I've been thinking about selling my 98 GS lately. I'm in college, so of course my car is getting a beating. I'm also not putting many miles on it(as evidenced by my 40k on the odo).

I've always loved the looks of the S14 240SX's, so naturally I was considering going with one of these. I'm guessing the handling will be better than my Integra(which has basic susp. mods like rear swaybar, front and rear strutbars) since it actually drives the correct wheels. The torque from a 2.4L engine will be nice, but it seems they run out of breath above 5000RPM or so. That might turn me off. Of course, I'd probably have some money to modify it since I'm sure I could get more from my Teg than the 240 will cost.

So, has anyone had any hands-on experience with S14 240SX's? Any quirks about them? Think it'd be a nice car for enthusiastic street driving and some autocrossing?

Then again, I hear the Lancer EVO VII is coming out in a year or two. So maybe by then I'll have a decent job and can afford a beast like that... EVO.. yummy..

 

Sylvia swaps are really cheap and easy (as far as swaps go.)

 

I private messaged Def this, but I might as well let other people read and comment.

I think I can give a pretty decent account of what it's like to drive the '95 240SX. You've pretty much got it right about the torque. Lots of torque, so it's very easy to drive around town and it's easy to grunt yourself out of a corner even if you're in the wrong gear. Above 5500RPM, there doesn't seem to be much left. I think of it as a built-in rev limiter. The power's there, you just don't need to rev it all the way up to get it. Compared to a GS Integra, the acceleration will be about the same with 15 extra HP, but extra weight. On the absolute scale though, it's not that fast. About mid-7 second 0-60 and high 15s 1/4mi.

Transmission's alright. Really long throws and a super-heavy shift ****. Gearing is made for fuel economy and low rpm highway cruising.

I had the base model, so it came without a rear swaybar. Handling wasn't that great... but I changed out both front and rear swaybars for suspension techniques and man, that thing handled GREAT afterwards. An modded Integra couldn't hope to ever handle as well as a modded 240sx.

I really miss my 240sx, but I needed something more practical (rear seat is a cruel joke and the trunk is very small), and I could only have one car, so I had to compromise on the GSR.

The 240SX is a great base for modifications if you're into that. good weight distribution, RWD, stiff chassis, room for super-wide tires, stock 2.4L engine holds 12psi no problem. A 300HP 240sx feels natural, whereas a 300HP FWD integra has to be driven pretty carefully.

I'm sure you've found http://www.240sx.org (good mailing list on there) and http://www.freshalloy.com (big 240sx forum on there).

Beautifully styled car, I think.