help me...240sx or GSX?

[LOwrestling2001]

Hi,
i got my turbo integra stolen recently, so i'm looking into a new car. Basically, i have come down between two cars...240sx (with sr20det swap, suspension and what not) or an eclipse GSX. Now i understand there might be some bias this being a 240 forum, but try not to be if u can. I honestly think a 240sx will outhandle a gsx, but how much worse in handling is a gsx? 240sx = good handling, good potential as an overall car, pretty ugly though and the interior isn't too hot. GSX = ?? handlin??, very very good power potential, comfortable, and i think it looks decent. I plan to hit up the road course often like i did before, and i'm lookin for the superior track car. let's see ur opinions. also, assume that for suspension they would have similar setups (can't compare apples to oranges)...either nimble light rwd...or awd turbo monster..haha

[logo20]

it's hard to answer your question because you didn't tell what the year of the cars you're comparing. I will assume 95-98 240, and 96-99 eclipse. if you go for the 240 you gonna be spending more money to make very fast. About handling, I drove a gst, it handle pretty goood but not as fun as my 240.
And to say this about a 240 is just wrong "pretty ugly though and the interior isn't too hot"

[SR240SXT]

Well, a GSX is real nice, but it is so rare to find a decent one for sale. It seems to me that nissan makes a lot better products than mitsubishi, but thats an opinion. As far as handling, the 240 had a 50/50 weight distribution ratio, can't get any better than that, but I'm not sure how the AWD setup on the GSX compares to it. Assuming you want a 97-98, you could probably get the car and the swap for the same price as a stock GSX of the same year or a little newer. At that point they would probably perform the same in the 1/4, in the 14's I believe. I know I'm showing my bias when I say I think a 97-98 240 looks better all around and has more presence than a GSX, but I had to throw it in there. As far as suspension goes, I heard the eclipses are a bitch to get a good suspension setup on there, and they cost tons of money. Another thing, if you got a GSX, you could never peel out, never drift, or anything like that. 240s can do that all day long. Just something to think about, hope I helped some.

[LOwrestling2001]

good replies guys lets get some more hehe...
well yea...for a 240 i was lookin at a 95 because it'd cost like 5-6 G's...then swap the motor, fuel management, FMIC and all that junk and turn up the boost, then i'd have to toss on some like JICs hehe and azenis. That would end up costing well a good i'd say 13 thousand? w/o exact calculations...oh about the interior, i guess it's just cuz it's an older car, i dunno hehe. i like the look of the 97-98 s14s, but just not worth the money when i could toss on an s15 front.

a gsx...i'd want a 97+ (bodystyle)...and yea i just question the car's handling ability, cuz dsm's are so cheap to make fast and awd power. yea i want to learn drift but certainly not a priority, i just want a good handling car...and i've heard so much junk about DSMs and their crappy handling, but at the same time i've also heard gsxs w their awd handle well.

good point about the 50/50 weight distrib ratio...and the 240 is a lot lighter, i'm just wondering how much more nimble it is than the gsx...considering that the gsx, for the money, will out run the 240 on the straights.

[West]

Hmmm... actually do a search Its been covered before by me and many others.

[-E-]

one thing you should know is that Mitsubishi's have weak transmisions. I had two Mitsubishi's and both times I had to change the transmisions just something you should know

[thelinja]

On the subject of handling, the GSX isn't all that great, I've seen a few in action at both of the autox's I went to last fall and I was hardly impressed, sure they were fast on the straights, but they did horrible in slaloms and hairpins, too much understeer. They were getting spanked by NA RX-7's and several other V6 american RWDs. I was at the same corner working with the guy that owned a GSX. He was in STX and said his car would run high 12's at the track, but his car wasn't that great for autox, he had eibach suspension too. So I'd say the 240SX outhandles the GSX. And if you think the 240SX is ugly, then why do you want one? I got mine because I thought it was one of the hottest cars I have ever seen. And if you do get the SR motor, the GSX will NOT outrun the 240SX on the straights.

EONE's right too, I believe the Trannies are actually made by Hyundai, at least the 3000GT tran is..

[LOwrestling2001]

well i want the 240 mostly cuz of 50/50 weight distribution, RWD...good potential...and when i'm inside the car i don't see the outside anywayz i would consider slappin on an s15 front tho i like how those look hehe (but that'd be the last thing). i guess i was just questioning myself, but it looks like i'll be goin w a 240...but still more opinions and suggestions are always welcome.

