Please help me decide on this purchase.

herbivor · 07-07-2009, 09:41 PM

I'm looking for my first MR2 to toy around with. $2k is my budget. I found this one on craigslist. I live 4 hours away so I'm going on this guys word and basically the ad to commit to driving down there. I talked him down to $2k. The problems with the car are as follows:
1. door lock cylinder fell into the door.
2. Window is cracked.
3. Dash is cracked.
4. AC doesn't blow cold
5. paint job is nice and shiny but obviously not matching original. inside of doors are not sprayed.
He says mechanically strong and clutch and transmission are good.
I rarely see these things for sale in decent condition for under 2k. Should I go for it or wait for a better deal?

palos · 07-07-2009, 10:44 PM

You haven't provided many particulars, e.g. mileage, ownership history, how long the present owner has owned the car, whether service records are available, accident history, etc…

There appears to be interior trim pieces missing towards the front center of the car. The engine lid almost looks as though it had been charred. The front trunk appears to have a large container of brake fluid. The pieces under the headlights, above the bumper, appear to be missing. Nankangs are inexpensive tires. The cover over the ash tray does not appear to be the same as the rest of the center counsel. There appears to be an almost rust color in the rear seams of the bottom of both seats.

Best guess is that this is a turn and burn. Recent paint to hide underlying damage. Negotiating a price over the phone before it has been examined and test ridden always seems suspect.

Unless you need an excuse to make the drive, I'd look elsewhere.

ebouwman · 07-07-2009, 11:33 PM

ya...
tough call...

Hard to say, the body looks soooo good, and i noticed it's a t-top, so that does bring up the value a bit. I don't think it's a terrible deal, it's just that that 4 hour trip is a killer, don't make any commitments until you get a good look at that car!

herbivor · 07-07-2009, 11:53 PM

It's got 190,000 miles on it. Current owner has only owned it since January and hasn't driven it much. He got it from a college professor that had it for a while and had his students paint it before selling. So not professional, but he says it looks professional. the current owner replaced the slave cylinder, carpet, and t-top seals. Doesn't drive it much because he has a Mk2 that he's had forever that he prefers. I haven't seen many better for 2k and I've seen alot far worse go for only a little less. I'm not looking for a perfect specimen either as I just want a second car while I work on my E30. I dunno. I'm on the fence with this one.

palos · 07-08-2009, 12:13 AM

Hopefully its an E30 M3 that you are working on.

With that mileage I would stay away. Too short of current ownership history. Basically a six month history and a car that was driven much. Wonders why. What did the college professor teach -- body restoration at a tech school?

While it seems your interest is a rather short term ownership, find a car that will be more easily resellable.

traintech86 · 07-08-2009, 03:54 AM

i am gonna be honest, if you plan on keeping the car i'd go for it. i paid 1200 for mine and the clutch burned up so i had to pay another 700 for that. now the slave cyl is bad. i dun mind fixin all this stuff cause i am learning alot as i go but 2k for what looks to be an amazingly nice looking chassis and interior sounds like a good deal to me. for the record my 89 has 200k miles on it and the engine seems to be the only thing that runs well haha.

muffinman · 07-09-2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traintech86

i am gonna be honest, if you plan on keeping the car i'd go for it. i paid 1200 for mine and the clutch burned up so i had to pay another 700 for that. now the slave cyl is bad. i dun mind fixin all this stuff cause i am learning alot as i go but 2k for what looks to be an amazingly nice looking chassis and interior sounds like a good deal to me. for the record my 89 has 200k miles on it and the engine seems to be the only thing that runs well haha.

as for the car , i would keep looking.GL

herbivor · 07-10-2009, 09:04 AM

Thanks,
I ended up trusting my instincts and decided not to make the trip. I was a bit bummed but when I got back to my office I checked craigslist just for the hell of it and an 89 MR2 popped up within the hour with many fewer miles and overall better, more original condition for less money, and only an hour away. I snatched it up and was pleased everything worked out. Thanks for everyone's advice.

muffinman · 07-10-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herbivor

Thanks,
I ended up trusting my instincts and decided not to make the trip. I was a bit bummed but when I got back to my office I checked craigslist just for the hell of it and an 89 MR2 popped up within the hour with many fewer miles and overall better, more original condition for less money, and only an hour away. I snatched it up and was pleased everything worked out. Thanks for everyone's advice.

Congratulations

Now post some pics! please

ebouwman · 07-10-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herbivor

Thanks,
I ended up trusting my instincts and decided not to make the trip. I was a bit bummed but when I got back to my office I checked craigslist just for the hell of it and an 89 MR2 popped up within the hour with many fewer miles and overall better, more original condition for less money, and only an hour away. I snatched it up and was pleased everything worked out. Thanks for everyone's advice.

Nice!!

