What is this car worth / Is this car a good deal?

[Devilsfutbol17]

I found a 1996 Spyder GST for $4900. It is a 5-speed, 91,000 miles on it, white with black top, 17 inch rims. There is 80% tread left on the tires but the guy has a brand new never used set of tires for the car that is included in the price. He says the top doesn't leak, but it had a rip and was repaired, but he didn't like it, so he bought a brand new oem top that isn't installed and is included with the car. He says the interior is really nice, everything inside works, but you have to help the top up a little bit. He doesn't know if the timing belt has been replaced or not. It has a 3 inch cat back exhaust, 16G turbo, apexi intake and a greddy bov. He says it runs great and has no issues. He says he just wants to get rid of it because he doesn't drive it and its taking up space in his garage, which sounds good to me because he kept it garaged at least. he also said that the paint is good on it, no clear coat coming off, no body damage or dents. I'm going to check for crankwalk be looking at the clutch pedal when I turn left. I have been talking to the guy over the phone and I'm suppose to go drive for 4 hours to go and buy it if it checks out on Thursday. Does it sound good? Should I ask him or check for other things on it?

 

[92mitsubishi]

Does seem too good to be true. As long as the title is clean and compression is decent it is well worth it. If he daily drives the car and you successfully drive it home, I'd say it's a steal.

i agree but im having the same trouble, i find a nice car great price, pics look good, i get there drive the car is worse then they portrade. then they wont come down on the price because everyone and thier mother is a mechanic or an idiot one guy even told me he couldnt go down on the price because he just spent $600 on the breaks ummmm think not, i guess some people just dont relize you can see the breaks through some rims. enough said sorry went on a rampage there. just look the car over and over there's nothing worse then buying a car knowing whats wrong with it and then getting it home and finding out something else thats going to cost you a arm and a leg, maybe even your first born. good luck. http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/2817329983.html see this is what i mean.

 

[DSM Chase]

Um i would definatly do a compression test...

 

[DSM Chase]

those same pictures were posted for an eclipse for sale here in atlanta GA, also with no number given, just an email. ITS DEFINATLY A SCAM!!!!!!

 

[dsm44130]

Seeing that I just bought a 93 fwd with petty much the same rims ,a big brake kit and a tore down motor for 15 ide say buy it . If you need any parts I have a complete motor and a 90 awd shell I'm parting out with all the awd components.

 

[-Boosty-]

To touch on this again. #If your mechanically inclined and feel comfortable tackling any of the hidden problems that are sure to arise, I'd say snag it. #There's more than enough info on this forum alone to guide you threw the most extensive repairs or replacements, as long as you have the time and the means you couldn't go wrong.

 

[talon1990TSi]

I'd buy it no matter what. These cars are getting harder to find in good shape with no rust. I mean even if the motor is shit who cares. You could easily part this out and get your money back.

Almost for got who needs power steering any ways.

 

[cnordelo]

Check over the car and if what the man says is legit then it is a good deal.

 

[jrohner]

from what i was told buy the guys that built this car it has 400HP. drilled and slotted rotors. the car could use a DSM link with that it should have close to 500hp

Why would DSM Link give it another 100hp? How do you know it has 400hp? Everyone says they have 400hp or whatever, ask to see the dyno sheets. The only tuning is with a MAFT?

 

[immortalmcf]

too good to be true. i agree how can he proof 400hp? a bunch of people claim the same and are nowhere near

 

[talonawd1991]

looks good but find little things wrong with it to help lower that price and bring it home.
compression check and check everything.
when you test drive it dont be scared to get on it a little. if it breaks dont buy it but if the car can handle it then might be alright but dont overlook anything. check for turbo shaft play as well.

 

[Laggg]

hmm that sounds like a amazing deal, i would see if it has a salvage title and like they said floor that car a bit and go through all the gears make sure its solid.

 

[Survivalism]

Yeah something seems off about that deal, i would look the car over as much as possible and try to feel out the guy selling the car, why would he sell a car built like this for so cheap?

Good luck man!

 

[SupremeDsm]

19lbs of boost and no way to tune? I'm laughing so hard right now especially at his claimed 400whp!

