1990 240SX - Need your help and opinion!

I'm in the market for a cheap, reliable & somewhat fuel efficient car. I'm a university student so I don't have a lot of cash to spend on a car.

There's a guy selling his 1990 240SX for $1800 ($CDN). It's got a little bit of rust on the body, which will definatly need work.

Plus, since this is a 1990, its got a open diff and sohc engine. I can live with the SOHC (btw, how much HP and torque does the SOHC have?), but I'll eventually have to get a limited slip or viscous diff because winter driving will be a biatch without it. Plus, I think I'll have to replace the entire hatch, not just patch it up (because of the rust).

I need your help and opinion on whether this a good deal, will the replacement parts be cheap, will the car be reliable, and overall is it worth it? If this isn't really worth it, I'll probably get a late 90's civic or corolla a little later on (which will be $5000+).

This is what he states about the cars condition:

1990 240sx fastback 5spd, 217xxx km, original dark blue paint, no power options, sunroof had this car less then half a year and invested 1000ish into fixing it up. new clutch, rebuilt alternator, new fuel pump, new lower ball joints, new battery, new back tires, some after market muffler. thats all i can think of right now. car runs with no problem and i am currently driving it on the road right now. i have etest paper thats can be used still.

rust issue underbody 4/5(last i checked) exterior 3/5- driver side rear fender needs some attention and hatch has holes needs to be replaced. those 2 are the only major spots and a few lite rust spots nothing major.
underbody is pretty decent rockers decent no holes, strut tower some surface rust.i will try and get pics of the frame/underbody when i get a chance.

interior 3/5 average wear


Here are some pics of the car:
http://img198.exs.cx/img198/4536/back4ri.jpg
http://img198.exs.cx/img198/1774/front6ay.jpg
http://img198.exs.cx/img198/8900/front27at.jpg
http://img.asiantown.net/members/11131/front.jpg
http://img.asiantown.net/members/11131/front1.jpg
http://img.asiantown.net/members/11131/back.jpg
http://img.asiantown.net/members/11131/inter.jpg
http://img.asiantown.net/members/11131/240sx2.JPG

Under body:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/3cc3ntr1c/240/under4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/3cc3ntr1c/240/under3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/3cc3ntr1c/240/under2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/3cc3ntr1c/240/under1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/3cc3ntr1c/240/under.jpg

if you're ready to do the body work then i'd say buy it.. but offer $1500.. just to save yourself some money.. if you buy it make sure you give the underneath a good wash cause it'll start rusting very quickly with all that salt on it..

what scool do you go to?? i go to carleton in ottawa

if you're ready to do the body work then i'd say buy it.. but offer $1500.. just to save yourself some money.. if you buy it make sure you give the underneath a good wash cause it'll start rusting very quickly with all that salt on it..

what scool do you go to?? i go to carleton in ottawa

I'm debating on getting this now from a couple of responses from other forums. RWD will definatly suck in the winter and fixing the rust is gonna be expensive apparently.

I go to UW, and I do co-op, so commuting home on weekends from school and commuting to work during the work-term is why I really need the car (more for the co-op jobs).

go to www.socal240sx.com to check specs on stock engine for that year or any year. Ouch, dude doesnt even have the decency to wash the car to make it look attractive. Tells you how he took care of the car. hint hint.

very true.. go have a look at it and see if it actually drives well.. but if you're looking for a commuting car then don't buy a 240 cause like you said its a bitch to drive in the winter.. get an old subaru or somethin.. they're good beaters and have awd.. i'm only driving my 240 in the summer cause of the salt.. its getting to a point where if theres a little bit of rust, it'll turn into a whole lot of rust in a very short time..

so if you don't want to have the body work done then don't buy it. cause you'll be spending lots of time and money on just that, nevermind anything else..
i'd say give this dealership a call and try to pick it up for maybe $2200 cause its got 200,000kms..
http://www.trader.ca/CantonUsedCar/Default.asp?Trader=1&CAT=1&mknm=745&Region=-1&adid=4224561&dContact=516672&VLot=/CantonUsedCar&ADS=4224561%7C&SRVlot=1&SRslts=1&category=1&makeid=745&modelcode=18497&len1=0&len2=0&mknm=745&mdnm=240SX&Region=-1&subcategory=&alpha=
if they say the price is so high cause of the sound system then tell them you don't want it.. its not worth it..

and logik, that could be a possibility for you too.. swap in a new ka and you're good to go

Yeah, prolyl rusted out though, but I'd check it out, I'm looking at this other one, it's a white 91-93 hatch, 5speed, 96,000kms, never driven in the winter, all options, grey interior, but it's 6900, id offer like 5500, and it would be a sweet deal, the car would last forever since i would only drive it in the summer...

that is the worst case scenario hatch i have ever witnessed. Dont buy it if you dont feel like spending the cash.

chuki speaks words of wisdom.. and logik, that car sounds damn decent.. less than 100k is gold.. problem is starting with less money.. i'd find a car with no or shitty engine and good body, then working from zero.. throw in a new ka and boost it

Stay away from this one, it's crap. Spend extra grand and get a nice one.

Yeah im with Vyacheslav on that one, i personnaly own a 1990 240 and love it, but this one looks like a hunker so go with the extra dough and get a nice one.