Davis · 07-10-2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muffinman

Congratulations

Now post some pics! please

+1!

traintech86 · 07-11-2009, 04:00 AM

ok well since we don't charge for advice, you'll have to post some pics. and just about any 2 is pic worthy! my car is a dog but mostly on the pass side(hence the cam angle >>). let us see it!!!

traintech86 · 07-11-2009, 04:04 AM

Post pics! thats the cost of our advice! all 2's are worth seeing, i should probly close my frunk(there is nothing wrong with it, i was just getting into it lol) and def keep pics from this angle as the prev owner must have hit a small child with the front pass fender. got the fender tho so ill fix it soon!

herbivor · 07-11-2009, 11:58 PM

ok ok pics are on my work computer. will post soon. anyway, it's all stock, so nothing unique looking about it.

ebouwman · 07-12-2009, 04:45 PM

still MORE PICTURES lol

07-07-2009, 09:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
herbivor No Skills Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 18 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Please help me decide on this purchase. I'm looking for my first MR2 to toy around with. $2k is my budget. I found this one on craigslist. I live 4 hours away so I'm going on this guys word and basically the ad to commit to driving down there. I talked him down to $2k. The problems with the car are as follows: 1. door lock cylinder fell into the door. 2. Window is cracked. 3. Dash is cracked. 4. AC doesn't blow cold 5. paint job is nice and shiny but obviously not matching original. inside of doors are not sprayed. He says mechanically strong and clutch and transmission are good. I rarely see these things for sale in decent condition for under 2k. Should I go for it or wait for a better deal?

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07-07-2009, 10:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
palos … Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 546 Thanks: 0 Thanked 44 Times in 42 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	You haven't provided many particulars, e.g. mileage, ownership history, how long the present owner has owned the car, whether service records are available, accident history, etc… There appears to be interior trim pieces missing towards the front center of the car. The engine lid almost looks as though it had been charred. The front trunk appears to have a large container of brake fluid. The pieces under the headlights, above the bumper, appear to be missing. Nankangs are inexpensive tires. The cover over the ash tray does not appear to be the same as the rest of the center counsel. There appears to be an almost rust color in the rear seams of the bottom of both seats. Best guess is that this is a turn and burn. Recent paint to hide underlying damage. Negotiating a price over the phone before it has been examined and test ridden always seems suspect. Unless you need an excuse to make the drive, I'd look elsewhere.

07-07-2009, 11:33 PM	#3 (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% )	ya... tough call... Hard to say, the body looks soooo good, and i noticed it's a t-top, so that does bring up the value a bit. I don't think it's a terrible deal, it's just that that 4 hour trip is a killer, don't make any commitments until you get a good look at that car!

07-07-2009, 11:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
herbivor No Skills Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 18 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	It's got 190,000 miles on it. Current owner has only owned it since January and hasn't driven it much. He got it from a college professor that had it for a while and had his students paint it before selling. So not professional, but he says it looks professional. the current owner replaced the slave cylinder, carpet, and t-top seals. Doesn't drive it much because he has a Mk2 that he's had forever that he prefers. I haven't seen many better for 2k and I've seen alot far worse go for only a little less. I'm not looking for a perfect specimen either as I just want a second car while I work on my E30. I dunno. I'm on the fence with this one.

07-08-2009, 12:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
palos … Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 546 Thanks: 0 Thanked 44 Times in 42 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Hopefully its an E30 M3 that you are working on. With that mileage I would stay away. Too short of current ownership history. Basically a six month history and a car that was driven much. Wonders why. What did the college professor teach -- body restoration at a tech school? While it seems your interest is a rather short term ownership, find a car that will be more easily resellable.

07-08-2009, 03:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
traintech86 Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2009 Location: Yokosuka, Kanagawa Japan Posts: 1,802 Thanks: 27 Thanked 47 Times in 43 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	i am gonna be honest, if you plan on keeping the car i'd go for it. i paid 1200 for mine and the clutch burned up so i had to pay another 700 for that. now the slave cyl is bad. i dun mind fixin all this stuff cause i am learning alot as i go but 2k for what looks to be an amazingly nice looking chassis and interior sounds like a good deal to me. for the record my 89 has 200k miles on it and the engine seems to be the only thing that runs well haha.

07-10-2009, 09:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
herbivor No Skills Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 18 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Thanks, I ended up trusting my instincts and decided not to make the trip. I was a bit bummed but when I got back to my office I checked craigslist just for the hell of it and an 89 MR2 popped up within the hour with many fewer miles and overall better, more original condition for less money, and only an hour away. I snatched it up and was pleased everything worked out. Thanks for everyone's advice.

07-11-2009, 04:00 AM	#12 (permalink)
traintech86 Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2009 Location: Yokosuka, Kanagawa Japan Posts: 1,802 Thanks: 27 Thanked 47 Times in 43 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	ok well since we don't charge for advice, you'll have to post some pics. and just about any 2 is pic worthy! my car is a dog but mostly on the pass side(hence the cam angle >>). let us see it!!!

07-11-2009, 04:04 AM	#13 (permalink)
traintech86 Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2009 Location: Yokosuka, Kanagawa Japan Posts: 1,802 Thanks: 27 Thanked 47 Times in 43 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Post pics! thats the cost of our advice! all 2's are worth seeing, i should probly close my frunk(there is nothing wrong with it, i was just getting into it lol) and def keep pics from this angle as the prev owner must have hit a small child with the front pass fender. got the fender tho so ill fix it soon!

07-11-2009, 11:58 PM	#14 (permalink)
herbivor No Skills Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 18 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	ok ok pics are on my work computer. will post soon. anyway, it's all stock, so nothing unique looking about it.

07-12-2009, 04:45 PM	#15 (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% )	still MORE PICTURES lol