Hi, I've been away from rotaries for a little while, but I'm looking to get back in..

I spotted a nice '88 vert down the street for a fair price and decided to check it out. Clean in and out, engine bay was a little dirty, but it ran well. There were a few red flags and I wanted to run them by you guys to see if it's anything major before I see it again today and possibly buy it.

1) The car's only been driven approx. 900 miles in the last 3 years and.. the oil hasn't been changed since then. How bad is this? I noticed on the test drive that the oil pressure needle wasn't making more than half way up the gauge.

2) It has the seats WITHOUT the headrest speakers but it HAS the switch in the center console for the speakers. Is this right?


I'd appreciate any input, thx

 

I don't think smaller things like that would cause "red flags" for me.
If you get the car, just change the oil and you'll be fine.
The seats, well he simply has different, non-original seats. Could have found some quick replacements for torn seats. If those two issues alone are too much for you then, I don't know.
Good Luck, take lots of pictures of everything.

 

Only change, and don't worry about the seat. Old brittle up leather cracks and tears and breaks.

 

i always thought the original stewie griffen vert seats where kind of odd looking anyways. lol

 

My input.

I bought a GXL a while back and it was a similar case like yours.

The lady changed the oil when she got it and that was it, she owned it for 3 years. She only drove it maybe 300-400 miles in that time. I got it and put fresh plugs and fresh oil change on it and have since put 2k miles on it. It has had no problems.

 

Yeah, my situation wasn't too different either. I bought my car in '07 from a husband and wife who'd had it for three years. I think they put 2000 miles on it in 3 years and the oil in it was over a year old. I've put 15,000 miles on it so far with no problems, though I first changed all the fluids and have been replacing all the original hoses and such.

 

Excellent, thanks for the reassurance fellas. I think I may go pick her up in a little while

 

How much do they want for it?

 

Post pics

 

Look a convertible with headrest speaker controls, but no headrest speakers!

The original seats were worn out and sun damaged, so I replaced them with some nice coupe seats. I'd guess a previous owner did the same to the car you're looking at.

Change the oil, hoses, spark plugs, etc... and it should be good to go.