College Student Part Time Getting a 240sx

[Sp00fy]

Hey Guys, I'm joined this forum to get into the 240sx game and I wanted to know your opinions about me getting a car. I want a 97-98 240sx , really love the Koukis [emoji173]️, and I work part time at a pizzeria and I'm a full time student, I have around 3k saved up and I can borrow some money from my parents to put in the rest but I just wanted to know if it would be a good financial decision. I know if I get the car I'm going to keep it for life and treasure here haha but I just wanted to know your options. Thanks for reading [emoji106]


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[O$mo]

http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/stewie-head-turn.gif


lol no seriously don't do it, i did it/doing it, not fun.

[Sp00fy]

Lol why what happened/ happening to you?


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[coupesallday!]

These cars suck, they're old, and they'll always need something to be fixed. It's never ending

[O$mo]

Lol why what happened/ happening to you?


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Well I'm on my 2nd S-chassis, I had an 89 s13 hatch SOHC auto it was a POS, fuel pump, blown head gasket, cracked trans coolant lines, all types of shit. Sold it to buy a cleaner 95 S14, blew the head gasket on that, then fixed it just to blow the motor. Now I'm in the middle of an SR swap, currently I have no car.

Bumming rides aint fun bruh.

Get a reliable daily save up for a S chassis later.

[Sp00fy]

Oh man, they sounds like bad luck... I found a Kouki in San Diego stock with ONLY 77,000 thinking about getting it plus my school is literally 1 mile away


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[Juantwo3]

Well I'm on my 2nd S-chassis, I had an 89 s13 hatch SOHC auto it was a POS, fuel pump, blown head gasket, cracked trans coolant lines, all types of shit. Sold it to buy a cleaner 95 S14, blew the head gasket on that, then fixed it just to blow the motor. Now I'm in the middle of an SR swap, currently I have no car.

Bumming rides aint fun bruh.

Get a relabel daily save up for a S chassis later.

maybe its just you.:picardfp:

my s13 has 300xxx miles on it and runs like a fucken champ.

[acslater9]

It's fun to drive one but once it comes down to repairing the car you'll be staring at your 240 with jack stands under it most of the time. I'm a college student myself and it's hard trying to keep good grades while worrying that you still have to fix the 240 you have at home.

If your about it then get one. But if you're dead set on getting a Kouki be prepared to have a lot of cash lying around because the pricing on these cars are just rising.

#that240life

[O$mo]

maybe its just you.:picardfp:

my s13 has 300xxx miles on it and runs like a fucken champ.

My old s13 never saw a track, neither did my s14, and I drive like a grandma. Things break sometimes, sometimes they don't..but when you drive cars older than yourself, you can't be surprised when shit goes down.


Congratulations on your milestone tho bruh.

[Sp00fy]

Why are they rising?!? [emoji22] it was only like yesterday I saw some for 5 grand, little work need too


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[JBB]

Dont do it

[Primo's Silvia]

If you understand what patience is.. Like real patience, to sit and do tedious tasks that sometimes take longer then they should , you will soon learn what a love and HATE relathionship is -___-

[ZERTA RACING]

Where are you located? Are you mechanically inclined? do you have a place to work on it when it breaks down to needs parts replaced?

I have not seen a 97-98 with ONLY 77,000 anywhere here (SD) unless it is at one of the super high priced stealer-ships.

If you are in SD and want to talk about the 240's let me know...

Like others have said these cars are old, they need more than just general work most of the time. Depending on mileage you may want to buy and replace the water pump, alternator, thermostat, plugs, plug wires, belts, starter, distributor cap and rotor and change the fluids before even thinking about making it your daily driver.

That being said I have daily driven mine for the last 2 years and only had about 2 days that it was down unexpectedly for repairs and thankfully it was on the weekends and the part store had what I needed :) It has been a work in progress though and there were times when I was without a car for a week while doing a AT to MT swap. or without a car for a weekend doing all the suspension work. In the end it has been worth it for me though. I can truly say I have done all the work on my car by myself, and all my blood sweat and tears are in it for the long haul.

