Do I Walk Away or Buy It & Fix It?

[san rensho]

Car looks great, price is good, Nada say retail 13.4k, high trade in 10.4, so you still have some room to negotiate. When dealers take a car in trade, they always negotiate so that they will still make money if they get low trade in for the car, which is around wholesale, in your case around 7.8k. If you want the car, start at 8k, pointing out all the repairs that have to be done and see what their counter is.

As far as replacing the IMSB, if it comes with a 3 yr power train warranty, why in the world replace right away? Wait until the warranty is about to expire and then do it.

[Beelzy]

Is it just me, or does the Temp. on the gauge show a little on the high side?

I would budget for a water pump as well.

[husker boxster]

Everyone makes it sound like you should pass because it needs work. How many 14 yr old used cars are pristine? If you're going in with eyes wide open, I say go for it.

[mistermac99]

Originally Posted by Beelzy

Is it just me, or does the Temp. on the gauge show a little on the high side?

I would budget for a water pump as well.

I have a 99, and when it get's warmed up, it always tops out about where his temp. gauge is. Looks like about 185?
What should be the top out temperature if this is too hot?

I have owned mine now for about three months, and love it.
I think I'm due for a clutch, since it engages approximately 2-3 inches from the top.
Figure that's a good time to get the IMS retrofit. It currently has around 74,000 miles. Don't have any idea what's been done, since there were no good service records. But I figure it's the factory clutch.

The last two times I have had it out, I have smelled, a slight sweet, antifreeze odor. (but my passenger did not. May have actually been the passenger, haha...) It does not, and never has leaked in my garage. Maybe it's leaking somewhere so slightly that it burns up prior to parking?

Any ideas?

[kjc2050]

Maybe check the rear trunk? Could the coolant tank be leaking??

[mistermac99]

Originally Posted by kjc2050

Maybe check the rear trunk? Could the coolant tank be leaking??

Just checked, and everything is dry.
Do I need to take out the carpet looking protectant to check further?
When I first opened the rear trunk, I noticed a very slight hint of antifreeze.
You may be onto something.

[Meir]

Originally Posted by mistermac99

Just checked, and everything is dry.
Do I need to take out the carpet looking protectant to check further?
When I first opened the rear trunk, I noticed a very slight hint of antifreeze.
You may be onto something.

Yes.
If the tank is cracked and leaking, the coolant will go under the carpet.
Very common issue in our cars.

[mistermac99]

Thanks, I will take a look under the carpet this weekend.