FR-S vs 1998 240SX, looking at the data

[Tanuki]

Originally Posted by Wolfking

I liked you, up until now Tanuki san!

Haha we can still be friends. Basically the s14 is great, but it is a good platform to build on, I don't feel like the stock usdm s14 is very impressive, and when compared to an s13, I feel like it is just a bigger heavier version. Stock for stock, there is no way you can say that the s14 feels as nimble as the frs/brz. The suspension is much softer, the car rides higher, and depending on which trim you bought, you may have a 4 lug and open diff.

Don't get me wrong, the s chassis are probably the cheapest with best potential to build up, I just feel like the frs would beat the s14 stock for stock easily.

[Tanuki]

Oh and the kouki usdm s14 is also the best looking 240sx to grace U.S. shores

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by regal

Let me put it this way, It may not make lot of sense to invest $8k restoring a 20 year old Nissan 240sx, but it does make since to invest into a 20 yo MR2. Because of long term durability/quality.

Let me speak from experience: Both are hoopties after 20 years. Do not "invest" any money in these cars if you ever want to see it back. They're not 69 Camaros or rare Porsches! You put money into them because you want to go fast for cheap, and that's it.

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by Tanuki

Haha we can still be friends. Basically the s14 is great, but it is a good platform to build on, I don't feel like the stock usdm s14 is very impressive, and when compared to an s13, I feel like it is just a bigger heavier version. Stock for stock, there is no way you can say that the s14 feels as nimble as the frs/brz. The suspension is much softer, the car rides higher, and depending on which trim you bought, you may have a 4 lug and open diff.

Don't get me wrong, the s chassis are probably the cheapest with best potential to build up, I just feel like the frs would beat the s14 stock for stock easily.

Bingo. A stock s14 is decent but after driving around an FR-S a bit, there are quite a few differences and I have to say the FR-S is much better out of the box. I can also agree with that statement of the s14 vs the s13. I had an S14 first that was built from top to bottom and then after I got rid of it, I got an s13. It had basic suspension work done and it felt way more nimble and sharp than the s14 ever did. I feel like the s13 makes the better track car and the s14 seems to make the better street car. That's my opinion though.

As far as the FR-S goes. Keep in mind the the s14 is getting to be 20 years old. That's a long time as far as aftermarket R&D and designing goes. I wouldn't even say 15 years for the FR-S. I say give it maybe 5 or so and then people will start complaining about how they can't figure out which part to buy cause there's too many options. Back then, there were so many other "affordable" FR layout sports cars to choose from. Now adays, that list is pretty damn small. That being said, aftermarket companies have been putting in the extra hours to get parts made for this thing asap.

I'm waiting for certain companies to release parts so I can pick them up. I'm stock piling everything I need for when I buy the car next year.

[Justin.b]

I have no idea what the original poster is trying to say.

I have owned an S13 with a lot of work done to it and an SR20DET swap. That gave me a car with 200hp that weighed 2700 pounds. I loved it.

When I started reading about the FT86 concept, my first thought was that it is like my old S13. When it was released and actually had the specs they promised, I bought one.

I want to be very clear that I bought this car because it is like a 240sx, not because it's like an AE86 (It's not, it's like a 240sx) or because it's like an MR2/Mr-S (It's not and I don't think anyone who matters ever claimed it was).

Of course, Toyota can't say this car carries on the recently-abandoned heritage of the Nissan S chassis so they had to reach back to an ugly old corolla and claim that as the inspiration. I don't think it's a coincidence that Toyota just happened to start developing a 200hp/2700# sport coupe right when the S15 was being killed off by Nissan.

-Justin

[Wolfking]

Originally Posted by Tanuki

Oh and the kouki usdm s14 is also the best looking 240sx to grace U.S. shores

Flattery will get you nowhere, dirtbag! I've never owned an S13, but while stationed in Japan, I was really feeling one in the cream over gold scheme. I somewhat feel I abused my S14...

With that in mind I've not driven my FRS hard nor is it likely I'll attend a track event in it. I'm simply content to be back in a car that is very reminiscent of my watered down version of a Silvia.

