ixfxi

Motor Week recently posted these videos online:


^ 1989 NISSAN 240SX Fastback


^ 1989 comparison between:
- NISSAN 240SX Fastback
- Plymouth Laser RS Turbo
- Ford Probe GT

Funny how to me, the Probe and Laser are junk cars. Plymouth what? Ford huh? Barf.

Seeing the 240SX in stock form move through the cones or brake, is depressing. I mean, its the reason why we all modify these cars.. so they dont behave like they did STOCK. Makes me wonder why anyone would want to be a "purist" and keep these cars stock. Its miserable. Oh, the undersized brakes, wheels and tires... ah, the wonderful auto seatbelts that choke you when closing and so often get stuck, jamming and pinning you into the seat. Even through all the bullshit, our cars simplicity is its saving grace. Inexpensive, basic, RWD...

Makes me wonder WHAT THE FUCK all these idiots are doing hoonigan, hellaflushing, aintcaring... fucking moroning our cars into the automotive graveyard. Cant people build these cars with a bit of pride anymore?

/rant

e1_griego

Car and Driver posted this, too:

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...ed-test-review

bmaddock

Cool post, it is funny imagining these things coming out new from the factory. I remember my dad picking up a Z31 and I thought it was the best thing ever.

Using http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc....990&year2=2014 , the 240SX sold for around $13499 in 1990, which equates to around $24,584 now. Interesting to put into perspective. The FRS really isnt too far off.

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OBEEWON

Jeeze 90's styling was so terrible.
I need that leather blazer so bad though.

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silviaks2nr

Motortrend really nailed it. Basically all it had going for it was rwd. My god the sohc sounds so bad even when new, too.

I blame superstreet for starting the flat black, junkyard engine swap, spraypaint don't care mentality with their silvia project car in 2005 or so. While it wasn't terrible by current standards, it set the bar pretty damn low.

e1_griego

Hilariously, Dave Coleman's car was actually used on the track, not just some parking lot drift slut.

Motoiq had a follow-up article about it: http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...ct-silvia.aspx

And more: http://www.motoiq.com/Projects/Nissan/Silvia.aspx

OBEEWON

Except the FRS can get bent.

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OBEEWON

Rocket Bunny too.

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Matej

What is the 'junkyard swap' that the Project Silvia keeps going on about? Where in the US do people find RWD SR20's in junkyards?

5280VertDET

Oh, fuck. I just watched these the other day... there is SOOO many awesome ones!

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S13 Vert | SR | PE1420 | 5-Speed | 15x9.5 - 0 |

simmode1

I wonder if there is an S14 review or better yet, a direct comparison against the S13's.... That would be cool.

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"Simplicity is the key to brilliance." - Bruce Lee

e1_griego

As if s14 owners weren't snobby enough


Top gear did a quick 2min s14 review, you can find it on youtube.

simmode1

Shit man, I hate my S14. I much prefer S13's. Accept when it comes to surviving a car wreck. Then its S14 ALL THE WAY! Yay!!!

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"Simplicity is the key to brilliance." - Bruce Lee

spooled240

It's right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLGKV_WByYM

Granted this 200sx was a far cry from the 240sx we had in the states, but it's still fun to watch.

murda-c

It's kinda cool when I think about the fact that all of the negatives you hear about in the reviews I have addressed on my car.

Sad when I think about the rust that is starting on it though.

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KiLLeR2001

Haha, first video looks identical to my car when I bought it.

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Chubs

clean virgin......

Wykydtron

Let's see here... which one of the three has the biggest aftermarket 24 years later and have engineers in a forum debating in a 220+ page thread over steering angle and actively sharing knowledge on how to attain the best suspension performance at the track............

s-chassis ftw!

Well I guess DSM guys have their own thing... but yuck who in the right mind would smoke meth in their spare time?

ixfxi

RWD, appearance (both interior and exterior), and the thing that only revealed itself later down the road: parts cross-compatibility. This is the key ingredient as to why these cars are amazing. The SOHC was a heap, but given the circumstances... at least NISSAN nipped that in the bud and released the DOHC 2 years later. Its not like the rest of the world had this problem since they had CA/SR and (optional) turbo.


Would be interesting. I drove the S14 when it was released and was not pleased/impressed. Maybe because I was comparing it to my fastback, which is not a fair comparison.


DSM community is pretty active. The 4G63 is a good motor. Rest of the cars are shit.

KiLLeR2001

Every time I drive an S14 I say to myself... "Hmm, feels much safer than my S13, but also feels less sporty and ultimately less fun."

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ixfxi

^ Yep. Less creaky, too. But a lot less sporty.

My biggest gripe has to do with the interior layout and for some reason, the non-sprung adjuster for the steering column really bugs me.

ixfxi

They added the JZA80 Supra Turbo the other day.

Shit. 105' stopping distance. Not bad for a pig of a car.

When comparing 90s cars, 350Z does not seem to be a worthy successor to the Z32-TT.

