What to do?

[RanciD]

Ok I need some advice on what I should do about buying a car. On Sunday I'm going to look at a blue '89 S13. It's got a couple of problems..

-Knocking engine
-Automatic tranmission (big problem)
-No passenger seat (other seat is just a gray base model)
-No keys
-Driver's side fender and front bumper need to be replaced. He will give me both of these with the car, but not painted.
-Large scratch across the door (he described it as almost to the point of a dent I think)
-Dent on roof from a golf ball that he was in the process of repairing
-Trunk leaks, most likely just needs new lining

The positives are it's a coupe, it's blue (my favorite color ), he says it has no rust he could see and it's close. Other than the problems above, he said the car looked great. Now I've been thinking and it seems to me that this might all make sense. If the car was hit near the front (explaining the need for a bumper and fender) then maybe the radiator was damaged at the same time. Could this be the cause of the knocking? If this is what happened then who knows what else got damaged in there, and what condition the engine bay is in.

Do you guys think it would be cheaper to try and fix this thing or just keep looking and buy one that actually runs? If the radiator is the problem and I replaced it would the engine have already been hurt from the knocking or would it be alright? I just really need some advice about what to do. I'll bring pictures of the car after I go look at it.

[WhiteNissanS13]

the hardest thing about helping you make a descision, is you didnt give us a price. thats a real big factor, under $1000 sounds alright, how many miles does it have? what trim is it?(base, xe) what options does it have?

[RanciD]

That was pretty dumb of me. The asking price is $200.

I think it was a base model, might have AC. I'll ask him next time I can.

[KiDyNomiTe]

That is a great car for 200. Especially if you plan on swapping out the motor.Bets thing to do is get a new motor (thi will take care of the knocking, and auto problem).

To fix the body just get a silvia front end, replaces fender, bumper and hood.

Those are your main problems.

I would buy it if you planned on doing a silvia conversion or an SR swap. If not give it to someone else. The sratch, can be fixed, and the dent in the roof can be pulled.

Just make sure there is no frame damage in the area it was hit

[radhaz]

For $200 it's easy to say it's worth it, reason being is if all else fails and you want to get rid of it you could most likely part it out for at least that much.

Kid already said it, frame damage would be a real clincher on that one. If you're not sure what to check for take it to a trusted mechanic before you buy it and have them do a thorough inspection for you.

The other thing I didn't catch, is this a salvage title? If this is a salvage understand that you will not be able to resell your vehicle for what it's worth ie take a huge loss on selling it.

[RanciD]

It has a clean title he said. I will run a Carfax once I get a VIN. I do plan on an engine swap in the future. As far as the front end goes.. he's giving me the parts to fix it so I don't need to buy anything. Someone told me the radiator can't be the cause of a knocking engine. Is this true? If it could be the radiator that makes me a little scared cause if the radiator was hurt then the collision must have been pretty rough..

[SiL1480]

He should pay you $200 to take it off his hands.












seriously

[SiL1480]

Oh yeah, when does the knocking occur? Is it constant through out the power band or just when starting up?

[Bill Roberts]

Ok, .....but why would you post a question on a 200 dollar car?

Simply, either you can find a way to make it worth that to you or you are just plain nuts.


A fender off it is worth 100, the alternator is worth 50...a car that runs for 200 and a 240? Damn dude, I would be embarassed to ask here actually.

Tell you what, I give him 500 if you did not buy it.


I can make a grand of it in parts..+++

200....please....get it dude..

Dude critiquing a 200 dollar car. Give me a Qualudid....Rorer 714 would be best.


Are you bragging or complaining??????????????

Sorry for the vibe but you do not need anyone here to confirm its worth....at all.
Starting to sound like a ..."I can get this suckers hehehehe" Damn.

Doood, you know I love ya...but 200???think dude...think...

No offense...but damn

[RanciD]

I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm bragging.. that's not what I meant at all! I'm just a broke high school student. I need something that I'm going to be able to drive by this winter so I don't put my MR-2 into a ditch or something. If I buy it as a parts car it's going to have to wait for a while until I can clear enough room for it in my garage.

My question is will it be cheaper to get an engine for this $200 car, get a 5 speed transmission, the stuff for the swap, a tumbler, the bumper and fender painted, and basically get this car into decent condition than to just keep looking and buy one that already runs? The painting can wait but I really need a running engine in there. It's looking like it's going to cost about $400 for the engine and 5 speed tranmission. So that's $600.. plus I need a master cylinder, slave cylinder, clutch + brake pedal, etc. for the swap, a tumbler with some keys and some money to be safe... not to mention all the labor involved. I have an engine lift and all the tools to do it available to me, that's not a problem.

I'm not sure when the knocking occurs but it turns out he's not available this sunday when I was going to check out the car so I won't know for a little while longer. I did get the VIN though.. if anyone wants to run a carfax for me I'd be grateful.

The car has no keys so it doesn't really run unless I hotwire it or something. Even if I put in a tumbler there and drive it back he said that he wouldn't trust it to make it back to my house. It's about 20 minutes away but I may risk it cause towing is going to cost more than the car..

[RanciD]

I've already been through an SR swap on my neighbor's car (although it was front wheel drive) and my father has done my swaps in the past. It's not a matter of could we do it. And who says I don't have a job? How do you think I could afford an MR-2 without a job, nevermind another car? I happen to talk to the owner on AIM by the way.

Anyway, don't go around attacking people when you obviously have no idea what kind of situation I'm in. If this is a waste of your time then why'd you bother to reply? Please, if you have no valuable input then don't bother replying. The only time I'm wasting is my own, I didn't make you click on the link to this thread. I just want to know if it's cheaper to get this running or spend more money on one that doesn't need a new engine.

[s13rookie]

well, i am the one selling the car, for $200. it was to be my project car about a year ago, it had some front end damage, as in driver side fender and bumper support. also the driver side headlight cover of the pop up lights was slightly bent so it wouldnt go up, i have the new parts for all of these

it was gonna be my baby but i had to park it for a while, and when i went to start it up it started spewing smoke, thought about getting a new KA24D, but got an s14 instead, it has a few problems, i gave away the front seats( figured id pass along the zilvia genourosity, as i got them for free) i have the title.it has 5 spoke american racing rims on it, i bought the car in about march of 2002, drove it home from the bronx to ellington about 10 miles east of hartford, it ran fine