I need help buying an S14

[whateverjames]

dagnamnit, the car i was going to buy, 1995 SE auto for $5000 has just been sold, just called him.

as much as i want one, the 97-98 is too much for me so a 95-96 will have to do. i found another auto but it has 117,000 miles for $6,950. is it just me or is that too much? i checked the value on kbb.com, and the price is normal according them.

check out this url, and tell me if it's worth it, please. i know, it's an auto, but i want to swap a blacktop SR into. if not, i always have a spare transmission i can put in.
http://autotrader.com/findaca....lt=none

[rancid240]

a sad day for s13 owners

[SimpleS14]

Its a little pricey compared to what I paid for mine.  But you don't see that many of them....well in my area at least.

[guidot]

whateverjames,
I think thats too much even for the SE model. &nbsp;My car is way under mileage and I can't get that much for it ('96). &nbsp;See if you can screw em down another post or so...maybe 5999 would be good...hopefully you have a 5spd cuz i wouldn't pay $.50 for an auto... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hmmm.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hmmm:'>

[Black 97SE]

I bought a 97 black SE with 58k miles for 11,500. &nbsp;Does that help???

[whateverjames]

thanks for the replies. anyone have any ideas on how to talk someone down on a price? i bought this s13 in 99 for $2500, and any other car i've had was given to me for free, so my bargaining skills aren't very sharp. the S14 i'm looking at is in fact an auto, but i can't seem to find 5 speeds without buying a 97 for 10,500. i have my 90 for a 5 speed though, so i won't be missing out on anything <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> i need this car for a daily driver so i can fixup my S13, but if i like the s14 enough, i'll just get an SR swap, or use my S13 as a daily driver and use my spare 5 speed transmission i have laying around for the S14. it's confusing. i rode in an S14 for the first time the other day. (shown below)

anyway, how can i talk this guy into selling it for cheaper. this guy has to be nuts to sell it for that much.

[HippoSleek]

That is way too much and the red one pictured isn't even an SE. &nbsp;

As for bargaining, here's a few things to remember. &nbsp;First, the s14 cost $23,000 new, so some owners don't like the idea that there car is worth about $5500 five years later (I sold my 5 year old honda for about 50% of it's retail&#33<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>.

Second, keep looking and you will find what you want. &nbsp;I was too anxious... if I would have waited another month, crazycuban's car would have come onto the market and I would have gotten an SE w/ lower miles in better condition for about $500 or so less (although I wasn't upset w/ the deal I got).

Third, bargaining is all about pointing out what is wrong with a car. &nbsp;Check a few of the car pricing websites, like kbb, and you will see that condition matters. &nbsp;If he is asking primo $$$, the car better be in primo condition. &nbsp;Perfect cars fetch bluebook value - the rest get knocked down. &nbsp;When you are looking at the car, make mental and verbal notes of what it would take to put the car into "perfect" value condition. &nbsp;Worn tires? &nbsp;Curb marks on wheels? &nbsp;Door dings? &nbsp;Bumper scuffs? &nbsp;Worn floor mats? &nbsp;Old air filter? &nbsp;Worn exhaust? &nbsp;Pending service? &nbsp;Think about what it really costs to fix these things and set your offer accordingly.

happy hunting and good luck! &nbsp;(if worst comes to worst, go to Atlanta... they have s14 Zenkis running around there for $4500-6500 every week).

[Nismos14]

first off hold out for a 5-spd, cuz if u don't thats another 1000 for swapping the trans..... other than that..... the car u find will probabaly be high mileage, but thas negligeble since u want to swap... so just hold out

[Krunko]

Please...get a 5spd. &nbsp;I have an auto...I going to be spending $1000 because autos are so slow. &nbsp;I raced a 91 that was SOHC..which is like 140hp or something..I have DOHC and about an extra 15hp..he had someone in the car...and he was a little faster then me.


sooooo......auto is slooooow.

my car is beautiful..but slow with its autoooo

[whateverjames]

thanks for the info hipposleek. i'll mention the smallest things when i check out a car.

i'm definitey waiting for a manual. i'd hate to fall in love with a car and not want to do the SR swap, but then have to do a 5 speed swap.

i have applied for a loan and got approved, and am thinking of getting a 97. i just called about a white SE. 5 speed.

"hello my name is james, i'm calling about the 240sx"
"...uhh, yeah what do you need to know?"
"do you happen to know if it has a limited slip differential?"
"a what? man i don't know that stuff....yeah it came standard, wouldn't you think? on a car like that?"
"wrong answer asshole, no i didn't say that but i wanted to"

the guy was a total prick, no sale for him, i won't even check it out to see if it DOES have a limited slip.

i have another question, which makes me feel like a newbie (hey, i don't study up on S14 stuff as much) but what is a LE trim? i assume that has ABS and a limited slip diff? (i did a search on freshalloy, 240sx.org and the internet) this car is a five speed too!

http://autotrader.com/findaca....lt=none

[MazingerS14]

Whateverjames, S14's let alone S14a's are a bitch to find around St. Louis. &nbsp;If you do find one its an auto, or green or both YUCK! &nbsp;I searched for two months straight via many online auto classifieds even searching individual towns newspapers online. &nbsp;Last September I eventually found my red 97 SE with 32,000 in Knoxville, TN at a Toyota dealer and talked them down to $10,150. &nbsp;(My loan stipulated I had to buy from a dealership.) &nbsp;The slow Greyhound ride down there killed me with anticipation. &nbsp;Just like Christmas Eve as a kid only I had a smelly drunk sitting next to me.

