is the se worth it?

[irritatedmax]

all right, so i have been searching for a s14 for a long while now and in the nebraska area they are pretty hard to come-by. this made me wonder, should i hold out for the se model or get whatever i can find? i know that the se model has five lugs which is a diffinent plus, but should that be the basis of my decision. i wanted the feedback of all you have purchased them and if they have any regrets based on the model purchased

[non2os13]

the only benefit that i see is larger selection on wheels. everything else is the same.

[!Zar!]

If you want to build a purpose built car, then I suggest you find a base model due to it being stiffer. It is true that the base only has 4 lug, but I would find that a smaller setback then welding shut a moonroof. Truth is, I doubt stiffness is that diffrent, so go with what you can find.
But from what I can go by on memory, Base= Non power windows/locks?, hardtop. Se= power windows/locks, 5 lug, front lip, fog lights, moonroof. I know there is more than what I listed, but I'm going by memory.

[S14DB]

But from what I can go by on memory, Base= Non power windows/locks?, hardtop. Se= power windows/locks, 5 lug, front lip, fog lights, moonroof. I know there is more than what I listed, but I'm going by memory.This was true with the Zenki's. But the Kokui's(specially they 98's) Base/SE/LE are all mixed up. Mine is listed as an LE. I have Leather, Power locks/windows, trunk lever, No abs, no Sun Roof, no VSLD, no fogs.

The only reason I would get an SE is if you want ABS. 5-Lug swap, LSD and other mods are easy to do. You'll prolly save more than you'll spend to add those options. Sunroof and other options you don't need

*5-lug Hubs and bearings are only $500 new. You'll be getting new rims as the reason to do this swap and your brakes prolly need to be replaced too cause the stock pads go with a quickness.

*Stock VLSD's suck and the open diff LSD upgrades are easier to get and generally cheaper.

Save some money with a base and then spend the money on better parts.

[irritatedmax]

good fast replies. keep them coming. now that you mention it, do you want ABS for a drift setup, i would think not, but i have never really come across it anywhere. also, is the se the only one with ABS.

[silvias14ka24de]

not all SE's have ABS. Mine doesn't it's an SE w/ no VLSD. I say just go for base though if you want to drift it. Cheaper. But if you like those amnemities of the SE, then go for that.

Since they're not easy to find where you are, try lookng maybe 200 mi away. I live in Ontario, CA and drove down to Chula Vista, CA (2 hours away) to buy mine. I'm guessing you've might've already searched near and far though..

[irritatedmax]

oh yeah, i hit up all the internet car classifieds and most everything is way overpriced, an s13, or automatic. i know i can swap to manual, but i would rather just get one from the start.

[mr_240sx]

jus ttake your time man!

[hunterljc]

Just get the first one that's nice and clean and worth the money. I searched for well over a year (Im very picky) and finally found a 98 with 19k miles. Once I get my 5-lug hubs and some wheels and coilovers I'll be happy. And I will never have a sunroof woo!

[420sx]

get what you like. money is just paper.

[projectRDM]

Not all SE cars have ABS or sunroof, and both were optional on base models as well, so neither of those are a deciding factor.
The only other benefit to an SE is the lumbar support (95-96 only) and the rear swaybar, but that's upgradeable anyway. Foglamps, front lip, and rear spoiler can all be added easily, so can the gauge cluster and hubs.

[irritatedmax]

what gauge cluster, R240NA? hunterljc, how much did you end up paying for something so mint?

[NismoSilvia270R]

to me, it came down to whether i wanted to do the 5lug swap or a 5spd swap. since auto SEs were priced next to base models with 5spds.

500 hub swap or 200 tranny swap.

in the end i bought a 95 SE auto. things pimp

[chuy]

98 base with pwr everything including sunroof, minus seat wich I dont think we had anyways. Im happy for mine although I paid too much and went to far to get. I got what I wanted a 97-98 240sx.

