Need Help: Narrowed It Down To 5...

Hi. I'm going to be getting a new car soon and I can't decide what to get so I was hoping that you guys could hopefully help me. I've got it narrowed down to 5 cars, a Honda CRX, a Nissan Z31T, a Fox Body Mustang, Honda Del Sol, or a Nissan 240SX. I'm not very good with cars so if possible I would like something that's pretty reliable that doesn't need to be babied. I don't want to spend to much, the ideal cost would be $5K or less. This isn't going to be for any serious racing in competitions or anything, just screwing around with friends from street light to street light. Which do you think would be the best car for me? Thank you.

fox body mustang for 5k is ur best bet from stop light to stop light

Thanks for the fast reply. I know that the Mustang isn't going to handle very well because that isn't what it's meant for but how bad is it? Also, what would you say is the 2nd best option? Also, if anyone else thinks differently, please say something. Thank you very much.

its not too bad at handling, i mean its not going to handle like the 240sx, but the 240sx is my 2nd option, its rwd also

Okay, thanks. Anyone else have an opinion?

Well, hondas are always reliable, but the crx and the del sol aren't going to be as fast as the mustang stock... but, if you want a car that doesn't need to be babied, then the Honda is for you.

Wanna go fast in a straight-line? The 5.0 Mustang is your car. Want a car that will handle very well? Go with the 240SX? Want a car that can go either way, depending on how you modify it? Get a CRX or Del Sol. Want a car with a bit more style and uniqueness? Z31T it is. All of these cars are very tough (not too sure about the Z31T, actually) and can take a lot of abuse with little maintenance, and are well-suited for stoplight racing/messing around in general.

Okay, thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to go with the 240SX for a couple of reasons: RWD (I know the Mustang is but I don't know about the others), it can be made to go fast whereas the Mustang would be harder to make handle well (Right?), the looks are pretty appealing to me, and it's reliable. Please tell me if I got anything wrong here but I think I'm going to go with the 97-98 240SX. Like this one here:

http://www.versionselect.com/images/tempura4.jpg

Mmmmmmmmmm...anyways, whats the most I should buy a good condition 240SX for? Thanks.

hey its ur money so i think u made a good choice, but i would of went with the mustang but the 240sx are nice cars

Yeah... 240sx's are hard to find... here's one i found on ebay, bone stock:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4551984937&category=6396

Well, to tell you the truth I'm not very fond of the Mustang looks, sorry. One more question, could someone explain the differences between the , 240SX, the 200SX, and the 180SX? A lot of the time they look the same to me and I don't know how they're different. Also, are the 200SX and the 180SX as good as the 240SX? Thanks.

180SX = Japanese market 240SX- has a different engines in different states of tune.

200SX = European market 240SX or a tarted up Sentra if you're in the US.

240SX= the car you were looking at.


Unless you intend to drift, stay away from the 240SX, it has no real advantage over a Honda.

mustangs can handle really well and there's a well beaten path to making them handle well, remember they were VERY successful road racing cars in the late 80's/early 90's.

The 200SX was also the American name for the S12 Silvia in the 1980's. Yay for confusion.

You can make a Fox Body 5.0 Mustang into a competitive road racer, but it's more difficult than it would be for a 1995-1998 240SX. The Fox Body chassis is not particularly well-designed, and the front suspension is one of the car's weak points, losing grip a bit too easily. Or maybe Ford designed it like that on purpose, knowing that the majority of Mustang owners would want more grip in the rear, for drag racing. Either way, the car isn't very agile and it has a problem with understeering. It's fixable, but if you're just looking for a quick street car that is easy to pilot through turns quickly, the 240SX is your car. You'll need an aftermarket turbo kit or a motor swap to have any chance of beating a 5.0 Mustang in a drag race, though.

Good luck finding a 97-98 S14 240sx for 5k or under

Ugh! Now I don't know what to get! :) What's the differences between the 200SX and the 240SX (Motors, interior, etc.)? I'm just asking because I've seen some 200SX's for pretty cheap. I guess I could always get an older 240SX, I've seen them under $5K. Anyways, if I can't find a 240SX for under $5K I still don't know what to get. I know the Mustang is the obvious choice but...something doesn't seem right about it for me. I really like the CRX and the Del Sol though. You guys said that those can be made to go either way (Power or handling) and I was just wondering, would it ever be able to compete with a Mustang in power or a 240SX in power? Thanks.

