Wow - people can't seem to take a fair chunk of sarcasm mixed with fact around here... that or some people have an axe to drift...err... grind.
Let's do it this way:
N1smo180 - yeah, I did repeat myself a bit on the styling issue. There really aren't a lot of differences. The s14 has a slightly stiffer chassis, better brakes, much weaker springs, and bigger wheels w/ crappier tires. After early-92 (when the good cams died), there were no functional drivetrain differences. Hence, the difference b/n the two is mostly a matter of taste.
drift freaq-
1. If you are going to insult me, try to do it with comprehensible English.
2. Air bags save lives - even Ferraris have them.
3. s13 owners pay $300 for s14 seats, not the other way around. That's 1/2 the cost of "racing" reclinable buckets. There must be some reason... Having sat in both, I know the reason.
4. Mouse belts are a big issue - replacing them is illegal and will cause you to fail where there is an annual inspection. Not to mention that we are not talking about built cars or race cars, but newly bought street cars (ditto the seat point).
5. Dated styling is a purely aesthetic point. Some people might like brown and tweed. Some people might like the look of new cars. :shrug:
6. You're right - I didn't consider the prestige of being a drift car in Japan... but on that logic, the king-shit of all cars would be the AE-86. Are you going to tell me that is an optimum car chassis? A mid-80's COROLLA?!? The question wasn't "What is the leading drift car in Japan, now that all the 86's are rusted out?" The introduction of drift and the implication of why drifter's chose the s13 would be your bias leading you outside the question at hand to make an unrequested point. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sarcasm.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sarcasm:'>
7. Becuase I don't want to break the flow, posted below are the .jpg scans of C&D articles on the s13 and s14 (thanks to 240sx.org). Several hundred pounds heavier? You know that several is more than a couple, more than a few... usually 5 to 7 and up... hundred pounds. You might be right... IF YOUR S13 IS ON THE FVCKIN MOON. The s13 (w/ sohc) is rated at 2795 lbs. The s14...wait for it... 2860. Edmunds actually shows the '93 s13 SE hatch as *heavier* than a '95 s14.
8. Neither lays claim to "all out sports car" - but the s14 has better numbers in skidpad and braking (remember, same motor except '91 cams). Look at the C&D articles below. That isn't bias, it's fact. Proven, scientifically verifiable fact.
Honestly, I've got nothing against s13's outside of the styling. As noted above, they are VERY similar mechanically. The only real difference is chassis, looks and options. That said, the s14 has a better chassis and almost every option standard (which is nice unless you are building such a race car that those 15 lbs of electronics powering your windows, door locks, and mirrors is too much). If you've got money to get a nice s13 or a clapped s14, get the s13 if you like the looks. But between the two, my opinion - which I believe was the POINT of this thread - is that the s14 represents as good or better performance with more featrues, better potential, and not much difference in price. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>
dorifto freakideeki: When you start a flame with me, arm yourself with some facts. You came in here with nothing but unsupported opinion and personal preference - which would have been fine, as it was within the ambit of the topic. But using that to flame me? If you are going to flame - use facts. Bringing your research skills to this was like bringing a guitar to a gunfight - maybe entertaining, but not likely to get the job done.
Why do I bother? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/music.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':music:'>
oh yeah - as promised:
now go eat a fat one you misguided butt pirate