300miles + 1 tank o' gas = two wrecks. Long with

[StanBo]

Car One: I drove to Philly in the morning. Looked at and drove my first 240sx se. I liked the car. I found that it did sound like a truck engine when first started. The car pulled well and the ac was cold. The brakes were great, minimal effort to slow her down.

1. Alignment was horrible, shook and swayed at 60mph.
2. Clutch sounded like death when it got warm.
3. Sounded like bearing problems on the drive shaft.
4. Power windows were shaky
5. Shifter felt sloppy.
6. Previous owner drove behind a cement truck that spewed cement and ruined the passenger side’s paint.

140k miles. They wanted $6000. Sold as is. No finance cash deal.

Car Two: I left Philly crossed NYC and drove into CT. Went to see a “se model” 1995. Got there and it was a standard. Hood sat way too low on the headlights. Looked like it was in an accident.

125k miles. They wanted $5000. Sold as is. Cash deal.

Were either of these cars what I should expect for these prices? If so it looks like I will have to restructure my budget.

I need some help here. I would like a 240sx and it looks like I am going to get the same deal from a dealer as I would from a private seller. I am looking to take a car from a loving owner, I will treat the car the same.

I will keep looking. Thanks for reading!

Cliff notes:

Brooklyn to Philly (64.2 miles), Philly to CT (150.5 miles) and CT to Brooklyn (89.9) = equals two wrecked overpriced 240s.

Help me out.

The search continues.

[s14vaxlr8]

i got mine for 7500, 60k all power 5 speed non se no problem s at all since Aug, not any (knock on wood)
that was here in northern va

[240meowth]

i got my base edition s13 240sx w/ 101,000 miles last november for 6,000... surely i overpaid, but it was worth evey dime of it, after 2 years of search, finally found a 5 speed coupe!!!

moral of the story?  it's not 'bout money, it's 'bout how much u want it.

also, when you buy a car, you should buy the one that's in good conditon.  so, if we say, u have 6,000 bucks, you can buy a poor condition s14 or a good condition s13, go w/ the s13, u won't regrate it

[mbmbmb23]

Yeah.......you get what you pay for.  I paid $4k (from a Toyota dealership) for a 93 hatchback.....139k miles, body and interior mint, engine runs strong.  Sure I could have paid $1,500 for a fixer-upper....but...this is my daily driver until I can afford to mod it.  If I were you, try searching dealerships (new car dealerships with used lots) for cars they've taken in as trade-ins......if the car is a lemon, the reputable dealers usually will send it straight to the auto auction instead of selling it on the used lot.  Sure it will cost more, but these cars aren't being produced anymore, and arent getting any younger.  An example would be the AE86....these are almost impossible to find in good condition...and are popular because they are rare (and because of they're popular drifter cars).  Well...just think....in 10 years....the 240SX will most likely be in the same situation.

I guess my point is, look at your purchase as an investment of a "collector" car...and the higher premium you pay covers the fact that the previous owner took care of it and left it in mint condition for you to have.

-m

[StanBo]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (mbmbmb23 @ May 26 2002,03:46)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Yeah.......you get what you pay for. I paid $4k (from a Toyota dealership) for a 93 hatchback.....139k miles, body and interior mint, engine runs strong. Sure I could have paid $1,500 for a fixer-upper....but...this is my daily driver until I can afford to mod it. If I were you, try searching dealerships (new car dealerships with used lots) for cars they've taken in as trade-ins......if the car is a lemon, the reputable dealers usually will send it straight to the auto auction instead of selling it on the used lot. Sure it will cost more, but these cars aren't being produced anymore, and arent getting any younger. An example would be the AE86....these are almost impossible to find in good condition...and are popular because they are rare (and because of they're popular drifter cars). Well...just think....in 10 years....the 240SX will most likely be in the same situation.

I guess my point is, look at your purchase as an investment of a "collector" car...and the higher premium you pay covers the fact that the previous owner took care of it and left it in mint condition for you to have.

-m</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
This is pretty much what I am doing. &nbsp;It isn't a money thing. &nbsp;I don't really need another car. &nbsp;I just want another car and it would be nice to have another car in the family.

I would pay the money for quality. &nbsp;It seems that these dealers know that I want the car and expect me to just give them money.

I would go for a 93 coupe. &nbsp;I would like a se but I really don't want to deal with the HICAS system. &nbsp;

Thanks for reading and posting guys.