MotorWeek | Retro Review : '89 Nissan 240SX

One last trip back before the weekend. Please subscribe if you haven't already. Thanks for your support.

[@nettle97008]

It's funny how they hated the shade of green on the 240SX until they found out that BMW used the same color.

[@ROCKO633]

The Dark Green in the 93 with tan interior was bad ass,.. I havnt seen one of those on the rd. in Years,..I actually bought the very last 1993 240SX SE Fast Back sold in ALL of North Carolina. I was in a bidding War over it with a Dealer in Wilmington 250 miles away,..But they had to sell it to me cause I was at the Dealership. In Winston Salem where it was delivered. it was Burgandy with Super Hicas Sreering, nice lil car,..I later traded it for a 95 300ZX

[@alex_k1410]

Ear Regardless That shade of green looks fantastic!

[@ashleytucker6220]

That’s not what he said. They didn’t like it but bmw has used it in the past. They were just stating a fact not opinion

[@GalenlevyPhoto]

Toyota prévia had that color too.

[@McBeamer94]

I like this light green shade, tbh! Also, I've seen a facelifted hatchback 200SX in that ruby shade at the start (edit: Cranberry Red), only with aftermarket wheels with 6 twin spokes! It looks great!

[@Oscarandmax]

That Mullet is a work of art.

[@rodmunch69]

Long hair isn't a mullet, it's unbelievable how people fail to know what a mullet is. Also it looks like he curls his hair and by '89 this was wayyyyy out of style.

[@Kgio-2112]

@@rodmunch69 what is style...

[@orderofmagnitude-TPATP]

Litterally about to time stamp this bad boy... so everytime i think of something to comment - just know that some smart-ass has beaten me 10x to the fold before ive even thought of it lol

[@orderofmagnitude-TPATP]

@@rodmunch69 thats a mullet. Seriously. If not then explain. I had long hair as a kid and it wasn't a mullet. But this looks textbook mullet....educate me!

[@rodmunch69]

@@orderofmagnitude-TPATP Mullet = short on the sides, long in the back -- or business up front, party in the back. Just having long hair isn't a mullet.

[@gunandcarfreak16]

"highway loving coupe, not a hardcore sports car" Lol not anymore

[@freddychimea3873]

If they only knew what we do today. Like my rb25neo and skyline subframe and so on.

[@hondamanvtec2894]

Orginal it is It's a slow ass Nissan when stock

[@zapcodeknock4503]

80's cars, in 89 were just picking up on horsepower for the majority cars were comfortable then though and still stylish till sometime later in like the 90's

[@cincomithell]

It’s definitely a performance car today.. and one can do a lot with 240SX, hell you can do good stuff with lots of cars but the 240SX has held its own on tracks for a while. Saying “no matter what you do to it” is just ignorant or burying your head in the sand.

[@cincomithell]

What a very informed insightful point of view...

[@Acc0rd79]

Nissan seriously needs to bring this car back! They need a cheap car in the 20k range. I think the younger audience and ladies would snag them up super fast!

[@McBeamer94]

Acc0rd79 Oh yes! Remebmer the iDX Concepts? Nissan really needs a car like this to compete with the Scion FR-S! Rear-drive, sporty, light, affordable and insurable! Just like the 240SX!

[@VWayyyyyyyy]

Dimitris Varsos The FRS is nothing like the 240. Haha! When it comes to weight distribution it's like a completely different car. Sure their both light and affordable but yet different.

[@peter455sd]

Acc0rd79 That was the heyday of the Japanese industry,now it turned out expensive and boring,they simply lost the hand..........

[@StratMatt777]

Acc0rd79 They brought the ugly front drive Altima coupe and nobody liked it. If the FR-S and BRZ sales are disappointing its not gonna look too lucrative to Nissan to make something similar sadly... but I would buy one!

[@VWayyyyyyyy]

StratMatt777 Sales are disappointing because of price and power.

[@EJ20VF39]

My first car. Bought it when I was 18, & drove it for 15 yrs 300k miles. I always had great taste. 4 wheel disc brakes, rear drive, and manual tranny. I chose this over ricer Hondas, & FWD Eclipses.

[@LouisSubearth]

That moment when Motor Week reviewed Iketani's S13 before he modified it.

[@thekernel69]

But his was a jdm Silvia

[@boostedwilliam8923]

@@thekernel69 With CA18DET inside:)

[@GT6SuzukaTimeTrials]

These are the best car videos on youtube, by far.

