Nissan 240SX - better than 944?
01-24-2002, 12:30 PM
#16
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Forget the numbers. Driving a porsche is kewl!!! who cares about the rest. I can drive a cheap old jalopy that says porsche and people think im kewl. driving a 240 is like driving a camry it screams mommy mobile.
i drove by a cop the other day and he knew i meant business cuz i was in a porsche.
i drove by a cop the other day and he knew i meant business cuz i was in a porsche.
01-24-2002, 07:43 PM
#17
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The 240 is a descent car.
I have both, and I love my 944 much more than the 240. The only good thing about the 240 is you can get parts at most parts stores. The seats in the 240 unless you get one with the limited package are bad, very narrow and hard.
Handling in the 240 is reasonable, but I have found it to have considerable body roll in hard cornering. To get it even near my 944, it needs to be lowered a few inches, strut tower braces, larger anti-sway bars, and possibly a roll cage.
Oh, parts on a 240 are not always cheaper than Porsche parts.
As for engine work, the earlier ones late 80's-90 had leaky injectors, and the timing chain is tensioned by oil pressure (on startups flop, flop flop goes the chain)... The chain need to be replaced every 70-100,000 miles.
I gave my 240 to my mother, she only drives about 70 miles a week. My 944 I drive between 400-600 miles a week. Needless to say I am working more on the 240 than my 944 per mile driven. Oh and the 944 gets better gas mileage.
For information on 240's goto 240sx.org they have a lot of info, much like PCA.
I have both, and I love my 944 much more than the 240. The only good thing about the 240 is you can get parts at most parts stores. The seats in the 240 unless you get one with the limited package are bad, very narrow and hard.
Handling in the 240 is reasonable, but I have found it to have considerable body roll in hard cornering. To get it even near my 944, it needs to be lowered a few inches, strut tower braces, larger anti-sway bars, and possibly a roll cage.
Oh, parts on a 240 are not always cheaper than Porsche parts.
As for engine work, the earlier ones late 80's-90 had leaky injectors, and the timing chain is tensioned by oil pressure (on startups flop, flop flop goes the chain)... The chain need to be replaced every 70-100,000 miles.I gave my 240 to my mother, she only drives about 70 miles a week. My 944 I drive between 400-600 miles a week. Needless to say I am working more on the 240 than my 944 per mile driven. Oh and the 944 gets better gas mileage.
For information on 240's goto 240sx.org they have a lot of info, much like PCA.
01-24-2002, 10:18 PM
#18
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Even though I think this is a wasted post in terms of saying new things I think I would take the Porsche 944 stock over a lot of sports cars upto Aus$20,000 dearer.
For example a WRX, Supra or RX-7 may go quicker and that's good, but if anyone who owns one of these cars tells me that I simply tell them I don't want a WRX, I don't want a Supra and I don't want an RX-7. It's a Porsche and everyone digs that about the car.
Even now people I know will walk straight past the quicker cars in a parking lot and stop at mine and ask me how the car is going, because it's not all about speed and handling but also looks and heritage.
And maybe the WRX will have heritage in 50 years and people will look back at the old WRX's and say it was a good start to the heritage, or maybe in ten years they'll be worth less than a same year auto Camry wagon.
That's why some may buy the 240sx for it's speed and handling, but they won't end up with a Porsche they'll end up with a 240sx.
Sam.
For example a WRX, Supra or RX-7 may go quicker and that's good, but if anyone who owns one of these cars tells me that I simply tell them I don't want a WRX, I don't want a Supra and I don't want an RX-7. It's a Porsche and everyone digs that about the car.
Even now people I know will walk straight past the quicker cars in a parking lot and stop at mine and ask me how the car is going, because it's not all about speed and handling but also looks and heritage.
And maybe the WRX will have heritage in 50 years and people will look back at the old WRX's and say it was a good start to the heritage, or maybe in ten years they'll be worth less than a same year auto Camry wagon.
That's why some may buy the 240sx for it's speed and handling, but they won't end up with a Porsche they'll end up with a 240sx.
Sam.
