Need DSMer's Opinions Please!

[rebelman]

I might be buying a 97 Eclipse Gs from a local guy. I't's really nice as you can see from the pics, and is a base model gs non-turbo. Only 'performance' mods it has would be an aem intake and apexi N1 exhaust, i guess the wheels/tires too, which tells me that this guy wasn't much into racing it ... what he said too, and i didn't notice him mention anything about racing in posts on other forums.

But he has me curious, apparently there were 2 owners before him, he said he bought it for cheap from an old guy, i don't know how many miles it had on it. He said the body (odometer too) has 133k~ miles on it, but the engine only has 79k~, which makes me wonder why one of the 2 previous owners had it overhauled at such low mileage. Unless the odometer resest, from my knowledge my grandpa had an 82' Bronce that reset @ 200k miles back to zero, he overhauled it once, but is this possible? I haven't really got the straight story on it, but i was just wondering what you all think i should do. He's selling it at a really great price and it looks/sounds awesome. If i buy it what should be the first things i have checked out? Thanks for the help.

Here are the mods/pics:

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Mods:

Exterior:
Blitz Front and Sides, Buddy Club Rear
17' ADR GT Sports with Kumho Ecstas
Custom Yellow Viper Paint
Molded Kit with Custom Clear Corners(Red)
Custom Center Taillight painted


Engine:
AEM Intake
N1 Exhaust with custom pipeing
Red Top Optima Battery
Spark Plugs and Wires

Interior: Under Construction
Custom Red and White
JVC KDH Series Color Graphic CD Player
Red Inside neons with led switch
2 10's Legacy with Xploid 900w amp..



Im going to actually go see it and test it out sometime this week and get some better pics to post up maybe. help me out, i would love to have this car for a few years at least if that's possible

 

[midnght]

......Only 'performance' mods it has would be an aem intake and apexi N1 exhaust, i guess the wheels/tires too, which tells me that this guy wasn't much into racing it ... .

That is not true. I am not accusing him or anything. I just don't know how many times while driving down the road an N/A eclipse has rev'ed at me till I let off the gas pedal, .


They race'em no matter what. Intake and exhaust is about all they do in the beginning for racing anyway.


As for the car. I would question the same about the overhaul. It might have been coincidence or it might have been beat on.

How much is he selling it for? You might be able to find another one for the better price. Might not be YELLOW or have a body kit, but it might be in better running condition.

 

[rebelman]

6,000$

i offered him first but he said a guy wants to trade him his newer black GSX lowered w/ 18" wheels and only like 70k miles

I would really love to have this car if it will run right for at least a year, by that time i'll have enough money to fix it up etc. I think this car should at least do that right? He said he had the oil replaced every 2k miles, idk about that but if he did do that then that's good . Doesn't seem like much of a DIY guy, just paid shops to do most of the stuff i believe.

I want to figure out this whole overhaul thing, maybe contact the previous owners, his exact wording was something like: "Oh btw, the odometer shows 133k, but my dad and another mechanic checked the engine and it has about 79k~ on it because the previous owner overhauled it." Before he told me an old guy had it, which maybe the old guy knew some mechanics and did overhaul it idk, haven't talked to him that much to find out. But i will for sure before buying it. Although 6,000$ is a great price in my opinion considering all the work done to it, i would imagine the wheels and tires were around 800$~, he said the paint and body kit was like 1800$~ i think, Apexi N1 is like 200$~ for the muffler and maybe like 60$ for a shop to install, AEM intakes are around 350$ from what i've seen. The alpine speakers and the sub and amp and the JVC hu ran some bucks im sure. Leather seats, power locks/windows & sunroof are always nice, and i like that it doesn't have a spoiler kinda unique, although i'd prolly add one down the road .

If it has been overhauled and seems to run well should i grab it? This will be my daily driven car, to/from school work .... basically like 50-60~miles a day. By the way, i'm only 16 , i checked and my insurance will be the same as my current car as far as i know, being that im on the parents plan with State Farm (which is the cheapest i know of) .

