I've started to think about whether or not it's worth modding my car and putting even more money into it without any benefits except for appearance's sake and little self satisfaction and maintaining it's current state of flawlessness.

I own a s2000 and I love rwd cars. Some of you may not like rwd but I absolutely love the difference in handling and acceleration. I want another rwd car and something cheap that I could work on and improve significantly if I wanted to. Not just petty stuff like lights, odometers, and rims.

My maxima is already modded out except for going sc or turbo and I don't want to deal with that OR swapping out engines for a ton of money and little performance gains.
I've found plenty of 1997-1998 240sx for sale, all 5-spd, and under 160k miles.
If I had a 240sx I'd do the works on it (engine swap -sr20-, suspension, wheels, exhaust, etc) and it'll greatly improve the car and most likely be worth the money)

Do you guys think it's worth trading in my maxima and starting anew with a 240sx?

Do realize that I'm aware of the fact that VQs are a hell of a lot better than KAs (by a LONG shot but I don't plan to keep the ka engine. Wanting to swap it out for a sr20 or a rb25/6), but I'm in it for the overall benefit of putting a lot of money into a car and getting something out of it except spare change satisfaction.
$12,000 in a 240sx > $12,000 Maxima. IMO.

Just wanted some opinions on why you would do it or why you wouldn't.

 

Easy. Do what I did. Have two cars. If you really want to go all out with the 240sx, don't do SR20 unless you have mad hook ups with smog check people. Otherwise, GReddy has a bolt on turbo kit for the S14.

 

Yeah, my dad's a smog engineer so I'm good on the swapping part. I have two cars already; 1999 Maxima and a 2007 s2000.

KA-T sounds good and it's probably a better idea for costs but I want a newer engine to work on if I were to get the 240sx.

So, should I do it? I'm about 3 weeks from making a final decision.

 

id do it if i lived in CA. i wouldnt want to drive a rwd car in the winter here thou.

rwd in MN=(unless truck)

 

it's a 2007?!? it's practically brand new. keep the s2k.

 

lol, I'm not trading in my s2000 for a good 5 years. I'm talking about the maxima.
Should I trade in the maxima not s2k.

 

A TT VH45 sounds better than a T SR20 if U ask me, up to U i guess just dont forget how flexible and versatile the max is compared to a 240, so U better have another ride ready to take its place.

 

you would end up having 2 two seat sporty cars. If you wanted to haul something or some friends well you know.
Personally, I would keep the s2000 and put some money into that. I would also keep the maxima as that car has the flexibility as is a (for me at least) a great daily driver.

 

If the s2K is the second car, keep your maxima. Having a 240 and s2K would make you dd your s2K as your 240 sits on projects. I used to own an 89 240....loved it but couldn't afford what these cars should turn into.

 

Funny question to ask on here. I'm surprised nobody is totally rejecting the idea of getting rid of your Maxima.

Why don't you just keep the Maxima and fix up the S2k? I don't see the point of having another 2 door car?

On the other hand 240sx project will be fun and depending on your funds it can be a long process and if your planning on actually using it for drifting or autox it will be an expensive project but well worth it IMO.

If you do I don't see a problem going with a SR swap because the KA greddy kit will not satisfy your power needs. Just think about how many people in California alone that have SR swaps smog isn't that big of an issue.

 

You should do what I did/doing. Keep the max for a fun dd and get an S13/14 and put a vq in it. I'm in the process of designing a swap kit for putting a rwd vq into the s chassis.

 

put the money your planning on putting into the 240sx into the s2000!!

 

I think it would be better to put that money into the S2000 then to sell your Maxima that you've already put work into to get a 240sx. What's the point of having a 240sx when you already have an S2000? The Maxima would be useful for traveling in places that have a lot of snow anyways. That's just my two cents.

 

First off, thanks for all the input fellows!

Dude, I didn't even think about it. I just don't know how much time it'd take to do this. I've already helped swap out a couple engines for 240sx KA to SR and pretty confident in doing it myself. I was looking for a cheap rb engine but it's too expensive to tune up and get it working right. I'll look into the VH


I'd be able to drive the 240sx as my dd. The only thing that'll delay will be the engine swap. Everything else shouldn't pose a problem. I couldn't use my s2000 as a daily driver as it would stress me out having to fill her up every 3 days or so.