370Z... maybe. Dunno.

5280VertDET

$33K in 93, damn.... What is that like $40-47K Today?

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S13 Vert | SR | PE1420 | 5-Speed | 15x9.5 - 0 |

ixfxi

Actually, it comes out to be $54,360. Remember, that was introductory pricing because by the last year the Supra was released (1998) the prices of BOTH Z32 and JZA80 had increased significantly.

Not that I'm comparing apples with apples here, but when I see people selling S-chassis cars for 6-10k *STOCK* I kinda think its silly because I purchased my `95 SC for about 7k.
S13 was a sub 20k car
95 SC sticker (which I have) was about 45k

Dollar for dollar, you get a lot more car in the used market... but yeah, its a totally different car. S13 is a sporty garbage can. SC is a luxurious garbage can.


Considering NISSAN had just gone through a huge financial pinch, the Z33 really made good sense. I mean, everything on the Z33 is practically a shared component used on some other platform - so in the end, the math works. If you ever really look closely at the Z32 parts (or S-chassis), they may look similar to parts from another model.. but they still have a lot of bespoke parts on them.


I dont think its out of the ordinary. Besides, can you find me ONE performance vehicle that gets good fuel economy? Fuel economy and performance dont go hand in hand. And please, dont post any bullshit battery-box hybrid. People with their unrealistic views of how hybrids are "free mpg" fall flat when it comes time to change/service their battery.


For being NA, the current VQ37VHR motors really scream - and though I dislike the V6 configuration - they actually look nice too. Still, I'm such a sucker for straight 4 motors like the SR20DET or straight 6 like the RB/JZ.


Dunno, I really like the G35 Coupe since it was first released. G37 Coupe... so-so. And now with all this Q-nonsense... I'm forever confused. I hope that INFINITI will get their heads out of their asses and get the old nomenclature back. Doubt it, though.




^^ damn just posted, another cool review. These guys are really hitting the nail on the head with all these old school sportscars. Someone IS listening.

Corbic

Luxury cars always depreciate like rocks. Part of the reason is cost of up keep (repairs, fuel economy) and the other problem is "luxury".

What exactly is "luxurious" about a SC300 today?

It's crappy worn, unsupportive "leather" seats? Automatic climate controls? Power windows standard? Optional CD changer?
Passenger front airbag?

A new Ford Focus is a more "luxurious" car in terms of technology, options and safety.
Hell, NVH may even be lower on the Focus.



It's the 90's so it's all good, but let's be honest, the RB/JZ are garbage by today's standards. Heavy, expensive, gas guzzling and dirty.

The standard today is 20/30mpg under the modern test procedures. Many 90's cars lose up to 5mpg under these new standards.

The Z4 gets 34mpg and I believe the new TT will be up there as well. Corvette, Cayman and 911 all can reach 30mpg.

ixfxi

WHAT IS LUXURIOUS?!?! Well friend, let me tell you...
When you purchase a Lexus, a car of high caliber, you immediately are given membership on one of the most classy forums around: CLUB LEXUS. Even the name is inviting and makes you feel like you're getting VIP treatment. Not only do you get bottle service, but you get to socialize with folks like Obeewon.

The plush leather interior, the automatic climate control, and ah yes, the projector halogen headlights - all just a touch of modern amenities. Even the seats electronically slide forward when you tilt them to allow easy access to the rear seats, while you sit back and have some champagne with Paris and Kim.

The engine is also a beautiful piece of artwork, with an intake manifold that swoops over the valve cover. It restricts access to things like some, but not all, spark plugs - because honestly, only the poor would need to service an engine.

Bullshit aside, the only good thing going for it is the chassis being tank-like. Metal is heavy duty, door hinges are from a bank vault, and a lot is shared with the JZA80. I recently chucked the leather seats and installed Supra seats and reupholstered them with leather/alcantara. But yeah, these cars are old. But at least they are not tin-cans like many of todays cars.


When motorweek reviewed the LFA, I thought it was interesting that the car got around 18mpg. Dunno, I thought it would be more efficient.

l adam l

99 Camara ss with ls1 and t56 got 27mpgs on the highway...not bad for a '90s' v8?

Corbic

Not even close.

$54,360 in 2014 USD.

simmode1

Precisely how I feel. I actually want to trade my S14 for another hatch every now & then...Totally agree. IMO, the 350Z was Nissan's watered down compromise since they couldn't afford to offer both the S-Chassis & the Z at that time.

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"Simplicity is the key to brilliance." - Bruce Lee

Corbic

The 350Z took the best of both cars.

Most Z32s sold in the US where non-turbo. The 350Z cost less then a NA 300ZX while offering near turbo performance.

It also cost only a few hundred bucks more then the antiquated S15 turbo.

Mistubishi did the same thing with the Eclipse and 3000GT. Most people wanted the V6 big FWD 3000GT over the VR4, so when the 3rd gen eclipse came out it basically became a bash of the two cars.