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?

 

[juntjoo]

http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/cto/3190724300.html

what's electronic spark pickup? I'd rather be the one who did all my mods, and I don't even know what half of them are but I'd still have my stock GS to build off of and if I got this one it would be still cool to have gsx and I'd like to have two to make it easier to work on them.

 

[bryanwheat]

Looks like an overpriced nightmare to me. The guy list's that is has 840's+550cc. I assume that he is talking about injectors, which wouldn't make much sense. It is also being tuned with an hks vpc which is trash. No mention of a wideband either. When you buy a non running car you can never assume that it only needs what they say. If it were that easy he would of bought one and fixed it himself.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Find a running car unless you want to make it a project car.

 

[smokestack]

I believe theirs definitaly more than meets the eye with this. Who knows whats wrong with it really, thats a whole lot of money sunk into in too be selling for so cheap and not just part out. But if your looking for another project then i would go for it but id offer less and see what he says.

 

[juntjoo]

I don't get it. what's electronic spark pickup? does it just need a starter?

 

[bryanwheat]

I don't get it. what's electronic spark pickup? does it just need a starter?

Cam angle sensor. As we have already stated, don't just assume that is what is wrong with it. If the owner knew for sure what is wrong with it than he would just fix it and sell it running or drive it. When buying a non running car, (especially a modded one) assume that it could need anything.

 

[punk3rz]

Why?

 

[flawlessTSI]

I chose auto over 5speed for 3 reasions
Fast / consistent shifting
No need for a expensive clutch set up and expensive 5speeds that can handle as much as a stock auto trans can
And I daily drive my car , I like the smooth stress free drive . Not a harsh leg workout. Lol

 

[DSMReviver]

Im not jumping into an auto band wagon!...

 

[juntjoo]

okay, so i'm assuming then that "electronic spark pickup" is some rig in place of a CAS and if it was just that simple he'd've fixed it so I should expect hidden goodies -or baddies. cool, thanks.

 

[NHerron]

Overall it seems like a poorly planned setup/train wreck but hey it could be a good long project if you're into that I'm thinking the electronic spark pickup is the CAS. He might have priced it from the dealer and couldn't afford it?

Some key items I see.

Frank 4 Turbo - That's pretty big/aggressive from what I've read. Not nearly as street able as a 16G.

Busher Front Mount Flouidine Radiator - This person must have forgot a line break between 'mount' and 'Flouidine' because I haven't heard of a front mount radiator.

Boucher vs. Busher?

Walboro 255 fuel pumo - Pump right? No FPR to go with?

VPC - speaks for itself

Unorthdox Racing Underdrive pully - bling factor? Not much power to be had with that...

2900 ACT Clutch - Because he's bangin' out big TQ numbers don't ya know

4 bolt rearmain - The rear main seal housing has 5 bolts, did he loose one? Oh the rear differential, 4 bolt cup design... gotcha.

2 1/2 drop super intract springs - \/
Adjustable struts front and rear - I bet this combination of parts, along with the 'Racing' Motor mount bushings make the ride feel just FANTASTIC. Those shocks are blown.

The list goes on.....

I bet it does

 

[ZombieSix]

autos are proven on the track

but.....................

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[my dreamt dsm]

^^^

 

[StarFawkes]

It has a bad clutch, but also has a full 6 bolt swap done to it.
Go check it out and have him start it up. A bad clutch won't stop it from starting and you may be able to find some additional problems just at idle.

It has a hahn super 16 turbo with minor shaft play, said it smokes a little when in full boost, but doesn't when DD'ing.
Any kind of shaft play is not good. This turbo will need rebuilt. You should still confirm this when you look at it by testing in-out and up-down shaft play.

How much should I offer for it?
I would offer $2,000 max for a car that needs work.

As far as auto vs manual goes it all depends on how you drive your car. Auto and manual can both be equally fast at the track and equally reliable for DDing, the only thing is the manual will eventually break if you are putting down more power than stock and launch it often. I would say user preference on this.

 

[isantop]

I figured I'd post on this thread, rather than starting a new one. Seems better fit for it.

If you've read the posts I've made here before, you may have picked up that I'm normally an N/A guy. It's not just with DSMs, but nearly everything.

However, I came across a pretty good deal on a 95 GS-T yesterday:

1995 Eclipse gst

It needs a new driver's side door handle (don't we all?) and a new valve cover. I believe it will also need a stereo mounting bracket as well. However, I did drive up and see it last night, and it is completely stock, apart from the BOV. It's pretty clean. The paint on the passenger side is peeling a bit, but the primer underneath is in excellent shape.

He's said the lowest he'll go is $2600. I didn't get to drive it yet, because he didn't have a battery for it, but I'm going back up on Sunday to take it for a drive. He is throwing in an extra set of wheels with new tires, too.

So what do you all think? Good deal? Assuming it drives fine, I'm inclined to say so, but I'm not sure. This would be my first ever turbo car, and I'm just not very familiar with them.

On a side note, props to the Turbo for piquing my interest! This is the first time I've ever driven two and a half hours one-way for a car!

 

[DsmTSi997]

Hey guys, I've recently been talking to a guy about a 1998 Talon Tsi that I am interested in buying. Now, the car has 177,000 km on it, has an intercooler and catback exhaust. It needs a new clutch ( I think. The story is that the fork is hitting against the case, which isn't allowing the clutch to disengage, which means you have to start it in first, and can change gears around 3500.) The sunroof doesn't work, it needs suspension work done eventually, it needs a new hood and some interior parts (got broken into).Also, I'm pretty sure the belt just needs tightening, but he says his alternator belt squeals when he "uses too much power like cranking the AC" so that is minor.. i hope. Now the guy was asking 2,000 but I've got him down to 500.

My question is: Is this worth it? I've been quoted $1500 to fix the clutch, and I can get a hood for $100.

Any opinions welcome! Oh and this would be my third talon to date.

 

[Sws]

He was asking 2k but you got him down to 500? He's either a pushover or there's something really wrong with that car haha.

 

[H@xtGSX]

I'm betting on the "something really wrong with the car" answer.

 

[tazndrew04]

if he originally wanted 2k for the car and you got him down to 500, i would pass. Usually when a car is dropped $1500 than that should be your signal to walk away and keep looking

 

[WizardTSi]

Something wrong or not, for $500 you can sell anything good on it, than sell tbe rest for scrap and come out ahead. Thats just what I would do.

 

[zachakagoat]

Something wrong or not, for $500 you can sell anything good on it, than sell tbe rest for scrap and come out ahead. Thats just what I would do.

Agreed, regardless if the motor doesn't run there are plenty of parts to strip and sell to come out. If you have the time you can easily make 1000$ on it. Just need a place to store and strip it.

 

[DsmTSi997]

It does run. I've seen him drive it countless times, (until recently when the clutch went) he said he didn't necisarrily want 2 grand, that it was "just a ballpark estimate".

 

[Silver99OZ]

For $500 I would pick it up. Once you get it you can go through the car and find out what it really needs and what its going to cost to fix. If the cost of fixing is too high, then you could part out the car and make money.

 

[Canadiankush]

He bought it in 2001 and is the second owner. It has 237 xxx on the body and had an engine rebuild in 2006 and has been sitting since 2007, it needs a new soft top, tranny, moldy interior, alternator, tune up etc. He's just let it go and is getting rid of it so i was thinking of buying it. what do you guys think it's worth?

here's what it looks like

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[bryanwheat]

In that condition maybe 500-800 bucks at the most.