# How reliable are 240sx for daily driving, to a mechanically inept person? **URL:** \ **Category:** SON240sx Automotive\ **Created:** [April 2, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732 "2013-04-02T21:45:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![240xs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/b2d939/32.png) [@240xs](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/240xs)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/1 "2013-04-02T21:45:32Z")
I’ve been lurking for a chance to get a 240sx for the past 2 weeks now, for daily and drifting (want it to last 3-5 years). However I’ve been getting a lot of advice to stay away from 20 year old cars especially on 300,XXX on stock KA24DE, mainly because I’m not a mechanical-able person. How do you feel about your 240sx, is it reliable in the sense that you trust it during the winter to take you from point A to B on the highway in a little rain or snow? If not, how many times has it broken down on you and was the fault anticipated when you first inspected your car? ====== Thank you all very much for these replies; to summarize: Lot’s o’ money or don’t drift, learn to wrench, swap with sr20det and do maintenance. ---
**Author:** ![240pimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/848f3c/32.png) [@240pimp](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/240pimp)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/2 "2013-04-02T22:07:24Z")
I think you answered your own question. This is a 20 year old car. Be prepared to pay a mechanic if you want to play…or learn to do it yourself. What kind of budget do you have? The more you spend, generally, the more reliable it will be. Don’t plan on spending 2k and getting away with zero repairs in 2-5 years. In fact, don’t plan on spending 8 k and getting away with zero repairs, but you would be generally spared most of the repairs at that level Ps- if you are drifting, expect to break lots of stuff. Not a sport for those with empty wallets or no mechanical knowledge since you will be replacing lots of stuff. Watch any drifting video and you will start to get the picture. ---
**Author:** ![kevbot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kevbot](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/kevbot)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/3 "2013-04-03T00:57:05Z")
had a semi shitty 240. was sr’d and on coils. beat the piss out of it at the track and daily drove it for a year and a bit. when i got the car i did brake lines, brakes, and a ball joint for safety. only issues i encountered were a seized brake caliper, the alternator died, and my ecu got wet and fried. all of which could happen to any car. you’re call. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Phonso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Mr\_Phonso](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mr_Phonso)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 7:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/4 "2013-04-03T07:28:34Z")
sr20 here. Never once has it left me stranded on the side of the road in the last 3 years. Then again I do preventative maintenance. ---
**Author:** ![\_kris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/858c86/32.png) [@\_kris](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/_kris)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 7:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/5 "2013-04-03T07:52:15Z")
I had a 92 hatch with an s14 sr, beat the shit outta it at the track and drove approx. 55,000kms a year with occasional trips across the border. Never gave me any indies other than a flat tire on the 407. The chassis was compromised, reassessed how safe the car was and scrapped the chassis. ---
**Author:** ![moulds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moulds](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/moulds)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 8:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/6 "2013-04-03T08:00:14Z")
my 90 rb hatch hasnt given me any grief aside from shit i wanted to do,buy a decent car no 500 rotboxes,an get a set of wrenches ---
**Author:** ![nate10](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nate10/32/5723_2.png) [@nate10](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/nate10)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 8:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/7 "2013-04-03T08:02:46Z")
These cars are the most reliable cars I have come across!! Forget about Honda reliability, in the past 3 years, I have had 3 different s13 winter beaters that all cost me under $1000, when I get them I change a tie rod and a ball joint, oil change. Then the cars go a year with zero maintenance, not even a oil change, they have never left me stranded neither, an na ka24 runs forever with little maintenance!! ---
**Author:** ![Clutchfire](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/clutchfire/32/5654_2.png) [@Clutchfire](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Clutchfire)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 8:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/8 "2013-04-03T08:18:06Z")
A 5K 240 with a KA24de are very reliable for the year. Get low mileage and little rust and that will go along way. any car will need repairs but some more then others the KA24de engine is a very strong and good engine they can last well past the 300K mark. So best thing is a good tune up when you buy the car new brakes and make sure the underside has little rust. this will last you 5 years for sure but you will have to pay for the average repair here or there. if you drift it this will drop to how often do you take it to the track. 3 times a year could brake major parts 3 times each year. blown engines broken tie rods or write of the car completely i would suggest to buy a parts 240 if your going to start drifting. what I would do is buy a nice 5-8K STOCK 240 with a ka24de not NOT SR. DD this car. Then buy an sr or ka track car for 800 bucks thats a pile. trailer it to the track have fun brake shit go home enjoy your DD 240. ---
