sure why. it just feels different from the fastback. and for those of you that say there isnt enough room in the s13, im 6'1 155lbs. and i fit perfectly.

good luck finding an s13 worth buying nowadays though