In America, the 200SX is a front-wheel-drive, two-door Sentra, produced between 1995 and 1998. It was also in production from 1991 to 1994, but it was known as the Sentra coupe, not the 200SX. It came with a 110-hp motor, or in SE-R trim, a 140-hp motor called the SR20DE. The 240SX, on the other hand, is rear-wheel-drive, and comes with a 155-hp motor called the KA24DE. It was produced from 1989 to 1994 (S13) and from 1995 to 1998 (S14). Don't worry about the Japanese models and engines yet.

Will a CRX or Del Sol ever be able to compete with a Mustang in terms of power? Not likely. I mean, you can make a 13-second street car out of a Honda just as easily as you can out of a Mustang, but if you wanna go much farther than that, the Mustang is the obvious choice. However, since you said, "This isn't going to be for any serious racing in competitions or anything, just screwing around with friends from street light to street light", the CRX or Del Sol should suit your needs just fine.

test drive a few cars and see what you like.

Okay, thanks. Yeah, this isn't going to be for anything serious so it will probably never have to be faster than a 12 second 1/4 mile, and that's the lowest I would probably ever have to go. I doubt I would need it to even be that fast. Anyways, would you still recommend the older model S13 240SX's versus the newer S14's? Are there any major differences besides the exterior? I think I'll probably go with an S13, S14 (If I can find one for under $5K), or a Honda Del Sol. Thanks guys!

You'd be very hard-pressed to find a decent condition S14 for under five thousand, but the S13 is still a perfectly fine car. The S14's slight handling advantage would most likely only become apparent on a race track anyways. The Civic Del Sol works fine too. Whatever you like :)

Okay, thanks. Just need to find a good priced Del Sol or S13. One final question, is the Del Sol RWD? I can't seem to find the stats for it anywhere. Thanks guys!

nope FWD

Oh, then I'm going to get the S13 for sure. Thanks guys!

ur welcome

You can find detailed stats, pricing guides, consumer reviews, and standard/optional feature lists for any car made since 1990 at www.edmunds.com

That's a very good site... edmunds, and also check out www.kbb.com for another accurate pricing guide and reviews, both quality and they helped me a lot when i was trying to find my used car.

whats all this talk about the 240sx??? seriously, its nothing special until you turbo the KA or drop in a JDM motor...and your talking money in alot of peoples cases. otherwise the car is just an average sporty economy car. not much to talk about in my opinion...

the Z31T is far superior to the 240sx in terms of everything except aftermarket. but with its smaller aftermarket, it can be modded well into the mid 13's VERY easily, under $1500 worth of mods. its about the same quickness as the 5.0 mustang in the 1/4 stock for stock. so whats the deal??? why is this car always shunned away in favor of the 240sx???

240sx - low 16's stock
Z31 N/A - low 16's stock
Z31 Turbo - high 14's stock to low 15's stock

No! Stop it! I had my mind made up! Aw man. Looks like I'm still undecided now. Does anyone else have an opinion on this matter?

isay crx. but hey its your car. think about gas mileage,reliability, and you said something about handling earlier (say what?) so what if its fwd. its not like your going to be putting out so much horsepower that youll have traction problems. plus crxs=cheap as hell.

but then im biased so dont listen to me

While its probably the least practical car on the list, i think the turbo Z is far and away the winner in the coolness and uniqueness factors hands down. But those things may not be meaningful to you.

whats all this talk about the 240sx??? seriously, its nothing special until you turbo the KA or drop in a JDM motor...and your talking money in alot of peoples cases. otherwise the car is just an average sporty economy car. not much to talk about in my opinion...

You answered your own question right there. He's not looking for a super-performance car, he's looking for a sporty car that is cheap to buy, and more importantly, cheap to own. You can't possibly tell me that a used turbo car from the 80's is going to be cheap to own.

On a side note, I've noticed that a few people on these forums, you and NISSANSPDR among them, tend to go straight to performance when comparing cars. Though that may be your highest priority, keep in mind that there are other things that people look for in a car. Everything has its price: if you want turbo performance and Z exclusivity, you're just going to have to pay for it, and with only five grand to spend, I don't think a Z31 Turbo is a wise investment.