[/etc/shadow]

DSM cars are horrible for reliability. Be prepared to spend all your money repairing it.

Besides, I'm not sure where people are managing to find ways to increase the car's power without a tank of nitrous. I was under the hood of a GST the other day... the turbo is the size of my fist and there is hardly any room in any part of that packed engine bay for a bigger turbo.

Also note that according to edmunds a GSX is actally .2 seconds slower than a GST on the 0-60:

GST 0-60 6.5
GSX 0-60 6.7

[thelinja]

Yeah, S15's are really sweet looking, but be prepared to cough up several grand for the conversion.

[LOwrestling2001]

well we'll ahve to see how much insurance will give me for my teg =\ then i can see exactly how far i can go . motor suspension/tires are most important tho . esp tires

[BEISSEN]

The 240SX is a real sweet lookingcar I love the 97-98 overall but its only due to the front end though.I also own one so that helped a lil to.But te 240SX is not 50/50 wish it were but very close iirc it is 48/52 the RX-7 and Miata are 50/50 but the neer GSX has crank walk issues which is a pain cus you wil constanly be repairing the car.The 240SX is a great car and to get you to a power level you only are looking at about 10g dependin on what year you get.

[West]

thelinja: I disagree with you, the GSX in the picture I posted had a set of GAB Coilovers ($1400) and the thing handled like mad, just as good as my 240 with HKS Coils and Sway, struts, etc. maybe even better. But my 240 needed softer springs and better tires so its hard to judge.

As for the GST being faster... maybe it is by a whole .2 sec when stock, but add 50HP and see how much slower your are when alls that happens is your front wheels burn out.

[thelinja]

Well any car will out handle another with enough money and tweaking. I was just saying that the guy I was talking to was rather disappointed by his GSX and the eibach suspension setup he was running. If he had the coilovers you're talking about, the GAB's, he may have done better. I don't know much about different suspensions, so I'll leave this topic alone for now.

[xhdriver]

i have an sr powered s13, and my bro has a big 16g powered 1st gen gsx, i know you are looking at the newer models of both cars but i think my experience might still apply.

i love both cars, but im glad to own the 240, mostly because i like being able to oversteer my brains out.

the only advantage he has is drag racing cause of the all wheel drive he can jump in front of me by a car length and stay there (when he gets a good launch), but im installing my lsd soon so well see then.

they are both great imo, it just depends on your taste.

[SimpleS14]

It's all depends on your personal preference, how much money you have, how much money your willing to spend and whether or not you can find one.

Your going to spend alot to make either car go fast, but the GSX will be cheaper....as for reliablity......I would stick with the Nissan. I have a friend with a turbocharged (up the a$$) GSX and he drove a SR powered S14. All I can say is he actually liked the S14 better than his.....and for some reason he know work at a Nissan dealership.

Anywho...both good cars....but I have to go for ANY S14 (95-98 240SX)....mainly because I have one, I like the styling.....and you don't see too many on the streets. Also I want to have a fast AND sexy Japanese coupe.

[nrcooled]

To comment on the weak tranny issue:
From the factory the DSM's have very weak clutchs. That way if you decide to do a 5k drop the clutch will go and not the differential. Now if you put a 6 puck unsprung clutch in it. The clutch will hold but the differential will go eventually or the tranny. So stay with the stock setup and keep replacing the clutch and not the tranny. WRXs have the same problem, upgrade the power output and clutch then the center diff or tranny will go.

FYI just watch any rally coverage and you can see how disposable center diffs and trannys can be. That my friend is the "nature of the AWD beast"

[mrmephistopheles]

Go with a GSX.

Originally posted by thelinja

EONE's right too, I believe the Trannies are actually made by Hyundai, at least the 3000GT tran is..

On a side note, it's interesting that the 6 speed in the new Hyundai Tiburon is the *same* transmission as the SE-R Spec V.
Does this mean Nissan will be having tranny issues now?

[AKADriver]

I don't think either Hyundai or Nissan made that transmission...

Hyundai drivetrain engineering is pretty damn good these days, though. Their 2.0 "Beta" engine used in the base Tiburon and the Elantra holds a lot of promise as a performance engine. In Hyundai's Accent WRC it seems to work pretty well...

