Hello.. been looking at buying a prelude off some guy. I really want the car. it's a 1997 base model in red.
Nice things about the car: He's had the windows tinted. Very professionally done, lifetime warranty. The tinting is flawless and looks BEAUTIFUL on the car. Also, he's put new wheels on it. 16" Konig Monsoon's with sport tires. I think they look _very_ nice on the car. He also has Bilstein racing suspension on the car, which lowered the car 2" in front and 1" in back. Let me tell you, with those tires and that suspension.. the car sticks to the road like crazy glue. Now, aside from those mods, the car is stock. Also, the guy has babied it. He doesn't drive all that fast, and the car is in perfect condition.
Here's the catch. He doesn't want to sell it, but he needs to pay of some debt. He started by asking 15,950, which is way above even dealer retail. He said his minimum would be 15,500, since under that it wouldn't really be worth it to him to sell it.
Argh! I want the car, but I don't want to be ripped off, either. The mods are nice, but they shouldn't really add to the value of the car. On the other hand, I love what they add to it, and I'd probably do them down the line anyway (other than the suspension).
Some other notes: 47,000 miles, carbon fiber interior, stock rear spoiler. I get the original stock wheels and tires with the car, and the original shocks. Also has a two piece bra, which i most likely wont use. Other than a couple teeny rock chips on the hood, the car might as well still be on the new car lot.
I'm stumped. what's you guys' opinion? There are a couple others for sale around here, but they're not quite so perfect, they're all black, which is cool, but the styling on the prelude fits red SO well. and they have higher mileage. I'm going to check them out regardless.
me neither, but i guess it was custom. he had someone put it in for him. Seems to work well enough. I don't know much about bilstein, but i've heard they make good shocks. I suppose i could ask him what it costed to get those put in
Originally posted by Tresch me neither, but i guess it was custom. he had someone put it in for him. Seems to work well enough. I don't know much about bilstein, but i've heard they make good shocks. I suppose i could ask him what it costed to get those put in
Bilstein makes shocks for the Prelude, but they are more common aftermarket shock suppliers to German automobiles. Furthermore, even discounted, they are as expensive, if not more than, Koni shocks. They have a corporate office near my house and I have talked to representatives at Audi aftermarket events.
Oh and to answer the original post...Konig wheels, a lowered suspension, and high quality tint can be duplicated on any other red prelude...so keep looking...falling in love with a car is a bad thing when buying it
yes, except that there are no red preludes for sale within 300 miles of me, hehe.. and preludes are pretty rare around these parts. That combined with the fact that if i were to duplicate that.. _I_ would have to pay for them, and do all the work. That would put me over the 15,500 dollars that he's selling it for, plus the downtime of having the car in the shop and the hassle/tension of having it all done right.
I think I still may get the car. aftermarket stuff shouldn't add to the value of a car, but in a way, when it's stuff that i'd probably do myself, it kinda does.. you know?
You can see my predicament, hehe. Such a hard decide!
lets see.. i wouldn't have a problem paying 14,500 for the car, then 1000 for the new wheels and tires.. 500(?) for the shocks, and a few hundred for the tinting.. that puts me over 15,500. Do you think those prices are fairly on? I know a lot about the technical stuff from reading, but i've never had windows tinted or bought new shocks, so i don't know what prices they generally run.
Your reasoning is valid...I just had a lot of patience when searching for my car and I was able to purchase my 98 Base with all the mods for 11,250. It also took about three months to find it, but I wasn't in a rush anyways. So if you need the car right now, go for it. If not, I say be patient...good things happen to those willing to wait. Ok, enough cliches for today gentlemen.
hey if the car is worth it to you, then go for it. but before you do, do you know the car's history...are you sure it is as well kept as the current owner says?
for that price you must be picky. tell him that you want to get the car entirely inspected along with a leak-down and compression test. if everything looks good/fair, then i would go for it!!
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