Talk to me about 200SXs....
Discussion
Which one are you looking at? S14's seem to be the one within most budgets just now, S15's still seem a bit steep. Is it the Turbo or NA you're looking at? IIRC my mate who had one didnt have rear seats?!?! But it could just be he took his out I'm not sure. The Turbo one he had was quite expensive to run, not the comfiest, but alright on long distance I suppose.
They all have rear seats, i found both my s13 and my s14 to be comfy and the s14 was very reliable but the s13 chewed up the big ends.
Fuel economy!!!!!!!!! if you are worried then do not buy one, they are pretty shocking and dont let anyone tell you otherwise, it is no wander that you see these types of car travelling at 50mph on the motorway.
Mine would easily get into single figures and that was only lightly tuned at around 250bhp. Plus they can oversteer like crazy without a warning.
Buy one, you will love it! Sodding fast when even lightly tuned, balls to the economy.
Fuel economy!!!!!!!!! if you are worried then do not buy one, they are pretty shocking and dont let anyone tell you otherwise, it is no wander that you see these types of car travelling at 50mph on the motorway.
Mine would easily get into single figures and that was only lightly tuned at around 250bhp. Plus they can oversteer like crazy without a warning.
Buy one, you will love it! Sodding fast when even lightly tuned, balls to the economy.
Chris71 said:
How do you reckon a (standard-ish) 200 SX would stack up against a hot hatch or a 3-Series Coupe as a daily driver?
I know they can be quite amusing to drive, but how would the boring/sensible stuff like fuel economy, long distance comfort and reliability compare?
Which ones?I know they can be quite amusing to drive, but how would the boring/sensible stuff like fuel economy, long distance comfort and reliability compare?
I had an s13, this one:
It looked stock but went like stink. Seemed faster than it should be, dunno how or why. But it'd out run a 330 e46, FTO and a number of others. It'd with ease top over 140mph on the tacho.
I really loved it, quite miss it in fact. But I sold it to buy a new cam, carb and some other bits for my TR.
Handling wise was pretty good, not uncomfy, but not pin sharp either. Bit of body roll. I did find it very snappy though and the turbo motor made drifting it very difficult.
Down sides:
-Interior was very very grey
-It liked a drink, mid 20's never better
-It liked a drink of oil too (another reason for selling it), 1 pint a week
-Very on and off power delivery. It was a total PIG to drive slow, it really didn't like it at all and off boost low rpms it had zero power. But hit the boost and all it wanted to do was bang the limiter.
This was great for hooning, but it could get a bit tiring if you wanted a more relaxed drive. But then this on/off power delivery might be explained by how fast it seemed.
Can't directly comment on the S14's apart from the fact I like the look and I wanted one for many years. I've sat in them and they a bit nicer inside, although still very Japanese.
My brother has driven a couple and he came away disappointed. He said they just didn't feel that quick in stock trim, even compared to my s13 and where a tad soft.
I had a s14a touring for four years lightly tuned at 250bhp & used it daily & it was awesome i loved it.
Its still the best car i have owned easily.
Great fun & very useable on the road i seemed to spend more time going sideways than i did going straight on!
Get one you wont regret it i had an 2000 x reg from 2002 till 2006 & part chopped it for my tvr,i would have one again in a flash.
Hope you get a nice one & good luck.
Its still the best car i have owned easily.
Great fun & very useable on the road i seemed to spend more time going sideways than i did going straight on!
Get one you wont regret it i had an 2000 x reg from 2002 till 2006 & part chopped it for my tvr,i would have one again in a flash.
Hope you get a nice one & good luck.
I had an S13, pretty comfy and easy to drive day to day. Pretty wallowy on standard suspension but never got into trouble with it. Sadly it fell apart on an almost daily basis and was suffering from major rear subframe and sill rot.
My advice would be to try and find one of the few that hasn't been modified (well, aside from those dreadful pre facelift alloys) or at least one that hasn't fallen into the RWD JDM DRIFT YO!!11!! crowd
My advice would be to try and find one of the few that hasn't been modified (well, aside from those dreadful pre facelift alloys) or at least one that hasn't fallen into the RWD JDM DRIFT YO!!11!! crowd
Had a manual S14a for a year or so a while back... a good car in general, quick and fun to drive though the interior is rather dull and plasticky. The stock suspension is actually quite soft, and that (along with the turbo power delivery) can lead to a fair few uninvited sideways moments, especially in the wet. As you'd expect, tyre choice is critical to making the most of the handling.