The reason I'm not going to pour money in my s2000 is because it's engineered pretty damn well and there's no point putting tons of money into it since I don't use it for drag racing or track racing; although I could.
It tops out at like 138 or 140 mph which is sad but it wasn't built for top speed drag races but for cornering and such. If I were to slap a turbo or a sc on it it's not going to make me accelerate any faster. s2000 has the worst torque i've experienced in a rwd but the mid range power is really good. I've already done everything I'm probably going to do performance-wise to my s2000. Intake, exhaust, and headers.

I can see why I'd have 2 two-door cars. One for weekends, cruising, dates, track racing (maybe), etc. The other for essentially my dd. I don't plan on entering any drifting competitions. I think it's fun to watch but I have a good job already heh. I do plan on putting in at least $12,000 in modding it. Then keep it forever until I pass on to motorway heaven.

I don't think I'd want to trade in my s2000 after I just bought it lol. Nothing would really replace my s2000. If you're implying that I keep the maxima AND the s2000 and on top of that get a s13/14 then no. I can't afford to have 3 cars on my hands. Insurance, gas, maintenance, etc would make me drive off a cliff.

Which VQ are you using? What year z?

I understand what you mean. To be honest the last time I gave more than 1 other person a ride was when I was in highschool. All my friends now have the ability to give themselves ride. For hauling purposes my friends and my dad have trucks so I don't really have a problem in the department either.

Like I mentioned earlier. I'm thinking about doing this because I think my modding days are over with the max and if I were to put money into a car it should be something with exponential gains and not purely visual. I live in california and for the 22 years I've lived here I've never left it to live anywhere else. The most snow I've seen is at mammoth and lake tahoe.





I don't get why everyone is asking what's the point of getting a 240sx if I already have a s2000? Are you guys talking about having 2 two-door cars or something else?
I think I've explained almost every reason to why I want to trade the maxima in.

I just wanted to know if you guys think it'll be worth it.
Specifically, what would you do if given the opportunity to trade in your maxima, get a 240sx, and mod it to the 240sx from hell?


check it out: http://www.cardomain.com/MakeModel/N.../all/1997/1999



Thanks guys!

 

Personally I think starting any new project is worth it. Your done with the Maxima and now it's time to move on to the next project. I say go for it if you have no use for a bigger ride and just want something for the weekend.

I wish I had a $12k budget for my 240sx

 

I enjoy my Maxima for what it is....but it's nothing compared to my S13. Seriously. I always felt more confident driving my 240sx with blown suspension all around, than my AGX/CMS Maxima w/ better tires. Now my 240 is sitting on coilovers...and I'm fiending to drive that car again.

All the ka hate makes me forget all of my good points towards getting an 240. Let's just say this: an SR won't feel at all like the VQ you seem fond of. Instead, the torque happy ka will pull like your VQ did. But then again you drive an s2000...so maybe rev-happy motors are for you.

btw...I can't imagine what I would have done with 12k to spend on my 240sx. I have $4k into mine right now, incuding full ka-t setup (not a cheap one either), coilovers, etc.

damn... a lot of guys in here with s-chassis's - NICE

 

lol. Yeah, I noticed a lot of members participating in this thread own both a Maxima and a 240sx.

ricey: Seems like you've pretty much made your decision. I guess I'll see you on zilvia.net soon.

 

Just registered there but won't let me post.

 

Y33 VQ30DET, but it has the same engine mount bolt pattern as any other rwd VQ (as far as I know).

I wouldn't keep three vehicles either... Just an idea though.

 

KA24 DE(T) FTW. Im looking to do the same thing here soon. I am not a fan of the sr at all. The rb is too pricey. The KA can be alot better with simple upgrades or you can build the lower end to hold the boost. Its not like itused to be in the 240 world when they said the KA wouldnt be nothing. There are KA's running around and very very quick ones.

 

240 modded to hell FTW.
Not a big fan of 4 cyl RWDs or at all, but 240s are just begging to be built. If i wasnt too lazy to drive a stick thats what i would have

 

VQ the 240.

 

I would VQ it with a 350z engine but no one's selling one that I can't go and pick up in a month or two locally. Does anyone know of anyone who put a 2jz engine in a 240?
Get a nice 240sx and drop a vq or a 2jz in it and work from there.
I'll probably save the KA engine in my garage and have it as a spare or sell it later on.


The maxima will have it's last rides with me and I will enjoy every mile.

*edit
found someone who's selling a VQ35HR!!!!!

 

RWD acceleration? er.. Ok...

Do your homework, 3.5 swap/headers/SSIM/tune will have you running 13s for like 2 grand.

