What is this car worth / Is this car a good deal?

Devilsfutbol17 · Mar 5, 2008

I found a 1996 Spyder GST for $4900. It is a 5-speed, 91,000 miles on it, white with black top, 17 inch rims. There is 80% tread left on the tires but the guy has a brand new never used set of tires for the car that is included in the price. He says the top doesn't leak, but it had a rip and was repaired, but he didn't like it, so he bought a brand new oem top that isn't installed and is included with the car. He says the interior is really nice, everything inside works, but you have to help the top up a little bit. He doesn't know if the timing belt has been replaced or not. It has a 3 inch cat back exhaust, 16G turbo, apexi intake and a greddy bov. He says it runs great and has no issues. He says he just wants to get rid of it because he doesn't drive it and its taking up space in his garage, which sounds good to me because he kept it garaged at least. he also said that the paint is good on it, no clear coat coming off, no body damage or dents. I'm going to check for crankwalk be looking at the clutch pedal when I turn left. I have been talking to the guy over the phone and I'm suppose to go drive for 4 hours to go and buy it if it checks out on Thursday. Does it sound good? Should I ask him or check for other things on it?

chriss_13 · Mar 5, 2014

Alright guys i lowered the price too 4k.

eDeclpse92 · Mar 5, 2014

Is it going to be running well with the different cams in it? Have Good AFR's?

chriss_13 · Mar 5, 2014

eDeclpse92 said:
Is it going to be running well with the different cams in it? Have Good AFR's?

Im pretty sure i might need to retune it. Im trying to convince em to leave them in there.

eDeclpse92 · Mar 8, 2014

Any update on getting the car?

chriss_13 · Mar 10, 2014

eDeclpse92 said:
Any update on getting the car?

I decided not to buy it, he took out the cams, some suspension parts, axle wasn't even put back when i went to look at it. Still searching around man.

unfocus · Apr 4, 2014

I live in Calgary, dsm cars here are pretty hard to find, well in this province in general too, not much are usually selling. There's probably only 3 eclipses being sold in the province a year sometimes more... so they're hard to buy here.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/...upe/579805986?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
car has been babied for 8 years, low kms, its mint condition.

It's a gst, with a complete stock engine and other modifications to the car.

Interior is in good condition as well, but is the price worth it? lowest they think they would go is 8,000, he said the 2 sets of rims are 3,500 alone. and brand new summer tires and winter tires but never used, and the winter tires are mounted.

4Lurker4 · Apr 4, 2014

It is pretty high, although don't really look into what guys from the US are going to tell you on price as they go cray cheap in the US as opposed to here. I paid mine 13grand in 2003 (1999 GSX with 25 000miles on the clock). Back then I got a hell of a deal, but in this case, for a GST, I wouldn't be looking at more than 3-5grand tops. It's mileage is up there, and most of the parts he added (such as the mirrors) are actually cheaper than the stock parts. I know Alberta seems to have higher prices than in Ontario, so that'll play in the deciding factor as well.

unfocus · Apr 4, 2014

4Lurker4 said:
It is pretty high, although don't really look into what guys from the US are going to tell you on price as they go cray cheap in the US as opposed to here. I paid mine 13grand in 2003 (1999 GSX with 25 000miles on the clock). Back then I got a hell of a deal, but in this case, for a GST, I wouldn't be looking at more than 3-5grand tops. It's mileage is up there, and most of the parts he added (such as the mirrors) are actually cheaper than the stock parts. I know Alberta seems to have higher prices than in Ontario, so that'll play in the deciding factor as well.

Is that accounting the rims?

4Lurker4 · Apr 4, 2014

unfocus said:
Is that accounting the rims?

Rims are a dime a dozen. Never really consider the price of the rims in the price of the car. If he's adding it to the total, it's because he 1- doesn't care 2- couldn't sell them otherwise 3-they are not worth much to begin with. The used OZs he has are around 200-300 used with tires on them to give you an idea.

unfocus · Apr 4, 2014

4Lurker4 said:
Rims are a dime a dozen. Never really consider the price of the rims in the price of the car. If he's adding it to the total, it's because he 1- doesn't care 2- couldn't sell them otherwise 3-they are not worth much to begin with. The used OZs he has are around 200-300 used with tires on them to give you an idea.

Hmm, i offered him 6,000 -7,000 and he said that the cars condition is worth more than 7,000

how much would you pay, or how you would negotiate, he made 3 ads of this car since I saw the first ad, and deleted others.

dharrison · Apr 4, 2014

looks like a nice ride

4Lurker4 · Apr 4, 2014

unfocus said:
Hmm, i offered him 6,000 -7,000 and he said that the cars condition is worth more than 7,000

how much would you pay, or how you would negotiate, he made 3 ads of this car since I saw the first ad, and deleted others.

Wait a sec, I just looked at the ad. That's not a GST, that's a GS. It's not even turbo! 1-3grand MAX (and 3 grand is pushing it) regardless of him "telling" you the rims are worth that much (they are not). I say skip it all together if he's hell bent on keeping that sort of price for an N/A eclipse. Find a real GST/GSX and pay around 4-6 grand. Unless it's been truly babied (you can usually tell by the way the owner acts and the paperwork that comes with the car).

So, recap...this car is NOT turbo (NOT A gst as you initially wrote) and WAY too much. Wait until you find a GST or GSX.

As an example:

1996 turbo Eagle Talon Hatchback | cars & trucks | Lethbridge | Kijiji
1992 Eagle Talon turbo intercooled pushing 300 hp | cars & trucks | Calgary | Kijiji
1992 Plymouth Laser / Eagle Talon FWD Turbo 5 Speed | cars & trucks | Red Deer | Kijiji

Some of these may need some work, but they are worth more than the GS you showed. Even if it is babied, it's basically just a neon with a different body. Not worth the asking price.