Obviously, there are a lot of cars that you could consider buying. If you want rear-wheel-drive, the 240SX is probably your best bet, although there is also the Miata, if that's more to your liking. If you can forego rear-wheel-drive, then many more options open up. The Civic Del Sol is one of them; the 200SX SE-R and third generation Integra are others. That's not to mention the Prelude Si VTEC, Celica GT, Cavalier Z24, and Neon R/T. My point is that, if you're looking for a sporty yet economical car, well, there are a ton of them out there, and you're just going to have to find one that, at the end of the day, you will be happy to own. However, turbocharged cars from the 80's, and turbocharged cars in general, are something I would definitely stay away from. I wouldn't dare buy a used turbo car with only five grand to spend, because unless you are sure that the previous owner kept the car in pristine condition, you will have to spend money down the road to fix the car. Cars like the CRX and 240SX are popular choices in this segment, and for a good reason: they offer the most performance and best reliability for the least money. But whatever you do, before you buy a car, make sure of two things: you're not going to get sick of it anytime soon, and it's not going to end up costing more money than you have.

Quick question, I'm assuming RWD is better than FWD. Am I correct in assuming this? Thank.

thats a personal opinion question, i personally prefer rwd, but fwd can be fun

The FWD vs. RWD debate is long and complex, and I'm not gonna re-type it all here. In short, in mostly comes down to personal preference, as both have proven that they can be competitively fast.

Yeah, they both have their strengths and weaknesses... FWD cars are much better in the snow than RWD cars, which is a plus, and generally, they're easier to handle (although of course it depends on the car).

Well, thanks YodaGeek, I was just going to ask that. Anyways, now I really don't know what to get because that's one of the reasons I ruled the Del Sol out, I thought that RWD is better. So now I guess it's back to 4:

- Honda Del Sol
- Honda CRX
- Nissan 240SX
- Nissan Z31T

I think I'm actually going to not get the Z31T though after reading KMan's response because using common sense it does make sense. Obviously an older sports car is going to require more work and care. So it's probably back to 3, and I still can't decide!

Edit: I was just re-reading this thread and I saw KMan's post a couple posts back and he was listing a bunch of good FWD cars so now I'm really unsure of what to get. Oh yeah, I'm not going to be driving in snow since I live in California, don't know if that really makes a difference or not.

You answered your own question right there. He's not looking for a super-performance car, he's looking for a sporty car that is cheap to buy, and more importantly, cheap to own. You can't possibly tell me that a used turbo car from the 80's is going to be cheap to own.

On a side note, I've noticed that a few people on these forums, you and NISSANSPDR among them, tend to go straight to performance when comparing cars. Though that may be your highest priority, keep in mind that there are other things that people look for in a car. Everything has its price: if you want turbo performance and Z exclusivity, you're just going to have to pay for it, and with only five grand to spend, I don't think a Z31 Turbo is a wise investment.

Obviously, there are a lot of cars that you could consider buying. If you want rear-wheel-drive, the 240SX is probably your best bet, although there is also the Miata, if that's more to your liking. If you can forego rear-wheel-drive, then many more options open up. The Civic Del Sol is one of them; the 200SX SE-R and third generation Integra are others. That's not to mention the Prelude Si VTEC, Celica GT, Cavalier Z24, and Neon R/T. My point is that, if you're looking for a sporty yet economical car, well, there are a ton of them out there, and you're just going to have to find one that, at the end of the day, you will be happy to own. However, turbocharged cars from the 80's, and turbocharged cars in general, are something I would definitely stay away from. I wouldn't dare buy a used turbo car with only five grand to spend, because unless you are sure that the previous owner kept the car in pristine condition, you will have to spend money down the road to fix the car. Cars like the CRX and 240SX are popular choices in this segment, and for a good reason: they offer the most performance and best reliability for the least money. But whatever you do, before you buy a car, make sure of two things: you're not going to get sick of it anytime soon, and it's not going to end up costing more money than you have.


well i didnt fully explain my thought process, the Z31 is actually going to be about the same reliability as a 240sx...expecially when you start romping on the 240sx. i have a Z31 with a 170k miles on it, runs like new...starts eveytime. sat for 2 years, i put a new battery and fuel pump in it, started right up...though i dont have a good story, do some searching...go to Z31.com

the Z31T can last 300k miles plus with ease...it is the most reliable Z car ever built. and i would say that it is quite a bit more reliable than a 240sx from other peoples thoughts and posts.

