Deciding between two cars, need advise.

[jotronic]

Gentlemen,

Great forum here that I've been a long time reader of but just today started posting. I have a dilema.

The requirement. A super reliable daily driver that will be my only car. Must have mild cosmetic mods (wheels, good paint, maybe a front lip,) and mild engine mods. I want a car that looks great without flashy graphics or wild colors and moves quick but without the possibility of being taken to the track. Basically I just want a good looking, strong and reliable daily driver.

I'm a big fan of the S13 Coupe so here is what I've found.

Contender #1 is a 90 Coupe that looks to be exceptionally clean based on the clear photos. It has an Rb20 turbo and the only thing that gives away that it is not stock are the Koenig rims, ricer exhaust and the intercooler as well at the Bride racing seat. No giveaway gauges (two are nicely hidden from view) and no big wings or paint graphics. It's a very mild cosmetic mod with what appears to be a very strong mechanical upgrade. Price...8000.

Contender #2 is an 89 Coupe that is bone stock, five speed, working HUD, working power moon(sun?) roof, AC, PS, the works. It has the funky spiral hubcaps but that's the only thing that looks bad. Small rip in the driver's seat, no cracks in the dash. Oh, and it has only 60K miles that I verified through Carfax. It is literally a one owner car that has a proven clean history and is unmolested and untouched. Just an old but clean 240. Price...3800.00.

So, the question is...do I risk buying a car that is already customized in a similar fashion to what I would do (cosmetically?) and be done with it? I would not have chosen the RB for my first swap choice had I to do this myself but everything else looks to be what I'd want. I just don't know about how easy (or not) it would be to get parts should the RB fail on me much less find someone that knows how to work on them properly.

The other option is to get the stock 89 coupe and slowy build up myself knowing full well that I'll probably wind up spending twice what the other car cost if I were to just buy that one. With the stock coupe I would just get the wheels/tires and suspension I want pretty quick then take my time to find the right engine upgrades I'd want. Maybe just turbo the motor it has with low boost? I'm not greedy, just want something that will hang with the newer cars out there and still look good but not brake down every week if I don't treat it with uber care.

I know this is kind of a rant as well as a question(s) but I don't have the experience you guys do with the swaps and upgrades so any and all intelligent opinions are appreciated.

Thanks!

[rps13drift]

Get the stock coupe and build it up YOURSELF!!!!!! Not only is it a fun way to learn about cars and how shit works but you can build it to your personal taste! Not some one elses

[WagDatto]

I wouldn't trust a RB swap unless it were done by a pro shop WITH receipts or if I did it myself. Too many shortcuts could be taken. Maybe that's why he's selling it. No way to tell how mechanically sound it is until something either goes wrong or doesn't go wrong.

Get the clean car, learn a few things and make it yours. Don't get played!

[S14DB]

Contender #2

[shadow_s13]

Contender #2 that way you know what is truely done to the car. Thats just my 2 cents

[Sideways~S14]

Contender #2 Just do it yourself so you know its done right

[DOOK]

stocker and put your own touches on it... honestly, with a low mileage motor that is has, I would spend my money on a 5 lug conversion with Z32 brake upgrade and suspension components, I.E. quality coilovers, RUCAS, tension and tie rods, etc along with a nice set of wheels and tires. Sometime down the road if you feel the need for more power you can cross that bridge, but being a former SR owner... not all it's cracked up to be.

[240cracker]

Originally Posted by rps13drift

Get the stock coupe and build it up YOURSELF!!!!!! Not only is it a fun way to learn about cars and how shit works but you can build it to your personal taste! Not some one elses

this is what i am doing... almost done too. but be prepared for a HUGE headache for reals. project cars never go as planned.

[muddafakka]

[Chaws15]

I agree with all the statements already made above me. My two cents:

Being a 240SX enthusiast means being able to customize your car specially catered to your tastes. Your car is your canvas.

So that leads me to say, why would you pick up someone else's painting and edit it? No one ever picks up a Van Gogh and paints it over here and there. I can advocate with starting from scratch, because I've already made the mistake of buying someone else's project. After all was said and done, I sold it and bought a bone stock S14 instead.

When it comes to reliability, a KA24DE would be right up your alley when it comes to modifying dynamics. It's damn near bulletproof, and fairly simple to work with. Plus, the damn things run forever. The SOHC that's already sitting in the 89 coupe isn't the route I'd be taking, given the certain needs you have.

When it comes to being frugal and whatnot, first of all, you're looking at a sub-$4000 platform. To compare and contrast to newer cars, you're looking at improvement room of about anywhere from $6000 - $12000. What I mean is, you have that much room to make better your car so you can "hang" with the new cars.

So IMHO, go with the untouched chassis. At least you'll know every bit of what you've done to it, instead of guessing what's been done. I hope this helps!