DSM1G90 · Apr 6, 2014

NADA and Kelly's Blue Book are excellent guidelines for vehicle value.

A lot of sellers are simply trying to recover most of the dough spent into the vehicle when it's just that ... a vehicle that isn't even close to antique or has any collector's value.

I read stories of many auto hobbyists of all brands pump the dough in their hobby when it's a loser from the beginning-loser meaning that money going into the vehicle will NEVER come back to the seller on a retail sale.

For example: had a fellow employee take a 1975 Kawasaki KZ400 and made a cafe racer out of it. He only paid 300 for it since it only needed carbs on it. He went out to a bike salvage place and found a wrecked out there and took the carbs for fifty bucks. Did the rebuild on the carbs and got the bike running great. Now a bike that old, even in running condition, can maybe draw close to a thousand bucks due to the age. But he wants 2700 out of it...and it has no electric starter. Is he gonna find a buyer?

motomattx · Apr 6, 2014

These cars are old enough that they are worth whatever anyone wants to pay for them, a 57' Chevy doesnt have much "loan" value either, neither does a 66' Chevelle etc, etc but if you think that your going to buy either of those cars for $200 because thats the Kelly blue book on them or whatever, your going to be waiting a looong time to own one. Bottom line, the cars are very popular, they are cult classics and they have been out of production for years and years, with more of them being taken off of the road daily, they are getting more and more scarce and the prices for clean examples are only going to get higher, they hit their "low" point five years ago and now they are going to rebound the same way that a 69' Dodge Charger was demolition derby material in the 70's and 80's and look at what even a rust bucket Charger is worth today.

4Lurker4 · Apr 6, 2014

^ Granted, but like all types of cars there are models in specific in demand. VR4, GSX being the main ones., 2gb Talon Tsi and Lasers because of rarity and so on. The 420a isn't in the most wanted list, hence its low value in most markets.

buhay6 · Apr 6, 2014

Last year I went to Edmonton and looked at a 97 Talon Esi that was pretty much as mint as the 420 eclipse you showed us with around 10k km more on the clock and the guy was selling it for 2k. Guy's selling the Eclipse on crack, Alberta and Ontario have the most dsm's left, come to saskatchewan and try and find some LOL

.
Been fortunate this last year but before that there was usually only one or two every few months for sale at a time....pickings were very very slim to non.
But I'm with 4Lurker4 walk away and find something better, there's lots for sale in Alberta there.

a91eagletalon · Apr 14, 2014

I Recently just bought a 91 talon AWD Turbo (with an extra hood both fenders new set of belts new set of drive axels for the front and new struts) perfect interior probably 98% perfect in the interior the out side is almost perfect as well some very miner road ware one door ding only 62,560 miles on the car. use to be a grandma car so not to much abuse runs and drives great so here's the deal I paid $4000 so good deal or bad or break even.

Bud92gsx · Apr 14, 2014

YES.
Awsome deal in m book.

BogusSVO · Apr 14, 2014

Good looking ride, no doubt.

Where is the tech question?

This is a tech fourm, there is a mega merge thread for this type of question in the Hangout fourm.

Silverpearll · Apr 14, 2014

That black 1G is beautiful! Nice find!

Ambitions · Apr 16, 2014

So I went to look at a 1g gsx yesterday, And I had a few Questions/Concerns.

The clutch felt insanely soft.. its got a spec2 clutch in it with an act flywheel and he said that the clutch is a softer clutch.. but it still didn't seem right.. I'm used to driving a car with a stiff clutch. he said 1gs typically have a soft clutch. is this true?

The car pulled good. but when it was at idle it had a little bit of white smoke coming out.. I don't know if this was just from it being cold yesterday. it wasn't a lot but it was more than normal in my opinion. What could cause this?

the last thing is that the motor itself he said has 25k miles on it, but he has only drove it for a few miles in this car itself. I guess im just concerned that with the few amount of miles some problems could pop up..

It seemed like a solid car.. no rust, it pulled good. im just not sure if its gonna be one of those cars where I have problem after problem.. he wants 2300 for it. the body is sun faded in a few spots but it doesn't look too bad. interior is good. What do you guys think?

DSM1G90 · Apr 16, 2014

bit of white smoke coming out

Blown head gasket (unless that was just water vapor seen being a cold day-did it go away after warming up?) - walk away.

Yes, we do have a soft clutch due to it being hydraulic not mechanical.

Ambitions · Apr 16, 2014

It wasn't a lot.. and it was like 20 yesterday. but yes after it warmed up there still was a little bit. the oil looked fine.. it didn't look like he just changed it either

unfocus · Apr 17, 2014

Guy's I think I found a potential good dsm.

See I'm very specific well picky about the dsm I want, just more of the 2g eclipse body. and this talon tsi looks like it has a rear body conversion not even sure though because of no rear picture, I did email him asking for more pics.

I know that usually people on kijiji only list 40% of whats wrong with the car on there unless they're trustworthy can never tell till you meet them.

Said new brakes, tires, suspension, park brake, done at a automotive shop.

Bad part is there is an oil leak in the transmission.

He currently selling for 3,900 was originally looking for 5,700.

Good price? PS May I Also point out that people that tsi, and gsx here generally sell it for a lot because the car is hard to get here in Canada, like very hard.

unfocus · Apr 18, 2014

He finalled emailed me pics and then said this is how he bought the car,

has 117,000 miles. It still has the eagle talon front bumper.

Said there's an oil leak in the transmission and it's hard to get into reverse and some rust.

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What is this car worth / Is this car a good deal?

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