Opinion about buying this 3KGT VR4

[usernamex]

Originally Posted by usernamex

So I left a message on the guys phone. I offered him $1,200 cash. I have a feeling he's going to decline. But he still hasn't sold this and it's been up there for a week now. Just thought I'd give you guys an update. I'll let you know when he responds.

Well I was right. He called me back and was unhappy about the offer of $1,200. He said he doesn't want to let it go for less then $3k. He claims it's highway driveable still... what do you guys think?

[devanrules]

I'd have to agree with most of the other guys on here. 1000 to 1500 seems to be a reasonable price for the condition it's in. Obviously it's going to cost a lot to fix it up, so you don't want to lose too much in the initial investment.
If you are interested, I would suggest that you take a look at the car yourself, and more importantly, take it to a reputable mechanics shop and get a general inspection done on it. They can tell you roughly what is wrong with it, and you can figure out how much it'll cost from there.
3Ses are beautiful cars, but as we all know, they're not the most bulletproof. It does take proper maintenance and care to keep them at their peak. I would be weary buying one from someone who doesn't even know what's wrong with it, especially with that milege. You never know what unseen damage has been caused to the car. If you plan on replacing most things (which seems to be the best route) then I wouldn't pay too much for it. $3000 for a body and a few good parts is an awful lot of money to spend when you can pick up a much better example for a little more, and have a lot more to work with.

Then again, that's just my 2 cents, and I'm far from an expert!

Make sure to let us know what happens, and welcome to the 3s family!

-Devan

[usernamex]

Originally Posted by devanrules

I'd have to agree with most of the other guys on here. 1000 to 1500 seems to be a reasonable price for the condition it's in. Obviously it's going to cost a lot to fix it up, so you don't want to lose too much in the initial investment.
If you are interested, I would suggest that you take a look at the car yourself, and more importantly, take it to a reputable mechanics shop and get a general inspection done on it. They can tell you roughly what is wrong with it, and you can figure out how much it'll cost from there.
3Ses are beautiful cars, but as we all know, they're not the most bulletproof. It does take proper maintenance and care to keep them at their peak. I would be weary buying one from someone who doesn't even know what's wrong with it, especially with that milege. You never know what unseen damage has been caused to the car. If you plan on replacing most things (which seems to be the best route) then I wouldn't pay too much for it. $3000 for a body and a few good parts is an awful lot of money to spend when you can pick up a much better example for a little more, and have a lot more to work with.

Then again, that's just my 2 cents, and I'm far from an expert!

Make sure to let us know what happens, and welcome to the 3s family!

-Devan

Alright everyone I took a look at the car....

I have a good friend who's a professional mechanic. We went to the guy's apartment last saturday night. We test drove the car and looked at the general condition.

The Bad:
Paint - Obvious one right there.
Clutch Master Cylinder needs to be replaced (which is an easy inexpensive fix according to my friend)
One of the spark plugs were sparking. Again an inexpensive easy fix according to my friend.
CATS are probably clogged.
Needs 120k Tuneup.

My friend said once we replace the cats and get a new timing belt in there the boost would return.

The Good:
No knock on the engine (we drove it around for about 30 minutes to really get it warmed up)
Engine runs very smooth.
Shifting was smooth
The interior is brand new. Everything is very clean and the seats (front and back) were recently replaced.
Active Suspension and Aero both work and in good condition.
The physical condition of the body is in good shape. Needs a new blinker cover but that's about it.

All in all this car is in a lot better shape then what the pics and description make it out to be. My friend said I could put a $2000 into the car and, mechanically, the car would be running top notch again. The paint I can forgo for now (even though it is a huge eye sore and very expensive). But I will eventually get that completed.

One thing that I find concerning is that the guy wants to make a contract sell. He hasn't given me anything yet but I said I would look it over first and make a decision. I suppose it's good for both of us to make sure we don't get screwed. I'll post a link to the contact up here when he emails it to me.

Anything else you guys would recommend?

Thanks!

[ducky]

I thought he said he wouldn't take anything less them 3k? If he now want $3500 I would say that after thinking it over that the most that you can give him is $3k. Although I would say that is kinda high. For around $5-6K you could get a pritty good deal on a tt 3/s. I wouldn't just jump at the first thing. I did that and after 3 years $3,000 in just parts + the cost of the car $2000 and only got to drive it for 7000 miles because the tranny blow the diff out and when I got that fixed I spun the bearings 1 week later after redoing everything. $6K and I got a pritty good r/t tt in very nice shape from a member that is highly trusted on the board. Please look around before jumping on this. But thats just my .02 cents.