[oblivionskate]

Look for s13's. Let me tell you. coming from a 93 e36 325is to this is almost hysterical price wise. A bushing kit for this car is about $130. you're going to be spending $300 just for the rear and that crap OE rubber on the e36. I recently changed a control arm, $45 vs $130 per side. I'm a college student too and It's not bad at all. what ever you do DONT buy someones "i wanted to try to be a drifter" piece of shit. You're going to see a lot of that but hold off for the right one. You're in cali so i'm sure they pop up everyday there so you should be fine. I'm from Michigan and since I bought mine in november (luckily it only had 1 owner and was bone stock) there has only been 2 that popped up.....both autos....and crazy expensive. Have fun, you have options and if you don't like it sell it simple. Test out as many cars as you can without molesting them before its too late! :)

[ComicArtist]

240s can be reliable, they just have to be

A)stock
B)not fucked with
C)unmolested

Wait that's all the same thing


For real though, buy a low mileage grandma car, do basic maintenance like alternator, fuel pump, power steering pump, plugs, etc. If you want it to look cool buy coils and wheels, don't even think about modifying the powerplant until you have another daily driver. Trust me, I did the daily/drifter thing for three years and it involved a lot of calling for rides, changing tires in the college parking lot, spending hours on simple jobs like fuel pumps or coilovers because I was in an apartment complex, etc


I actually body worked and primered my car in my apartment complex, a slide hammer and an electric DA did the trick.

[Sp00fy]

So hopefully if I do get a Kouki the wisest choice would be to get it from a grandma and make sure its stock and do a quick fix on the little things and I should be set


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[silviasandbeer]

its not that bad. i only has to swap my motor once when i owned mine.
and the cracked gas tank wasnt really a big deal. i only smelled gas when i tanked up.
also, i didnt have THAT much rust.
and as far as the KA burning oil leaving smoke behind you..just ignore it. you're supposed to look forwad in life anyways, ignoring the past.
broken speedo and faulty gas gauge...meh...just put in $20 a day and go the speed of traffic.

other then that its a fun little car. just be prepared. these cars are actually fairly easy to work on if you know what your doing. it just may be frustrating when you fix something and something else breaks.

[zeitgeist]

Any car you buy for 3-5k is a risk. I do agree with looking for something unmodded. Youll be spending thousands more fixing their problems. Im doing it now. Luckily i have another car

Do research on the car and have someone knowledgeable and blunt check it out with you
Might as well buy something you like and learn something along the way though

[jscherf92]

Good financial decision? Hell no.

A good learning experience, yeah.

You'll be spending more time and money than you ever planned on. Whether its repairs or modifications it will suck your life force away bit by bit.

And yet i'll smile every time I see my beautiful mismatched hatchback.

[Sp00fy]

Good financial decision? Hell no.

A good learning experience, yeah.

You'll be spending more time and money than you ever planned on. Whether its repairs or modifications it will suck your life force away bit by bit.

And yet i'll smile every time I see my beautiful mismatched hatchback.


I bet haha, I think I'm going through with it, mostly for the learning experience, if I get it it's always going to be well maintained


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[CompleteXen]

I wouldn't recommend grabbing a Kouki S14 immediately. Im decently new to actually owning an S-Chassis but Ive had a few other cars before (Miata's mostly) and these cars are a lot of work. Be prepared to drop a lot of cash into your S-Chassis. I bought my S13 a few months ago, swapping the KA-E for an SR. These things are not cheap, and unless you drop some good money into the car, then it won't be reliable.

There are many other options I would recommend, and on a super tight college budget, and S is not my first choose. I chose a 2nd Generation Miata with 45,000 miles to learn cars/driving on (even cheaper than a KA to maintain, simple chassis, fun as hell to drive, etc)

This is all from the perspective of a full time college student, who works part-time, and 100% of my spare time goes into cars.

[simmode1]

I wouldn't get a 240 in your place. I'd get the most reliable car I could afford to get through college and then buy whatever toy car after you graduate and get a career. But if you're hardheaded and just GOTTA buy a cheap/cash drift slut that you can't really afford to maintain, at least get something less beat down, like an IS300...

