Looking at buying 98 GSX w/150k, need advise

[birelracekarts]

Hey there guys. Car is a one owner vehicle, looks SUPER clean and has been dealer maintained it's whole life with records. And it's bone stock, owned by an older dude.

HOWEVER, it has 150k miles on it and the guy wants $7000.

Are these cars pretty reliable? Would it be a good buy at $6500, etc? It is silver, grey leather, super clean, has every option including LSD.

Here is a list of what has been replaced lately:
7/28/03 New timing belt, counter belt, water pump 121,521
11/17/03 New battery 125,791
1/16/05 New all-season 17” Sumitomo tires 144,326
2/26/05 New spark plugs 145,500
3/24/05 Air Filter cleaned and re-oiled 146,633
5/20/05 New Wiper blades 147,790
8/31/05 Full service oil change 149,375
9/8/05 New starter 149,407
9/16/05 Coolant System service 149,647
10/17/05 New O2 Sensor 150,122

I got to drive it today. Car seemed very tight, didn't smoke at all, and boosted quite quickly. The gearbox seems extra tight......not honda smooth of course but each shift felt nice. The clutch feels really good....but he says he's never replaced it? Only mod is some HKS blow off valve. The oil under the oil cap is clean, he showed me every record it's had.

Tried to check for "ticking", idle going down,etc, and none of that happened. I will of course compression test it.....


any thoughts guys? thanks a ton,looking forward to getting the car!

 

[98GSXboosted]

if you do buy it i would change the timing belt ASAP, by your records its 15k over due

 

[birelracekarts]

7/28/03 New timing belt, counter belt, water pump 121,521

The belts were done at 121k, and its got 150k. Do you get 60k out of a set?

 

[98GSXboosted]

we have interfearance motors, if you timing belt breaks when your driving your piston has no clearance to stop and will just go straight up and smash. non interfearance engines have a little room between the top of the piston and the top of the cylynder. Change your timing belt every 15,000, very important and it will save you a 2000 rebuild job.

 

[birelracekarts]

Okay. How much to do those belts? Pretty easy job?
Why does the factory recommend 60k?

Anything else to look for?
Think i should get it for $6200?

 

[98GSXboosted]

i've never done one i just bought my car, but i would say at a shop to get all the belts done because your already going to be in there would run you mabey 500, but dont quote me on that. ummm for the car i am a big hater on mileage, i wont buy a car w/ over 70k mine only has 45k on it so i dont want to answer that. what is the book value of it?

 

[gsturboman]

7k is a little to much for 150k even though it has been taken care of. i would try 6100 or 6200. no more than that. and tell him that ## going to have to get timing belt and that will take off some too. definatly change that belt asap when you get it if you do k. good luck on the car bro

 

[birelracekarts]

Thanks turboman.............heres a few pics of the car

 

[98GSXboosted]

looks identical to mine

 

[gsturboman]

your welcome. i hope it works out. nothing like getting your first 4g63 is it. youll like it. also, since its awd, heres some info. please dont get launch happy on me. im telling you, itll tear the tranny to hell. get a 2600 act clutch and that will help. build up the tranny before you get major hp and want to do 5k launches. i had awd. u can do launches but just dont get crazy. i know its fun but its not when 2k comes out of your pocket for rebuilt. k

 

[birelracekarts]

looks identical to mine

What did you end up spending to get yours?

 

[birelracekarts]

your welcome. i hope it works out. nothing like getting your first 4g63 is it. youll like it. also, since its awd, heres some info. please dont get launch happy on me. im telling you, itll tear the tranny to hell. get a 2600 act clutch and that will help. build up the tranny before you get major hp and want to do 5k launches. i had awd. u can do launches but just dont get crazy. i know its fun but its not when 2k comes out of your pocket for rebuilt. k

It seems like this guy babied it....and that's what i will do. It really is just going to be a fun mountain car that i can do 4 wheel drifts with in the ski area parking lots

 

[1993eclipseGS]

You do not change the timingbelt every 15,000 miles. It's every 60k miles.

 

[weith1111]

we have interfearance motors, if you timing belt breaks when your driving your piston has no clearance to stop and will just go straight up and smash. non interfearance engines have a little room between the top of the piston and the top of the cylynder. Change your timing belt every 15,000, very important and it will save you a 2000 rebuild job.

What are you smoking? Every 60k is what the TB should be changed at.

 

[1993eclipseGS]

The car looks really good. I would definatly buy it if it were local to me, But then again.. That's just me. Miles are not everything.. As long as the car was will maintained.

 

[falcone4g63]

My 91 lasted over 200k and I wasn't that nice to it. Well maintained at 150k, its just broken in.

 

[birelracekarts]

Thanks Falcone4g63.......

I'm gonna buy it. He emissions tested it today, and it passed with flying colors.
My buddy and I are going to go comp. test and leakdown test it tomarrow....I'll report on #S.

Looks like I'm gonna have a GSX!

 

[TJGoSurf]

We need engine pics.

 

[birelracekarts]

I'll try to take some today or tomarrow from the guy. He had everything stock except for an HKS bov.....which IS venting to atmosphere it sounds like. I'm going to probably pull it off when i get it.....i HATE how those sound.....