What's this car worth?

carone · 04-21-2009, 04:24 PM

MR2 1988 Supercharged

I'm going to look at this car today and I wanted to see what everyone thought about it.

The car was not a factory SC car, a JDM motor was swapped in with unknown mileage. The speedometer cable is not attached on the trans side. The car makes a squeal at start up which the owner claims is from a loose sc belt. It has some kind of lowering springs, which I could do without. It has that god awful wing on the back. He doesn’t have any of the factory parts including wheels, pulley, wing, springs, ect. The most interesting thing he said was that the interior is stripped but based on the picture it looks complete. The only thing I could confirm on the phone was that the carpet is missing.

To me $2,400 seems way too high considering that to make the car “right” it needs an SC lid, some mechanical work, and possibly an interior. I also need to see how the motor swap was done, if it was questionable install which, judging by the owners choice in wings it very well might be the car might not be worth a thing. Is there anything else I should be sure to check when I go to look at the car?

ebouwman · 04-21-2009, 05:54 PM

It kinda depends. The fact that it isn't a factory sc engine and that the speedo isn't hooked up doesn't help it any. But the body looks really good so you have to give him credit for that. It kinda depends on how bad the interior really is.

I'd see if he'd keep that god awful wing and lower the price a bit at least. It'd also be a good idea to find out what car that engine came from, there were a few different revisions i think and they made different horsepowers.

carone · 04-21-2009, 06:00 PM

Is there a way to identify what 4agze is in the car?

ebouwman · 04-21-2009, 06:05 PM

Um... probably, but not really sure. I think that lots of the JDM engines made more power anyways, but they made that engine into the 90's as well i believe. One thing to remember is that if the speedo cable isn't hooked up, then i'm pretty sure it's not recording the miles on the car. So the odometer will be off.

It also won't pass an inspection if you have to get one done, hopefully you're good at inspecting how well the swap was done, i wouldn't really know what to look for.

PHOENIX · 04-21-2009, 07:49 PM

is this the car with the funky wing that you posted?

Edit: nevermind, saw the link at the top of the page

328FTW · 04-21-2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carone

Is there a way to identify what 4agze is in the car?

The mr2 4agze has an AFM on the intake but the GTZ levin engine (what a lot of people import to replace the n/a) is MAP so has no AFM on the intake. The 4agze from the GTZ also has the intercooler on top rather than to the side but that is easily changed where as the AFM thing is definate. GTZ engine makes more power (and has higher compression I think? 9.1:1 ish instead of ~8:1)

And are those matt black wheels I see? oh noes

carone · 04-21-2009, 11:56 PM

I went and looked at the car and it's not worth anywhere close to $2,400.

I'm pretty sure that the car was originally dark blue and has been given a low quality black paint job. Whats left of the dark blue interior is a mess, there is no carpet, no radio, holes were cut in the dash for gauges and buttons. The trunk struts and hood release latch were removed to lighten the car. The wheels were spray painted flat black while on the car and there is over spray on the brakes. The car had nitrous and the part of the kit was left under the hood, which scares me.The engine swap was well done and runs great.

ebouwman · 04-22-2009, 03:09 AM

Well...

You could get a dash from another car...
Did it sound like the guy would give you a better deal on the car? Or do you even still want it?

It could be a resto project! (assuming he doesn't continue to screw you on the price)

carone · 04-22-2009, 10:19 AM

I'm not sure what it's worth. It really needs a complete interior, a wing, a lid, wheels, paint work, and a lot of odds and ends. Unless I could get the car for next to nothing I don't think it's worth buying. I would be better off just waiting for another car. I honestly don't think the car is worth more then $1,000

ebouwman · 04-22-2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carone

I'm not sure what it's worth. It really needs a complete interior, a wing, a lid, wheels, paint work, and a lot of odds and ends. Unless I could get the car for next to nothing I don't think it's worth buying. I would be better off just waiting for another car. I honestly don't think the car is worth more then $1,000

Thats cause it's not

Maticuno · 04-22-2009, 02:27 PM

NOS is the deal breaker. There is no way to tell if the system was being used responsibly and overuse or incorrect use of NOS is an instant engine killer. Judging by the rest of the ricey aspects of the car, I bet he probably shot it up just to start the engine.

ebouwman · 04-22-2009, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maticuno

NOS is the deal breaker. There is no way to tell if the system was being used responsibly and overuse or incorrect use of NOS is an instant engine killer. Judging by the rest of the ricey aspects of the car, I bet he probably shot it up just to start the engine.