[hellaslows13]

240 is a shitty car to have in college. (Unless you walk/bus/bike/carpool to school)

Yes its a reliable car, but lets not forget its 20+ years old. Shit will go wrong. Some days your car will randomly not start but you have a final in 2 hours. Or try going out to a movie with your girlfriend only to come back to an empty parking lot with your car stolen. Think about it. Will you have time/money/energy to fix the car? If you plan on getting good grades while still enjoying your social life I highly doubt you will have time for a 240. (Unless you are a psych major, no offense to the psych majors). I had a 240 in college and was fed up with it. I sold it for a nice daily and focused on my studies (and picking up chicks because now girls would talk to me because I didn't have a ratchet ass fast and furious car). I have one now that im graduated and I still hate it (but deep down kinda love it). It's really all about personal preference and tolerance level really. But your 19 and you don't give a fuck so you are probably gonna buy one regardless of what anyone says.

good luck.

[Bushido]

No, buying a 240sx is not a good financial decision.

[Confuzedd]

I love my car but if I had to do things over again I would have got a simple four door instead of throwing money and time (Things im sure neither of us have to much of) into a car.
A. Get the kouki
-Not be able to comfortably go on dates with girls because you have no AC and no they will complain about their hair being messed up cause the windows will stay down
-Focus on saving for car parts rather then memorizing formulas for math classes which will screw you in the end
- Realize years or even months from now all the money you put into a old car could have been used much better
-Probably sell your kouki cause you realized you screwed yourself and the damage is already done to your savings or total it cause you have been watching too many drift tengoku videos.

B. DONT GET IT
-Graduate, drive four door til whenever
-Get job, buy dream car(probably be different by the time you graduate)
-Live life with a little less worries

I should take my own advice

[simmode1]

I should take my own advice

Great point. I went looking for IS300's a moment ago & they're very cheap now. Like sub-$6k for a 5spd cheap. But 240's have plummeted in value so much that selling my S14 for such a loss just makes me sad. It's like our diminishing numbers from all the stupid drift kids have had the exact opposite effect that we thought. Instead of value increasing, it's dropping through the damn floor. Guess I'll just keep it.

[hellaslows13]

Great point. I went looking for IS300's a moment ago & they're very cheap now. Like sub-$6k for a 5spd cheap. But 240's have plummeted in value so much that selling my S14 for such a loss just makes me sad. It's like our diminishing numbers from all the stupid drift kids have had the exact opposite effect that we thought. Instead of value increasing, it's dropping through the damn floor. Guess I'll just keep it.

Must be the area.

Here in Cali I have seen 5speed IS300s in decent condition go for $6-10K. 240sx's are INCREASING in value. You can no longer find a decent condition 240sx for less than $3500.. Stock unmolested 240s are dime a dozen and start at AT LEAST $4k..

[Ilya]

You have no idea the burden of any loan especially school

[Kingtal0n]

Its possible (see my sig) but it requires you to be a skilled mechanic/tuner/diagnostician.

Repairs are cheap as bird droppings if you have a local importer/friend with good used OEM parts, and you manage the labor (see: skilled mechanic)

It's a car for people who love to fix things up real nice, learn to do things right once, and won't smack you too hard if you do them wrong either, you can recover and learn a lesson and keep going. Its sort of like a "learning car".

[S14DB]

If you have to ask this question. Get a 4 Cyl Camry.

[Kingtal0n]

Sometimes you have to first gear, clutch, neutral, release, clutch, rev match, 2nd gear, release because shes so old! You've got to develop a feel for these ancient transmissions and other old parts to keep them happy. I can't imagine anyone but myself driving my car, first time out the coolant would boil out, the exhaust would fall off, the fuel would start leaking from several places, the brakes would catch fire, the turbo would spit it's wheel, it would just be a huge mess to watch. :D
you gota keep sniffing for smells that do not belong. "Hmm... smells like oil, ATF, and coolant today. thats ok. at least it isn't fuel this time."
currently leaking 1 drip of every single fluid per day (is there anything in the differential anymore? who knows!)

[Sp00fy]

If you have to ask this question. Get a 4 Cyl Camry.


Trust me I've thought about it haha, I've thought about many cars but I want to learn to manage my own car and learn to, and I just wanted to see how everyone else was doing and so far it's seems like a 70/20 percent, 70 being the worst lol


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[simmode1]

you gota keep sniffing for smells that do not belong. "Hmm... smells like oil, ATF, and coolant today. thats ok. at least it isn't fuel this time."
currently leaking 1 drip of every single fluid per day (is there anything in the differential anymore? who knows!)

