Can someone advise me on my first truck - Infamous Nissan

stevechristmas · 12-01-2018, 08:44 AM

Hello all and thank you in advance. I’m going to buy a D21 this weekend. I’d like your thoughts on which of the two I’m going to look at you would buy. They’re of similar condition and mileage. The details are as follows:

1993 is rear wheel drive, about 115,000 miles, one owner, 4 cyvlinder manual transmission, regular cab and appears to be base trim.

1986.5 4x4 about 115,000 miles, one owner since 2001 who was a mechanic, 4 cyclinder manual transmission, king cab, has a sunroof so I expect it’s the se trim.

I just want to haul a dirtbike. I don’t care about power really and I won’t drive it much in the snow. I just want whichever is more reliable and maybe easier to work on, preferably easier to get parts for too if it matters. I know they have different engines but not sure which is preferred for this use case of keeping it stock and just hauling a small dirtbike in good riding weather. Basically, are there any reasons to prefer a 86.5 to a 93 or vice versa? I read in the sticky on this forum about the history and see 93 has a unique dash which I imagine is hard to replace but I don’t care too much about aesthetics, just want to buy something I can keep running.

Thanks

h.stickeye · 12-01-2018, 09:14 AM

the only real differences are the motor, 4x4, and annoying sunroof.

Sunroof - annoying to fix when they leak. And it will leak unless you are really lucky.

4x4 - personal preference, it might come in handy, but higher maintenance and things that can go wrong.

Engine - You got the z24 versus the KA motor in the 93. I personally think the z is more reliable. But the KA got like 30 more ponies, so once again, its personal preference there.

I would go the RWD if thats all you need and also of course, price dependant.

Note: Just because a mechanic owned a vehicle doesnt' mean its better looked after.

stevechristmas · 12-01-2018, 11:56 AM

Hi,
Thanks for the quick reply. Thank you for the information and also pointing out the thing about mechanic-owned, it's a good pint and well taken.

I'm attaching pictures of the '93, anything strike you as bad? This is not only my first Nissan but my first truck. I do lots and lots of motorcycle stuff but trucks and cars have so much s*&^ on them and I really don't know what I'm looking at.

truck in general:
https://imgur.com/a/t7g9Nvn
https://imgur.com/a/PIZWXoi
https://imgur.com/a/BEuvdFb

engine:
https://imgur.com/a/iRvhPUj

undercarriage:
https://imgur.com/a/vgXh4dR
https://imgur.com/a/Y21Cj0t

wheels/wheel wells
https://imgur.com/a/k5c2dxm
https://imgur.com/a/cA3Lv95
https://imgur.com/a/Tl9yzg5

PaineTrain04 · 12-01-2018, 01:15 PM

The '93 overall looks very clean.
What are the advertised prices on the truck? That may help determine if you want to buy something that's great and ready to go or if you want something that's OK but you want to improve.
I see you live in New Jersey, as long as RWD in snow isn't an issue for you- you should be fine.

stevechristmas · 12-01-2018, 01:43 PM

thank you for the reply. I am in NJ but I have a car that I use for a daily driver. I'm just picking the truck up to take my dirtbike to the track on warm days, so probably won't use it much in the winter.

The '93 is listed for $3200, and the '86 is listed for $2500.

PaineTrain04 · 12-01-2018, 02:30 PM

If you're not worried about snow, I'd chose the RWD '93 hardbody.
Like h.stickeye mentioned, the '93 has the KA24E engine- which I like just fine.
I can't see paying $3200 for it though. I snagged my '96 4WD with 60k on it for $1400.

stevechristmas · 12-01-2018, 03:02 PM

oh really? Wow, that's quite a bit cheaper than what's offered here and about half the miles. Yikes, maybe this not a good deal. I'll see how low he can go, I'll do my best but 3200 to the 1500 neighborhood is a long way to go. Thanks for the information

PaineTrain04 · 12-01-2018, 03:12 PM

For that '93, I'd be comfortable in the $2500 range. My truck was such a low price because it needs a new bed. And I talked him down severely.

stevechristmas · 12-01-2018, 03:52 PM

ok, thank you once again. I really appreciate your insight, I'm going to try to get it for ~2500 in that case

alabama_lowlife · 12-01-2018, 06:05 PM

PaineTrain’s low price is an anomaly. Usually 4x4’s with low mileage and good condition cost a lot more than he paid. He got a damn good deal on his truck.

12-01-2018, 08:44 AM	#1
stevechristmas Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: New Jersey Posts: 86 Vehicle: 1993 Nissan D21, rwd, 4 cyclinder, manual Thanks: 80 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Can someone advise me on my first truck Hello all and thank you in advance. I’m going to buy a D21 this weekend. I’d like your thoughts on which of the two I’m going to look at you would buy. They’re of similar condition and mileage. The details are as follows: 1993 is rear wheel drive, about 115,000 miles, one owner, 4 cyvlinder manual transmission, regular cab and appears to be base trim. 1986.5 4x4 about 115,000 miles, one owner since 2001 who was a mechanic, 4 cyclinder manual transmission, king cab, has a sunroof so I expect it’s the se trim. I just want to haul a dirtbike. I don’t care about power really and I won’t drive it much in the snow. I just want whichever is more reliable and maybe easier to work on, preferably easier to get parts for too if it matters. I know they have different engines but not sure which is preferred for this use case of keeping it stock and just hauling a small dirtbike in good riding weather. Basically, are there any reasons to prefer a 86.5 to a 93 or vice versa? I read in the sticky on this forum about the history and see 93 has a unique dash which I imagine is hard to replace but I don’t care too much about aesthetics, just want to buy something I can keep running. Thanks Last edited by stevechristmas; 12-01-2018 at 08:51 AM.

