I'm in the market for a new car and I'm having trouble deciding what to get. It's pretty much down to a 98 240sx or an M3 E36, I've owned a s14 and loved it but was in an accident and never got the chance to build it. Because of this though I have a stage 2 clutch, flywhere. CF hood, LSD and some other stuff lying around I never got to put in it. I figure it would be easy to throw into another if I pick one up but I'm also considering selling and putting it towards the M3.
I was wondering how many of you have had experience with either car and which you would personally prefer or recommend. Naturally it seems wise to go with the car I already have parts for but I figured I would get a second opinion first. I'm also worried about the maintenance on BMW's but I imagine the E36 has a similar abundance of aftermarket parts.
What would you consider a fair price? What else would you recommend? I'm looking for something between $5k-$10k but I could go as high as $15k.
Goddam that's slick. I adore how the s14 looks but that shit is just as sexy.
Ryder Foster
selling car parts that you bought but never installed takes literal years
im a regular dude with a job and a life and it took me 7 months to sell a turbo
also ebay ALWAYS sides with the buyer even if they dont pay so have fun with that
Jacob Wilson
The 240SX or a 350Z.
The E36 isn't difficult to work on and the stock parts are cheap.
>Expect everything made out of rubber/plastic to be on its way out or already deteriorating, and I mean EVERYTHING >Interior (door cards, headliner, seat motors, even simple shit like ignitions) will be delaminating or cracking/breaking >Every bushings in the suspension + tierods + driveshaft (guibo + CSB) worn or with play >Mounts (Trans, Diff, Subframe) sagging or torn >5th Gear Lean in trans from worn shift pins, you'll find out when you keep going 2nd -> 5th when booking it
The E36 handles extremely well
>You're stuck at 200-240whp in a 3200lb car vs 2700-2800lbs in a S14 or 240-260whp/3200-3300lbs in a DE Z33 (add 30whp if its a HR). >The aftermarket is ungodly expensive: A KA-T/SR swap is what cams + decent exhaust will cost you >Suspension points (rear trailing arm pockets + shock towers) can tear out from age/load from sticky tires
The E36 is comfortable
>Its a 1990s BMW and everything is falling apart or rattling >The motors are actually decently reliable however are a bitch to bleed properly coolant and will blow a headgasket at the slightest sign of getting hot
If you have E36 M3 money? Pick up a S14 and do a SR swap, or a 350Z Z33. A E36 is a labor of love, and you'll be doing a ton of labor. At least they look great with a slight drop and wheels. Aftermarket is tremendous too. I had a E36 M3. Sold it, wish I bought a Z or a AP1 S2000. Ironically I'm buying a LS1 F-Body this weekend.
James Flores
>I'm looking for something between $5k-$10k but I could go as high as $15k.
paying anything over $7k you should stick to the M3. Anything below that stick to the 240sx.
but if we are being honest. you should just get a non-m3 and build on that, it's cheap as fuck and a great chassis.
Any recommendations on where I should be looking to buy? I haven't been turning up many results, I figure it might be better to start looking on nicoclub or a dedicated 240 forum. I imagine if they're a form member they're probably an enthusiast and took better care of it than someone listing on autotrader or craigslist.
Probably a fun street car but something I can casually take to the track if I wanted to. I still have my old shell so if I really wanted and I decide to get an SR I could probably drop the KA into my old car and make it a full time track car I would't worry about beating up. That's just a musing right now and would be a considerable money sink.
Jacob Ross
>implying you can get a running 240 for less than 7k
Jordan Perez
>I figure it might be better to start looking on nicoclub or a dedicated 240 forum
>nicoclub thats a terrible and outdated forum. Bunch old dudes. real niggas use zilvia
also where the fuck do you live? Craigslist is actually
>implying you can get a running 240 for less than 7k
Are you shitposting or are you serious? Do you actually want to play this game? post your local craigslist and I'll prove you wrong. here are some examples from a quick search of my own. I can find more to make you look stupid if you want
>also where the fuck do you live? Craigslist is actually
Actually what? I forgot about Zilvia. My shell has been stored for almost 10 years so I've been out of the scene for a minute I was going to rebuild it but life has been rough and I finally have my shit together and just want to get something in one piece and stress free at this point.
I'm in FL, specifically Daytona area but I wouldn't mind going out of state and driving it back if I can't find something here. I'm pretty set on a Kouki, preferably a 98'.