But it will still be a FWD sedan. I don't know if I could ever sell my max but in terms of pure performance you will be left wanting more.

 

VH45DE(TT) would be better than anything else suggested, do that if U get a 240, or convert Ur max to RWD and throw a VH45 in it, I think J30/q45 parts will work, be a first, it seem u have the time&money

 

lmao, please tell me why it's better than vq30det or a vq35?

 

read post #11

 

The VH45DE is quite possibly the greatest and most overbuilt street motor nissan has ever produced.

For reference: http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=288890


Keep in mind that this engine was developed in the late 80's.

 

for all practicallity it is never a good idea to rush into a purchase of something expencive. and having only 2 door cars around you will move nothing big or bring your friends any where. that is eather a good thing or bad. just my 2 cents

 

Good link! It's a great motor, but think of the weight difference (between the VH and VQ) and where the weight would be located in an s chassis. Then think of the power potential of an unopened vq30det.

 

True. The VH is about 100 pounds heavier than a VQ30DE. But add the turbo equipment and the weight is difference is even less, though. So an 80-some pounds weight penalty for an overbuilt block with more cubes isn't too bad.


The VH can handle 600+ WHP without breaking a sweat and will have a better TQ curve to boot. But if one isn't going for monster power, the VQ30DET is a fine platform.

 

I guess fwd have better acceleration at launch than rwd in terms of physics and not the car themselves. I'm totally wrong and you're right. FWD cars have the ability to harness all the hp generated and put it to the floor like the rwd cars.
By pure example and speculation, you're saying that a FWD TT Supra can out-launch a RWD TT Supra? I know there's no FWD supra it's an example.

my 160 lb/ft s2k can't launch faster than my 205 lb/ft maxima because rwd has nothing to do with acceleration and grip.

I'm wanting to get a 240sx and trading in my maxima so I can build up my daily driver 240sx for well over 500+hp which I can do in about 5 months of parts and labor. If I do get a VQ35HR engine then that's 305hp right there. On top of that I'll do my own tuning and necessary upgrades to increase the hp in small increments. (ie I/H/E, SC, ecu, etc)

Although running in the 13s is something to brag about for a FWD 4-dr sedan it's really not logical, in terms of money, to build up a maxima to race in. Sure if it's the only car that I have and can't afford to purchase another car to build up properly and race then I would do exactly that; 3.5 swap/headers/SSIM/tune. My budget starting January 2008 is $12,000 and I highly doubt $12,000 in a maxima is worth it, which would be the reason for me starting this thread.


Thanks for trying to show me wrong by saying 3.5 swap/headers/SSIM/tune.
All that doesn't give the kind of power gain I was talking about. I'm sure once I'm complete with the 240 it'll be faster than the maxima with a 3.5 swap/headers/SSIM/tune.

-sarcasm-

 

So you are saying that FWD is better than RWD for acceleration
Wow that is probably so far off from true but hey. Its cool.

 

Are you being sarcastic? Did you read what he wrote?

 

Here are some reference sites.

9 sec KA24DET
http://www.ka-t.org/forums/

7.25 sec SR20DET
http://www.agracingvideo.com/videos/...08/kako725.wmv
http://www.agracingvideo.com/videos/...08/kako727.wmv

Zilvia, NICO, FreshAlloy, drifting.com, etc.

or

Currently by invitation only but hey maybe one day.............
http://www.ziptied.com/forums/

 

Awesome. Wow that last vid..


lol to each his own. I know enough that if I built up the 240sx equal to that of the maxima (horsepower AND torque) that it'll be faster than the maxima off the launch due to it being rwd. I must be from another planet or something if that's not true.

*edit
Kzoosho...re-read what I wrote then read what you typed in response to what I wrote.
I was also confused by what you said then re-read what you just wrote and got why you would say that. I was being sarcastic in my response to Morpheus. lol

 

Fully dressed VQ30DE weighs ~330 lbs and a fully dressed VH45DE weighs ~550 lbs. That's a 220 lb difference. Plus, think how much longer a VH is than a VQ (longer is bad for handling). Yes, turbo stuff adds more weight, but you'd also have to turbo a VH to get good power too. I'm pretty sure a VQ30DET would be able to make 6-700 whp without breaking or without changing any internals.

 

6.63 @ 215mph VQ35

 

Holy crap..
I don't have any plans to do that with a vq.
More of a mixture of performance and exterior.

 

I know. I just wanted to show what a vq can do.