Ahhhh dude. Glad to know I'm not the only one who acquired a much more finely attuned nose because of the 240... lol

[Kis4Kouki]

Yeah just bought a 98 kouki se. I'm also a college student in automotive and have worked on numerous 240s owned by friends. Got 100,000 miles on it though it was the cleanest well maintained 240 ive seen and it was a one owner. Well 500 miles discovered leaking sunroof, semi clogged heater core, the fun rev match neutral then 1st gear trick and a whole other slew of thing that need attention. Nothing major just kind of ocd nick picking. But definitly have a spare car because nothing is easy on this cars. Still got it easy since the car has never seen any hard driving.

[tac 1]

Dont do it! Save a lil more money, put your money down on used corolla then do uber/lyft! More income, more reliable less head ache.

[Kingtal0n]

My favorite thing about stock 240sx cars is,

If you can get your hands on a clean one, yeah if, then you can drive it as loooong as you want, wear the tires out, and then sell it for what you paid.

Because a clean zenki with 127,000 miles is worth what a clean zenki with 175,000 miles is worth, if both are clean we are talking $3700~ range or less in Florida.

[blueshark123]

Why are people saying 240sx are unreliable. Must be all the fucking idiots that think zip ties and and duct tape can fix anything. Parts are cheap easy to come by for the most part, and the cost of changing a water pump on a new audi u can buy a complete parts car. So whats with the bitching.

[LockOn!]

the "240sx game"


http://interesting-facts.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/sticky-eyes.png


Yeah, no. You're not ready.

[blueshark123]

Great point. I went looking for IS300's a moment ago & they're very cheap now. Like sub-$6k for a 5spd cheap. But 240's have plummeted in value so much that selling my S14 for such a loss just makes me sad. It's like our diminishing numbers from all the stupid drift kids have had the exact opposite effect that we thought. Instead of value increasing, it's dropping through the damn floor. Guess I'll just keep it.

Stock 240sx have increased a lot from what i see.

[PPman]

I daily a 97 se 5speed and besides having to repair the MAF it has been a very reliable car. No big issues but I do all the maintenance, and small repairs so far has more than 220k miles and I have put over 100k of those.

1- this cars are easy as hell to work on.
2- parts are relatively cheap compared to other newer cars.
3- there are write ups for pretty much any repair you might need to do.
4- as long as you don't think your last name is toretto it will be a reliable car once you fix the small issues any 16+ year old car will have and keep up with the maintenance.
5- plenty of aftermarket support.
6- as long as you don't beat the crap out of it and keep it in good shape chances are the resale value will keep going up.

[Kingtal0n]

Why are people saying 240sx are unreliable. Must be all the fucking idiots that think zip ties and and duct tape can fix anything. Parts are cheap easy to come by for the most part, and the cost of changing a water pump on a new audi u can buy a complete parts car. So whats with the bitching.

So, this is an interesting concept right? Because I completely agree that on one hand, 240sx are incredibly reliable if maintained. I've never been 24 hours without a ride.

On the other hand, mileage claims the lives of wear parts: clutch, pumps, bearings, friction materials (piston rings, brake pads, ... clutch again) and un-awareness claims the other half (You have learned not to overtighten hose clamps and spark plugs right?) So work must be done, somebody gotta do it. Who's it going to be? You cannot say a 240sx is unreliable because it needs a clutch every 64,000 miles, but somebody still has to pay for the car to be "reliable" maintained.


So on one hand you have the stock automatic 240sx crowd that will go 220,000 miles with just oil changes, and sometimes less than that.


And on the other hand you have the swapped cars, bright red bloated question marks gleaming in the moonlight. You save money buying one of these but will you get a good set of piston rings and engine bearings? And clean oil? And...

One way I can see to have a swapped car AND a reliable car from day one, is to do everything yourself and also have good luck finding a used low mileage engine to start with.

[bmaddock]

Bought my first 240 around your age as well and have learned a lot in the process. If you're not a mechanic now, you will be by the time you're done with the car. They really aren't unreliable from my experience, just keep it stock and it will last through college no issue. Keep saving your money for beer and traveling.


I picked up an S13 vert, beat the snot out of it through school, everyone loves the drop top, and enjoyed the experience. Only major issue I had was an injector died on me, the rest of the issues were self-induced (5-speed swap hiccups with a bad trans mount). I also did a good bit of basic maintenance right as I bought the car (water pump, few gaskets, radiator upgrade). The last year at school I had saved up and went KA-T. Really wish I didn't and just saved up to do it completely right one time. Good times but cut a few corners that really kicked me later on. Now I'm in the process of 1JZ swap and spending money on parts I want, not ones that are the cheapest.