Many of them have been tuned so if you're looking at a modded one make sure it's been done properly (and get an insurance quote first!), and look out for accident damage resulting from the uninvited sideways moments mentioned above.
Oh, and sxoc.co.uk is a great place to get advice and help when needed!
Many of them have been tuned so if you're looking at a modded one make sure it's been done properly (and get an insurance quote first!), and look out for accident damage resulting from the uninvited sideways moments mentioned above.
Oh, and sxoc.co.uk is a great place to get advice and help when needed!
A hot hatch will outhandle a stock 200SX all day long.
The 200SX has stonking midrange, cruises well, is deceptively fast and has minimal driving aids. They're a great car, they teach you a lot and encourage you to mod them and tweak them as they have so much to give.
Personally, I didn't mind the interior. Functional enough, comfy, not inspired though.
Get a manual one and have a laugh. 27Mpg average over 15K miles too!
A car everyone should own for a bit....
The 200SX has stonking midrange, cruises well, is deceptively fast and has minimal driving aids. They're a great car, they teach you a lot and encourage you to mod them and tweak them as they have so much to give.
Personally, I didn't mind the interior. Functional enough, comfy, not inspired though.
Get a manual one and have a laugh. 27Mpg average over 15K miles too!
A car everyone should own for a bit....
Another vote for 'Go for it' from me.
I really enjoyed my S13 over the three years or so I owned it.
They do seem to get a dispraportionate lick-on for the power they have.
Mine had a rolling road session and showed 201 flywheel bhp, was GPS recorded 0-60mph in 6.0 seconds and would easily crack an indicated 150.
Fuel econonmy not great - 20-25mpg depending on type of journey.
If I bought another one (and I do have a look in the classifides sometimes) I would drop the sump and fit a new set of crank bearings as a matter of course, mine did suffer terminal failure of the number three bearing, as they sometimes do.
Rust on the tailgate below the spoiler is common but not a disaster.
Rust everywhere else is also common and can be a disaster, so check the shell as best you can!
The best dice I had in it was down several miles of A road late one night with a Clio 172. He was marginally quicker in the tight corners (or braver, or more talented) but I could reel it back in on the straights.
Great car, good value.
I really enjoyed my S13 over the three years or so I owned it.
They do seem to get a dispraportionate lick-on for the power they have.
Mine had a rolling road session and showed 201 flywheel bhp, was GPS recorded 0-60mph in 6.0 seconds and would easily crack an indicated 150.
Fuel econonmy not great - 20-25mpg depending on type of journey.
If I bought another one (and I do have a look in the classifides sometimes) I would drop the sump and fit a new set of crank bearings as a matter of course, mine did suffer terminal failure of the number three bearing, as they sometimes do.
Rust on the tailgate below the spoiler is common but not a disaster.
Rust everywhere else is also common and can be a disaster, so check the shell as best you can!
The best dice I had in it was down several miles of A road late one night with a Clio 172. He was marginally quicker in the tight corners (or braver, or more talented) but I could reel it back in on the straights.
Great car, good value.
Great cars, I've had several and ran 400 odd bhp S14a's and nearer standard S14a's side by side for a number of years. If you are thinking of a completely standard car then I really wouldn't bother, but lightly modded to about 260 bhp, some minor suspension, brake and breather / exhaust mods and they make a huge amount of sense 
Dont shy away from a modded example, just make sure you spend time on the SXOC so you know what you are looking for and get a good one, they are very reliable if looked after. And 28 mpg combined when modded is definitely achievable...
I would definitely have one over the majority of hot hatches except maybe the track focused Meganes.
Dont shy away from a modded example, just make sure you spend time on the SXOC so you know what you are looking for and get a good one, they are very reliable if looked after. And 28 mpg combined when modded is definitely achievable...I would definitely have one over the majority of hot hatches except maybe the track focused Meganes.
d.
I used mine (S13 model) as a daily driver many years ago when it was stock. Perfectly fine cruiser but the temptation to use turbo and the ease with which you can slide it around roundabouts is far too much to resist so mpg will suffer!lol They are quite soft as standard so as long as you are not expecting hot hatch levels of handling you will be fine!