[Pensky3Thousand]

I sold a 93 VR4 that was actually painted for $1500

[1gcrazy]

Ok guys...

I've been away from the boards for some time now. Obviously, since I am having a baby, i have other priorities.

The car is mine. It was the first one I bought. It doesn't need a whole lot of work. The paint was primered over... a very shotty primer job at that. I've even wetsanded a few spots and all the paint underneath is pristine.
Just a good wetsand and some buffing....
The coil is causing a misfire. I have a guy lined up and I'll be buying a new coil for it.
The car looks crappy in the pictures and the description was written half drunk. My bad.

I'm very close to parting the car out. VERY CLOSE. Everyone thinks its a piece because the pictures arent very good.

Like He said, the interior is great. The body needs some tlc and the coild needs fixed. I'm betting the cats are more of the culprit as well.

The car has been taken care of but the retard before me was trying to learn how to paint apparently.

Anyway, I figured i'd defend myself a little bit.

The car IS worth 3500...

Also, I VERY clearly stated that if he waved 3000 in my face, i'd take it but I didn't want to settle for less than 3500. He seems to think that i'm going to let him pay me in payments at 3000... not sure why.

A contract is the best way, i'm not screwing around here, I need the money to put towards a station wagon for the fam. I value my name and I wont knowingly screw anyone for any reason.

I do need to sell this thing, either in parts or in one piece.

I also think that its worth 500-1000 dollars more when you dont need a flatbed to move the car. As in it runs and drives and if you can part it out for over 2500..... how am I being unreasonable? If you've ever assembled a car from the parts scattered inside, you can appreciate this.

Anyway, i'm done.

[Street_Chally73]

Sorry man, but these cars seem to be worth more parted out than sold as a whole. I paid $5,500 for my '91 R/T TT with a recent rebuild, new tires, and something like $2,600 in receipts of recent repair/maintenance work. Even with what the previous owner put into it, I've put another $1,400 into repairs. While the car looks great and runs well (though still some leaking issues here and there), I know there's no way someone would offer me what I've got into it. Good luck with selling it and while your price may seem reasonable given what you've done to it, potential buyers aren't expecting to pay that much for something that will still need more work and extensive paint replenishing or a full repaint.

[1gcrazy]

But yours is also a 2 bolt, non active aero and non ecs.... I think its not an ECS model...

Anyway, people will pay a better chunk of change for the 4 bolt over the 2.

As far as i'm concerned, no car is worth less drivable than parted out. It doesn't make sense... Or people could buy these cheap and part them out...
Is that the fate everyone wants for the 3/s?

[usernamex]

Originally Posted by 1gcrazy

But yours is also a 2 bolt, non active aero and non ecs.... I think its not an ECS model...

Anyway, people will pay a better chunk of change for the 4 bolt over the 2.

As far as i'm concerned, no car is worth less drivable than parted out. It doesn't make sense... Or people could buy these cheap and part them out...
Is that the fate everyone wants for the 3/s?

I've offered $2,000 to 1gcrazy but he doesn't want the offer. But if you can get more from parting it out... more power to you. It's so hard to sell a car in this economy right now. If I didn't have everyone on my left shoulder telling me not to pay more then 2k for this car, things might have been different. While I think you're a nice trustworthy guy 1gcrazy... I just can't go against that many people telling me no. Sorry man.

[1gcrazy]

But you havn't taken into account that all of these people havn't seen the car. You were thinking what they are thinking before you saw it. You even told me it looks better in person. YOU said it was worth 4000. I said I would negotiate from 2500 since that IS the highest offer you have given me. 2500 is too low. Sorry. I wont let it go for that much. I paid way more than that.

If you want to meet in the middle somewhere on price, say 3000ish I'm open to that. I have 2 other people that want to come see the car. I no longer have a car payment and i'm not really in any hurry anymore to sell it.

In a few weeks i'm probably going to replace the coil, wetsand and buff the paint and then raise the price or be firm at 4000. If you dont want a good deal, i can't force you.

By the way guys, I didn't mention in the ad that it has 4 new tires with about 2000 miles on them and a new Spec stage 3 clutch with the same amount of miles.