[PPman]

So, this is an interesting concept right? Because I completely agree that on one hand, 240sx are incredibly reliable if maintained. I've never been 24 hours without a ride.

On the other hand, mileage claims the lives of wear parts: clutch, pumps, bearings, friction materials (piston rings, brake pads, ... clutch again) and un-awareness claims the other half (You have learned not to overtighten hose clamps and spark plugs right?) So work must be done, somebody gotta do it. Who's it going to be? You cannot say a 240sx is unreliable because it needs a clutch every 64,000 miles, but somebody still has to pay for the car to be "reliable" maintained.


So on one hand you have the stock automatic 240sx crowd that will go 220,000 miles with just oil changes, and sometimes less than that.


And on the other hand you have the swapped cars, bright red bloated question marks gleaming in the moonlight. You save money buying one of these but will you get a good set of piston rings and engine bearings? And clean oil? And...

One way I can see to have a swapped car AND a reliable car from day one, is to do everything yourself and also have good luck finding a used low mileage engine to start with.

I have yet to burn my clutch in the time I have owned the car, still good as a matter of fact (knock on wood). I just daily my car no racing or drifting though, spirited driving sometimes, I just dont dump the clutch and try to do burn outs.

No water pump yet either, just flush the coolant every year.

The one thing it has now and will tackle this summer is replacing the heater core sob.

[Corbic]

Must be the area.

Here in Cali I have seen 5speed IS300s in decent condition go for $6-10K. 240sx's are INCREASING in value. You can no longer find a decent condition 240sx for less than $3500.. Stock unmolested 240s are dime a dozen and start at AT LEAST $4k..


This. I almost think people who are saying "240s are losing value" have no idea what the market looked like 10 years ago.


I paid $2,600 for this car. No rust, less than 100,000k. It had custom long tube headers, Spec clutch and lightweight flywheel with B&M shifter.

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff467/AFZombie/Mobile%20Uploads/4C5CC9D6-33FA-47FB-A6E0-E13BC682E20C_zps1plwgajf.jpg (http://s1237.photobucket.com/user/AFZombie/media/Mobile%20Uploads/4C5CC9D6-33FA-47FB-A6E0-E13BC682E20C_zps1plwgajf.jpg.html)

That's a Unicorn today.


For the OP.

A 240sx is going to be as reliable as any other $2-5k car. The problem is you have reached the maximum service life on these cars. This is true of any car that is +150k miles and +15 years old. Had you bought one new you could have easily driven it for 10 years and 200k miles with just oil changes.

I worked full time, went to college full time and owned a GTI, DSM, FC and ^ this S13 in college. (Not at the same time)

It was rough in many ways. I spent my entire 21st birthday changing the PS pump so I could work the next day. Ran around all day looking for one at a pick-n-pull then all night installing it.

I got stranded one time because the water pump went out and I had to use the phone at a Walmart to call my ex girlfriend for a ride. (People have cell phones today)

I missed class one time because the cat exploded and clogged the exhaust. Ironically the night before I read online about S4s having that problem and dropped the cat... Punched it all out, installed it and vroom, away I went. Catch us, if I didn't know about about exploding cats, it would have had to go to a shop and cost me $$$ I didn't have.


I often think "man, I could have just bought a 350Z new... Had ZERO problems and it would have been paid off for 5 years now...."

Instead I have a finicky modified 240 that still needs work....

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff467/AFZombie/Mobile%20Uploads/665515F7-2CBB-4C83-A5AA-D05FC8260897_zpszbnxxrow.jpg (http://s1237.photobucket.com/user/AFZombie/media/Mobile%20Uploads/665515F7-2CBB-4C83-A5AA-D05FC8260897_zpszbnxxrow.jpg.html)

^ same car, 10 years later

[Rich260z]

Meh it was a good tinkering car. I bought an auto one for $1900 in FL with 103k. Had it stock for about 2 years and literally spent jack shit on it because I was sharing with my GF at the time. brakes pads and rotors and struts were the extent of what I spent on it.

I put 30k miles on it, then swapped it to manual and then I started dumping more money than was intended into it. That was my mistake. So if you only use it as a car, then it works great. Cheap to fix, easy to service, and fairly reliable depending on wear and tear.

