240dude

Buying Guide For The 240sx Shopper

By: dickie

Chances are you've seen several threads recently asking about buying a 240sx, selling a 240sx etc... Let's streamline the process and make it a little more user-friendly.

Are you looking for a 240sx? Are you trying to sell one? Look here:

Nico Classifieds: Nissan Cars
Craig's List
Autotrader
Cars.com

Check your local scene, used car lots, classifieds, friends of friends, etc...

DON'T POST YOUR FS AND WTB THREADS IN OTHER SECTIONS!

Trying to determine how much a certain 240sx is worth?

NADA Value Guide
Kelley Blue Book Value Guide

Use your best judgement! Check the classifieds on Nico to see what similar cars are selling for.

Looking for advice on what to look for when purchasing a 240sx?

Carfax

to find topics regarding common issues. There are literally hundreds of helpful threads to choose from.

Look under the car for signs of fluid leakage. Coolant is green, Oil is brown/black and brake/trans fluid is red. Inspect the engine bay and the underside of the engine/transmission for dampness or sludge, especially around the drain plug and seals.

Start the car, listen for sounds that may indicate how it's performing. Your senses of hearing and touch should be used as you drive. Note how the car moves through gears, watch the temp guage, turn the wheel from lock to lock and listen for belt noise, etc... Look behind the car for smoke while it is running.

Rust is an issue that plagues many cars from this era. Common spots you can find rust lurking include the area under the spare tire in the hatch/trunk, the battery tray and strut towers in the engine bay, around the hatch/trunk -especially under spoilers-, and make sure the chassis is rust free as well by checking the framerails and underbody. Rust can seriously compromise the structural integrity of any car rendering it unsafe and unstable to drive.

Check carfax and visually inspect the vehicle for any signs of a prior collision. Body panels that have been repaired with bondo are dead givaways, as well as slightly mismatched paint shades and panels and doors that don't fit "right," causing gaps to be wider or tighter than spec, and causing difficulty in latching doors, trunk/hatch, and hood. Collisions can cause significant damage to the frame that can influence the car's handling negatively and lead to many major headaches down the road.

Check for current inspection/registration paperwork. If the car will not pass your local inspection/emissions test, bear in mind how much money will be needed to ensure it does. Verify the lights and signals work properly, listen and smell for exhaust leaks, note the tread on the tires... all these can be used by a smart buyer to bargain with the seller.

If your car has a sunroof, spray water over it and verify that its not leaking. On hatchbacks, spray water over the rear and verify that nothing is making its way into the hatch area.

ALWAYS request a receipt/bill of sale with both yours and the buyers' signatures.