Well ya, but i think if you could get it for cheap enough it'd be a nice project to transplant into a good mk1, and then part out the shell.

04-21-2009, 04:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
carone No Skills Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 22 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	What's this car worth? MR2 1988 Supercharged I'm going to look at this car today and I wanted to see what everyone thought about it. The car was not a factory SC car, a JDM motor was swapped in with unknown mileage. The speedometer cable is not attached on the trans side. The car makes a squeal at start up which the owner claims is from a loose sc belt. It has some kind of lowering springs, which I could do without. It has that god awful wing on the back. He doesn’t have any of the factory parts including wheels, pulley, wing, springs, ect. The most interesting thing he said was that the interior is stripped but based on the picture it looks complete. The only thing I could confirm on the phone was that the carpet is missing. To me $2,400 seems way too high considering that to make the car “right” it needs an SC lid, some mechanical work, and possibly an interior. I also need to see how the motor swap was done, if it was questionable install which, judging by the owners choice in wings it very well might be the car might not be worth a thing. Is there anything else I should be sure to check when I go to look at the car?

04-21-2009, 07:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
PHOENIX Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Hiatus....... Posts: 9,266 Thanks: 92 Thanked 292 Times in 224 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (49/100% )	is this the car with the funky wing that you posted? Edit: nevermind, saw the link at the top of the page Last edited by PHOENIX; 04-21-2009 at 09:29 PM..

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04-21-2009, 05:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC Posts: 1,600 Thanks: 19 Thanked 51 Times in 51 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	It kinda depends. The fact that it isn't a factory sc engine and that the speedo isn't hooked up doesn't help it any. But the body looks really good so you have to give him credit for that. It kinda depends on how bad the interior really is. I'd see if he'd keep that god awful wing and lower the price a bit at least. It'd also be a good idea to find out what car that engine came from, there were a few different revisions i think and they made different horsepowers.

04-21-2009, 06:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
carone No Skills Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 22 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Is there a way to identify what 4agze is in the car?

04-21-2009, 06:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC Posts: 1,600 Thanks: 19 Thanked 51 Times in 51 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Um... probably, but not really sure. I think that lots of the JDM engines made more power anyways, but they made that engine into the 90's as well i believe. One thing to remember is that if the speedo cable isn't hooked up, then i'm pretty sure it's not recording the miles on the car. So the odometer will be off. It also won't pass an inspection if you have to get one done, hopefully you're good at inspecting how well the swap was done, i wouldn't really know what to look for.

04-21-2009, 11:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
carone No Skills Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 22 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I went and looked at the car and it's not worth anywhere close to $2,400. I'm pretty sure that the car was originally dark blue and has been given a low quality black paint job. Whats left of the dark blue interior is a mess, there is no carpet, no radio, holes were cut in the dash for gauges and buttons. The trunk struts and hood release latch were removed to lighten the car. The wheels were spray painted flat black while on the car and there is over spray on the brakes. The car had nitrous and the part of the kit was left under the hood, which scares me.The engine swap was well done and runs great.

04-22-2009, 03:09 AM	#8 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC Posts: 1,600 Thanks: 19 Thanked 51 Times in 51 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Well... You could get a dash from another car... Did it sound like the guy would give you a better deal on the car? Or do you even still want it? It could be a resto project! (assuming he doesn't continue to screw you on the price)

04-22-2009, 10:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
carone No Skills Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 22 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I'm not sure what it's worth. It really needs a complete interior, a wing, a lid, wheels, paint work, and a lot of odds and ends. Unless I could get the car for next to nothing I don't think it's worth buying. I would be better off just waiting for another car. I honestly don't think the car is worth more then $1,000

04-22-2009, 02:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
Maticuno Park Ranging Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California Deserts Posts: 313 Thanks: 15 Thanked 25 Times in 17 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	NOS is the deal breaker. There is no way to tell if the system was being used responsibly and overuse or incorrect use of NOS is an instant engine killer. Judging by the rest of the ricey aspects of the car, I bet he probably shot it up just to start the engine.