[sidewayzzenki]

I was like you once. Full time student but I was working full time and I COULD NOT ask my mommy or daddy to help me with a car. I saved up and studied hard. I now graduated and have a good job. I was able to buy my dream car (97 Kouki) and work on it the times its gone down and do some spicy upgrades.

Just stay in college and focus. In the end it will be worth it at the end waiting to find your dream car. If you get a s-chassis you will encounters issues every now and then. You may have to sit without a car sometimes, and it will interfere with your studies and financial state.

Go to college, finish up, make good money, build your dream car

[spooled240]

Must be the area.

Here in Cali I have seen 5speed IS300s in decent condition go for $6-10K. 240sx's are INCREASING in value. You can no longer find a decent condition 240sx for less than $3500.. Stock unmolested 240s are dime a dozen and start at AT LEAST $4k..

..and it seems a good half of said is300's are salvaged. Is300's are cool, but they feel a lot heavier and sluggish than the 240's. The mileage kinda sucks too. The 4 doors, the standard options and the quieter ride are all nice though.


I've never had a problem with my 240, but I was always working on it to make sure it was maintained. I'd say go for it.

[CrimsonRockett]

I've been happy ever since I stopped daily driving my 240's.

They're fun cars to work on, but there's a million cars that are better to daily.

Unmodified/stock S13/S14's can be reliable cars, but as Cordic mentioned, you have to take the age of the car into consideration. You will definitely need to replace suspension components, engine seals, etc.

For the cost of a 20+ year old S-chassis, you can easily buy a 2000-2005 car that has plenty more life left in it, isn't a target for theft, and will require less work over time.

[TheNigguh_Danny]

I got a clean 95 240 for $2700 back in september & I've probably driven it only 30 times since then, it came with jic coilovers & greddy catback exhaust its a fun car when I do drive it but sucks when you cant & all your friends are driving regular cars while you have to keep asking for rides all because you wanted a 240 lol but i have also learned a lot of things with this car it's a great learning experience

[sil80takashi]

buy a good daily before you get into "the 240sx game" lol

I've gotten so many tickets with the 240 it's not even funny,
and I also have a daily GS400 and I have never gotten a ticket in that car

240s are over rated now, and have appreciated so much in price,
I'd buy a Lexus SC, IS GS even a LS, way more value for lot cheaper pricing with Lexus depandability

trust me, your girl will be more happy, 240s only attract dicks

then save up for a 240 when you're ready :2c:

[simmode1]

This. I almost think people who are saying "240s are losing value" have no idea what the market looked like 10 years ago.


</p>
Been driving 240's for 11 years now. Bought my '93 s13 hatch in 2004 for $2500. Had mismatched wheels, but was otherwise pretty clean. Bought my S14 Zenki in 2009 for $3300, also pretty clean. I can now locally find decent running chuki S13's for $1300 and S14 Zenkis for $2000. I will admit that maybe it is just an area/location thing, because it defies logic that value is decreasing. However, right now is a fantastic time to buy one in Texas. Selling one though? Might wanna wait for the upswing.

[Moonride]

maybe its just you.:picardfp:

my s13 has 300xxx miles on it and runs like a fucken champ.


Wow same here, mine's at 312k miles and it's still alive lol.

[jlopez7354]

Don't break the bank for an unreliable car bro I love my 240 mine has been really reliable most of my friends haven't been as lucky. Buy it only if you know that if it ever breaks down you won't be losing your job or missing school. Don't over pay neither

[bataangpinoy]

Hey Guys, I'm joined this forum to get into the 240sx game and I wanted to know your opinions about me getting a car. I want a 97-98 240sx , really love the Koukis [emoji173]️, and I work part time at a pizzeria and I'm a full time student, I have around 3k saved up and I can borrow some money from my parents to put in the rest but I just wanted to know if it would be a good financial decision. I know if I get the car I'm going to keep it for life and treasure here haha but I just wanted to know your options. Thanks for reading [emoji106]


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1) There is no game.

2) Keep saving your money.

To have a budget build, you need to have some kind of mechanical inclination and know how to allocate your resources properly. Don't spend money on cheap, needless bullshit like tow hooks, eBay coil overs, etc. Do it once, do it right. Built a pro-am car, sold it my sophomore year. put together an s13 street car shortly after. I didn't go out and party all the time, didn't spend money on booze, worked my ass off in school and in the garage.

