View Single Post
Old 05-23-2021, 04:36 PM   #2
PLP
Registered User
 
PLP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Lansing, MI
Posts: 365
My experience... if you can drive there to inspect the car in person before the purchase, do so. Or ask for many detailed pictures.

If it is nice cosmetically, check front and rear - inspect from the bottom and under the front carpet (frunk area) for any accident damage.
Expect suspension needed some work. If it shifts OK, clutch grabs fine, electrical works - go for it.

Windows drop when opening doors with roof up.
Roof operates.

some will say - do full PPI, but you can go away with a cold start test (see for smoke on initial start - first seconds OK, but if stays - could be a problem). Have someone rev to 3k rpm or so and let off, repeat 2 seconds later. Any smoke?

Same on hot, better to see when driving. Exhaust smell - same thing. Coolant leaks or oil leaks can be smelled from the exhaust.

Coolant smell in the trunk - cracked coolant reservoir.
And some other stuff.

If you can, rent Durametric (eBay) to see if the engine was stressed (over revved).
__________________
Current rides: 2003 Porsche Boxster MT (me), 2019 Bolt LT (me), 2015 Audi Q5 (wife), 2008 VW Rabbit (2.5 inline 5, MT, well, for kid... but you now, it is the 5 straight)

Previous: 2014 Fiat 500e, 2016 KIA Forte5 SX, 2016 Fiat 500X, and some old days: Trabant, Fiat 126p...
PLP is online now   Reply With Quote