01-25-2002, 03:11 AM
#19
Race Director
Originally posted by scular:
<STRONG>The chain need to be replaced every 70-100,000 miles.</STRONG>
<STRONG>The chain need to be replaced every 70-100,000 miles.</STRONG>
The chains will last longer than the car will. I disassembled 3 SR20DE(T) engines and have inspected the chains of several others (probably 10-20). All of them had over 100k miles and most a lot more. They show no visible wear and are not stretched. Granted, the SR20DE is not the same as the KA24DE, but the chains are from the same source.
01-25-2002, 03:20 AM
#20
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The 240SX is a good car. If you want one and want a great car, install an SR20DET engine in it. That is the engine the S13 and S14 (platforms) came with in Japan. They are reasonably cheap and readily available.
I have a few friends who have the 240SX and really like it. In fact, a friend of mine is building a turbo SR20DE for his S14 240SX.
Regarding the quality, I can't specifically say for the 240SX, but I own two Nissans of the same vintage (a 91 Sentra SE-R and a 91 G20 with an SR20DET) and they are fantastic cars. They have required almost no maintenance. I have owned the SE-R since new in March of 91.
If you want a good solid car the 240SX is a great car. With a SR20DET you can embarrass many a 951. Of course, the 240SX doesn't have the snob appeal.
I have a few friends who have the 240SX and really like it. In fact, a friend of mine is building a turbo SR20DE for his S14 240SX.
Regarding the quality, I can't specifically say for the 240SX, but I own two Nissans of the same vintage (a 91 Sentra SE-R and a 91 G20 with an SR20DET) and they are fantastic cars. They have required almost no maintenance. I have owned the SE-R since new in March of 91.
If you want a good solid car the 240SX is a great car. With a SR20DET you can embarrass many a 951. Of course, the 240SX doesn't have the snob appeal.
01-25-2002, 10:29 AM
#21
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This reminds me of the Rolex/Timex debate I see once in a while. Sure, a $30 Timex quartz watch may keep better time--but I'll take my old Rolex Submariner over it any day, any time!
It's called pride of ownership. And for me, Porsche invokes it--Nissan (Datsun) doesn't!
It's called pride of ownership. And for me, Porsche invokes it--Nissan (Datsun) doesn't!
01-28-2002, 12:30 AM
#22
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240SX vs 944?
I have both. A '92 240SX and a '87 944S. Both have been driven alot and both are nice cars. We autocross the Nissen and plan to run the 944S some this year. The nissan has been trouble free, runs good, and handles pretty good as well but tends to body roll and push quite a bit unless you are hard on the gas.
The Porsche has about the same lower and midrange power and a good bit more once the tach sweeps past about 4K. From 5K on up the 944S will just stomp the crap outta the little 240SX. Handling is not even close. The Porsche will eat the 240 alive. The twistier the better as the better handling and better brakes start to shine.
In the lower gears the Nissan is close in 1st & 2nd due mostly to lower gearing. On top-end the nissan is electronically limited to about 110 mph. At that speed the Porsche is just starting to feel good in 4th gear and will willingly pull all the way up to about 140 & change. Cost of maintenance is a good bit higher on the 944 and it has required a good bit more attention but is currently in perfect mechanical shape. Neither car uses oil after over 100K mi.
A few months ago, a guy in a 240SX came up behind me at a light for a turn onto an on-ramp. My Porsche was in need of a tune-up and was not running as good as it does now. Anyway, he was pushing me hard down the ramp so, as I short shifted to 2nd,I opened up the 944 to see what he had. I pulled him a car length in 2nd and when I shifted to 3rd, just wasted the Nissan, pulling a good 4-5 car lenths, shifted to 4th and pulled him some more til we let off as we entered town and a 35 mph zone coming up fast.
As I cruised through town (at legal speeds), he took another route on a parallel street. As our two streets merged again, he was a couple of car lengths ahead of me. Well, he tromped the 240SX, black crap rolled out of his exhaust as his must have hit the rev limiter in a lower gear, meanwhile, I gave a right signal and pulled into the parking lot where we were attending a youth ballet performance, smiling all the way.
