1997 240SX (write up)

[mxd6]

The 240 SX Nissan sports car hasn't been changed much in the past few years outside of some rounding-off exercises, the addition of a rear spoiler, parabola (squinty-type) headlights, new tail lights and...are you ready for this primo example of "ad talk"...it has REFRESHED FOG LIGHTS. If you know what that might be, please tell all of us. The car does still have the configuration of the extremely popular Z series that started with the racy 240Z.

The LE model is the top of the line with some special goodies such as all season tires, leather interior, leather wrapped steering wheel and trick road wheels.

All three 240SX models--base, SE, and LE--are powered by a 16 valve four cylinder 2.4 liter motor and while 0-60 of 7.8 seconds isn't bad you wonder a car like this...a true sporty car with sports car suspension doesn't have the 3 liter V6 motor found in the Quest.

The five speed manual transmission is very smooth and a four speed automatic is available. Suspension is 4-wheel independent multi-link set up with a big front stabilizer bar and a 15.9 mm rear stabilizer bar standard on the SE and LE models.

The LE goes over the curb at the Nissan dealership for $25,000 and it boasts a 28/22 fuel economy figure.

It has ABS, dual air bags and four-wheel disc brakes. It may not, in our opinion have the steam off the line that the sports car silhouette promises but it makes up for that in the handling department with a very precise feel in the corners and solid sports car-like highway ride.

Like all Nissans the 240SX has a three year/36000 mile warranty.

Factory options include:


Power sun roof
Limited slip differential
Overdrive automatic transmission
Power door locks, tilt wheel, 2 speed wipers, cup holder
CFC free air conditioner
four speaker stereo
Cruise control

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel

[mxd6]

Comparison Tests

1997 Honda Prelude vs. 1997 Mazda MX-6 vs. 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse vs. 1997 Nissan 240SX

Everyday is a Winding Road
By Greg Anderson and John Davis and Christian Wardlaw and B. Grant Whitmore
Date Posted 10-21-2000


Ahh, to be young and own a sport coupe. Well, just to drive a sport coupe comes in a close second, and that's exactly what four editors from Edmund's decided to do on our recent business trip to California. What better way to spend one's free time than cruising around in fun, fast two-seaters? Okay, technically they're all two-plus-two seaters, but let's be honest. The "plus-two" designation means "plus a two-year old." And there are strict regulations against forcing adults into sitting behind the front seats of a sport coupe. But four drivers in four different cars means that nobody even had to sit in the passenger's seat, and an equation like this is mathematical: four divided by four equals one good time.

Sure, business meetings become all the more laborious, staring out the window at beautiful blue skies, knowing that the freeway is running smoothly at 10 am, and that the remainder of the day will be spent indoors wearing a jacket and tie while four shining new car-like rockets sit unattended in the parking lot. But after work, watch out: a fun-to-drive car provides an emotional release so satisfying that after a spin around the block, you'll be tempted to smoke a cigarette.

For this comparison test, we decided to obtain four Japanese sport coupes. Japan is not leading the sporty car segment, but access to Japanese test cars in Denver is limited, so our selection was natural. We selected four distinct cars that all compete for the attention of consumers looking for something in the $25,000-$30,000 range. Consumers who want something practical, yet who are not quite ready to give up their youthful self-image on the purchase of a sedan. Sport coupes fill this niche: they're not impractical wallet-stealing sports cars, and they're not the strict family-oriented cars that real grown-ups drive. They're flexible. So we chose a flexible mix: one front-wheel drive Mazda MX-6 LS V-6, one (ATTS-enhanced) front-wheel drive Honda Prelude SH, one all-wheel drive Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX, and one rear-wheel drive Nissan 240SX SE. Hey, variety is the spice of life.

In any comparison, there may be discrepancies which will tend to favor one car over another. For example, our Mazda MX-6, unlike any of the others, and contrary to our request, came attached to an automatic transmission. To enthusiasts, automatics never offer the same satisfaction as plowing through the gearbox the old-fashioned way, but we kept that fact in consideration when scoring the objective "fun-to-drive" rating on our comparison worksheets. Remember: there are no objective tests, only objective answers. Or is that "objectionable?" With that in mind, read on for an emotional, opinionated and completely unfounded comparison of four cars and why we liked them all.

