knochgoon24
DSM Wiseman
- 6,135
- 97
- Jan 29, 2008
-
Troy,
Michigan
In the beginning, there was darkness... then the PO turned on the garage light and I got my first look at the car that would soon be mine. 
I found the ad in the local classifieds (should have kept the clipping ) asking $5000 for a fully loaded, well kept, 97 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD auto with 191k miles. I had been looking for a 5 speed for 3 months, so I was slowly becoming more open to an auto. I knew next to nothing about cars except to look for rust, check the oil, take it for a test drive, and hope to God that it holds together after you buy it.
Luckily, or maybe not, the engine, transmission, and turbo had all been replaced.
1. Transmission at 120k miles
2. Engine at 140k miles
3. Turbo at 170k miles
The transmission had started slipping. The engine had jumped timing, and the turbo went kaput. The PO had racked up all the miles driving it 75 miles round trip everyday to/from work. He had custom ordered the car from an Eagle dealership completely loaded (but sadly no LSD).
So I went to look at the car in his dimly lit garage. It didn't have any visible rust, no dings, no dents. Looked really clean. It was completely unmolested. It ran like a champ (first turbo car I ever drove) and I thought it was just perfect. My parents came with me and my mom said "If you don't buy it, I will."
The guy was moving to Seattle, and didn't feel like taking his car with him, so he was looking to sell it fast. Turns out he was leaving the next day. I offered him $4500, kbb right about there. I should have gone $3000 because of all the work that had been, but you live you learn.
I got the title transfered the next evening. On the way home, I nearly hit a deer... twice. The day after I bought it was the first time that I saw the car in full light. As I looked closer, the flaws started to show. The hood was all chipped up. The windshield was chipped all over. The trim pieces above the door were starting to loose their paint, as most do. Oh, well. It was my car... my first car.
I found the ad in the local classifieds (should have kept the clipping ) asking $5000 for a fully loaded, well kept, 97 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD auto with 191k miles. I had been looking for a 5 speed for 3 months, so I was slowly becoming more open to an auto. I knew next to nothing about cars except to look for rust, check the oil, take it for a test drive, and hope to God that it holds together after you buy it.
Luckily, or maybe not, the engine, transmission, and turbo had all been replaced.
1. Transmission at 120k miles
2. Engine at 140k miles
3. Turbo at 170k miles
The transmission had started slipping. The engine had jumped timing, and the turbo went kaput. The PO had racked up all the miles driving it 75 miles round trip everyday to/from work. He had custom ordered the car from an Eagle dealership completely loaded (but sadly no LSD).
So I went to look at the car in his dimly lit garage. It didn't have any visible rust, no dings, no dents. Looked really clean. It was completely unmolested. It ran like a champ (first turbo car I ever drove) and I thought it was just perfect. My parents came with me and my mom said "If you don't buy it, I will."
The guy was moving to Seattle, and didn't feel like taking his car with him, so he was looking to sell it fast. Turns out he was leaving the next day. I offered him $4500, kbb right about there. I should have gone $3000 because of all the work that had been, but you live you learn.
I got the title transfered the next evening. On the way home, I nearly hit a deer... twice. The day after I bought it was the first time that I saw the car in full light. As I looked closer, the flaws started to show. The hood was all chipped up. The windshield was chipped all over. The trim pieces above the door were starting to loose their paint, as most do. Oh, well. It was my car... my first car.