My current coupe has been a solid car. I've driven in through this whole winter, hasn't skipped a beat. Admittedly though, I did a bunch of stuff to it before I put it on the road. Probably my favorite car so far. I will be putting my E30 back on the road come the start of this race season, won't take the s13 to the track if its my only car. Thats just irresponsible.

[Corbic]

</p>
Been driving 240's for 11 years now. Bought my '93 s13 hatch in 2004 for $2500. Had mismatched wheels, but was otherwise pretty clean. Bought my S14 Zenki in 2009 for $3300, also pretty clean. I can now locally find decent running chuki S13's for $1300 and S14 Zenkis for $2000. I will admit that maybe it is just an area/location thing, because it defies logic that value is decreasing. However, right now is a fantastic time to buy one in Texas. Selling one though? Might wanna wait for the upswing.


Had to be. Most the cars here are rusted shut boxes. Search Craig's List Chicago.

I would not call ANY car (not just 240s) under $3k "good daily material". I browse CL all the time and most in that price range are ticking time bombs that really do need $1,500 in parts to keep you from missing work.

Tires, ball joints, struts, water pumps, batteries etc.

[xilovelsdx]

If you call anything to do with cars a "game" or a "scene" just lay down and go to sleep.

[DanielS14]

If you have to ask this question. Get a 4 Cyl Camry.

nailed it!!!

[supradeluxe]

I dont know why everyone doesnt want you to get a 240sx but from my personal experience owning my first 97 Kouki, I can say its been as reliable as I need it to be my daily. SO I say go for it but like any car you want reliability it must be stock, auto preferably, around 100k under, clean body/taken care of and clean title. GO with you instincts. Good luck!

[Ramonesfreak2010]

I used to daily my coupe. Had no issues except burning oil. I now daily a GS300. It feels good when all you have to do is maintenance. Just turn the key and go!

[The High & Mighty]

These cars suck, they're old, and they'll always need something to be fixed. It's never ending

Try owning a BMW, those are always a never ending repair project. Everything from electrical issues to replacing bushings.:facepalm:

But runs like a champ when its not breaking down. As far as my Nissan goes, runs great and its reliable.

[TougeSR20Kid]

240s can be reliable, they just have to be

A)stock
B)not fucked with
C)unmolested

Not true at all. I daily drive an RB powered s13 where just about everything has been upgraded or modified in some way shape or form, and have been dailying it for about 3 years now... But the reason why is that everything is fairly new and quality. Its the stock unfuckedwith cars that break cus they have 25 year old tired ass parts with tired nuts/bolts/bushings/fluid/etc

Look dude here's the issue with buying a 240 as a daily. They break a lot more than you would expect which sucks when you dont have that much money to work with (i.e. part time). I did the same thing as you when I was 18, went out and bought a 240. 2 months later the motor blew. fixed that and then it was something else, and then something else. 10 years later 5 s-chassis later and I'm still in it for some reason after spending god knows how much on this obsession over the past decade... If your parents are really down to help you out in a bind say if you need some money to buy a part to fix your car then maybe it'll work out. But that maybe is dependent upon whether or not you're mechanically inclined because as a mechanic I can tell you that 100+ dollar an hour shop rates will destroy your life and your wallet at 18 years old.

Finally, do not get a kouki. I know everyone loves them and they're so sick, yadda yadda yadda. But good luck finding one for under 7 or 8 g's that doesn't need a ton of work.

[lethanh93]

Currently in school. Bought my s13 last year and so far its been pretty reliable over the course of about 12k miles with constant trips up and down CA. I do most of the work myself and don't flog it though.
It's been mostly fun but I don't try to kid myself. Buying it wasn't a good financial decision for me, and probably won't be for you.
Its financially smarter to save, focus on school and buy something better but you're only young once. The experience and knowledge was worth it to me.

[Corbic]

Only young once. Have fun because you'll find you still won't have the money for toys and stupid crap as you get older.

Sure you get older and make more money, but you'll also have more bills and obligations and less time.

[derek king]

You should get something vtec. Good miles per gallon and vtec sounds awesome

[derek king]

-iT8VpfAyvkfaster than 240sx

[slowvia]

maybe its just you.:picardfp:

my s13 has 300xxx miles on it and runs like a fucken champ.

