Would you buy a 180k mile GT for a grand?

[csxfbird]

There's an 89 5 speed black GT for sale nearby, and the owner's asking a cool 1000 bills. He says it's stock other than a Flowmaster exhaust, lowering springs, and "heavy duty ford clutch". Obviously for $1k, it's gonna need some work, and he says it has an overheating problem (probably needs a new radiator and/or water pump), and it needs a new heater core, speedometer cable, and that the tranny grinds a bit on occasion. Oh, and it has a 180k miles, and he says it was involved in a minor accident. However, the car does run, and it's been the guy's daily driver for some time.

I'm going to go check out the car tomorrow, and see if it has a clear title, as well as give it a compression test.

So let's say that it has a clear title and the compression checks out...would you guys buy this car? What's the market like for 'stangs? How much in parts do you think i'm looking at for what I listed above? Think it'd be feasible to buy it, fix it and make it reliable, and possibly sell it for a profit? Any feedback would be great, thanks.

-Chris

 

[jackchan]

downsides....grinding tranny, overheating problem, lots a miles on clock, lowering springs, minor damage to body, needs heater core, speedo cable,
hummmmmmmmm
upside.....but on the upside its a GT and it runs, and is a mass air car, possibly 140 speedo, ..........and its a black car!

well considering the rear end will bring $125, the body alone will bring at least $200, the tranny core will bring $125, the engine if rebuildable will easily bring $150, the computer if a 9AL will bring $75, the computer harness will bring at least $100.....flowmasters $75...seats minimum $50....one door $50-75...wheels $150....yea I'd say its worth it!..........IMHO

And considering the guy seems honest about letting you in on all the damage. IT possibly could be fixed up for another $1200-$2000. Call me stupid but I think its worth it. But then again I've always been a guy who buys the worst crap in the world and trys to fix it up! lol

good luck on your decission
Jack

 

[srothfuss]

Here are some tips to help you go over the car with. This way you know what you are getting into before you sign the title and pay for the car.

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=573378

 

[RsStanG1987]

Look for rust all over..

 

[rd]

Yes, immediately, where is it? Bring the car and a clean title, I'll bring cash.

 

[QDRHRSE]

Heck ya! Unless its a rust bucket.

 

[will1992]

hey what are you waiting for, buy it and fix it up, buy some syncronizers and a thermostat, do the work yourself and sell it for more money

 

[csxfbird]

Well it's an AZ car, so I doubt it's gonna have much in the way of rust. I'm gonna go check it out today or tomorrow, i'll take some pics and post them up.

 

[sgarlic]

It's a grand dude. You get what you pay for. It's not like he's ripping you off. You could part it out and make it all back easily.

 

[luckythirteen13]

if the body is straight and has no rust id go for it. you can tear the engine down, machine it and build up a 306 fairly cheaply

 

[87'GTstang]

There's an 89 5 speed black GT for sale nearby, and the owner's asking a cool 1000 bills. He says it's stock other than a Flowmaster exhaust, lowering springs, and "heavy duty ford clutch". Obviously for $1k, it's gonna need some work, and he says it has an overheating problem (probably needs a new radiator and/or water pump), and it needs a new heater core, speedometer cable, and that the tranny grinds a bit on occasion. Oh, and it has a 180k miles, and he says it was involved in a minor accident. However, the car does run, and it's been the guy's daily driver for some time.

I'm going to go check out the car tomorrow, and see if it has a clear title, as well as give it a compression test.

So let's say that it has a clear title and the compression checks out...would you guys buy this car? What's the market like for 'stangs? How much in parts do you think i'm looking at for what I listed above? Think it'd be feasible to buy it, fix it and make it reliable, and possibly sell it for a profit? Any feedback would be great, thanks.

