Buying first car EVER... need help

[dying2get1]

Ok guys, I've been here for a while without an eclipse, but here is my chance. This guy around the corner from my Gfs house is selling his 95 GS, with a 99 GS engine in it that has 100k+miles on it, and the body is 130k+ miles on it. other than some cosmetic stuff everything sounds and runs great.

The bad: when you hit the break all the dash lights light up, he says that it just happend last week maybe because of the heat and that its not a big deal. his check engine light is on all the time, he says that is how he bought the car and he keeps reassuring me that its not a problem and that I can get it checked out by my mechanic.


The good: The car is SUPER clean in and out, his got a full 2.5 exhaust(sounds AMAZING). got most of his paper work, lowerd 1.2 in with springs and struts. has Koing rims(dunno what size) with performance tires that fill the space really really good. everything seems to work, AC and heat are great. the clutch is a centerforce(?) 4 disk clutch.. and some other things that I cant remember.

the Price on the car is 3200. Is it worth the price? If there is anything that I should ask him before i buy the car? Please let me know. Thankyou.
-jeff

 

[squyres2005]

Dieing2get1,
I have a 98GS that I just put a HUGE intake manifold on, and now I throw
a check engine light. Nothing serious, but still somthing to be investigated.
The 95 GS you speak of, as well as my car, are what as known as OBD2 equiped,
which is really just the code for the computer. If your engine detects excessive knock,
missfires, timeing off, something unpluged, ect, you will throw a check engine light.
I suspect my light is on because there is nowhere on my new manifold to plug my PCV
valve, so my crankcase is not being evacuated, (im going to run some new vac. line
just havnt gotten to it yet). However, the GS platform is a good place to start, (better than a 1.5 equiped honda) (at least its a 2.0) and I paid 3500 for mine (absolutly stock) (with 14in rims and no pipes) and there are a lot of us out there that moddify them.
Chances are, someone played with the wireing, or didnt do it correctly the first time(you said it had a engine swap) probably causeing the electrical problems. But I say if you can afford it, go for your dreams, but be like me and have a back-up plan to get to work, just in-case.

-SQUYRES 2005
--98 GS (soon to be T)

 

[1gcrazy]

Ok guys, I've been here for a while without an eclipse, but here is my chance. This guy around the corner from my Gfs house is selling his 95 GS, with a 99 GS engine in it that has 100k+miles on it, and the body is 130k+ miles on it. other than some cosmetic stuff everything sounds and runs great.

The bad: when you hit the break all the dash lights light up, he says that it just happend last week maybe because of the heat and that its not a big deal. his check engine light is on all the time, he says that is how he bought the car and he keeps reassuring me that its not a problem and that I can get it checked out by my mechanic.


The good: The car is SUPER clean in and out, his got a full 2.5 exhaust(sounds AMAZING). got most of his paper work, lowerd 1.2 in with springs and struts. has Koing rims(dunno what size) with performance tires that fill the space really really good. everything seems to work, AC and heat are great. the clutch is a centerforce(?) 4 disk clutch.. and some other things that I cant remember.

the Price on the car is 3200. Is it worth the price? If there is anything that I should ask him before i buy the car? Please let me know. Thankyou.
-jeff

I wouldn't. You can get a turbo car for about that price. Just keep looking. Oh and whenever someone says its not a big deal ask why they didn't fix it?

 

[squyres2005]

Terribly sorry,
I know I spell like a moron.

-SQUYRES 2005
-98 GS

 

[squyres2005]

I wouldn't. You can get a turbo car for about that price. Just keep looking. Oh and whenever someone says its not a big deal ask "If its not such a big deal why didn't you fix it?"

I wish I could get a RUNNING 2G GST \GSX for 3100, I'd buy it right now.

-SQUYRES2005
-98GS

 

[Splitpi]

Save up for a GST or GSX. Or search around further. You'll appreciate later.

 

[squyres2005]

Save up for a GST or GSX. Or search around further. You'll appreciate later.

I'm happy with mine, it gets good gas\miles
performance wise, thumbs down.
my automatic camaro is faster.

-squyres2005
-98 GS

PS. when its turbo, it might be a little quicker ;-)

 

[dying2get1]

thanks for all the help guys, but I dont want a turbo yet. This is gonna be my first car and I need to learn a lot more before Im ready for a turbo car. I've seen this car around for a while because its near my girls house, and now that hes selling I want it, .

Im really concernd about the engine swap and everything, he has been running the new engine for about more than a year and says that there is no problem, so should I still worry about problems comming out because of the swap??

 

[squyres2005]

Dude,
Heres what I think. The GS eclipse is a good deal. Why?
Because 1. Good gas\miles.
2. Dependable. (as long as its not stupid modified ex. 600hp fogger shot)
3. Cheap. Come on dude, a 3200$ car is CHEAP
4. Lots of Brothers in arms to help you (here on this site)
5. Due to stupid Noob's wrecking lots of DSM's, spare parts are plentiful.
same engine as a NEON, I know, I know, head is fliped and different engine code,
but some of the parts work,and junck yards are filled with neons\eclipse\lasers\plymoths
and look in the classifieds, LOTS of stock parts for sale.

