For automakers, the entrylevel sport coupe market has been rough going. Functionality and technology improvements change fast and enthusiast drivers can barely be counted on to be faithful to your brand. Because many Japanese automakers started to enter the marketplace, the '90s were a particularly dynamic time. It helped to get an edge, however, and also the Nissan 240SX came to market with maybe the most considerable fringe of all: rearwheel drive.

At that time, all the Japanese entrylevel sport coupes were frontwheel drive. Although this layout offers various practical gains, it's poor to reardrive when it comes to maximum performance possible. Even though it is difficult to say just how directly Nissan's pick of drive-train helped sales, it certainly helped the auto deliver on its guarantee of amusement.

The Nissan 240SX was likewise composed and comfortable on the highway thanks to Nissan's thennew multi-link rear suspension -- a clear edge over Detroit's reardrive pony cars as well as their nonindependent rear suspensions. For determination, Nissan equipped the 240SX with a 2.4liter, fourcylinder engine. Functionality was adequate, also -- at first. This four provided a good number of torque, but as time went on its dearth of hp and tough, noisy procedure became less satisfactory.

Oddly, many car enthusiasts seeking to alter their import car for improved performance have located the car's back-drive layout very attractive.

Newest Nissan 240SX

A fivespeed manual transmission was standard and a fourspeed automatic was discretionary.

Both versions shared two choices: a sunroof and anti-lock brakes packaged with a differential. SE versions with the latter may be had with a leather inside.

All 240SXs returned for 1996 sporting a discreetly restyled grille; eagle eyes will detect some of the slats missing. In Addition, the SE dropped its alarm and keyless entry (now reserved for leather versions) and power antenna.

A fresh LE version was also born - - it was basically an SE with all the leather chairs, sunroof, keyless entry and alarm. The stereo was reserved for the LE revised, now. Meanwhile, the base version dropped use of the anti-lock brakes and limitedslip differential bundle.

Provided the 240SX's mission for a sporty vehicle, it makes the most sense to acquire the upgraded mechanicals (and features) of SE and LE versions. Attempt to locate an example with limitedslip differential and anti-lock brakes also. The first versions also had several more comfort functions.

Having said that, we aren't too enthused about that generation of Nissan 240SX generally. In comparison to its predecessor, certain, its inside was more upscale, its construction stiffer and its double airbags a significant improvement. It also had fine-shifting manual and automated transmissions, gratifying grip and acceptable lowspeed force. But a lot of the pleasure that explained the firstgeneration 240SX had vanished.

The offender was the developments to the chassis. From a practical perspective, the vehicle was hampered with a border-worthless backseat and trunk plus a demand for superior gas.

Given all that, it really is likely little surprise the 240SX wasn't a tremendous sell. Alternately, people who just need a capable coupe can get almost all the 240SX's functionality in Nissan's frontwheel-drive 200SX SE-R, that is more affordable to purchase, easier on gasoline and much more accommodating to passengers and freight.

Previous Nissan 240SX models

The initial 240SX was created for the 1989-'94 model years. Coupes were dubbed hatchbacks, SE and XE.

While both were fairly stripped, each had a large option package comprising power windows and locks, cruise-control, an improved stereo, as well as in the coupe, an electronic speedometer using another "headup display" in the windshield that will carry through recent years. Standalone options on both contained airconditioning plus a glass sunroof (a common powersliding kind in the coupe; a detachable flipup kind in the hatchback).

The Nissan 240SX line was reshuffled for 1991. Both hatchbacks and coupes were stratified into SE and base versions, the latter including the information of the former alternative packages. Nevertheless, the big news concerned the engine, that has been upgraded from just one camshaft plus 12 valves to twin cams and 16 valves to improve hewlett-packard from 140 to 155.

Supplementing the newest determination was the SE hatchback's unique new Handling Package. Its stiffer suspension, wider tires, limitedslip differential and fourwheel steering led to history's sportiest 240SX actually. Models thus equipped were the sole ones that may be ordered with anti-lock brakes, regrettably.

The 240SX entered 1992 with a fresh SE convertible, having a power soft-top and accessible only with an automatic transmission. The LE hatchback expired after all coupes and 1992 and hatchbacks were discontinued after 1993, leaving just the drop-top for 1994.

Selecting a 240SX depends only in your taste for body design, because this generation really had no components stratification between the models along with your partiality for the electronic speedometer located in the betterequipped coupes.