 

[Str8Tune]

I'd definitely snatch it if there ends up being no major issues particularly the fuel system or bottom end

 

[Seamus]

How is this too good to be true? I just paid $600 for a really clean bone stock 90 GSX a month ago. There is another one locally right now; a stock red 91 GSX with 94k that is seriously 8/10 for $300 with a bad tranny. It turned up after I bought mine. Before I bought It I looked at 4 AWD cars and none where over $2500 some where nice and some where pieces of crap. Really the shittier they are the more people want for them it seems. Kids get a hold of these cars and destroy them and mod them with stupid shit and cant make them run right and then want all the money for their turd. Hell, When I bought my 92 tsi AWD in 1996 it was only $6500 with 71k on it. I got lucky on this GSX. It was all stock and really clean and this dumb shit redneck kid bought it to make a "race" car. Luckily the coolant sensor went bad on him during the first week he owned it so all he did to it was take off the factory spoiler and put on a goofy one, which was easy to correct. He threw spark plugs and starter fluid at it for a couple months and couldn't make it run. Put it on craigslist for $1000 and I picked it up for 6.

 

[Trompaz]

i would walk away from that. seems like he isnt telling you something. lets say that was your car? would you sell it for 2000? you can part it out and make way more...

 

[eclipsemf]

I just went out on a limb to buy this car. 1997 Eclipse GSX with 113xxx miles with NO rust what so ever. The catch the kid said the tranny and clutch went stuck in 4th, along with bad idle and some smaller things. I picked it up last night and worked on it for a few hours today and realized it was only the shifter cable bracket was missing both bolts . So after trying to move it I realized it was only RWD kinda fun but not right. It turned out the CV bracket on the back of the block was off and one shaft had popped out. So we fixed that and adjusted the BISS screw which was all the way in and now she runs like a champ. I just need some smaller parts and new O2 housing and some new gas and she will be good to go!

Parts:
Slotted Rotors
3" apexi turbo back
FMIC (not sure what brand?)
Real Greaddy BOV
mishimoto radiator and hoses (going on my other car though)
Stock t-25 for now
glow shift gauges (boost,volt,narrow-band)
prothane motor mounts
NGK plug wires
tubular headers
injen cold air intake
short throw shifer megan
after market 17's
tokico HP coilovers
After market cams (not sure on brand but I think they are 264s)
Along with a bunch of smaller things radio, speakers, HIDs, new brakes ect...

Only issue is the paint is peeling here and there.

Here's the kicker I only paid 500$ for the car because I thought it had a junk tranny. I think I got a good deal and just looking for some opinions and to share the story of DSM #2! And if you know what FMIC it is please lmk although probably tough to tell from the picture.
Thanks

It will take some more cleaning but here it is as of now!

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[crusada]

500 bucks thats a freaking steal dude HOLY SHIT. I wish I could find a deal like that. You could easily turn that thing and make a profit. Its got 500 in aftermarket stuff in the damn thing. A+++++++++++++ on the find sir.

 

[SlowChild3]

You suck...

 

[98zx23369]

any credit for who found the car jeez. jk but that was a steal and a half

 

[Trav83]

You suck...

+1 lucky bastard

No offense if the seller is your friend, but what an idiot. Your gain though

 

[Anubis_4_99]

I feel for the kid who sold it to you, but from the sounds of it he wasn't very car savy so it's probably in better hands anyway.

And i concur, you suck. Nice find.

 

[TheRock0720]

wow my favorite interior/exterior color combo... you are one lucky guy for finding this!! congrats.

I'm here in NH too and I don't think I saw this one on Craigslist hahaha

 

[RipperXX]

Even if that thing had a blown trans and engine that would still be a heck of a deal. Congrats on possibly the best deal of 2012! Maybe more of us will stumble on deals like this in the future.

 

[eclipsemf]

I knew the kid some but not too well. I do feel kinda bad because he paid a ton for the car 4 months ago and had to sell it like this not knowing it was such an easy fix, but I guess his loss my gain and i didnt think it would be this easy either! The Rock luckily I have a good friend(98zx23369) that told me about the car before it made it on to CL he was also the one that helped me fix it yesterday. My plans for the car are built with supporting mods to hold a HX-35 to a HX40 or some where around there!