[@asianmanfromasia]

This is the first review of completely stock 240sx. All the other reviews are modified or just beat to shit.

[@renz1013]

and ironicly expensive

[@cupidblues]

Heads Up Display in 1989. Still an expensive option here in Australia in 2019. Awesome 😎

[@StanceGaming]

26 years later this cost 7000$ in bad condition and every drifter's budget dream ahha

[@billyz97]

I see them on my local craigslist for a max of $5,000 with coilovers, nice wheels, and it's been turboed or sr-20 swapped.

[@StanceGaming]

in canada, 240's are like piece of crap... i want to go in the usa to buy one... one day --'

[@oldtwins]

+Billy Benedict modified ones lower its price, especially if they changed the engine and suspension. stock ones that aren't falling apart are jewels to be had.

[@allwrathnograpes]

you'll be disappointed. they're worse here

[@shitstain7137]

$7,000 lmao i got a bridge to sell you kid

[@jtl909]

80's mullet-perm warning at 5:30.

[@hectorsandoval839]

Mullets are back btw

[@FirebirdDude]

The CD opening with the 20th Century Fox fanfare must have been the soundtrack from a Star Wars movie!

[@XenomorphLV426]

Am I the only one that would love a 100% stock 240sx?

[@nakoma5]

Nearly impossible to find stock. Too many bad, wannabe tuners got to them first. Sigh.

[@kylesoler4139]

A crap tone of cash and time it would be possible to restore one to stock but then some people have butcherd the bodywork of these things so you are pretty much fucked.

[@benbot4234]

Its not that fun really. Mine is a bear to get going and the handling isnt anything to write home about. Idk if its just me but i think these were popular because they are easy to mod. Your not missing out on much.

[@bartscanland9415]

I sold my '92 about 9 years ago and finding parts in salvage yards was getting pretty difficult back then.

[@Joshua_N-A]

Stock is now unicorn of its own.

[@JS-bf8fz]

Little did they know this would become one of the 90s japanese classics and the one of the best sports car platforms built with all sorts of engines and suspensions.

[@marvinmurakami8828]

I have one of the earliest examples of this car which has a higher compression and a rumored 155 hp. It drives great to this day and has been stone dead reliable. A fantastic car indeed.

[@StratMatt777]

Marvin Murakami Interesting! The '91 to '93 have 155HP too, but that's from the 4 valves per cylinder/DOHC.

[@pleasedonttalk3]

hello sir do you still happen to have that 240?

[@ConFox271]

“That shade of green is yuck” I cracked up

[@39Hundred]

I love these car reviews from the 80s. Brings back memories of my childhood. If you have it, can you post a review of a Suzuki Samurai?

[@Motorweek]

Look for it Monday. We have a split test with both the hardtop and the cloth top

[@prisoneralex2752]

Yes!

[@zeeshanfedaie6553]

Thank you so much for posting this. HAPPILY SUBSCRIBED!!!!!!!!!

[@Sonic_1000]

Fantastic retro review as always!

[@chrisSVT]

Holy Jheri Curl!!

[@hyperlogos]

My 240SX was white. I had the spoiler lip. I crashed it, fixed it, lowered it, and sold it. Anyone want to buy some 26mm 300ZX calipers and braided lines? The KA24E made 155 bhp and 155 lb-ft. The 0-60 was so poor because you had to shift twice due to gearing. 0-55 is better than anything else in the class. I took the seat cover off the driver's side and put a fabric covered foam wedge pillow into the bottom of the seat, then _bent_ the headrest forward and reclined the seat an extra notch. To those who say the 240SX was meant to follow the 200SX and not the 240Z, _bananas_. All cars were getting heavier at that time to accommodate new safety standards, just as they have been ever since. If you've driven the 240SX in anger, you know what I mean. A completely base car is utterly tossable and will do anything you ask of it. The 240SX had handling superior to the Porsche 944 in 1989. Shame about that truck motor, though

[@STARSHIPTROOP]

5yrs later they became every ricers dream, well almost every. We used to laugh at them adding wings, aero kits, turbos and boost till they blew up. Hilarious, good times when you only have a little bit of cash to spend back then.

[@tracestroub5225]

There was probably a big hairspray stain on that driverseat headrest!

[@manthony225]

The hatch was definitely better looking than the coup. The minty green, the acid washed jeans and the mullet are a lot to take in.

[@DoYouThinkForUrselF]

lol ya, looks like weird al yankovick had a job with motorweek way back when........ahhh the eighties.

