240 as a first car?

Hey everyone. I am looking for a first car. My birthday is on Jan 5 this coming year to turn 16 (thus, buying a car for myself). So I was consitering a 89-94 240, the first generation, correct? It needs it to be a 5 speed, don't really care about model unless it makes a differance, sx se are the options right? So my delima is that I will be buying a used one right in the middle of winter. Already I have lots of experiance driving, but only fwd not in snow. I know that the ka motor in the sx has more low end tourqe (sp?) but what does the 240se have? I was hoping that the se might have a more progressive powerband, therfore making it easier to drive in the snow, or possibly the ka would help me learn to control the car with more power in the lower rpm area. Theory only goes so far... how do 240's handle in the snow? Also what do you have to say about a 16 year old owning a 240 5 sp as a first car?

sidenote: After I get enough experiance and money saved up with the 240, I am getting a awd 1g dsm. I'm sure you have heard of them.

[stealthb14]

Sounds like you need to do a bit of homework. What you are looking at is an S13 240SX. It was availible in either Fastback (Most common), or Coupe body styles. There is a bit of difference in driving a RWD car in the snow, from driving a FWD car in the snow. My suggestion is that since you're only sixteen is to maybe hold off on your S13 240sx as your first car until winter is over, so then you have enough time to get used to the car, and how she handles on regular roads, so then next winter you'd be all set to be driving through the snow. There is no difference in the engines for that 240 SX, the SE is just a trim level, like with the Sentra it was XE, GXE, GLE, etc. Though its your call.

You should search these boards a bit more, and you could find a whole lot more info.

well, a first gen is a 1969 to 73'. A 89' would be into the 3 gen 300Zx
I have 2 240's and a 510. These cars are high maint. But very fun to drive, and very easy to work on. The 300's are all fuel injected, they can be made to be N/A fairly easy........but say good bye to any form of good gas milage !
Maybe your talking a 240sx........totally differnt animal, although i am thinking of stuffing the 240sx motor in my 510.

yaw all need to be looking at the S14 and S15 240s. They are hot as hell.

u no the 1995-98s and plus the ka motor is a great motor to tune because its only got about 30 hp less than the sr20 and u can get that with a $500 bottle of nos. And believe me the ka motor stock internals will hold the hp. $500 is alot cheaper than spending in the 1000s on engine swaps

[Honest Bob]

I was looking into getting one myself. Pretty much settled on a 95 - 98 200SX SE-R though.

Your looking for an 89 - 92 240. I beleive after 92 they gained alot of weight. All US 240's have the KA engine.

[Asleep]

not only did they gain weight but they retained the 150 hp ka... while its good in an altima, they should have added another 40 or so horses at least for the 240. the ka24de can handle up to 9 lbs of boost if you wanna turbo it or like said before, you can add nitrous to it for around 500 bucks for a basic setup. im running a 75 shot on my setup and ive had no problems whatsoever. 240's are nice, but for a 16 yr old, youre looking at higher insurance rates and less snow manners. why dont you start off with something a little more tame at first... it seems to me like you need just a bit more experience.