To Buy Or Not To Buy

[Jakey]

So tonight I test drove a '92 Red Laser AWD 5 speed. Runs well, turbo burns oil, 1-2 syncro is shot, and possibly has a balancer shaft bearing going out but the owner has a pile of receipts for work done in the last 20,000 miles a inch thick. The only modification is a K&N. The car only has 95,000 miles on it. The drivers side door has some damage along with the drivers side fender and rear quarter panel. Interior is in overall great shape and it has a non-leaking sunroof. He'd take $900 and throw in a new fender for the driver's side. It also has a clean title.

Whatcha all think?

[Jed]

Under a grand AND under a 100k? Not too shabby, I'd take it. :bounce: Plus, it's a "Laser"

[1slowdsm]

Originally posted by Jakey@Aug 16 2004, 08:08 PM
1-2 syncro is shot, and possibly has a balancer shaft bearing going out
Thats gonna cost some money to get repaired, but for only $900...thats not too bad. But then you'll have to spend like a few grand just to get everything fixed. And a Laser AWD, not to many of those around (atleast I havent seen many)...if I had the money and time..I'd take it. Just my opinion....

[JustROLLIN]

I would grab that one up. You could get everything fixed, or do it yourself and make it a real steal. Either way, I would still jump at that one.

[john]

Just because a car has a lot in repair work done it doesn't mean it is a good car. My car had $4800 in repairs at one shop in the prior 2 yrs before I bought it. It had a news turbo (16g which they charged her $1100 for), new transfercase (charged her $900 even though it would be covered in the recall), new clutch, etc. I drove the car 10 days before the clutch went out (not drivable) and it sat for a month until I could get together money to fix it. Now, things go wrong left and right on my car. 2nd gear synchro is shot (I pulled the tranny tonight), year old clutch is not holding any power, alternator went out, head gasket blew 2 days after fixing the alternator, etc. I wouldn't buy it soly on the thought that it has had maintainece done. Maybe the stack is because the car is a lemon.

I would do a compression test to see what is going on with the engine. Get a rebuild quote on the tranny and figure out all the money you are going to have to throw in the car and then add a grand for extra repairs. Add it up and see if it is worth it. You may be better off buying a decent running dsm for $3000.

[Jakey]

The compression what checked by a mechanic and was fine which is why the owner suspects the turbo is blowing some oil. The tranny is very driveable as it is.

[john]

I would do the compression test myself. A mechanic pretty much sees if the numbers vary or not across the cylinders. Unlesss he is a dsm mechanic, odds are he doesn't know what is good. My old integra hit ~92-92-92-93 or something. Those were good numbers. My dsm hits 150's across the board, 90's is a very dead engine on a dsm. I believe 130 is the rebuild range. A average mechanic would see 130 across the board as good as the numbers do not vary much. Just my opinion.

[john]

BTW, feel the turbo for shaft play. That will help you decide if it is a turbo problem.

[fievel]

could be bad valve seals.

[Jakey]

Any other opinions out there to assist me?