I'd hold out and wait for a 5-speed, just makes everything easier. &nbsp;On top of that, a similar car with a 5 speed will cost less than one with an auto. &nbsp;

I do not think that LE's came with VLSD standard. &nbsp;ABS maybe, not sure. &nbsp;They do come with the leather interior. &nbsp;The leather LE steering wheel and shift knob is so much nicer than the cheap ass plastic ones on the SE's.

Looking forward to having another S14a in town. &nbsp;My car gets lonely.

Puck

[whateverjames]

i searched one more time on freshalloy and found on that on the 97-98, if the car is equipped with ABS, it has a limited slip. i hope this is true. yeah there sure are a lot of autos around here in st. louis but if it came down to it, i'd buy a green 5 speed for the right price (and if it had a LSD). i sent the guy an email asking about the white 97 LE 5 speed, and i'm going to call him tomorrow. he lives in illinois somewhere (47 miles from 63366 it tells me).

[guidot]

hey whateverjames,
the LE model has the VLSD+ABS+Leather+cruise+etc...
Its the highest model, kinda like the GLE Maxima is a higher model than the SE Maxima...The only thing is, I don't think it comes with the rear sway and the stiffer shocks like the SE does... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'>

[SaintlyCharBoy]

from what i read here, i got the impression that the LE is just the se with leather, and that abs and lsd are still optional...

whatever....

just to reaffirm, i just bought n auto, it kicks the shit out my old camry, but it doesnt shift at optimum places, that is i tend to see it shifting at 2.5-3 k as opposed to 5.5-6 and falling back into the torque curve <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

gas mileage isn't bad

wish i had the bigger swaybars <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> she gets asshappy in turns

an easier way to check for lsd would be to ask about abs, since more people are likely to know about that, and, USUALLY they cam together tho they were theoretically avaliable seperately

[HippoSleek]

To settle this, check out the faq on socal240sx. &nbsp;Then post the link to the brochures here so they can be put in the Archives. &nbsp;This is the 3rd question I've hit this a.m. that could use this info.

[slow_accord]

It might help to check out this link for standard options <a href="http://www.nissannews.com/?http://www.nissannews.com/nissan/1998vehicles/240sx/specs.shtml" target='_blank'>http://www.nissannews.com/?http....tp</a>

According to that page, ABS and LSD are still optional on both the SE and LE. The LE supposedly comes standard with a better factory stereo, power antenna, keyless entry, sunroof, leather wrapped steering wheel/shift knob, and leather seats. Other than that, it should be identical to an SE.

edit: wrong link

[tnord]

i've bought about 6 cars in my time and this is how you get what you want.......
find a car that you like regardless of price (but of course within reason) find out whatever you need to find out, don't even discuss price until you have made up your mind that you want the car. next determine what you will pay for the car, not how low you think he will go. be sure to bring a checkbook everywhere.......then say "i'm prepared to give you a check for X dollars right now if you give me your car" if they don't accept, leave a phone number and go home abruptly. most likely they'll call you back in a week and ask if you're still interested. this works with both dealerships and private parties.

trust me, this works......i've done it many times

sometimes you can go to a dealership and say i'll give you 800 bucks over whatever you own it for and they'll do it.

[boosteds14]

i bought my 95 for $4500 w/80k miles
but &nbsp;it is the base model and is an automatic

[whateverjames]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (HippoSleek @ April 16 2002,09:23)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">To settle this, check out the faq on socal240sx. Then post the link to the brochures here so they can be put in the Archives. This is the 3rd question I've hit this a.m. that could use this info.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
that was the first place i checked. it only has the base model and SE model. no LE.

[HippoSleek]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (whateverjames @ April 17 2002,6:30)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (HippoSleek @ April 16 2002,09:23)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">To settle this, check out the faq on socal240sx. Then post the link to the brochures here so they can be put in the Archives. This is the 3rd question I've hit this a.m. that could use this info.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
that was the first place i checked. it only has the base model and SE model. no LE.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
That's b/c you looked at 95 or 96 &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

If you look at the pages for 97-98, there is base, SE and LE. &nbsp;(or atleast there was yesterday when I did a search at FA and found that link that I forgot to post &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> &nbsp; )

[whateverjames]

<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> &nbsp; &nbsp;no LE

i talked to the guy, and the car has ABS so it does have LSD, at least i know that much.

[whateverjames]

wow. insurance company gave me a quote today. $870 for every 6 months full coverage. it's because i'd be getting the "LE" model ooooh those standard leather seats i tell you, that's what did it..... sheesh &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'>

is $870/6 months expected when getting a newer car?

[HippoSleek]

touche &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>



I know, it says 1998 - but we all know there is no difference... plus the specs were from 1997 if you look at the &copy; date <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

That insurance doesn't seem outrageous - but I don't know much about you &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'> &nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>