I have both. A '92 240SX and a '87 944S. Both have been driven alot and both are nice cars. We autocross the Nissen and plan to run the 944S some this year. The nissan has been trouble free, runs good, and handles pretty good as well but tends to body roll and push quite a bit unless you are hard on the gas.
The Porsche has about the same lower and midrange power and a good bit more once the tach sweeps past about 4K. From 5K on up the 944S will just stomp the crap outta the little 240SX. Handling is not even close. The Porsche will eat the 240 alive. The twistier the better as the better handling and better brakes start to shine.
In the lower gears the Nissan is close in 1st & 2nd due mostly to lower gearing. On top-end the nissan is electronically limited to about 110 mph. At that speed the Porsche is just starting to feel good in 4th gear and will willingly pull all the way up to about 140 & change. Cost of maintenance is a good bit higher on the 944 and it has required a good bit more attention but is currently in perfect mechanical shape. Neither car uses oil after over 100K mi.
A few months ago, a guy in a 240SX came up behind me at a light for a turn onto an on-ramp. My Porsche was in need of a tune-up and was not running as good as it does now. Anyway, he was pushing me hard down the ramp so, as I short shifted to 2nd,I opened up the 944 to see what he had. I pulled him a car length in 2nd and when I shifted to 3rd, just wasted the Nissan, pulling a good 4-5 car lenths, shifted to 4th and pulled him some more til we let off as we entered town and a 35 mph zone coming up fast.
As I cruised through town (at legal speeds), he took another route on a parallel street. As our two streets merged again, he was a couple of car lengths ahead of me. Well, he tromped the 240SX, black crap rolled out of his exhaust as his must have hit the rev limiter in a lower gear, meanwhile, I gave a right signal and pulled into the parking lot where we were attending a youth ballet performance, smiling all the way.
01-28-2002, 12:47 AM
#23
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[quote]Originally posted by Danno:
<strong> But now I'm leaning towards a 914 with an RX-7 TwinTurbo motor!</strong><hr></blockquote>
AWESOME! I have wanted to put some sort of small displacement turbo charged screamer in a 914. THE 914 is ugly, but feels great to drive. Just needs a 911 slant nose and a wide body..interior enhancements. Just need to beef up the transaxle.
<strong> But now I'm leaning towards a 914 with an RX-7 TwinTurbo motor!</strong><hr></blockquote>
AWESOME! I have wanted to put some sort of small displacement turbo charged screamer in a 914. THE 914 is ugly, but feels great to drive. Just needs a 911 slant nose and a wide body..interior enhancements. Just need to beef up the transaxle.
03-15-2010, 01:47 AM
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ok so.......
I just sold my track ready, and unfortunately daily driven 240. I have to admit, I was sad to see it go. But that was only because of the emotional attachment / memories.
I rebuilt a 1.8 turbo motor and dropped it in. Learned to drift in it, and im not talking donuts and burnouts. I mean 3rd gear 60mph initiations. And I would not have met my wonderful girlfriend had i not owned a 240. Long story, but its true. Towards its final days, i just got tired of it.
That being said, I love my 83 944. Much more solid than the 240, even though the 944 is still fully stock. I miss the tein coilovers, but that could just be because i found them on a junkyard car for 125 bucks! Over all, they are 2 different cars with different pros and cons. If you really want more info, pm me.
I just sold my track ready, and unfortunately daily driven 240. I have to admit, I was sad to see it go. But that was only because of the emotional attachment / memories.
I rebuilt a 1.8 turbo motor and dropped it in. Learned to drift in it, and im not talking donuts and burnouts. I mean 3rd gear 60mph initiations. And I would not have met my wonderful girlfriend had i not owned a 240. Long story, but its true. Towards its final days, i just got tired of it.
That being said, I love my 83 944. Much more solid than the 240, even though the 944 is still fully stock. I miss the tein coilovers, but that could just be because i found them on a junkyard car for 125 bucks! Over all, they are 2 different cars with different pros and cons. If you really want more info, pm me.