i jump straight to performance alot of times because the cars are evenly matched otherwise. if your looking at an older car they are all gonna have reliablity issues. the hondas on this list are the most reliable, i will agree...but im sure if you took away all the performance of a Z31T, im sure it would be just as reliable. you cant really say soemthing is more reliable than something else, if your talking 2 different caliburs of cars. the Z31 holds its own against honda in the reliabilty department if well taken care of, and that shows alot of the cars build quality.

if i remember correctly, he wanted to stay under $5k...hell for $5k he can ahve a low mileage Shiro Edition Z31T w/ leather seats, low miles, and a few mods to put it down in the low 14 range.

if your looking for an older car with rarity, style, performance...id go with the Z31T. if your looking for a car with no performance in mind to get you to and from work get a the honda or the 240sx.

this shouldnt even be a fair comparo, but people are ignorant to the peformance and character of the Z31.

as for the FWD vs. RWD...if your into any kind of racing, RWD is almost always better. unless you are comparing a RSX type S to an old pick-up truck...this is why, when companies start building sportier cars they almost always make them RWD or AWD. its just better for performance...

well i didnt fully explain my thought process, the Z31 is actually going to be about the same reliability as a 240sx...expecially when you start romping on the 240sx. i have a Z31 with a 170k miles on it, runs like new...starts eveytime. sat for 2 years, i put a new battery and fuel pump in it, started right up...though i dont have a good story, do some searching...go to Z31.com

I don't doubt that a Z31T can last 300K miles, but with ease? I'm not so sure. It's not easy to keep a turbo engine that old in good shape, no matter how well it's built. And like I said, the majority of people who buy turbo cars don't really know how to properly take care of a turbo engine. As for the 240SX, they can take a HUGE beating. I've seen people who completely abuse the car - doing neutral drops, drifting constantly, and flooring it nonstop - and it still runs fine. One of my dumbass friends who has one didn't change his oil for 22,000 miles (and the car already had 116,000 on it), and it still runs well. You can't abuse an old turbo car that badly and expect the drivetrain to hold up at all, no matter how reliable it is.

as for the FWD vs. RWD...if your into any kind of racing, RWD is almost always better. unless you are comparing a RSX type S to an old pick-up truck...this is why, when companies start building sportier cars they almost always make them RWD or AWD. its just better for performance...

They both have their place. On small sport coupes with less than 200 horsepower (i.e. Peugeot 205, Integra Type R, Celica GT-S), I firmly believe that FWD is better for performance.

imagine how much better the integra type r would be if it was rear wheel drive.

I don't think it'd be any better at all. If you do, please explain why. It's not like the Integra Type R has any real understeer issues, and it carries more speed through turns than similar RWD cars because its driven wheels have more traction, so I don't see how RWD would be better for it.

imagine how much better the integra type r would be if it was rear wheel drive.
It'd be slower and it'd handle worse.

I don't doubt that a Z31T can last 300K miles, but with ease? I'm not so sure. It's not easy to keep a turbo engine that old in good shape, no matter how well it's built. And like I said, the majority of people who buy turbo cars don't really know how to properly take care of a turbo engine. As for the 240SX, they can take a HUGE beating. I've seen people who completely abuse the car - doing neutral drops, drifting constantly, and flooring it nonstop - and it still runs fine. One of my dumbass friends who has one didn't change his oil for 22,000 miles (and the car already had 116,000 on it), and it still runs well. You can't abuse an old turbo car that badly and expect the drivetrain to hold up at all, no matter how reliable it is.

actually, i would put money on the Z31T to last longer than the 240sx under extreme conditions...and they do last 300k miles with ease. im telling you, for some reason these motors and car last a very long time in good condition. you cant put all old turbo cars in the same category because they are all different. yes, i wouldnt expect a turbo DSM to last 300k miles but i do expect a Z31T to last that long. if i were to keep my Z31, i would EXPECT it to last 300k miles atleast. even if it were turbocharged...if you did some research on the car i think you would be a firm beliver too, instead of just saying because its turbocharged means it cant last long. so not true...

and in a general position RWD is better then FWD...yes an integra type R is a good handling fast car stock. but when you start getting into some serious performance numbers that FWD just isnt gonna cut it. there will always be exceptions but from a general position RWD is better than FWD for performance. once again, this is why car manufactures choose to make their most of their Performance cars RWD.