[Foxcolt]

GSX = fwd with a little rwd assist.

When looking at tranfer case hear attached to the flywheel you can clearly see that's its impossible for a GSX to have a 50/50 torque ratio. From looking at the gears I'd say more like 80/20 if even that.

the 4G63 is very similar to an SR. Almost a square motor, DIS, beefy. It has just as much if not more potential than an SR. I've seen a 1st gen run into the 12's on a stock block/head 4G with (believe it or not) the stock 14b. Incredible!

However when looking at both motors side by side you'll notice that the SR is a little bit better built. Connecting rods are a little beefier crank is a little bit bigger.

Personaly I feel the newer mitsu's make better show cars than all out track machines. Although I love Diamond star motors and all the things they are capable of. I will say that well set up 240 w/ SR/KA-T will out perform an equally set up DSM in every way, including looks

[DamnedButDetermined]

Or if you want to save $4K you can get a S13 that is in good physical condition, with a blown engine, the do the S14a front end swap, and still have more money left over that can go into performance mods! That is what i would do, only b/c i think the rear end of a hatch looks so freaking good with the S14a front. I am not sure, but i thought the S13 is the better handling chassis out of the 240's. Please correct me if I am wrong though!

Man i wish i had a good bit of insurance money coming my way!

DbD

[LOwrestling2001]

yea but i like the s14 interior better

[whateverjames]

Originally posted by mrmephistopheles
On a side note, it's interesting that the 6 speed in the new Hyundai Tiburon is the *same* transmission as the SE-R Spec V.
Does this mean Nissan will be having tranny issues now?

i've read a few articles that claim the sentra's 6-speed transmission isn't very good.

[Drifted off road]

i would go with the GSX. the 4g63 is (as previously stated) an incredible motor. its maybe one of the best turbocharged motor around. with simple bolt-on mods u will be up in the 300-350 mark. two of the big drawbacks are crankwalk where the crank moves very slightly and the tranny.

[moose]

Originally posted by Drifted off road
i would go with the GSX. the 4g63 is (as previously stated) an incredible motor. its maybe one of the best turbocharged motor around. with simple bolt-on mods u will be up in the 300-350 mark. two of the big drawbacks are crankwalk where the crank moves very slightly and the tranny.

What are the prices to fix crankwalk? I mean I was looking at a GSX as well, and well what will it cost to fix crankwalk?

[DRO916]

just came from the track yesterday...Sacramento Speedway that is...and there were a couple 240's...all zenki's and only one raced which got low 16.1. his reaction time was pretty bad though, above 2. there were also a couple dsm's there that raced. the quikest one was hitting 13.8.

iono if this is gonna help, but imo, DSMs are really quik, and thats pretty much all their meant to do.

on a side note
a mustang lost control and was drifting haha. his ass was lucky he didnt hit the side rails, he was about an inch or two away from it, swerving and almost hitting it about 5 times.

[Phlip]

Originally posted by whateverjames
i've read a few articles that claim the sentra's 6-speed transmission isn't very good.

I've heard exactly the contrary, it is also the same tranny that is in the maxima, realistically making 80 more horses than the sentra with no issues...


*EDIT: more to say...

On the topic at hand, he didn't mention whether he was comparing 1st or second gen GSXs or S13s or S14s and the cost incurred with them will also be an issue... If he is simply planning on a swap, as S13 with a blown engine can be had for peanuts and you will spend little time undoing someone else's fuckups. On the same token, you can get a 95 or a 96 at a wonderful price if it has a few miles on it (again, swap/suspension, so it wouldn't matter as much) but I have noticed that 1st gen GSXs are many times ragged out, and the second generations are ungodly expensive (at least here in NC). Personally, as if anyone would be shocked, I say go with a 95-96 and go with the swap, or you can get a used KA (I paid 400 for engine/tranny and FOUND it had a low mile ACT stage 2) cheap to build up a KA-T for what you would spend on just the car for a second gen GSX...

[LOwrestling2001]

haha, yea i already have a 96 240 and already swapped the motor thanks tho guys

[the3SecondJerk]

I think a few years back Hyundai was using 4g63 Evo motors in their WRC rally car. Correct me if I am wrong but I m pretty sure thats what it was.

[Yoshi]

GSX