240sx vs wrx for a college student

[import_racer87]

I just sold my 92 mr2 can im looking for something pretty reliable for college. including the money from my sold car i have about 16k to spend on a car. for this i could buy a stock wrx or a 95-98 240sx and modify. the wrx to end up getting modified as well, just not from the start. The car will have to take me back and forth about an hour and a half every weekend and be reliable because i wont have a garage in college like i do at home (except on weekends). Now would a swapped 240 be good for this type of work, or can the be like DSM's and just problem after problem? I really want to stay with rwd but would the wrx be a better idea? help sway me either way.

[reefer1114]

i say buy a 240 but i also think that you should just buy something more economical because of the drive you have to make. if youre a college student there are a lot of better things you can spend your money on than modifying a car. unless you are loaded with cash spend it wisely, that or invest it.

[NismoDan]

All's I know is college students have a lot of shit (I am one of them).
WRX = 4 door + trunk
S14 = 2 door + trunk.

but, its obviously your decision in the end.

[JRS13]

You'll probably get a lot of biased answers here... for well.. obvious reasons. I'm a big fan of the WRX.. it's a great car... but if i was spending $16K, i'd have to get the 240sx. There's just so much you can do with it. It would be difficult to find a WRX in good shape and low miles for 16 grand. I used to work at a Nissan dealership and we had a used 02 WRX with 60k miles on it for $18,000... granted they would have taken 16,500 for it... but it wasn't in the best of shape. That was about 6 months ago. I just can't stand leaving a car stock... so if it was my money... I'd buy the S14 (decent ones are what... $7-8K for the 97-98's?) and spend the rest on modifications. But, I say buy what you like. Don't worry about what a bunch of guys you don't even know think you should get. My next project car will probably be a 4th gen Supra... just to make the wife happy. She loves those.. and absolutely hates my S13.. I keep telling her just to wait til i'm done. Good luck with whatever you buy though.

Justin Stone
1989 240sx Coupe
1997 Chevy Cavalier (don't laugh... it was my 1st car)

[Ian]

weird

i'm a college student
i live in virginia
i have a wrx
and 240sx :)


i say dont get a wrx cuz they kinda suck :-\ 240's are great until it starts snowing...

so get the 240, and then get a snowmobile w/ the leftovers lol

[007jpang]

i would get a s13 hatchback if i was you....

hatch has hella space... i put my bmx bike in the back when i had my hatch... also. the hatch is sexy... and cheap... you can get one at a rip off price of 2,500 if the engine blows just engine swap to a sr...

if you find one do a compression test if it's good then just change the oil regularly... and your set.

john

[Ian]

yeah if i was shorter i'd drive an S13...but i sat in one and i got claustrophobic

[TachyonS14]

I say WRX because of the 4 doors and more room. 240's are pretty cramped cars, and plus with a new WRX you will have a warranty. Also, I'd rather have a stock WRX then a highly modified 240sx because college parking lots usually aren't so nice on cars. You'd run more of a risk of your car getting broken into and or stolen with a really modded 240 then a WRX.

[Ian]

the wrx feels weak overall as a car though...and i'm already popping up a CEL (GAY!!!)

i've narrowed it down to being an O2 sensor going out on me...one of the many unfortunately...

[infinitexsound]

240 w/ low miles....buy coilovers and wheels.... save the rest.....

[OptionZero]

Depends how much you spend on the stock WRX, it is significantly faster than the 240sx stock for stock.

Also, if you are a college student with limited time on your hands, the WRX is more enjoyable with less work. If you get a used 240, you will probably have to do more maintenance work to get it running perfectly (unless you're getting one thats pretty pristine).

The stock WRX's higher limits mean there's plenty for you to explore without any mods. In fact, just buy some good tires for the WRX and you're probably good to go for AutoX and spirited driving. If you want more time to drive, the WRX is the way to go, because you won't have to spend time and money wrenching on "upgrades".

You can obviously drive the stock 240, but if you are the type that wants to throw money at parts and install them...then hey it's your choice to do buy the cheaper car and spend the rest on parts.

On the other hand...the WRX has AWD and turbo, meaning far more parts to break down and take care of, while the 240sx is comparatively less worrisome.

[91CRXsiR]

i would buy a honda cuz they are more reliable and have plenty of trunk space etc etc perfect for college kids plus most of em are easy on the MPG which isnt getting any cheaper these days

[ZK]

WRX > 240SX for practicality and reliablity if both are stock. 240SX may be more fun to drive but if you're using it as a daily driver, WRX definitely. Again, this is comparing stock to stock.

[chlatboy]

GEO METRO > WRX & 240sx. You're in college. Buy a geo to get you to and from school and another car as weekend warrior. Gas is expensive SHIFT_CHEAP!

[ghostuss]

He just said he doesn't have a garage... You probably gonna get all 240sx biased oppinions. If you go to wrx forum you get the same for wrx. I say get the 240sx cause you can beat on it. I won't want to get a new car and put hella mileage on it. 240sx engine, both the KA and SR is known to last very high mileage if maintained right. Nissan build good engines. And on the rest of the topics you got decide urs. 2dr, 4dr, rwd, fwd, mod not mod. Really for 16g you can build a 240 street demon that is modified to the roof. I am talking about a built engine be it SR or KA laying down 500-600hp, suspension, body kit, etc. That is if you want to go that hardcore. However the trade off is modified car is never as reliable as a stock car but as long as you know what you are doing and you can fix things by urself. I don't see modified car to be any worst off than a stock car. Anyhow, since you are in college money would always be in demand. Yep college students are always the poorest. Have savings in ur bank will never be a bad thing. Ur decision. I say get an 240sx and just slowly mod it. Don't touch the engine. Just mod some suspension, basic exhaust, intake. Some seats, lsd. And wait until you are truely ready. Rebuild the KA and turbo it or SR/RB/CA swap that shit.