In alphabetical order, let's start with the Honda Prelude Type SH. For 1997, the Honda preview car brings us the wonder of ATTS (Active Torque Transfer System). This system is no gimmick. It works. As far as we can tell, some magical pixie dust determines the degree and velocity of a turn while cornering, and torque is transferred to the wheel that needs it most. The outside wheel usually needs this sort of help, so ATTS allows it to spin faster than the inside wheel, and thus makes the turn as smooth as Fred Astaire. Honda must be Japanese for "genius." The portion of our test loop from Santa Paula to Carpinteria consisted of some of the twistiest roads in Southern California, and the Prelude consistently held its own. I had to keep shaking my head to clear it of the feeling that I was playing the Road & Track video game "Need for Speed." The Prelude seems to steer the road. It's always perfectly balanced, giving the driver the feeling of total control.

Problems with this car are few but weighty. Tall people are unable to find a comfortable seating position due to missing headroom and a steering wheel that won't meet you half way. Another significant problem is this car's styling. If you don't judge a book by its cover, the Prelude will give you years of joy. But really, can't anybody just make a good-looking car anymore? Why rip off the headlights from the SLK? It looks like last year's Prelude is now backwards, with the triangular lights moving to the front, and the sleek aerodynamically designed lights moving to the rear. It boggles the car as well as the mind. And on the inside, the Prelude takes the opposite effect by trying to bore us to death. This is supposed to be a revolutionary car, right? A taste of things to come? The only revolution likely to come of the new design is the consumer indifference to the Prelude's recycled parts and ideas. (Note: consumer indifference is accompanied by what Ross Perot describes as "a giant sucking sound.")

Then again, can this new design grow on you, or will it always look "cutesy?" Love it or leave it, when you're driving, at least, all that matters is the feel. And for people of normal height, the Prelude is worth a trip down to the local Honda dealer for a fitting of your own.

Next on the list is the Mazda MX-6 LS. We love how this car looks. Exhibiting pure grace is rare for a sport coupe, yet the Mazda pulls it off. Simplicity of design goes a long way in making a car attractive, and rounded edges never go out of style. Thinking about sticking with one car for the next ten years? This is the one you want. Just don't plan on fitting anyone in the back seats, because the MX-6 has the worst rear headroom in the group.

Noticeable problems in our MX-6 were at least obvious. The air conditioning system leaked into the passenger-side of the cabin, as I discovered while recovering my soggy 300mm camera lens from the floor carpet. That's not good. An orange-peel texture appearing on otherwise beautiful paint is another sign of cheap parts, and one that can not be overlooked.

Though the slowest accelerator of the bunch, the MX-6 keeps up well on the highway. Through our curvy-road test, the car performed surprisingly well, though it was forced to plow into turns rather than take them on gracefully.

The Mazda's suspension is more forgiving than any of the others, and our leather-lined tester provided the most comfortable front-passenger ride of the bunch. There's plenty of stretching space. And if you want to carry anything in the trunk, accommodations are available for four golf bags, or several humans. John Davis decided to give the immense trunk a close inspection, and we locked him inside for the claustrophobia portion of the road test. If you're a mob hitman, or a drive-in movie body-smuggler, this is the car for you.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX is all about performance. One look at that bulging hood lets the innocent bystanders know that you're carrying heat. And it ain't just for show. The GSX gives away nothing when it comes to performance. 0-60 in 7 seconds, 210 bhp, a super-slick .29 Cd, and an exhaust note that simply growls are all indicative of one mean machine. The interior is also most like a sports car, with a driver-centered cockpit providing a near-perfect driving position.