-SQUYRES2005
-98GS

 

[Bo0O0ostedDSM]

thanks for all the help guys, but I dont want a turbo yet. This is gonna be my first car and I need to learn a lot more before Im ready for a turbo car. I've seen this car around for a while because its near my girls house, and now that hes selling I want it, .

Im really concernd about the engine swap and everything, he has been running the new engine for about more than a year and says that there is no problem, so should I still worry about problems comming out because of the swap??

I've never owned a DSM with a 420a, so I can't give you a definite answer, but I think everything should be fine. I know in the turbo DSM's the ECU changed after 95 from the EPROM unit to other, but I don't know about the 420a powered DSMs. Anyways, my best advice would be to take the car to your mechanic or maybe the Mitsu dealer and have them check everything out. Have them diagnose the electrical wiring issue, check out the engine swap, etc.

 

[1gcrazy]

I wish I could get a RUNNING 2G GST \GSX for 3100, I'd buy it right now.

-SQUYRES2005
-98GS

Go for it dude...

http://denver.craigslist.org/car/188186784.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/car/189618992.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/car/187817966.html

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...ive=&engine=&doors=&fuel=&lang=en&cardist=597

If you need any more around 3100. Let me know. I'd be MORE than willing to do the research FOR you.

 

[dying2get1]

hey 1gcrazy you think maybe you can help find a couple of other GSs for me to look at around the NY area? I look and I look but I can never find one that seems worthy to go check out below the 3000 dollar price range.

 

[1gcrazy]

hey 1gcrazy you think maybe you can help find a couple of other GSs for me to look at around the NY area? I look and I look but I can never find one that seems worthy to go check out below the 3000 dollar price range.

!
Thats funny man. You're great.

Here, i'm a researchaholic, goto these sites.

DSMSource.com
DSMTuners.com
DSMTalk.com
Ebay.com
Craigslist.org
NYTimes.com
Thriftynickelads.com
Yourny.com
CDNCC.com
ny.usfreeads.com
nnyads.com
nypost.com
Autotrader.com
Cars.com

If you can't find them then google them. I simply typed in New York ads and got a shit ton of ad sites. Most dsm's are up north. Or at least thats what it feels like. You shouldn't have an issue.

 

[dying2get1]

hahaha.. wow thanks a lot dude really greatful for all this.

 

[1gcrazy]

hahaha.. wow thanks a lot dude really greatful for all this.

No problem. It's not rocket science. Next time you need something, type it into google. If you dont find what you're looking for try to find at least one more other way to describe it. If you STILL dont find it. Come ask one of us...

 

[95talon_in_ma]

IMO for that price you should be getting it from a dealer with at least a 90 day drivetrain warranty. Search the dealers and see what they got.

If you want to get a GST or GSX later, take $1000 of it, buy a early 90's corrolla or sentra. Lots of old people have babied these things over the years.
Take the other $2000, see if you can find a gst or gsx with a blown motor or something (I found mine for $1200), and work on it at your leisure.
Modding any car and using it as a daily driver is tough. Especially if it's your first car. (I went through my first 6 cars in less than a year...)

Anything you get, take it to an unbiased mechanic. Pay him $50 if you have too. It's $50 well spent if you are serious about the car.

Good luck.

 

[TheRealist]

I Would be patiant, Save a little more, and be extremely happy with a turbo car trust me i did and im VERY happy.

P.S he might have a Short somewhare if he brakes and the dash lights come on.

 

[dying2get1]

I Would be patiant, Save a little more, and be extremely happy with a turbo car trust me i did and im VERY happy.

P.S he might have a Short somewhare if he brakes and the dash lights come on.

Can u please tell me more.. If he has a short how can I go and fix that? is it a major problem?

 

[SkinnyBAM]

Test drive both a turbo and the car your looking at before you drop 3200 on an N/A....

 

[95talon_in_ma]

Can u please tell me more.. If he has a short how can I go and fix that? is it a major problem?

Fixing it is the easy part, finding it can mean ripping your entire electrical system out of your car.... I did it on a 76 camaro and there was no where near the amount of wires these things have. And it took me two full days to find the short.

You are buying someone elses headache. If he says it's not a big deal, tell him you want it fixed before you buy it...
That kind of electrical "pulse" cannot be good for the system... Including the ECU..

Private party value in fair condition is only $2,300.
http://www.kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/kw.kc.ucp?kbb.MA;;MA013;&01151&;584729&;;ucp;&12;MI;F3

I wouldn't pay a penny over that..

 

[1gcrazy]

Fixing it is the easy part, finding it can mean ripping your entire electrical system out of your car.... I did it on a 76 camaro and there was no where near the amount of wires these things have. And it took me two full days to find the short.

You are buying someone elses headache. If he says it's not a big deal, tell him you want it fixed before you buy it...
That kind of electrical "pulse" cannot be good for the system... Including the ECU..

Private party value in fair condition is only $2,300.
http://www.kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/kw.kc.ucp?kbb.MA;;MA013;&01151&;584729&;;ucp;&12;MI;F3

I wouldn't pay a penny over that..

I AGREE! 2300!!!