integra type R, civic, RSX, etc - FWD
NSX - RWD

Sentra spec V - FWD
350z - RWD

eclipse - FWD
EVO - AWD

focus - FWD
mustang/GT - RWD

cobalt - FWD
corvette - RWD

i think i am starting to see a pattern...:rolleyes:

It'd be slower and it'd handle worse.

for what its worth, when hot version was doing the touge battle. they had tuner shops bring in their shop cars to race on the mountain. keichi tsuchiya was praising how well balanced this DC2 type R was and it was an actual track car with no interior. they put that car against a mildly tuned S14 K with a full interior, and bolt ons, and suspension tweeks of course. tsuchiya was sure he was goin to win in the type R, but when the S14 was tailgating the type R and the more tsuchiya tried to push the type R harder, and harder, it started plowing harder and harder, and the S14 took it both on the uphill and the downhill with ease ( from cornering, not straightline )

please don't say tsuchiya can't drive becasue hes been racing for decades and has broken time attack records in japan and raced in the 24 hour leman and was leading his class, and raced JGTC500 and raced the toyota spec AE86 races and such. hes a.k.a the drift king.

Wow! Thanks for all of the replies now. I'm still really confused but surprisingly, the Fox Body Mustang looks is kind of growing on me, so it is becoming an option for me. The main thing I have against it is it's handling. I would like to know what it can and can't do? How well can it handle before it's too much? Can it take minor turns at decent speeds or is it meant for PURELY straight lines? Thanks.

^I think that the mustang can take turns fine, but then again my pickup out handles them...I say just test drive all the cars you can. Also what cars can you find in your area? Obviously if there are no 240's out there then you might go for the Mustang, or the other way around.

Wow! Thanks for all of the replies now. I'm still really confused but surprisingly, the Fox Body Mustang looks is kind of growing on me, so it is becoming an option for me. The main thing I have against it is it's handling. I would like to know what it can and can't do? How well can it handle before it's too much? Can it take minor turns at decent speeds or is it meant for PURELY straight lines? Thanks.

oh yeah, the fox body mustang's handling isnt horrible...it just isnt something that isnt all that praisable. you can always just swing the ass around to get around the turns. :)

actually, i would put money on the Z31T to last longer than the 240sx under extreme conditions...and they do last 300k miles with ease. im telling you, for some reason these motors and car last a very long time in good condition. you cant put all old turbo cars in the same category because they are all different. yes, i wouldnt expect a turbo DSM to last 300k miles but i do expect a Z31T to last that long. if i were to keep my Z31, i would EXPECT it to last 300k miles atleast. even if it were turbocharged...if you did some research on the car i think you would be a firm beliver too, instead of just saying because its turbocharged means it cant last long. so not true...

I don't think you're reading what I wrote properly. I know full well how strong the Z31T's motor is, and I don't doubt that it can last 300K miles, but (this is the important part) it's not going to be easy or cheap, and it's going to require more maintenance to get it and keep it in that kind of shape than the 240SX is. Certainly more than five grand.

for what its worth, when hot version was doing the touge battle. they had tuner shops bring in their shop cars to race on the mountain. keichi tsuchiya was praising how well balanced this DC2 type R was and it was an actual track car with no interior. they put that car against a mildly tuned S14 K with a full interior, and bolt ons, and suspension tweeks of course. tsuchiya was sure he was goin to win in the type R, but when the S14 was tailgating the type R and the more tsuchiya tried to push the type R harder, and harder, it started plowing harder and harder, and the S14 took it both on the uphill and the downhill with ease ( from cornering, not straightline )

Well, it's no secret that one of FWD's main cons is that it isn't meant for longer races. Since you have one set of tires doing two jobs, that set is going to wear out much quicker. I'm sure what happened is that the Type R's front tires started to overheat long before the S14's tires did, and therefore, it started falling behind. However, in shorter races, or races where you don't have to constantly push the car so hard, the Integra Type R is a champ. I'm sure that doing a few hot laps around, say, Tsukuba or Suzuka, an Integra Type R could keep pace with an S14 K's.

On a side note, it just dawned on me why MR is supposedly the best layout. What is FF's main advantage over FR? You have more weight over the driven wheels. What is FR's main advantage over FF? You have each set of wheels doing only one job. What is MR? A combination of both advantages. :)

Okay, thanks. I think I may go with the Mustang just one quick question. I noticed that the MPG is horrible (Something like 18) and I was wondering if there is someone to increase the MPG? I know that it's a sports car and that they're going to use lots of gas so it's completely understandable if there's no solution. I was just curious. Thanks.