^^ This.
Seriously though, I've owned three S13s in the past nine years and they've been the most reliable cars I've ever owned. I mean, sure, I've run into some issues with them, but nothing I haven't been able to fix myself (except for one blown SR that I outsourced).
Take your time, find a clean example (and be prepared to wait/pay for it), and keep up on maintenance like it was your job, and you'll find it very rewarding... at least I have.

[Sp00fy]

All right guys i managed to find a stock Zenki with a rebuilt motor with couple thousand miles for $3,000, other then that I think a civic might be the next choice.


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[LockOn!]

That's a deal. Get dated paperwork though, otherwise he could be lying through his teeth.

Most ppl selling a car with a rebuild engine "did it in their garage by themselves, no receipts". Yeah fucking right, you just pressure washed your engine bay and changed the oil. No proof, no deal.

[Sp00fy]

Oh and my neighbor is selling his 90 240sx with 120,000 miles for $2,000 manual and stock as well


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[Driftwire]

My S13 is boosted and takes me to work everyday. No AC but its still great to me. Really matters what you know and if your dedicated to fixing what needs to be fixed.

[TheRealSy90]

Spoofy? You mean Spotify?! Haha, not sure if you know where that's from.

[Sp00fy]

Spoofy? You mean Spotify?! Haha, not sure if you know where that's from.


Haha yeah, I bought a membership not to long ago, they stole my name if anything lol


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[badbob2121]

I understand why people would say to avoid a project car while in school, but a stock s13/14 is a cheap car to maintain. Sure, you will have maintenance work, but what car doesnt?


Buy a vehicle you like and will enjoy. Take your time buying one and do your research. Play with it, learn from it, and have fun.

[SimpleS14]

My 240 was my daily throughout my years in college and afterwards. It was quite a learning experience since things would break and I would have to figure out how to fix it on my own or seek help from others locally (or the forums). Luckily for those moments it was down for days I had a daily, a ride from a friend or time off from school & work. Was it a good financial decision? No, but buying an old used car is rarely a good financial decision. Through this experience I've gather basic knowledge around mechanics and a better idea of what to look for in my next car in terms of mechanics, ease of repairs and overall costs.

The S14 you mentioned is a good deal if you can verify the legitimacy of the rebuilt motor. I would stay away from the S13, unless you can work out a significant price drop.


Post 9100

[Sp00fy]

My 240 was my daily throughout my years in college and afterwards. It was quite a learning experience since things would break and I would have to figure out how to fix it on my own or seek help from others locally (or the forums). Luckily for those moments it was down for days I had a daily, a ride from a friend or time off from school & work. Was it a good financial decision? No, but buying an old used car is rarely a good financial decision. Through this experience I've gather basic knowledge around mechanics and a better idea of what to look for in my next car in terms of mechanics, ease of repairs and overall costs.

The S14 you mentioned is a good deal if you can verify the legitimacy of the rebuilt motor. I would stay away from the S13, unless you can work out a significant price drop.


Post 9100


I would have the contact the owner for the s14, a lot of people think I would be modifying the car I get, idk why haha but only thing I would do to s14 would probably lower the car enough to go over speed bumps without any issues but keep the car stock, maybe an exhaust near future if anything and just baby the car in general


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[TheRealSy90]

Haha yeah, I bought a membership not to long ago, they stole my name if anything lol

Oh I was actually referring to a quote from an episode of GameGrumps. It's a YouTube channel haha.

[Sp00fy]

Oh I was actually referring to a quote from an episode of GameGrumps. It's a YouTube channel haha.


Aww whoops :) I haven't been on YouTube for a little while I'll look them up, haha


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[that_one_coupe]

I'm full time student and part-time worker. Got 2 more years until I graduate and have taken my ride to and back to Humboldt from OC(after a 5 speed swap and the same night of 5 lug conversion). You'll have unplanned troubles even while maintaining the car, such is life. Just get ready for a possible headache while owning one. Not a huge one, if you're lucky, but just have some tools at the ready. Luckily my Dads a mechanic and has helped me out with small jobs. Not everyone is so lucky. He's wanted me to get a different car but if it wasn't for the 240 I would know as much about mechanics as I do now. He hated the day my brother bought one too lol.