Where the Eclipse goes wrong is also in its design. Rearward visibility is nil, unless your cataracts distort the lumpy rear glass back into shape. A huge spoiler doesn't help matters, and from the rear, this car is an enormous expanse of (choose your color) paint. It's a good thing you don't need to look into the rearview mirror too often, or the visibility issue would certainly be a problem. Our only concerns surfaced when forced to gaze back in parking lots, and backing up at night. The two reverse lights apparently function, but the driver will never know because a person must be seated inside the car to actually put it in reverse. The other nagging concern with the Eclipse's huge butt is that to carry home any groceries, you must first hoist them over a very high rear deck, then drop them into a very deep trunk. That won't feel good on the next trip to the chiropractor.

Steering in the GSX feels overly assisted, and at the loftier reaches of this car's speed, the steering wheel becomes light and a bit touchy. Nervous steering makes for nervous driving. We also had some trouble with the gearbox during freeway downshifts, so we wouldn't recommend relying on the engine to slow down. One notchy shifter is all it takes to ruin an otherwise pleasurable life.

For speed and acceleration, try out the Eclipse. It's fun, it's fast, it's even capable of handling icy roads, unlike the volume leading Ford Mustangs or Chevrolet Camaros. For a year-round daily driver, the GSX is hard to beat.

More suited for warm weather is the car that goes from its rear wheels, a la "true" sports cars. The Nissan 240SX SE gets its name from...well, a number. While the name is unimaginative, the styling is at least different. A snarling front end and pinched-up side skirts give the 240SX the demeanor of a pouncing wildcat when viewed from the right angle. When viewed from most angles, however, it's unremarkable. The most interesting feature about this car is, sadly, a styling gimmick. The instrument panel faces are white, and at night, they become black with white numbers. Not exactly thrilling for the performance seekers out there, but I only promised "interesting."

On the plus side, the 240SX is fun to drive. The steering, while not as precise as the Prelude, feels commanding on winding roads. While not as fast as the other cars in this comparison, the 240SX can still take you to the century mark with reasonable stability. Unfortunately, rear-wheel drive performance is hampered by the lack of horses under the hood, and the 240's four cylinder, 2.4-liter engine puts out a relatively tame 155 bhp, the lowest of the bunch.

More points must be taken off of the Nissan for ergonomics, or the lack thereof. The suspension lacks any cushion, and this combined with the lack of headroom for six-footers means that you better expect a sharp bang on the head when traveling over potholes. Our test car came with a slide-in sunroof, and, speaking from experience and one terrific headache, the lost headroom is not worth a view of the sun. Interior design problems are capped off with the annoyance of a huge leg-jabbing emergency brake handle that is painfully located on the driver's side of the center console.

On the whole, the Nissan 240SX SE made up for its shortcomings by its sense of spirit. It made up for its low power by handling with accuracy, and its rather drab appearance is at least constructed with quality materials. Not one squeak inside, where our chief complaint was the wobbly gearshift. Too bad it has to make up for so much. If you have plenty of newly paved roads between the house and the office, this car may not be a bad choice.

To owners of any of these cars, getting there is half the fun. With the end of the day comes the satisfaction of knowing that the trip home will be a chance to unwind. They're flexible cars that can pull double-duty as a weekend joy-ride and as everyday transportation. Compared to American sports coupes like the Camaro and Mustang, the Japanese cars offer less muscle (hence fewer speeding tickets), more versatility (in case another member of the family could arrive any time soon), and much better handling. So be careful--purchase one of these, and you might be mistaken for a grown-up.

I'll still take my 97 240 any day!

[mxd6]

Comparison Tests

1997 Honda Prelude vs. 1997 Mazda MX-6 vs. 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse vs. 1997 Nissan 240SX

The Results - Greg Anderson
By Greg Anderson and John Davis and Christian Wardlaw and B. Grant Whitmore
Date Posted 10-21-2000



4. Nissan 240SX SE
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" is the question I’d ask of this car if I were in the habit of talking to cars. Since I’m not, I guess I’ll continue to soliloquize. The 240SX is having an identity crisis. It doesn’t know if it should try to be more like the 300ZX, which is now on the endangered species list, or if it should forget the sporty image altogether and go with a more Infiniti-like luxury appeal. It looks like the Nissan marketing department is going to try for luxury, since this car fails at sporty. Sure, the modified design looks more aggressive than previous models, but it performs with the same lame engine as the old version. And since 1993, America has been without the beloved hatchback option, giving owners an even lower resale value, and potential buyers even less reason to buy. Since Nissan isn’t listening to buyer demands, you’re better off shopping somewhere else.

