Opinion on 95 GSX

[Altoids94]

Hey DSM'ers,

First post here, but been creeping the forum like hell. I have found a 95 Eclipse GSX in the states about 300KM away from me in Vancouver, Canada. Now we have been exchanging e-mails and I want to go take a look but so far the pictures are limited. I want to make sure it's worth my time to go there. Is this a bad idea with almost 150k on the car? I know it probably needs some TLC, I am just hoping the body and paint will be decent. From the looks of the picture tho it looks like the panels are not aligned very well. He said the rear bumper has been rattled can'd by the guy before but the interior is good. I plan for the car to be my DD. What do you guys think?

Heres what the AD says;
95 awd turbo eclipse ....low miles 147k ...pretty much all stock except big front mount inter-cooler , blow off valve, exaughst, boost gauge , short shifter, hallman manuel boost controller ....evo rims 5 ....I traded my integra gsr for it around 8months back as my secondary project car with the intent to put some money in it ...however I got major traffic legal issues and need the money to pay for them......runs and drives good I still drive it at least a couple times a week....new alternator, new rear struts and front hub assembly's, The instrument panel doesn't light up..the guy before me had a wireing problem .........the engine is the 4g63(evo engine) if you have ever heard of it before then you know what it's capable of....its an iron block it can handle major horses.......it also has viscous LSD in the rear...grey leather interior descent condition ...electric seats sunroof , power everything .....like I said it needs little work but its a super good car ...3500 without rims 3800 with ...( Newer tires to)

 

[Anubis_4_99]

from the sounds of it, i bet he rides it hard and puts it away wet.

and whats with the misaligned panels? i would run a carfax to make sure it hasn't been wrecked or something beforehand.

150K isn't bad for a 95, but my 96 only has 126K and has quite a few problems. be ready to do $500ish in maintenance when you get it in case no one else has. timing belt, water pump, etc. (that's if you can do it yourself. i didn't plan for it, and now i have a blown headgasket and an overheating problem and am hoping mine will hold a month until i get school loans.)

in the end, its your ride, if you want it get it. i would try to talk him down (I'd offer him 3K with rims cause of having to go to get it and im assuming there are some fees along with bringing a states vehicle into Canada?) but im a cheap ass too.

 

[low_n_slow95]

it seems like it would be worth looking into. be prepared to dump some money into it when you get it tho. kinda sounds like the guy dont take care of the car very well. i wouldnt pay keep that much for it. maybe you can get lucky and pick it up cheaper right before his court date

 

[Absit]

"What's a modded, high miles 2G AWD worth?"
Whatever you want to pay for it - to me, it'd be worth about $400.

 

[Altoids94]

I am defiantly going to talk him down, I going to get the VIN so I can at least car fax it before I go down to take a look. I am looking at putting money aside for the repaint of the rear bumper and maybe even a motor rebuild. Who knows what kind of condition everything is in. I am not in a rush to buy a car right now but I have been looking for about 2 months now everyday and this came up and I thought about it as a good little project.

 

[DSMsOwnYourV8]

What's this 4G63 Motor that you speak of?

I would keep looking IMO. For your first DSM, I think it would be best to find one basically stock, and do the work yourself. That way you can do a lot of research, learn a lot about the car, and can make sure the car wasn't abused + things get done right.

 

[ed1380]

"What's a modded, high miles 2G AWD worth?"
Whatever you want to pay for it - to me, it'd be worth about $400.

What is it with you and spamming every thread that has to do with car values?

here's what he posted in a similar thread I made

So you're looking at a car that doesn't run, with a bad body kit, and a chunk of metal in the trunk in unknown condition? $400.

I would say ~2500. I paid $1300 for my bone stock 98 gsx. no 3rd gear but drove it home. $1600 for fiance's 97 gsx. engine knocking. came with $1500 ball bearing turbo. and $4000 for a nicely upgraded 99 gsx. came with a spare stroker w/ fully build head and a t3/t4.

