QUICK! Give me a rundown!

[BurningRubber]

Just found a '97 GT with 50k on it, 5 speed.. Holy crap. Under 6k asking price. Just want to make sure I got a good idea of what to look for, and my God I hope noone beats me to this car..

#1. Intake manifold.. check for the imfamous thermostat crack.

#2. Leaks, coolant and oil.. around the valve covers, oil pan, rear end.. anywhere else?

#3. Any obvious wear.. interior, or mechanically.

#4. Exterior.. In the pics it looks GREAT, but the add says "could use some body work" but I dont really give a fawk if it runs great, especially with the miles.

Anything else anyone can add? I always get hyped up when I find a Stang for sale, since ive been looking for EVER. But, this could be the one (hah, said that about the last zillion), but ya never know. Man.. I can picture it allready.. Buy some PI heads, port and polish them, PI intake.. some VT cams.. headers with an x-pipe and some straight through mufflers for that rhapsy in your face sound.. 3.73's.. short throw shifter.. the list goes on..

:SNSign:

 

[streetstang03]

sounds like a good list. just look in the wheel wells for over-spray, and on the rear suspension/exhaust pipes as well. pull the carpet up in the trunk and look for signs of body work. look at the bolts on the fenders under the hood to see if the paint is screwed up on the bolts. that could be a sign that they have been turned for repairs done to the front end.

check the seats for wear. i'd be skeptical about a 50K 97GT for under $6K. it sucks that the 94-98 GTs still had the mechanical odometers, so its not too difficult to roll them back. Run a car fax if you can.

 

[BurningRubber]

sounds like a good list. just look in the wheel wells for over-spray, and on the rear suspension/exhaust pipes as well. pull the carpet up in the trunk and look for signs of body work. look at the bolts on the fenders under the hood to see if the paint is screwed up on the bolts. that could be a sign that they have been turned for repairs done to the front end.

check the seats for wear. i'd be skeptical about a 50K 97GT for under $6K. it sucks that the 94-98 GTs still had the mechanical odometers, so its not too difficult to roll them back. Run a car fax if you can.

Yeah, its semi-fishy.. but then again, if it "could use" body work, then it may have not been tampered with.. so.. I dont know. Thanks for all the tips, I looked at one *****box 96 GT that had been wrecked, and bondo'd, and mis painted.. it was HORRIBLE. They even left out the inner wheel lining. And they were asking a good bit for it, even in half way decent shape. So Ill be careful, and check on the carfax.. but I have seen a mis-informed carfax before. Maybe itll just be one of those deals that doesnt come up to often.

 

[the98stang]

If the price seems too good to be true, then it is.

I'd get a compression test done before buying it. Make sure the body lines are straight and the paint is clean.

 

[98blackmagic]

If the price seems too good to be true, then it is.

I'd get a compression test done before buying it. Make sure the body lines are straight and the paint is clean.

well that sounded true on my new 99 Cobra I got Wednesday , but after a inspection on the lift at my speed-shop, everything was OK and I paid almost 3000 under the NADA book value on the cobra. So it's possible he has a top notch deal here..............but be carefull and get it checked out BEFORE you buy. Good luck. :SNSign:

 

[BurningRubber]

Im pissed off now. This morning I got up thinking, damn.. Ive got a couple of free days to miss class at school, I should just go take a look at it asap. Thought, nah.. counts as part of my grade so ill just go as soon as I get out. Well, fight the mid day traffic, pull into the lot.. dont see car. Trying to keep myself from thinking it was sold, I told myself they probaly sent it off to get cleaned, or someone had taken it out. Walk inside, had to wait about 5 min before anyone even came in the office, I asked them if they had the car.. Guy kinda laughs, and hes like "haha, they just sold it 15min ago"... FAAAAAWWWWWWWKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too bad I didnt listen to myself at first.. could have been mine.. This sucks. 49k miles... Why is it so hard to find one of these cars? My only other options right now are an late 80's GT for 5600 bucks (too high, needs paint), or a 98 GT for 8500 (BS... no rear seats, a few scratches, and 100k)..........

 

[stng]

That sucks man... I can totally empathize with you though, about two years ago I went to look at a 96 Cobra at a ford dealership about two hours from me. It had 40k on it and was only 9k so needless to say I was very excited, well when I pull into the dealership and talk to the sales man he says "Well we just sold it earlier today..." I was so angry as I called him before I left and told him I was coming to look at it, where I was driving from. I got in my car drove about 45 min to another Ford dealership and bought my former Bullitt that day, only that time I WAY over paid. Dont worry though good deals always come up, and the car you are supposed to have will come to you...

 

[Jackie Chan]

get a 94-95 cobra for the same money!!

 

[BurningRubber]

get a 94-95 cobra for the same money!!

Only seen literally 2 of those for sale within a distance I could drive to buy it. One drove right past me with a for sale sign, never saw it again.. Other one, had 100k, cloth interior, but otherwise totally flawless.. but they wanted 8k for it and werent very negotiable at all.. I wish I could find one for that cheap!!


Stng: I actually had a similar situation occur with me. I found a 95 GT for sale about 70 miles away at a dealer. I called them to make sure they had the car the night before, and told them it was at least an hour plus drive for me and they said, we'll keep the car untill you can look at it. Well, next day.. When I was literally walking to my car to leave, I called to make sure they were still open and let them know I was coming. Guy says, yeh, we sold the car when we opened this morning. Jesus I would have been FURIOUS had I driven that long, gotten there, and the car had been gone.

 

[Cantslowdown]

I been looking for a stang my self it seems like something happens are when u have the money u cant find one..