Its supposedly has a blown engine, and they are asking too much, but thats not the point. I want to know if the engine is actually blown...here are the symptoms the seller emailed me:

The turbo was overboosting....drove it for about 5 months that way with
compression steadily
getting worse...the car won't idle unless I push on the
gas.

It doesn't run at all. I think it died of low compression. It did not 'explode'. One day he came out and it just wouldn't idle no matter what he
did.

What does everyone think is the culprit?
Any help appreciated,

TIA
-BEN

 

It's hard to say, but it sounds like the engine is shot. Does the guy sound like he knows the rotary? That would have a lot to do w/it. If he mentioned overboosting I would think it detonated at some point and lunched an apex seal. Ask him how smooth it idled, when it did.

If the rest of it's in good shape, work the price down and do it up. You could get another engine in it for less than a grand.

 

Sounds like low comp. Do a compression test.

 

bump

 

Why are we bumping. Do a compression test, then we'll know.