[sw20>>s14]

there is no formula...its all mixed up regardless of zenki or kouki...i have a 95 base with power everything, moonroof, etc...id just "hold out" for something clean and straight...not SE or base...its really no difference at all with SE:

-possibility of LSD
-possibility of ABS (thats if you even want it)
-possibility of a black interior
-possibility or a front lip
-white face gauges
-dinky ass rear swaybar
-five lug that may or may not have wearing/worn bearings
-an ugly ass spoiler (IMO)
-and two more letters on your trunklid

but if you come across a hardtop SE, i would get it...just cuz, how many ppl have a hardtop spoilerless s14 SE? heh

[Tenchuu]

if you plan on makeing it a daily driver, yes. I love my power options and sunroof.

[ghostuss]

If you not going all out racing that little stiffness in chassis don't even matter to the sunroof. I will worry more about head clearance with helmet on with the sunroof than the stiffness.

SE to me is only good for the 5 lug and powerdoors. If it is that hard for you to find a 240 might as well take whatever comes first. 5 lug is an ez mod. powerdoor lock is ez, too. vlsd on SE just pain suck ass. I would take a welded open diff over vlsd any day.

[Gnnr]

I have a base model automatic with power everything and sunroof. No ABS. No VLSD. I wish I had a rear sway bar though, but thats about the only thing. The fog lights would be a plus too, I guess.

[aznpoopy]

i have a base model s14

5spd
power all
no sunroof
no abs
no vlsd

abs is for wussies. if you end up getting serious about motorsports, the vlsd would probably end up going anyway. you will probably upgrade sways at some point as well, so that doesnt matter much either.

imo the only deciding factors for a s14 should be #1 5spd, and #2 5 lug hubs. even the 5 lug hubs isnt all that important, imo.

[94cc0rd]

there is no formula...its all mixed up regardless of zenki or kouki...i have a 95 base with power everything, moonroof, etc...id just "hold out" for something clean and straight...not SE or base...its really no difference at all with SE:

-possibility of LSD
-possibility of ABS (thats if you even want it)
-possibility of a black interior
-possibility or a front lip
-white face gauges
-dinky ass rear swaybar
-five lug that may or may not have wearing/worn bearings
-an ugly ass spoiler (IMO)
-and two more letters on your trunklid

but if you come across a hardtop SE, i would get it...just cuz, how many ppl have a hardtop spoilerless s14 SE? heh


I got a 98 SE model and mine has VLSD, black interior, white face gauges, 5 lug, and stock spoiler... I don't know if I have ABS or not... I Should be able to feel it right? In which case, i probably don't.

I have a hardtop s14 SE... soon to be spoilerless :hsdance:

I also found this car on accident on the second day I was looking for a 240sx. And it was one whole mile away from me. :rofl:

[irritatedmax]

spoilerless looks the best, imo. also, pretty much the only requirement that i have is that it is 5-speed, cuz i know if i get an auto it will stay that way for a long time. the sunroof or hardtop is cool either way. i never knew that each s14 made was pretty much just a random selection of availiable options, pretty interesting.

[leftyteck]

I got a 98 SE model and mine has VLSD, black interior, white face gauges, 5 lug, and stock spoiler... I don't know if I have ABS or not... I Should be able to feel it right? In which case, i probably don't.

I have a hardtop s14 SE... soon to be spoilerless :hsdance:

I also found this car on accident on the second day I was looking for a 240sx. And it was one whole mile away from me. :rofl:

http://www.socal240sx.org/faq/specifications.html

i believe all cars equipped with VLSD have ABS. I actually think it's the other way around tho

if you have ABS you have VLSD, check the site to be sure tho

[sw20>>s14]

I don't know if I have ABS or not... I Should be able to feel it right? In which case, i probably don't.

why dont you just look in your engine bay?...

[SirWarrior]

My old 95 SE
Leather, ABS, VLSD, no roof :D
Purple :(
My new 95 SE
no leather :D, no ABS :D, no VLSD with sunroof :(
White :D!!!!!