 

[rebelman]

the guy just got back with me and said that his dad replaced the breaks (im guessin he meant the pads and/or shoes in the back). From what i know he's selling this car because he's kinda board with it and he's switching to Honda, said he's always wanted to have one etc. I'm not thinking there's anything mechanically wrong with it cause he's gun-ho about me coming and test driving it and etc. But that doesn't mean much. He's a nice guy too, which helps the whole process. Said if i wasn't as nice and i guess as 'excited' about buying it that he'd be selling it for 7000~$

Let me know what you all think, i've always wanted an eclipse, never been in one or drove one, but i'm hopping i will

He also said he's buying a honda from a guy that doesn't have an engine and he's gonna get a shop (or his dad i guess?) to drop in a nice one etc.

I gotta go see it in person and test it first i guess, maybe talk to his dad about it being that he seems to know a lot about mechanics (i hope so ;

 

[xcelr8n]

way to much for a riced out pos non turbo, find a nice gst or gsx in stock shape with less kms for the same price approx.. you wont be disappointed.

 

[rebelman]

you think it's rice, i think it's nice man (im a poet and didn't kno it, eh?)
seriously though, i understand where you're coming from, but maybe in canada parents are more eager to let their kids get a car that comes stock turbo? Or maybe they can just afford the insurance, either way im SOL for your idea mate. Thanks for the advice but i won't use it
:thumbdown

btw, being that i am young and just starting to fill my bank account, i'm more for looks then performance. In racing and motorsports the high end cars have what? Looks and Performance, that's basically what it boils down to right? From what i understand and have looked into, the looks/cosmetics end is a lot cheaper than going for the performance. I like the idea of a sleeper, but a nice looking car is just as good in my opinion. If it'll run and looks good even better, but if you can't have both 1 is enough. Better than me buying a stock rs right? You'll probably say that you'd rather have a stock base model then this but not me i guess. just a little rant

 

[saw wave analog]

From what i understand and have looked into, the looks/cosmetics end is a lot cheaper than going for the performance.

wrong as hell. that 1800$ on an attention whore paintjob would have put a turbo car into the 13's. dsms are dirt ass cheap to mod, the turbo ones anyway. buy what you like.. personally i could never drive a car that looked like that, even if it were turbo.. but especially if it was n/a. you are going to have every riceball civic with a wing trying to race you everywhere you go, cops will see you once and never forget the car, and a lot of the cars that can back up their good looks will be laughing at you if you live in a place that half as cynical as my town is. if you are set on it take it to a shop that you trust and have them look everything over. high mileage, 3 owners and an "overhauled" motor is definately a reason to worry

 

[Defiant]

6,000$

i offered him first but he said a guy wants to trade him his newer black GSX lowered w/ 18" wheels and only like 70k miles

LIAR.

There's not a chance anyone offered him that trade.

I gave $7k for my 95 TSi AWD, 66K miles, two years ago. Keep looking.

 

[saw wave analog]

oh yeah, i meant to say something about that too. definately total b.s.

 

[rebelman]

i will prolly have every civic and primer colored cavalier try to race me but i could care less, i do like 80-90 on the highway anyways, there cars prolly dont go over 75

if i do get it i'm gonna get it checked over of course, if not i'll get something else. But all the sales in my area are asking for same price if not more for a stock eclipse not fixed up or anything

 

[TDX]

Hey bro,

That guy selling that yellow eclipse is he spanish or spanish looking by chance? I think i've seen him around the naples area trying to "race" that thing back when i had my 99 GS. If its not him then disregard this post =). Just that I can't forget that pain job and body kit.


- Patrick

 

[rebelman]

nah man he's white, here's his car domain wif him in it:

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/455673

he made another cardomain when he had it kitted and painted yellow, but i don't have the link right now.

Can't wait till i go check it out and see if everything is ok. If i buy it i'll definitely have it fully checked out.

nice eclipse man, maybe we can meet up at some dsm meet or somehthing? what's an upcoming goof FL meet?

 

[Iwantaneclipse]

...but maybe in canada parents are more eager to let their kids get a car that comes stock turbo? Or maybe they can just afford the insurance...

No and HELL NO!

$6000 is a lot for a GS - up here where we can afford the insurance you can get a GS around 3000-4000CDN (some do have bodykits too). Looking to get ripped? Then go for it...

