Looking into buying this 97 Lude* would like opinions
Hey all, new to the forums here, and I wanted to get my jump out with your opinions on this Lude that I am thinking about buying.
The only thing that bothers me about this car ( I will be test driving it tomorrow though ) is the engine bay, it looks like it has some rust around the header/block and some rust/dirt on the strut bar and air intake and the value cover is chipping something fierce. I think he power washed the engine bay,but I hope not that is the stupidest thing ever to do.
Anyways, the car has 138k and he says the timing/water was done back at 110k, and he is asking 5800. I will have no problem getting it for less but I would like to get your ideas on the car as is from the pics. I will update this tomorrow after I drive it and check for some stuff etc.
Those shocks look like they are the original meaning 11+ years old and 138K miles old. If he has shirked out on maintenance items like that, then you can bet that there will be many other things needing to be replaced. I wouldn't pay that much for a 97' either.
The only thing that bothers me about this car ( I will be test driving it tomorrow though ) is the engine bay, it looks like it has some rust around the header/block and some rust/dirt on the strut bar and air intake and the value cover is chipping something fierce. I think he power washed the engine bay,but I hope not that is the stupidest thing ever to do.
It's not a dumb thing to wash the engine, as long as you cover up the major electrical components and don't direct water into any obvious points susceptible to water damage.
If you're worried about the rust on the headers then you should see mine. Granted, i'm in new england and our salty winters do WONDERS to bare steel.
Well, I say washing the engine is dumb in that unless you know what your doing and alot of people don't, then pressure washin the engine bay is asking for trouble.
You and I know to cover up electrical items etc, but how many people can even point out where the throttle body is or what a distro cap is, ya know.
And yeah the salt can definetly rust the crap outta the bay, but here in TN and particulary in the areas where I live and where this car is, there is almost never enough snow down pour for the ice trucks to roll out, and I have never had a car where i live get rust from the salt truck, but I know what ya mean.
I think it may be from him washin the bay, at least I hope so and I hope this car was not underwater at some point.
Thats a good deal for a perect looking 01' with that miles probably, but not an average 97'. I'm no expert, but I'd say around 4800-5200 at most. It is a pretty nice looking lude though(on the outside). If he's stuborn below 5400, then he may not even talk to you when you offer 48-4900, so be careful not to agitate him; I don't mean piss him off agitate, I mean make him think you tryin to lowball him, which might make him feel defenseful, then he will be harder to knock down. The best way is to try not to act happy or smile, so when you tell him how "crappy" his car is(after you tell him that is when you could give him the price), you don't feel like your trying to please a friend.
oh you would be able to tell if the car was in water. you say you're in tennessee, then simply check the rotors, struts, oil pan, etc. there will definitely be a nice water or salt line from where it sat.
i've washed my engine a couple times already and i've had no [additional] rust form. so i dunno. maybe he was a bozo and didn't let it dry right, if that's even possible.
KBB says the car is worth 5300 tops. offer him 5 grand for "financial reasons" and work your way up.
Well, here is my update, I just got back from driving the lude.
Overall the car drove great, the ride was as expected, very little shock/strut noise from the rear. The car did not burn oil nor leak from what I could see, the interior was pristine, no tears or fading at all. The tires were brand new, springs were good all the way around.
AC blew frigid, stereo sounded like oem standards.
CONS: the engine bay has rust on the headers and shock towers and on the rad braces and ont he air intake and a little on the strut bar.- I believe the girl he got it from spray the engine regularly which would explain the rust.
Also the passenger side of the value cover has oil residue on it which could mean the seal is leaking. It is due an oil change, and while it was hot I could not get a good reasding on the oil level so I do not know if it is losing alot of oil.
He has only owned the car for 6 months and drove it only a handful of times.
I offered him 5k, which I bet he will take as he needs to move the car. Below are recent pics of the engine.
Yeah, I feel good about 5k for the car, I called local dealer and it would b 80 bucks to replace the passenger side cam seal.
He said that if the TB was done at 110k that that seal would more than likely been replaced at that time and to check underneath for any oil collection.
Makes sense and gives a piece of mind to, if all I got to replace is the passenger side then I'm getting a great deal.
I asked him if he got what he wanted out of the car, he said close to it. Last he told me, he would take 5300 for it, I offered him 5, so I guess he got in between. lol
yeah, I'm sure I will find something even better now
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