Value depends on if you want a DD or something that already has parts. also on your level of mechanical knowledge

 

[Absit]

I would say ~2500. I paid $1300 for my bone stock 98 gsx. no 3rd gear but drove it home. $1600 for fiance's 97 gsx. engine knocking. came with $1500 ball bearing turbo. and $4000 for a nicely upgraded 99 gsx. came with a spare stroker w/ fully build head and a t3/t4.

Value depends on if you want a DD or something that already has parts. also on your level of mechanical knowledge

Why is it you seem to think modifications to a car increase its value?
I post in these threads because these cars are literally worth whatever the buyer's willing to pay and the seller's willing to accept. There's no "book value" for a modified car.

So, he asks what it's worth, I answer his question, using my own opinions to form a value. What I posted is right around what I'd pay for that car. I'm sorry, was that the wrong answer? What's the right answer to a subjective question?

 

[RogueTalonTSI]

I would agree with 2500-3000 w/the evo wheels. Just be prepaired for loads of wireing issues, oil leaks, and be ready for a full service as mentioned before. I would also agree with finding a lower mileage stock eclipse over a high mileage abused one. My experiance with these cars is once you break the seal on a factory motor they are never the same.

 

[DSMGary]

i wouldnt buy it... in my very humble opinion....

 

[4Lurker4]

Well considering it came off his friend (off a trade) I take it that friend abused it, turbo died, he put a stocker back on (hence the resulting FMIC presently on the car and all other mods, because a t25 doesn't really do much with any of that) and he drove it for 8 months.

I'd say anything between 2500-3000 range. Also be aware that prices are a bit higher for them in Canada as opposed to the US. Check the carfax and if everything checks out and you've already talked him down in the range aformentioned, then go check it out. Be ready to take on problems from someone else though. Rarely will you see a used car being sold because it's all easy fixes.

 

[ed1380]

Why is it you seem to think modifications to a car increase its value?
I post in these threads because these cars are literally worth whatever the buyer's willing to pay and the seller's willing to accept. There's no "book value" for a modified car.

So, he asks what it's worth, I answer his question, using my own opinions to form a value. What I posted is right around what I'd pay for that car. I'm sorry, was that the wrong answer? What's the right answer to a subjective question?

a modified car actually has lower resale value. Never said modified cars were worth more. The reason I paid more for the last one, because it was the last year they made them and it had low mileage. The extra included parts were also nice. (aka I can either sell them, or saves me from having to buy them)


but the real reason I pointed you out, was the amount you stated. I'm sure you're not stupid and know that even the lowest possible value of a car is more than $400. That's scrap metal weight.

 

[Anubis_4_99]

if it runs, drives, and has been a DD for the last 8 months or however long (if seller is telling the truth), that to me signifies a value of at least 1K.

any car is worth what the buyer is willing to pay, that goes without saying. but offering scrap price for a running, driving, possible fairly decent shaped body 2G (from what can be seen) is an insult to the seller, regardless of who they are.

i got my 96 for 500, but it also needed an alternator, battery, two tires, and the door handle fixed. i believe i got a pretty good deal.

known issues, decreased price. that is the tool i use to pay what i believe to be a fair price for a car.

Why is it you seem to think modifications to a car increase its value?
I post in these threads because these cars are literally worth whatever the buyer's willing to pay and the seller's willing to accept. There's no "book value" for a modified car.

So, he asks what it's worth, I answer his question, using my own opinions to form a value. What I posted is right around what I'd pay for that car. I'm sorry, was that the wrong answer? What's the right answer to a subjective question?

 

[Altoids94]

Yeah, he sent me a few more pictures and I am going to pass on it. The person who spray painted the bumper oversprayed onto the rear taillight and back up lights. The car is probably way too abused. Going to keep looking, 2 more months till my license so I got some time Thanks for all the responses.