3. Mazda MX-6 LS V-6
Here’s where it gets tricky. Each of these top three cars were within inches from each other, but the cut has to be made somewhere. The MX-6 is a fine car. Its gorgeous style, refined behavior, and ample interior dimensions are all plusses. In fact, the only area that cost this car the number-one position is quality. When water floods the passenger-side floor, something is not being built right. And the paint on this car exhibited strange bubbling that would probably flake off within a short time. Otherwise, the MX-6 is probably a good buy, unless you consider that, to quote ourselves, "the mechanically-identical Ford Probe GT, loaded with every option (including power sunroof, leather, ABS, and automatic) runs about two grand less than a base MX-6, and offers the utility of a hatchback with an expansive cargo area..." Just make sure to opt for the standard transmission to take better advantage of these six cylinders of low-end torque.

2. Honda Prelude Type SH
It handles better than any of the competitors. It’s faster than all but one. And the ABS probably saved my life. So what’s wrong? It looks ridiculous. "Oooh, can I have the Accord interior on that demented Mercedes SLK body?" Sure, the horsepower is available, but 195 hp can only be squeezed out at 7000 rpm, and I wouldn’t want to have to wind my engine up all the time to enjoy it. What’s a replacement VTEC go for? On the other hand, Honda has the reputation for long-term quality, so who knows? The engine might last forever. But I guarantee the styling won’t.

1. Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX (gag me!)
Performance: Fastest to 60 by a long shot (4/5 of a second), 210 hp at 6000 rpm, and more than enough headroom for a 6’5" frame. And the sound system rocks. This car is simply a great value with all of the comfort and built-in extras, and it even looks cool. Of course, not everything about the Eclipse is a joy: a blurry rear window, unmarked service points under the hood, and a high lift-over to reach the cargo area represent some needed areas of improvement. And body roll that made us slow down in the turns didn’t cause any smiles, but you won’t race this car in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb anyway. For all-weather fun that simply outperforms the competition, the GSX fits the bill. As its name suggests, the Eclipse just overshadows the rest.
- G. Anderson

[Chuki_breath]

wow i bet a 240 with hicas blows a crappy prelude outta the water on handling!!!!!!!!(never driven a prelude but i have hicas and all i have to say is holy cornering batman!) or did later year 240's not have that option? and as far as the paragraph in red are u joking????? identity crisis???? and a new 240 with a hatch option would prolly be fugly as all hell!!!! engine is lame but has potential. and i dont see how it fails at sporty looks either. Id say its the sportiest out of that bunch!!??? plz show me y these people thought this way so i can see their point of veiw(Drugs maybe?). AS far as shopping somewhere else are u joking. Honda/ Mitsu whahhahahahahah pointless if u ask me. unless u need a grocery getter or u deliver pizzas. Maybe if it was a nsx or fto. but other than that waste of time. Best japanese cars to me are nissan/infiniti(s13 family,skylines,s15,r390gt1 roadcar), toyota/lexus(soarer is the heat), and mazda.
i know that article was posted as of 10-21-2000
as far as buyer demands.....i know late 90's and early 2000's were bad in the sporty department for nissan....but sweet ass cars take time to develope....... 350z and g35!!!!!!!!!! point set and match.
g35 would be my choice out of those.
thats how i feel on the comparison tests of 10-21-2000
as u can see i disagree with the red paragraph.
i have never heard such negative comments about this sweet ass car or company so it made me kinda pissed.

[publicenemy137]

our 240's aren't perfect, and it's all just preference.

[J SPEC SilEighty]

that's alot more reading than i'm trying to do right now...