[Maeda]

Get a shit box.

SERIOUSLY. College usually means loans. Loans usually mean money. Car's like the WRX and 240 mean money.

They fight.

Loans win.

Get a shit box.

[raen419]

gonna have to go with maeda on this one.
get something with space and reliability.
the 240sx will be smarter (as long as it's a hatch b/c of storage space). i drive an hour and a half almost every weekend to see my g/f and i put a ton of shit in the hatch. definitely better than a coupe for storage. keep in mind that the 240 will be an older car w/ some problems (more than likely) so have extra cash to spend on keeping it running.

but shitbox sounds good for what you actually NEED.

[s14 blacktop]

I hope you have some free time, cuz thats what your going to need with a 240sx and a 240sx is not a reliable car. Be prepared for anything to go wrong(experience). get something roomy and something thats reliable...in other words, something you wont have to work on a lot....

[OptionZero]

what the heck? He's a friggin college student, why on earth should he even be THINKING of a 500hp car?

[aznpoopy]

if you need a reliable car for college don't get any sort of modded performance vehicle.

get something as a daily and use the left over money for your fun car.

a stock WRX with low miles is not a bad choice at all, assuming the previous owner didn't beat on it.

[North240]

I'm in college and i own a s14 KAT and thats it, shouldnt be an issue. I just hope your mech. inclined

[r32gtr]

personally i would say get the wrx. I have an 89 swapped 240, and just graduated. I hated parkint eh car on cmapus so i walked to class and back everyday. Also I think the wrx would be more economical. Thats what I am looking for now, as my DD.

[jOeHaCk98]

college doesn't mean you have to drive a shit car and get miss out on all that college p ussy. Granted, you'll still get some, but from the girls with equally shit cars. Just get something worry free, or little work. You'll skip many-a-studying hours if you don't. I just hate the fact that some people in college ar driving 360's, sl55 amg, m5, m3, blah blah. Well i dont hate, but damn it sucks.

[A Spec Products]

240 all the way. i owned my 240 all throughout college, didn't have to spend much money along the way either, just do the mods slowly and within budget.

also, i can't believe no one mentioned compression tests:

240sx: 3 mins
wrx: 1 hr.

omg your motor is sideways! :)

[ghostuss]

wtf is wrong with college student owning 500hp car? I am gonna build a 500hp car sometime down the road and daily drive it at around 300-400hp when I am a 3rd or 4th year. All you need is MONEY MONEY and more MONEY, period.

[1121S13]

its common sense, brand new(or like new) WRX would be 10times more reliable then a 15 year old 240sx.

This is a nissan forum, most suggestions would be biased. Anycar can last forever but for a college student. 4door NEWER sedan would be far more practical then a 240sx.

I would buy a honda.

[Ian]

modifications always take away from the reliability of a car in my opinion

[jOeHaCk98]

True, but it depends on what "stage" of life the car is in. Say modifications take away 10% of engine life, It will most likely kill a 120k+ 240 than a 50k Subaru. I would say build quality is the same, just be light on the suby tranny if its pre 2003.

[Ian]

well i dont mean that. I mean, every time you take something apart, that leaves room for error in your assembly...you might not do something right


if the whole engine, suspension, brakes etc. is like that...there's BOUND to be at least 1 thing that you didnt do right

[mr_240sx]

modifications always take away from the reliability of a car in my opinion
yes and no.......... it all depends what you do to it!!

[WanganRunner]

I sold my 2004 WRX to buy an S14.

Good enough answer for you?

[raen419]

buy whatever you want.
wrx or 240sx.
if you don't like it, selling it can't be that hard, so long as you don't ask too high a price.
i drive a s13 hatch, i'm in college, no complaints.
i'd love more space for other people, but for the time i've spent on the car, it's almost worth it...note, i say almost.
newer car = more reliable, less issues.
older car = less reliable (depending on history), cheaper insurance, sometimes better gas mileage.

[wootwoot]

s13 hatch with minor modifications would be very nice. Buy a built motor from kat.org or something like and run low boost through it. 250hp and 275lb feet at the wheels will definitely be good and if you can learn to drive right you can get 28mpg plus. I would spend 4-5 grand on the car, start with a clean good chassis that does NOT need to be painted because that is one thing that turns into a pain in the ass. Just dont make it a race car, make it a daily driver with enough power to make you happy. Think of the minimum that you could need for you to not lose your mind

[s2kwndl]

dude get stock 240 keep it stock. save your money or pay your school loan if you have one. college will go by fast next thing you know you have money for an M3 or CLK55 amg. but why are you gnna listen to me.... hahaha i bought all the toys that i want when i was younger.. so follow whatever you want....

[aznpoopy]

bottom line is owning a modded, swapped 15 year old car is doable, but it will take time and money.

if you have the mechanical inclination, the wallet and the time; great.

if you're a engineering student on an accelerated 4 year program, it probably wouldn't be such a good idea.

gauge how much you think you can handle and run with it.

[Maeda]

gonna have to go with maeda on this one.
get something with space and reliability.
the 240sx will be smarter (as long as it's a hatch b/c of storage space). i drive an hour and a half almost every weekend to see my g/f and i put a ton of shit in the hatch. definitely better than a coupe for storage. keep in mind that the 240 will be an older car w/ some problems (more than likely) so have extra cash to spend on keeping it running.

but shitbox sounds good for what you actually NEED.

Seriously.

I own a Ka-t and im a full time student, but I don't recommend ANYONE else to attempt this unless they're really really invested time wise...

Which means wasted tuition money unless you can make time for both.

[tsunami0ne]

if u dont have access to a garage, buy an accord.

[jOeHaCk98]

Eh, shady tree it.