[@patrickmichaellangan576]

manthony225 I was never a fan of any mint green colored car either. I also had to laugh at John Davis's narration of the color being "a resounding YUCK!"

[@BoostedPastime]

manthony225 I'd take the coupe all day every day

[@rodmunch69]

Long hair is not a mullet... will people please learn what a mullet is, it's simple, shaved/short sides, long in the back, it's that simple.

[@Burt1038]

IDK exactly why but I def prefer the coupe. I just like the sharper edges in the rear lights I guess.

[@SpikeRazzor]

To this day I dunno why they never just sold them with the C18 then SR20 later on. The goddamn KA24 sucks hard for its it's amount of displacement.

[@ianklausing8578]

I wish they would have too but see, an SR would have made them faster than the NA Z32 of that year that were selling for almost ten grand more. I guess they didnt want people making the no brainer choice of faster for cheaper.

[@SpikeRazzor]

Ian Klausing The N/A Z was like the N/A Supra. Hot garbage lol.

[@warracer03]

Nissan got slapped by insurance company and had to work around it to make the 240sx not only cheap to buy but also cheap to insure.

[@SpikeRazzor]

warracer03 Why them though? Everyone else seemed fine making all sorts turbocharged compacts back then.

[@ianklausing8578]

emissions taxation, import stipulations and all that kind of shit. probably the same reason some manufacturers dont offer hybrids today...too efficient, to costly this model wont sell blah blah.they for sure fucked up because the 240sx would have been an instant top rate competitor on the track.

[@mediacritic]

I loved this car.

[@SpencerTaylorOnline]

"For those 20 years older and softer..." Haha! That's hilarious! This is easily one of the Top 10 funniest lines in MotorWeek history :-)

[@mattwolf7698]

I love the color.

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

Had a 92 redesigned coupe. This car was pretty fast and had near perfect weight distribution so it took corners fast almost as fast as you could go! And I LOVED THE SEATS..

[@MEHTbl_MHE_HE_KEHTbl]

I didn't know that manual transmissions were so popular in America.

[@freddychimea3873]

I dont know when i discovered this car bjt i do remember falling in love when my friend brought his semi broken sr20det powered 240 and i heard am hks ssqv blow off for the first time. I knew i was in love. Im on my 3rd one that is fully built from the ground up with the newer skyline gtt motor rb25det neo theres not alot that give u a feeling like a well sorted turbo 240sx

[@danteeightsix9069]

When I think of 240SX or 180SX, this comes to mind. When I think of 200SX, I think of a FWD box

[@boucivicsir]

man that leather coat is awesome.

[@jamill79]

Just imagine to buy a brand new car like that again for $15,000 loaded.

[@telesniper2]

+J Mills sigh

[@BoostedPastime]

J Mills I'd do it if I could

[@oldtwinsna8347]

But that's 1989 dollars. In 2017 it comes out to equal about $30k today, which is exactly what a base 370Z will cost you right now.

[@rodmunch69]

No air bags, no anti-lock brakes, probably no crumple zones, this car wouldn't come anywhere close to passing any modern government safety standards for new cars. Load up all that stuff, put in all the additional emissions standards, increase the weight by 700lbs and you ruin the car, and it still cost $10k more to make.

[@Burt1038]

@@oldtwinsna8347 And the z is a far superior vehicle in every respect.

[@TEDdotcom]

Weird Al is that you testing the car's interior? Love this car though.

[@jonmanos1116]

Our well thought-out Jerhi-Curl provided nothing but a pleasurable, and sporty ride......

[@randsonic]

I had a 90 SE hatch. Great little car as it handled like it was on rails and was very reliable. The engine however is about as inspiring as a tooth extraction. The big 4 was tuned for low/mid range torque and it had plenty of that for the lightweight platform. Rev it out past 5000rpm and Yoko Ono like sounds are emitted from the engine bay. If I had one again I would add a STS turbo unit as they really bolster torque, forget the engine swap...this car would be a hoot with 300ft/lbs to the rear wheels.

[@manfredmann2766]

I used to have an 89, which I bought in the mid 90s for less than 6k with about 70k on the odometer. That car was extremely reliable and handled well. However, the power was weak and it couldn’t hang with cars that were coming out in the mid 90s. I always had the desire to add nitrous back then or purchased an 87-89 Toyota Supra instead. Reliability won in the end and I had it for 5 years, with nothing to do but change the oil.

[@daverunner3397]

I had a 240 sx se with engine up grades. Great driver.