-Chris

LOL OMFG that sounds just like my 87 GT. Same everything you listed when I first got it including the price. Just take away the lowering springs but add BBK headers and H-pipe, except 266k miles

It was in very rough shape. I still remember the day I went to look at it, roughed up body, had been sitting for 9 months despite the mileage. It barely cranked over the first time and took awhile to get it actually to sustain running. When it did, it was very rough and all the gauges were all over the place, puffing black smoke galore, oh yeah and spraying power steering fluid from two pinch holes in the supply line. Needless to say I still drove it home that day, bit of a weary 50 mile journey might I add.
However it has been a very decent project and I have thoroughly enjoyed the 1000+ hours I have put into it

Please don't part it out though, it's a shame what people do over the years to such cars that they have owned just to turn a little profit. There's always someone out there with a vision!

 

[gt40_2003wes]

buy it if it aint what ur wantin u can part it out and easily get your money back out of it.

 

[Dean85GT]

keep it, fix it and then be proud of it.

 

[87'GTstang]

buy it if it aint what ur wantin u can part it out and easily get your money back out of it.

If it's not what you want, then why buy it? It's a shame to resort to parting something out just because (an accident I see otherways).

 

[Darkwriter77]

I'd say $1,000 for an '89 GT ain't bad at all, especially if the body hasn't been beaten to a pulp. (Interior work is far easier than body repair.) Snap it up and give that beast the love it deserves!

Sometimes I feel I paid too much, other times that I paid about the right amount for my 'Stang. I plopped down $2,000 for my car a few months ago with 200k+ on it (odometer showed 34k, but the title read 200k, and with a 16-tooth speedo gear and 4.10's, who knows). The main things that justified the price for me:
- fairly fresh engine rebuild (25k ago)
- AOD to T-5 swap
- aftermarket shifter (didn't know the brand for certain 'till last week)
- battery PROPERLY relocated to trunk (used heavy-gauge cable and battery box w/bolt-in tie-down)
- Eibach drag springs w/airbag (had to re-connect the air line, some idiot routed it to lay against a tailpipe and it melted in half)
- fishnet-middle hoop headrest seats ('86 GT Recaros, presumably)
- it's an '89 notchback ... 'nuff said.

It looked like an utter turd when I got it, and my girlfriend's first words upon seeing it were something along the lines of, "You paid HOW much for THAT?!? Oh, God..."

In fact, here's the original ad photo. Mmmmm ... black primer.

 

[Paul Perreca]

There's an 89 5 speed black GT for sale nearby, and the owner's asking a cool 1000 bills. He says it's stock other than a Flowmaster exhaust, lowering springs, and "heavy duty ford clutch". Obviously for $1k, it's gonna need some work, and he says it has an overheating problem (probably needs a new radiator and/or water pump), and it needs a new heater core, speedometer cable, and that the tranny grinds a bit on occasion. Oh, and it has a 180k miles, and he says it was involved in a minor accident. However, the car does run, and it's been the guy's daily driver for some time.

I'm going to go check out the car tomorrow, and see if it has a clear title, as well as give it a compression test.

So let's say that it has a clear title and the compression checks out...would you guys buy this car? What's the market like for 'stangs? How much in parts do you think i'm looking at for what I listed above? Think it'd be feasible to buy it, fix it and make it reliable, and possibly sell it for a profit? Any feedback would be great, thanks.

-Chris

if it's overheated too much in the past, chances are the bearings are prob warped or starting to warp, and will go on you, causing you to need a rebuild - you could get that car as a great project though!! how's the shell?

 

[Paul Perreca]

if the body is straight and has no rust id go for it. you can tear the engine down, machine it and build up a 306 fairly cheaply

Did you just say the word "cheap" ??? LOL HAHAHAH

 

[LXSTASY]

For $1000 its worth it. Bring cash and get it for less.

 

[BaXTeR3221]

I say its worth it as long as you want to replace everything that is going to need it. If you dont mind tinkering, go for it. If you dont like trouble shooting and having a car that probably won't be reliable for a while, i'd pass. Also, if your only concerned with the body, you can buy rollers for around that much and then drop in the trans/motor.

 

[Euphoric306]

if its got a black interior part it out..... to me