Should I buy this MR2?

[jlee]

From the description and emails from the seller:

1986 Toyota MR2 n/a
122,000 miles
New KYB shocks
Eibach 1" lowering springs
Suspension Techniques anti sway bars (front and rear)
Front strut tower bar
Polyurethane bushings
Rota Slipstream rims with Dunlop fm901 tires (less than 500 miles on them)
Front slotted rotors
Carbon fiber brake pads
Line lock controller
Adjustable proportioning valve
Infinity speakers with JVC CD player
Jon o short shift kit
New custom shift boot and e brake boot
Power mirrors
Needs new windshield

Interior in excellent shape (never smoked in car)
Needs paint job
Dog ate bumper so i replaced it with used one
Never been in an accident.

$1000

Apparently it was a California car..only rust is minor surface rust..the previous owner was female, drove it on weekends, and kept it garaged. I haven't ran a Carfax on it..

KBB is $500 in fair condition..$990 in excellent. I'm thinking about offering $800....the downside is that it's in NH, and I'm in FL..but my uncle lives in NH, and could probably check it out for me (he does most of the work on his own cars, and basically has a garage's worth of tools in his barn).


Pics:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/CadetLee/DSCF0146.JPG

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/CadetLee/DSCF0147.JPG

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/CadetLee/DSCF0148.JPG

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/CadetLee/DSCF0145.JPG

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/CadetLee/DSCF0144.JPG

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/CadetLee/DSCF0142.JPG

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/CadetLee/DSCF0143.JPG

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/CadetLee/DSCF0140.JPG


It's for a project, not a daily driver...I have a reliable car already

 

[tfinch2]

no

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
no

Reasons help.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

what do you mean by project car? something to fix up and stuff?

 

[BW86]

If you could get it for $750 I would buy it. Make sure you or your uncle test drives it first :Q

 

[DanTMWTMP]

ugh i see snow in the pics.

i thought when there's snow, there's no cars that live past 10 yrs old

 

[toant103]

project car = yes. Nice rims. Stereo is alright.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
what do you mean by project car? something to fix up and stuff?

Basically -- clean it up, get it painted, and probably autocross it.

It has a bit of suspension work done already, and should handle like it's on rails..

I may offer $750..I don't want to insult the guy, though -- it has a decent list of stuff done to it already..linelock, antisway bars..heck, slotted rotors alone are like 80 bucks apiece

 

[Toastedlightly]

I have a car from 1946 in my garage (minnesota). That reminds me.. I have to fix it... (sometime )

 

[jlee]

As far as snow goes -- I asked how long it's been sitting in the lot..looks like a while (saw some rust on the rotors)..I'm not too sure how old those pics are, though.

He said it's never seen snow..perhaps he meant it's never been driven (much) in snow
It's not the snow that kills cars..it's the salt on the roads

 

[jjones]

Is it for your girlfriend?

 

[Tea Bag]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
what do you mean by project car? something to fix up and stuff?

Basically -- clean it up, get it painted, and probably autocross it.

It has a bit of suspension work done already, and should handle like it's on rails..

I may offer $750..I don't want to insult the guy, though -- it has a decent list of stuff done to it already..linelock, antisway bars..heck, slotted rotors alone are like 80 bucks apiece

Depending on the job you want done.. Judging from this, it looks like alot of patching to get it halfway decent. I would pass - 120K is past a car's prime to say the least, and looking at the condition of it (interior and your environment outside, it would be more of a headache then a decent project).

Just read this: "DOG ATE BUMPER.."

What the hell kinda dog eats a bumper?

 

[Transition]

Looks nice.

My buddy had a first gen like that, white. It was a lot of fun, handled great. I dread having to work on them though. What's your intended purpose - tracking it?

 

[jlee]

Just got another email -- apparently it lived by the ocean..that sucks for cars, doesn't it?

120K is past a car's prime to say the least

It's an '86..my '98 Corolla has 157k on it

The rust does look a little deeper than surface, though..and I'd have a hard time believing that it's just rusty on the hood.

Originally posted by: jjones
Is it for your girlfriend?

No.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Originally posted by: CadetLee
From the description and emails from the seller:

Interior in excellent shape (never smoked in car)
Needs paint job
Dog ate bumper so i replaced it with used one
Never been in an accident.

$1000

WTF!?

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Transition
Looks nice.

My buddy had a first gen like that, white. It was a lot of fun, handled great. I dread having to work on them though. What's your intended purpose - tracking it?

Autocross and a fun toy for the spring/fall when it's not blazing hot outside..

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: CadetLee
As far as snow goes -- I asked how long it's been sitting in the lot..looks like a while (saw some rust on the rotors)..I'm not too sure how old those pics are, though.

He said it's never seen snow..perhaps he meant it's never been driven (much) in snow
It's not the snow that kills cars..it's the salt on the roads

in CA they use sand, not salt. still hard on the paint, but not nearly the rust problem you get with salt.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Sabot

Originally posted by: CadetLee
From the description and emails from the seller:

Interior in excellent shape (never smoked in car)
Needs paint job
Dog ate bumper so i replaced it with used one
Never been in an accident.

$1000

WTF!?

Subtitle - I fvcked up the bumper in an at-fault single vehicle accident and didn't claim it.

- M4H

 

[Tea Bag]

Originally posted by: CadetLee
Just got another email -- apparently it lived by the ocean..that sucks for cars, doesn't it?

120K is past a car's prime to say the least

It's an '86..my '98 Corolla has 157k on it

The rust does look a little deeper than surface, though..and I'd have a hard time believing that it's just rusty on the hood.

Originally posted by: jjones
Is it for your girlfriend?

No.

150K for a road car - no prob. My friend's sentra had 255K before it kicked the bucket.
AutoX in a car with 150K? Go right ahead. I have a feeling you will be spending more money on just interior/exterior improvements regardless of the current engine mods.

 

[Toastedlightly]

the saltly air is worse than the salt on the roads!

 

[jlee]

This is the latest email, btw..

i think a trailer is 75 a day from u-haul and the gas was 100 to get to nc from nh. she drove on base in the snow once but we only use sand so no salt ever. yeah thats the hood. its sitting next to the ocean i think is why it looks like that. i can sand it and fill it with bondo and prime it if you want. also before i put this car on a trailer i need a deposit for the
car i will refund it if you dont like it just keep in mind im still trying to get ahold of the neutral position sensor so starting her is a bitch sometimes. anyway let me know what you think

My uncle can probably store it until summer, when I can go pick it up..so shipping shouldn't be an issue. At the moment, my only concern is rust.

 

[J0hnny]

I love the Rotas.

If there are any noticable engine problems (large oil stains on gasket linings), it's worth it. Look carefully at the suspension components though. I snapped 2 U-clamps that hold my anti-sway bar in my civic and it's a beotch to fix.

 

[jlee]

Someone on another board also suggested that I could probably part it out for that much...the Rotas are what, $400 alone?

I'll have to talk to my uncle and see if he can check it out for me..

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: Sabot

Originally posted by: CadetLee
From the description and emails from the seller:

Interior in excellent shape (never smoked in car)
Needs paint job
Dog ate bumper so i replaced it with used one
Never been in an accident.

$1000

WTF!?

Subtitle - I fvcked up the bumper in an at-fault single vehicle accident and didn't claim it.

- M4H

Wow, I had no idea, I guess that's what you get for not yet owning a vehicle. Thanks!

 

[jlee]

M4H -- he said he replaced the eyelids, too...heh..as you said, makes you wonder if there's really more to it than just the dog