Adam Anderson
craigslist is actually a great place to start. is what I meant to say.
There are currently no kouki 240sx's for sale in Florida in your price range from what I see on searchtempest. shit there are none even outside your state. You might be better off with a zenki. but if you are really set on a kouki you may have to be patient.
I pretty much have a full kouki front end but I would need to have the rad support taken off my old car. All things considered getting a zenki might be cheaper and just converting it.
Fuck, i just found a beaut on Zilvia no more than 50 miles away from me that just old. I'm devastated. It was pretty much exactly what I was looking for. It's going to be a bitch to wait for something like it to come around again.
Nathan Watson
>we don't use craigslist here >implying Finnland prices match up with US.
you have to realize this board is dominated by Americans you dumb fuck. Nobody gives a fuck about your socialist shithole country.
Landon Stewart
>socialist shithole country
getting shot in the street yeehaw 500k medical bills at least ur free ;)
Josiah Wood
>I found a couple on craigslist.
I saw all of those but you said you wanted a Kouki, so thats why I didnt link any of them. RB25/RB26 swapped cars? yeah nah. if anything you want an SR swapped or at least a bone stock car to start off with.
and not that it matters much but just came out yesterday, right? US no where to be spotted in the top 10 filled with other socialist shithole countries.
Sebastian Cooper
what does $500k medical bills or shootings or happiness have to do with the fact that I proved you wrong. I linked 240sx's for sale under $7k in the place where it matters. America.
What the fuck is someone going to do in Finnland with a 240sx.
I was just in the middle of typing something up about the RB. Everything I'm finding seems to have an RB25 or 26 swapped which I'm worried might be biting off more than I can chew. I would be much more comfortable with an SR. I am really set on the Kouki but since I have all the front end parts I would only need to get a rad/bumper support and throw it on which might be cheaper or similar in price in the long run.
also yes, doesn't have to do with anything but the claim about a socialist shithole, you brought it up, I wasn't the one to call problems in your country. I do admit I was wrong. but to my defense the 240 prices I had seen before from the US are from places where people might live, like california.
>fredericksburg >rochester >baltimore
never heard of
>What the fuck is someone going to do in Finnland with a 240sx.
are there driveable roads in the North-East? what do you do with a 240 there?
lol dude i’ve owned a e36 328is and S14. the S14 was more unreliable than the e36 and the interior was crap too. e36’s are not bad unless you get a lemon
>i guess you can always get the zenki and just do the kouki front end swap if anything + kouki tail lights. it isn't that difficult.
Yeah I kouki swapped my old zenki so I have all the parts. All I need is a fresh rad/bumper support.
Noah Ramirez
Zenki S14 a best S14
Jeremiah Ortiz
>but to my defense the 240 prices I had seen before from the US are from places where people might live, like california.
has never heard of >Fredericksburg >rochester >baltimore so they don't exist and people don't live there since you a Finn has never heard of em?
>are there driveable roads in the North-East? what do you do with a 240 there?
Plenty of driveable roads in the North east but none of those towns you mention are even in the North East, thats considered the south/mid atlantic area. Also there are tracks all along the east coast and across America you cultureless swine
Here are cars in California. All manual, clean title, and under $7k
>so they don't exist and people don't live there since you a Finn has never heard of em?
No, but I didn't realise the prices are so different accorss the country. And you're getting too hung up on the 7k and running. Of course you can get a car with a clean title that runs for 7k.
those are fine for project cars but ">I'm looking for something between $5k-$10k but I could go as high as $15k." doesn't necessarily mean he's looking for the shittiest 240 that runs and drives
and of the ones I linked from here to be as an example
runs and drives, has been inspected, rebuilt engine very much under 7k€ and under 7k$. wouldn't buy though if I wasn't looking for a project. looks fucking shit
Andrew Bailey
>those are fine for project cars but ">I'm looking for something between $5k-$10k but I could go as high as $15k." doesn't necessarily mean he's looking for the shittiest 240 that runs and drives
They all run. And they weren't cars I suggested to OP. These are cars I proved you wrong. They all run and are under $7k so just take the L my autistic finnish negga
Josiah Perry
Unless I see a fresh kouki pop up within the next week I think I might go with this guy. Might not hurt to check out what M3 are in the area but I'm pretty sold on another s14.