As great as the FRS is acclaimed to be, I reserve the hope Nissan will pull their head out and build me a proper car.

[elbles]

Count me in the camp that thinks the Toyobaru is more on par with the S13 than the S14.

I had a S13 as my first car, and the BRZ/FR-S is really the first thing to come on the market that seems created from the same formula. And for those who had a stock S13 or S14 in the US, you kinda have to laugh at the notion that the Toyobaru is underpowered. I would have killed to have 200 HP instead of 140 HP (though we did have one or two more foot-pounds of torque ;-)).

[Tanuki]

Originally Posted by Justin.b

I have no idea what the original poster is trying to say.

I have owned an S13 with a lot of work done to it and an SR20DET swap. That gave me a car with 200hp that weighed 2700 pounds. I loved it.

When I started reading about the FT86 concept, my first thought was that it is like my old S13. When it was released and actually had the specs they promised, I bought one.

I want to be very clear that I bought this car because it is like a 240sx, not because it's like an AE86 (It's not, it's like a 240sx) or because it's like an MR2/Mr-S (It's not and I don't think anyone who matters ever claimed it was).

Of course, Toyota can't say this car carries on the recently-abandoned heritage of the Nissan S chassis so they had to reach back to an ugly old corolla and claim that as the inspiration. I don't think it's a coincidence that Toyota just happened to start developing a 200hp/2700# sport coupe right when the S15 was being killed off by Nissan.

-Justin

Have you owned an ae86?

[Justin.b]

Nope. I did own 3 S12 200SX's (rwd, 2500 pounds) before my S13 but there aren't many AE86's out this way. I suspect they didn't hold up well to the salt and snow. After the S13, I bought a Miata (still own).

-Justin

[Smudgeous]

Originally Posted by Justin.b

Nope. I did own 3 S12 200SX's (rwd, 2500 pounds) before my S13 but there aren't many AE86's out this way. I suspect they didn't hold up well to the salt and snow. After the S13, I bought a Miata (still own).

-Justin

Hell yeah, S12s. My second car was a white one (only on account of the family hand-me-down being my first). I drove from NJ to VA Beach for that bad boy. Only 105 HP and 120 lb/ft of torque in those CA20E engines but the chassis was still light enough to drift when you wanted. And talk about engine bay space... You could easily have swapped in an RB25DET

[Rayme]

Originally Posted by regal

If the FR-S weighed the same as the MR2 Spyder, the whole sluggish lack of power "controversy" wouldn't even be a topic of discussion.

It seems the lack of power things comes from people who don't even owns a FR-S, a lot of people are happy with the power, and people will always ALWAYS WANT MOAR, MOAR MOAR!!!

This car could have 275 HP stock and you'd still have people shitting over it because you could get a mustang v6 with over 300 HP, etc. People just like to whine all the time.

[GT86drifter]

Originally Posted by Justin.b

I want to be very clear that I bought this car because it is like a 240sx, not because it's like an AE86 (It's not, it's like a 240sx)

Totally agree with you. I still currently own my S13 with KA-T.

[SOneThreeCoupe]

The FR-S/BRZ somehow came out of Toyota when it really should've been the next 240SX/Silvia.

It's 11.3" shorter in length than the S13, 10.5" shorter than the S14 and 8.3" shorter than the S15.

It's 3.4" wider than the S13, 1.8" wider than the S13, and 3.2" wider than the S14.

It's .2" shorter in height than the S13, .4" shorter than the S14 and identical to the S15.

It's 4.2" longer in wheelbase than the S13, 2.2" longer in wheelbase than the S14 and 1.8" longer in wheelbase than the S15.

It's 59lbs heavier than the S13, 104lbs lighter than the S14 and 86lbs lighter than the S15.

I am buying this car for the same reason two above have bought/are considering buying it: it's a modern S13, albeit with a much longer wheelbase and less low-end torque. I loved my 240 when I was still running skinny tires as it was eminently more tossable than it is now with 245s; my only regret is never knowing the car with spring rates less than 8/6.

[Bugbeat]

Originally Posted by Tanuki

My FRS feels like a dream compared to my kouki s14 pig.

Really? In what specific ways does it feel better, aside from the obvious modern benefits?