[@daverunner3397]

+dave runner Stock engine is anemic.

[@pressedsteel7463]

I had a white one, Very good little car.

[@rad8078]

Imagine what you could do if you could buy one of those factory spec fresh of the line now. With the aftermarket support you could do some cool oem+ mods on a clean sub 1000 mile chassis

[@irieite100]

These were and still are peak Nissan. I mean, just look at that dark red SE in the opening scene. 😢 They couldn’t have made much money on these given the sophistication of the chassis at the price point. 0:48

[@Skyhawk1987Turbo]

I'd so love to retro reviews on GM and ford cars

[@christopherhernandez78]

Do a Stanza review

[@JarOfRats]

It's amazing to see, 20 years after the peak of the muscle car era, to see those acceleration numbers being considered fast. Those were some very dark times. At least there was the Grand National.

[@DankSi]

911 turbo was always around

[@maureencora1]

Poor Man Z. Nice Car, I Used to Want One in 1990.

[@StephaneLeclair]

That mullet tho!!

[@pearlmax]

Though*

[@tc3sean]

This made me miss my XE, same color 2 tone! The host still looks the same.

[@clutchcrusade]

My coupe was exactly like the test car in the video without the sunroof when it was stock, but now it’s top color white and chuki front end

[@BlindMansRevenge2002]

Nice!

[@v3ctormax]

I had a DrkGry Hatchback. It got more head turns than the 944 Porsche that my co-worker owned. Brakes were awesome. But it didn't give the same thrills as my 1976 280Z I owned as my first car!

[@Vladlll]

Wow H.U.D in the early 90's...Thumbs up!

[@monk3yboy69]

it is 1940s technology, so to say you're surprised it was used in the 90s is a bit odd.

[@JolliAllGenGamer]

Wow didn't know there was a heads up display in cars in 1989!?

[@rodmunch69]

I finally got a car with heads-up display in my BMW 4-series, and man, I love it. Once you use it, it's hard to go back to not having it, in particular when it's tied into GPS like it is in the BMW. You get lane change graphics, turning directions, speed, etc, all in color, and it's perfectly readable in the day, and not at all too bright at night. The only odd thing is the height adjustment, if someone else gets in the car who is shorter/taller than you, if it's not adjusted (which takes like 2 seconds) then they will claim they can't see it. Also from the passengers seat you can't see it at all, it's pretty interesting stuff that should be standard on all cars. Also I do believe the Oldsmobile Cutlass was the first car with HUD to be produced on a mass scale.

[@linoacuna7230]

S13 best car ever!!!!! And am not really a big fan of Nissan but great car love the body style

[@endersstare328]

Have you done a review on the 1990 nissan D21 pickup? If so, I'd like to see it.

[@asleepnomore4111]

Nice mullet.

[@robneville5728]

A drifter's dream car.

[@pearlmax]

You mean a new one? One with paint? One with no dents? One without ebay stickers on the windows? One that doesn't look like utter shit? 240 owners know nothing about Nissan, and have no appreciation for the company. Or even their own cars.

[@B.I.T.S]

OMG that guys hair is hilarious. Ah the 80s. : )

[@obsoletegeek]

It's wild seeing one of these that isn't clapped out with unpainted fast and furious-like body cladding, broken heart and Monster energy decals, primered body panels and riding on bump stops.

[@MEHTbl_MHE_HE_KEHTbl]

I didn't know that manual transmissions were so popular in America.

[@oliverrojas3185]

Thanks

[@4cylfreak46]

That curly mullet though… 😆

[@L90738]

The perfect JDM cars.

[@bliglum]

Wow, here I was thinking the C5 Corvette was the first mass produced sports car with a heads up display.. What '89 240!!

[@XenomorphLV426]

That Jerry Curl tho.

[@gunnarkvinlaug9079]

In Japan this one is known as a Silvia S13 with the front of a 180SX. The 240SX name was only used in USA!

[@SilverScarletSpider]

The price seems amazing for the time

[@andersonsanjose8785]

Esse carros é Nissan Silva carro sensacional 👍👍👍 muito bonito

[@jameswalsh6131]

How is a digital speedo less informative than a regular gauge? That being said this was and still is one good looking car.

[@Photoshop098]

The traditional gauge includes MPH and KMH if i'm not wrong

[@onlyoneromeo]

Can we get a review of the 16 valve version?