As for the sound, as great an engine the CA18 and SR20's are they don't sound amazing... especially the SR20..with an aftermarket exhaust on they sound like an old truck!. Straight 6 swap is what you want! ;-)
As for the sound, as great an engine the CA18 and SR20's are they don't sound amazing... especially the SR20..with an aftermarket exhaust on they sound like an old truck!. Straight 6 swap is what you want! ;-)
Is there a non-turbo version?
My only dim recollection of the 200SX - that which inspired the thread - was getting a lift with an old colleague who had one. There was no discernable lag or turbo woosh from the passenger seat and it seemed eminently driftable. I'm not aware of him being any sort of driving god and yet it appeared very controllable indeed. It was quite a basic model I think - hence the turbo question - and I believe it was an early S14 (they're the first of the slightly curvier ones?)
I guess 25mpg isn't much worse than, say, 30 in the grand scheme of things, but the thought does occur that my 5-litre TVR will pretty much match that on a run (when it's working). Those memories of going round Dunton roundabout at 45 degrees are pretty compelling though!
And yes, it was a despicable way for him to behave on the public road. Fun though.
My only dim recollection of the 200SX - that which inspired the thread - was getting a lift with an old colleague who had one. There was no discernable lag or turbo woosh from the passenger seat and it seemed eminently driftable. I'm not aware of him being any sort of driving god and yet it appeared very controllable indeed. It was quite a basic model I think - hence the turbo question - and I believe it was an early S14 (they're the first of the slightly curvier ones?)
I guess 25mpg isn't much worse than, say, 30 in the grand scheme of things, but the thought does occur that my 5-litre TVR will pretty much match that on a run (when it's working). Those memories of going round Dunton roundabout at 45 degrees are pretty compelling though!
And yes, it was a despicable way for him to behave on the public road. Fun though.
Non turbos are imports.
They're a funny car, in standard trim these days they're fairly bland and average. With only a little bit of work they're great fun. I wouldn't have another, but there's some beauties out there. If you go in eyes wide open knowing what to look for, and are prepared to put some money in it, you'll get a lot from them in return. If you expect them to be brilliant out of the box, they really aren't.
They're a funny car, in standard trim these days they're fairly bland and average. With only a little bit of work they're great fun. I wouldn't have another, but there's some beauties out there. If you go in eyes wide open knowing what to look for, and are prepared to put some money in it, you'll get a lot from them in return. If you expect them to be brilliant out of the box, they really aren't.
Chris71 said:
Is there a non-turbo version?
My only dim recollection of the 200SX - that which inspired the thread - was getting a lift with an old colleague who had one. There was no discernable lag or turbo woosh from the passenger seat and it seemed eminently driftable. I'm not aware of him being any sort of driving god and yet it appeared very controllable indeed. It was quite a basic model I think - hence the turbo question - and I believe it was an early S14 (they're the first of the slightly curvier ones?)
I guess 25mpg isn't much worse than, say, 30 in the grand scheme of things, but the thought does occur that my 5-litre TVR will pretty much match that on a run (when it's working). Those memories of going round Dunton roundabout at 45 degrees are pretty compelling though!
And yes, it was a despicable way for him to behave on the public road. Fun though.
Official UK cars were all turbo and came in 2 trim levels - Touring and non touring. Touring spec adds leather, passenger airbags, cd changer and sideskirts (S14a only).My only dim recollection of the 200SX - that which inspired the thread - was getting a lift with an old colleague who had one. There was no discernable lag or turbo woosh from the passenger seat and it seemed eminently driftable. I'm not aware of him being any sort of driving god and yet it appeared very controllable indeed. It was quite a basic model I think - hence the turbo question - and I believe it was an early S14 (they're the first of the slightly curvier ones?)
I guess 25mpg isn't much worse than, say, 30 in the grand scheme of things, but the thought does occur that my 5-litre TVR will pretty much match that on a run (when it's working). Those memories of going round Dunton roundabout at 45 degrees are pretty compelling though!
And yes, it was a despicable way for him to behave on the public road. Fun though.
Mine has been my daily driver since 2002 and has been the most reliable car I've ever owned. Has been at 285bhp and 300lbft for the last few years. Trundling back from the 'ring it managed over 38mpg. 27-28mpg is more usual though.
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