I don't think you're reading what I wrote properly. I know full well how strong the Z31T's motor is, and I don't doubt that it can last 300K miles, but (this is the important part) it's not going to be easy or cheap, and it's going to require more maintenance to get it and keep it in that kind of shape than the 240SX is. Certainly more than five grand.


i dont think your reading what i wrote properly. :) i dont think a Z31T will cost anymore money than a 240sx in repairs...
all as you have to do is look through autotrader. everytime i look at autotrader i see...

240sx - good body, blown headgasket
240sx - great body, needs engine work
240sx - decent body, needs transmission work

Z31T - needs body work, runs great
Z31T - body OK, runs excellent
Z31T - needs body work, runs awesome

i think in the long run a Z31T is NOT gonna cost much more money, if at all, to maintain than a 240sx...and your getting a lot more car for the price.

right now, it would be hard to find a good conditioned 240sx at a decent price but on the other hand, beings the Z31T doesnt have bandwagon behind it...you can pick up a low mileage, great conidition...for about the same price as an average conditioned 240sx.

basically, i was just making the point that the Z31T should not be forgotten in favor of a 240sx. it should not even be put in the same category in my opinion...i love the 240sx to death but without a good chunk of money into the engine, it is nothing to talk or brag about.

Okay, thanks. I think I may go with the Mustang just one quick question. I noticed that the MPG is horrible (Something like 18) and I was wondering if there is someone to increase the MPG? I know that it's a sports car and that they're going to use lots of gas so it's completely understandable if there's no solution. I was just curious. Thanks.

there is nothing you can really do to increase MPG significantly...except keep your foot out of it. but 18mpg is about as good as it gets...

companies claim that intakes and other stuff increases MPG, like that tornado thing...but if it does increse MPG it is nothing that would leave extra money in your wallet.

Okay, thanks guys. Still trying to decide yet so nothing is final...

i think in the long run a Z31T is NOT gonna cost much more money, if at all, to maintain than a 240sx...and your getting a lot more car for the price.

Well, consider this. How many Z31Ts are there in the US? And how many 240SXs are there in the US? Which one has a bigger community and more aftermarket support? Though the Z31T's small community may enable you to find one for the same price as a 240SX, parts are harder to come by and more expensive, and there isn't as much information readily available about them. It's a lot easier to find a local 240SX meet than it is to find a local Z31 meet, that's for sure.

right now, it would be hard to find a good conditioned 240sx at a decent price but on the other hand, beings the Z31T doesnt have bandwagon behind it...you can pick up a low mileage, great conidition...for about the same price as an average conditioned 240sx.

I've seen many great condition S13s sell for $3,000 or less around here. The ones that you see with transmission or engine problems have been abused to hell, and shouldn't be selling for much more than $1,000. A lot of people will ask more than that to try to cash in the 240SX hype, but a smart buyer can get a great S13 for $3,000 easily.

basically, i was just making the point that the Z31T should not be forgotten in favor of a 240sx. it should not even be put in the same category in my opinion...i love the 240sx to death but without a good chunk of money into the engine, it is nothing to talk or brag about.

I'm glad that you love the 240SX to death, but unfortunately, I don't. I find the car pretty bland in comparison to other RWD sport compacts, such as the Miata, the MR2, and the RX-7. I'm just saying that it's the more sensible choice here, by far. He's looking for a fairly quick but still economical street car, not a sports car. You are right that the 240SX and Z31T are in different classes, and I believe that the 240SX is the class of car that he is looking for.

Well, consider this. How many Z31Ts are there in the US? And how many 240SXs are there in the US? Which one has a bigger community and more aftermarket support? Though the Z31T's small community may enable you to find one for the same price as a 240SX, parts are harder to come by and more expensive, and there isn't as much information readily available about them. It's a lot easier to find a local 240SX meet than it is to find a local Z31 meet, that's for sure.

yes, 240sx has by far a better aftermarket support...but it is still not gonna net you anything worth talking about with spending cash on a turboed engine or turboing the KA. and being able to meet up with a bunch of 240sx's around town is more of a reason to keep alot of us from buying that car. im sorry but i wouldnt buy a lesser car because thats what everyone else has.
also, in most areas there are Z meets...but yeah your right, your probably not gonna be able to meet up at a local mall parking lot and sit around and shoot the shit with a bunch of Z31 drivers like you will be able to with the 240sx.