12-01-2018, 11:56 AM	#3
stevechristmas Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: New Jersey Posts: 86 Vehicle: 1993 Nissan D21, rwd, 4 cyclinder, manual Thanks: 80 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Hi, Thanks for the quick reply. Thank you for the information and also pointing out the thing about mechanic-owned, it's a good pint and well taken. I'm attaching pictures of the '93, anything strike you as bad? This is not only my first Nissan but my first truck. I do lots and lots of motorcycle stuff but trucks and cars have so much s&^ on them and I really don't know what I'm looking at. truck in general: https://imgur.com/a/t7g9Nvn https://imgur.com/a/PIZWXoi https://imgur.com/a/BEuvdFb engine: https://imgur.com/a/iRvhPUj undercarriage: https://imgur.com/a/vgXh4dR https://imgur.com/a/Y21Cj0t wheels/wheel wells https://imgur.com/a/k5c2dxm https://imgur.com/a/cA3Lv95 https://imgur.com/a/Tl9yzg5 Last edited by stevechristmas; 12-01-2018 at 12:01 PM.*

12-01-2018, 01:15 PM	#4
PaineTrain04 Casual Rustbucket Owner Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Northeast Ohio Age: 25 Posts: 151 Vehicle: '96 4x4 Nissan D21, '02 Saturn SL1, '13 Buick Verano Thanks: 33 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts	The '93 overall looks very clean. What are the advertised prices on the truck? That may help determine if you want to buy something that's great and ready to go or if you want something that's OK but you want to improve. I see you live in New Jersey, as long as RWD in snow isn't an issue for you- you should be fine. __________________ 1996 Nissan Hardbody (KA24E) ~Purchased August 2018 with 60,000 original miles

12-01-2018, 02:30 PM	#6
PaineTrain04 Casual Rustbucket Owner Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Northeast Ohio Age: 25 Posts: 151 Vehicle: '96 4x4 Nissan D21, '02 Saturn SL1, '13 Buick Verano Thanks: 33 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts	If you're not worried about snow, I'd chose the RWD '93 hardbody. Like h.stickeye mentioned, the '93 has the KA24E engine- which I like just fine. I can't see paying $3200 for it though. I snagged my '96 4WD with 60k on it for $1400. __________________ 1996 Nissan Hardbody (KA24E) ~Purchased August 2018 with 60,000 original miles

12-01-2018, 03:12 PM	#8
PaineTrain04 Casual Rustbucket Owner Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Northeast Ohio Age: 25 Posts: 151 Vehicle: '96 4x4 Nissan D21, '02 Saturn SL1, '13 Buick Verano Thanks: 33 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts	For that '93, I'd be comfortable in the $2500 range. My truck was such a low price because it needs a new bed. And I talked him down severely. __________________ 1996 Nissan Hardbody (KA24E) ~Purchased August 2018 with 60,000 original miles

12-01-2018, 09:14 AM	#2
h.stickeye Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA Posts: 1,233 Vehicle: Black 91 D21 single cab White 88 D21 single cab Thanks: 201 Thanked 146 Times in 126 Posts	the only real differences are the motor, 4x4, and annoying sunroof. Sunroof - annoying to fix when they leak. And it will leak unless you are really lucky. 4x4 - personal preference, it might come in handy, but higher maintenance and things that can go wrong. Engine - You got the z24 versus the KA motor in the 93. I personally think the z is more reliable. But the KA got like 30 more ponies, so once again, its personal preference there. I would go the RWD if thats all you need and also of course, price dependant. Note: Just because a mechanic owned a vehicle doesnt' mean its better looked after.

12-01-2018, 01:43 PM	#5
stevechristmas Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: New Jersey Posts: 86 Vehicle: 1993 Nissan D21, rwd, 4 cyclinder, manual Thanks: 80 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	thank you for the reply. I am in NJ but I have a car that I use for a daily driver. I'm just picking the truck up to take my dirtbike to the track on warm days, so probably won't use it much in the winter. The '93 is listed for $3200, and the '86 is listed for $2500.

12-01-2018, 03:02 PM	#7
stevechristmas Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: New Jersey Posts: 86 Vehicle: 1993 Nissan D21, rwd, 4 cyclinder, manual Thanks: 80 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	oh really? Wow, that's quite a bit cheaper than what's offered here and about half the miles. Yikes, maybe this not a good deal. I'll see how low he can go, I'll do my best but 3200 to the 1500 neighborhood is a long way to go. Thanks for the information

12-01-2018, 03:52 PM	#9
stevechristmas Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: New Jersey Posts: 86 Vehicle: 1993 Nissan D21, rwd, 4 cyclinder, manual Thanks: 80 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	ok, thank you once again. I really appreciate your insight, I'm going to try to get it for ~2500 in that case

12-01-2018, 06:05 PM	#10
alabama_lowlife Owner and Administrator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: jack, alabama Age: 39 Posts: 9,357 Vehicle: 08 altima, 1970 Datsun 521, 1995 Nissan Hardbody x2 Thanks: 702 Thanked 1,734 Times in 1,424 Posts	PaineTrain’s low price is an anomaly. Usually 4x4’s with low mileage and good condition cost a lot more than he paid. He got a damn good deal on his truck. __________________

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