[@melaninfuture]

😍

[@takaogibson845]

Front is 180sx and Rear Silvia. Total Opposite of Sil-Eighty (Front Silvia, Rear 180SX. Too bad they didn't have CA18DET or SR20DET.

[@Joshua_N-A]

ONEVIA

[@FastSloW-qt8xf]

They do. It's just at 20k they have to make it fwd built off a platform they have tooling for. So low r and d cost. Therefore we get the Sentra ser,, or spec v, or nismo sentra..

[@helllokitty138]

Wow it has HUD already? Luxury vehicles charge an arm and a leg for that now

[@skylinefever]

When I saw the second generation of the Hyundai Gen Coupe came out, I called it "The Silvia that America never got."

[@jasonvogue4487]

Baltimore Mullet!! 97.9 98 Rock Baby

[@stevemills8501]

Jesus Christ. I had the same haircut at 5:40, back in the day. For I was, The Mullet King. The king of fucked up, goofy-ass haircuts. Shame on me. Please god, don't let 'em come back in style.

[@jaybird9269]

My first car. Didn't know what I had. Parents sold it while I was in basic

[@TheReapersSon]

Dat hair = Eastbound and Down!!!

[@a.person7825]

Now that’s funny!😜

[@j.r.florida6900]

Nice jacket......

[@robertpierson6672]

5:27 Check.out that awesome '80s mullet!! LOL

[@jlopez65]

The 1984 Nissan 200SX turbo did 0 to 60 in about 9.0 secs .

[@alex_k1410]

Too bad you can't find many 240sx this clean today... :(

[@Doobie1975]

good mid line power and very good top line power for a 1989 4 cylinder sporty car.

[@zapcodeknock4503]

i think you're actually right, however I don't really see these cars on the road very much...

[@oldtwinsna8347]

@@zapcodeknock4503 they are to find in stock condition because of their value as drifters. relatively easy to find modded ones for sale but you'll pay a premium and won't be driving something true to its original rollout.

[@jayman7037]

The 240sx had the best chassis in its class and it was sad that nissan didnt offer the turbo engine that was sold in japan

[@MEHTbl_MHE_HE_KEHTbl]

I didn't know that manual transmissions were so popular in America.

[@JuddKramer]

I didn't think I'd ever see a 240SX that wasn't absolutely tarted up by some east coast parkie hooligan.

[@commonyetrare]

You sound like a twat with that vernacular, over in america we still have some 240's that are not riced out.

[@XenomorphLV426]

Wow never knew Nissan was the first to do a HUD.

[@juanc5149]

Dang. 24 mpg combined? My s13 got a best of 16 mpg on the highway. It was a turbocharged 4 cyl making over 500 hp on e85 tho.

[@Aurora_v_cali]

That engine vibration is scary 0.0

[@landyachtfan79]

5:26........there's that tester with his mane-let (sort of a cross between a mane & a mullet) & acid-washed jeans again...........AAAAH, THE '80'S!!!!!! And at 6:07........there is ACTUALLY a CD with the 20th Century Fox theme, huh?!!!!!

[@user-fo6gk5sp8f]

same green as my current 89 Nissan Pulsar

[@Lrules364]

Oldsmobile was the first to offer a heads up to display in a production vehicle. Please see the 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme for details. This nissan, and many other brands, took to copying this amazing feature. Sadly, its no longer around. And garbage touchscreen tablets have taken its place.

[@kylesoler4139]

No wonder the 240sx had the KA. Cheaper to insure (until now).

[@recpro7847]

I wanted on of these so bad when they came out... till I checked the insurance premiums! Ouch!!

[@scottieray]

Trust me when I tell you that Mullets in Missouri were really not that expensive to insure in the late 80's.

[@robertdavis32]

Do they have a review of the 95 240sx? I wanna see that soo bad

[@hadrien4089]

Didn't know the Onevia was factory

[@jesuscrust13]

Some markets also got factory Sileighties

[@aircraftguy2447]

This is my dream car but I'm very young to drive it and have no money at all(I'm a kid)

[@albear972]

Niiice! I remember that cool as heck head up display! But Mr. Blue/weird Al Look alike's mullet is NOT cool! 5:27

[@2Kriss2Kross]

Wasn't the '88 Cutlass Supreme the first mass production car with HUD?

[@sr20boostjunkie]

I *love* my *s13*

[@97warlock]

In looks alone, that hangs with or even blows away cars & suvs on 2022 imo as far as looks go.

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

And to think that S13 240SXs go for what they were new now. And, did anyone know what drifting was back then? lol