**Author:** ![GetARide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@GetARide](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GetARide)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 8:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/9 "2013-04-03T08:33:47Z")
a 240sx sucks on gas, smells like wet socks and never passes an E-test without changing the cat converter each time. BTW 240’s are only good for 1 winter, the next one will turn it into a flinstone car. ---
**Author:** ![nate10](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nate10/32/5723_2.png) [@nate10](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/nate10)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 10:13am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/10 "2013-04-03T10:13:35Z")
^^^ Obv you have never had proper running cars!! my Ka24de beater gets 650+ km to a full tank, and smells just fine! My sr can get 700km a tank highway!! E test is not an issue if a car is in good running order! And yes most $1000 240’s are good for only one winter, get a clean one and it will last longer. ---
**Author:** ![purestock240](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/purestock240/32/5729_2.png) [@purestock240](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/purestock240)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 10:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/11 "2013-04-03T10:23:45Z")
I had an auto twin cam KA 240, had 450,000km on it. was a rotten shit box…but it went 450,000km ---
**Author:** ![GetARide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@GetARide](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GetARide)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 11:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/12 "2013-04-03T11:08:24Z")
> [@nate10](#): > > ^^^ Obv you have never had proper running cars!! my Ka24de beater gets 650+ km to a full tank, and smells just fine! My sr can get 700km a tank highway!! E test is not an issue if a car is in good running order! And yes most $1000 240’s are good for only one winter, get a clean one and it will last longer. I’ll never ever believe your KA did 650KM+ on a tank even if your one of those daily hypermiler nuts, that coast, draft behind trucks and feather the pedal on take offs. Most I ever got on a KA was 535-550KM trying the above but 450KM average from normal city/hwy driving. ---
**Author:** ![nate10](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nate10/32/5723_2.png) [@nate10](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/nate10)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 11:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/13 "2013-04-03T11:35:13Z")
Lol I have no reason to lie or exaggerate! come put half a tank of gas in my car and we will go for a cruise, half a tank will get me 300+ km. Normal driving! ---
**Author:** ![240racer](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/240racer/32/5682_2.png) [@240racer](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/240racer)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 11:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/14 "2013-04-03T11:49:22Z")
Best I’ve ever got out of mine was just over 500. Mind you, that was an automatic. But Im pretty sure according to the oem fuel gauge, the first half lasts longer than the second half. ---
**Author:** ![Martino](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/martino/32/5674_2.png) [@Martino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Martino)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 12:02pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/15 "2013-04-03T12:02:05Z")
Not a single real OG has posted in here lol. There’s a very simple answer to your questions: **Maintenance.** ---
**Author:** ![brandon240](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@brandon240](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/brandon240)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 12:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/16 "2013-04-03T12:26:12Z")
My reaction to reading the OP: ![http://weknowgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/black-guy-laughing-on-boat-gif.gif](http://weknowgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/black-guy-laughing-on-boat-gif.gif) In all seriousness though, my s14 has been a fucking tank for 3+ years, but with that being said I have replaced just about everything. ---
**Author:** ![nate10](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nate10/32/5723_2.png) [@nate10](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/nate10)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/17 "2013-04-03T12:44:36Z")
OG? Just because you don’t know someone, doesn’t mean you know their credentials, ---
**Author:** ![SaNTi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@SaNTi](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SaNTi)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 12:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/18 "2013-04-03T12:50:04Z")
The two fourty es ex is a very good car for driving on the street and it has tires. \<\< I’m the devil +1000. _mean face with horns that are red with fire and scary_ ---
**Author:** ![purestock240](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/purestock240/32/5729_2.png) [@purestock240](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/purestock240)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 1:02pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/19 "2013-04-03T13:02:31Z")
most posts here are from people who have been on here for 5-6 years. not sure how long someone needs to own a car to know if its fairly reliable or not? ---
**Author:** ![Steve660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Steve660](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Steve660)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 1:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732/20 "2013-04-03T13:10:30Z")
Stay away! I think i’ve spent as much time working on my car as I have driving it, and I daily 20-30k a year. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-reliable-are-240sx-for-daily-driving-to-a-mechanically-inept-person/229732.md?page=2)