I've seen many great condition S13s sell for $3,000 or less around here. The ones that you see with transmission or engine problems have been abused to hell, and shouldn't be selling for much more than $1,000. A lot of people will ask more than that to try to cash in the 240SX hype, but a smart buyer can get a great S13 for $3,000 easily.

exactly, $3000 is way overpriced for an S13, in my opinion...for $3000 you can get a good condition Shiro Z31. i wouldnt pay more than $1500 for an S13 when there are so many other cars out there you can get. hell, if you know what your doing, you could pick up a N/A Z32 or 3000gt for $5000.


I'm glad that you love the 240SX to death, but unfortunately, I don't. I find the car pretty bland in comparison to other RWD sport compacts, such as the Miata, the MR2, and the RX-7. I'm just saying that it's the more sensible choice here, by far. He's looking for a fairly quick but still economical street car, not a sports car. You are right that the 240SX and Z31T are in different classes, and I believe that the 240SX is the class of car that he is looking for.

hey i dont really know what he wants..i was just bringing to his attention that you can get more car for the same money.

and yes, if i was in his position, i would definitely be looking for a nice FC3S TII....but i dont think that is what he wants or needs at this point.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
with all this said, if i were in your shoes, i would get a Z31T but i think the best option, for you, may be the mustang. but that is only if they arent a dime a dozen in your area...some areas i go to i never see one and then in others i see many.

you can make the 5.0 a beast with minor upgrades...and if your not taking it to the track, it will handle just fine. parts are cheap, easy to find, and aftermarket is huge.

you also start out with alot more car. the only way i see this not being a good choice, is that iw will be hard to find one that hasnt had the shit ran out of it. which means there will be problems...but this car is so wide spread that i think you will be able to handle the cost of repairs pretty easy.

plus it is a good car to learn about cars...

Thanks guys. One quick question, K3, why would you be looking at the FC3S? I just want to make sure I've looked at all of the options and found which one is best for me.

I know why I'd be looking at it: because it looks awesome, handles phenomenally, and has an undeniably cool "uniqueness" factor, thanks to its 13B rotary engine. I also know why I'd never buy it: sky-high repair bills (unless you're able and willing to rebuild the entire engine yourself every 30,000 miles or so, and even then, parts are costly), iffy reliability and build quality (especially the electrical wiring and the interior bits), and too many rabid fanboys who don't understand the car in the least bit.

Okay, thanks. Yeah, I just thought I heard wrong at first because I also heard it was really unreliable. Thanks. I think I'm still at 3 cars, the 240SX, Z31T, and the Mustang. All of you guys proved some really good points so I still can't decide. I decided to make a thread for just those 3 cars. So...admins, feel free to lock this one.

Thanks guys. One quick question, K3, why would you be looking at the FC3S? I just want to make sure I've looked at all of the options and found which one is best for me.

i would be looking at a FC3S because of what kman said about the rareness, rarity, and track ability.

i would like to add that it can make tremendous amounts of power with little modification and it likes to be romped...

plus i have a couple other cars so i wouldnt need to worry about it being reliable. but i understand that you do need a reliable car...in that sense the FC3S would not be your best choice.

it will have minor problems here and there...i dont know about the engine being rebuilt every 30k miles but it doesnt last as long as most motors. you should probably expect to rebuild it every 100k...it last a little longer than the FD3S rotary but i wouldnt expect it to last much longer eventhough some people have them lasting 150k+.

what happened to the crx and the del sol? regardless of the drivetrain layout, the performance and reliablility of these cars cannot be denied. the crx is probably the lightest car of the aforementioned group and in being so woulds also have the greatest potential for a good power/weight ratio. its your car, but i think you do yourself a disservice by choosing a car strictly based on drivetrain layout.

Good point but it just seems that there are other options that are better at the moment. Oh yeah, Coheed and Cambria suck. :) I hate emo.

its not emo, and it doesnt mean jack. and i dont understand how anything could be a better option. crxs are cheap as hell, light as fuck, and have endless moddability. the only thing wrong with it is the fact that its fwd. sounds lame to me....