 

[TDX]

nah man he's white, here's his car domain wif him in it:

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/455673

he made another cardomain when he had it kitted and painted yellow, but i don't have the link right now.

Can't wait till i go check it out and see if everything is ok. If i buy it i'll definitely have it fully checked out.

nice eclipse man, maybe we can meet up at some dsm meet or somehthing? what's an upcoming goof FL meet?

cool, good luck.

 

[macdog2424]

ok man listen, it may look nice but for starters it is yellow, and the mods arnt that big plus is a gs, no fun at all trust me youll be sick of it in a month, people will wanna race cause of what it looksl ike and u will lose all the time, might as well buy a beretta z-26 haha, neways 6-7000 way to much for a gs with those miles i had a 95 talon tsi fwd that i got rid of because i wanted the awd so bad . i traded it in for only 2500 with 104k and it was sold after for 4500 and it was pretty mint , so keep lookking u wont be happy after a while with a gs just look for a deal on a gsx or tsi or even a gst only way youll injoy it save a few more bucks get one done up a little or fine one now just stock and it will still smoke the gs and its fun to hook ur own car up u can say ya i did that not someone else, the kids geting rid of it cause hes already bored of it, probaly sick of being made fun of on the street. do ur self a favor and pass on this car and look around ull be happy even search autotrader.com or for someone selling one in here, unless he'll take 3000 and u spend the rest on geting a turbo , ull be happy waiting and ull thank me later when your driving around with a turbo dsm, trust me a n\t dsm unlesss u dump alot of money into it and i mean alot , its just a waste of a body

 

[Just Nasty]

get him to come down on the price man.6,000 is a lot for a light modded GS.If you like it, fine get it, but the price is high on it.

 

[rebelman]

what you all are saying is true and makes sense, in a way i don't want a high powered car cause i would be racing around ... which eventually would lead to an accident. Besides messing the car up, and further injuring myself (my back is trashed for 2 accidentsso far, not my fault - the accidents - thank god), AND my parents would be friggin pissed and EVERY day i'd hear the same BS. It aint worth it. I'd figure that while im still in High School (and in college soon for that matter) that i'll just buy a car that's already a lil hooked up and just enjoy the times you know, instead of buying a stock talon, etc. AND working my ass off and waiting a few months at a time per upgrade you know. This way, once i'm on my feet moneywise, down the road i get rid of this, buy a stock car that's a good platform to tune during that year, and mod the hell out of it, myself ... when i can afford it

i just want to have fun and have a cool car and hang out with the local people at events and so forth, i know i didn't do the mods myself ... but i'll probably change some of the stuff once i can afford it you know.

 

[Iwantaneclipse]

ok man listen, it may look nice but for starters it is yellow...

Yellow body with red and white interior That's so ugly it should be illegal....

 

[rebelman]

first thing i would do is paint the red to yellow to make it at least match, better than cloth interior with white/red at least

 

[KatieMak]

I wouldn't buy it unless you know the whole story about the engine. Seriously, that would really weird me out if I was going to buy a car...especially if I didn't know all of the owners of the car. You can get a better deal on a car anyways if you keep looking too...I'm getting my Talon TSI with an Eclipse body for $3K...but it does have salvage title. But I would say keep looking for a different DSM...You can find another.

 

[rebelman]

6000$ to me is a good deal, i mean he could be outragously selling it for 8k$ that i wouldn't buy, as long as the engine runs and seems like it'll last awhile (i will take good care of it, no neglect) then it's good with me. I ran a few search's locally and didn't really find any deals that were that amazing to me, found some cheaper but not as good in my opinion. I will find out everything about it though trust me

 

[KatieMak]

Sounds like you made up your mind about the car.....

 

[rebelman]

i think i did a long time ago, if it runs, i'm getting it ....

then taking to mechanic to have it fully checked out to prevet any major future problems, then drive it around happily and ignore the people that say 'ricer' all the time

 

[dsmayhem]

$6k for a GS with a sketchy history. Oh yeah that sounds like a bangup deal being you could have either :
A. The same car without a "unkown history" for 1/2 the price
B. A turbo car without a "unkown history" for the same price

But hey it does seem like you've already made up your mind.

 

[saw wave analog]

yer going to be doing a lot of ignoring