[SinisterSntra91]

Built not bought.... You dont want to clean up someone elses mess

[berz]

yup not hassle with some one elses dilemmas. i say trick out the motor on your own but if the look is what ur after as well u need to find some more cars to decide on

[an_orange_s2k]

buy the stock coupe...dont buy someone elses project car, do your own

[Aeroscraper326]

STTttttoooccckkkk

[kyoru]

wow number 2 for sure, only 60k? one owner? hell yes.

[HKSdrift3r]

stock coupe owns you!

[jotronic]

So, I'm confused. It looks like you're saying I should get the stock coupe? HAHAHA! Too funny, this landslide decision. I guess I knew this all along and just needed the nudge to do what I knew was right. Of course, a nudge like this should be considered a nudge like a push off a cliff. Thanks for all of your input. The RB is now official kaput. This is a great forum.

Look for my eventual build up for the stock car if I get it. The only problem now is that it's on the east coast and I'm in Seattle so I have to look at shipping it now which the owner said he'd help me figure out.

Peace!

Joe

[jotronic]

Btw, being that there is 60K miles on the car, what items should I look for to replace or upgrade engine wise. I know the VQ cars need timing belts or chains adjusted or replaced at about 50k so what does the KA usually need at this point?

First thing I will do is have updated regular maintenance then I'll start on suspension and wheels 'cause MAN do those factory hubcaps suck! I need to make it low and mean.

[JRas]

I'd go with the stock ( contender #2 ).

I was in a similar choice two S14's:

one was an SR beat-up needed work, and felt like a headache

other was a fairly stock S14 very basic bolt-ons, and incredibly clean in-and-out

went with the fairly stock one.. no regrets

[YoungGun]

Two, Dos, Deux, Zwei, Due, Twee, Dois, два, To.

[steezy]

go for #2 . your going to run into a sh*t load of problems with the swapped one, expecially since you did not do it yourself

[sblack13]

deff #2

I would never pay 8g's for a rb20 s13, its worth maybe half that decently done.

I'd be worried of cars from the east coast, even if 60k miles. I'd be watch out for rust.

[gregfarz78]

Originally Posted by SinisterSntra91

Built not bought.... You dont want to clean up someone elses mess

Exactly its much more fun and satisfying that way too. I bought a stripped 89 shell when I'm done I'll know every inch of the car and wiring. I've seen some hack job wiring in used cars its amazing how ghetto people can be just to get a job done fast, trust me you don't want to clean up that mess when something goes wrong.

[fliprayzin240sx]

None of the above...seriously, $3.8k for a stock SOHC S13?!?! You can get way a way better car for almost $3k. The $8k RB20 S13 is a fucking anal rape with no vaseline. I guess sticking a $900 engine swap into an S13 is worth $8k...

[thejapino]

Originally Posted by fliprayzin240sx

None of the above...seriously, $3.8k for a stock SOHC S13?!?! You can get way a way better car for almost $3k. The $8k RB20 S13 is a fucking anal rape with no vaseline. I guess sticking a $900 engine swap into an S13 is worth $8k...

I agree, 3800 for a sohc S13 is pricey but if it comes with 60k TRUE miles, it might be worth it. In some areas, any 240sx is rare! Not in CA though.

[LeftNutOfGowd]

NUMBER TWOOOOO for sure

thats what i have got my 240 for 1k and im slowly working on it and building it up

[emersonLP]

Number 2! RB20s are lame. Both cars sound over priced, but I live on the east coast.

[DohcKA]

cop the clean coupe.... that's a no brainer to me.... 60k on the clock woooo..... im sure you could get the owner to sell it cheaper

[jotronic]

Originally Posted by thejapino

I agree, 3800 for a sohc S13 is pricey but if it comes with 60k TRUE miles, it might be worth it. In some areas, any 240sx is rare! Not in CA though.

Well, that's just it. I ran a Carfax on the VIN# and it comes up as a true one owner car and the miles are documented as accurate. There have been no documented accidents or anything. It's record is SPOTLESS. I also just got some more pics of the interior. Dash is perfect, HUD working too. The only thing that is "off" is the driver's side seat with the typical small rip. No biggie and is expected. Jeez, even the carpet looks great in this thing.

I know this is pricey for a coupe like this from 89. In fact, Kelly BB has it at 2800 bucks as is, but the rarity of a find like this makes it more worth it to me. Oh, and when I spoke to the owner he confirmed NO RUST as well so I feel fairly confident that this is a solid car.

Having said that, with the comment above about this NOT being a rarity in CA, where would I look online for these cars because the only places I know to look have shown only chopped up rust buckets and high mileage swappers. If I could find a car like this in Cali I'd be more than happy to save on the shipping and maybe even fly down to drive it home.

Remember, this is going to be my only car and DD so what I'm looking for is a car that needs NOTHING to be reliable and aesthetically appealing (as stock goes, I'll be happy to add wheels etc. later).

Thanks again for all of your input.

[jotronic]

Btw, here are a few pics of the RB car. It's pretty tight looking...



Engine bay...