Molotovman

iTrader: (49)

Hey everyone, I saw an FD pop up for sale and went to check it out today. I've had several FC's but have always wanted a 3rd gen, this one needed some work. I'd like to know what you guys think a decent offer would be, I know it's something that can be restored.

General info: '94 silver ext with black leather interior, it is a sunroof car. 5-speed 90k miles, 100% stock, original engine clutch, everything besides the cluster and radio.

The Body: Rough shape, it was parked on a city street and driven occasionally for 10 years, sometime during that time it was repainted cheaply and has some body filler on both rear quarters by the doors. It's not thick but it looks like it's due to being lightly hit while on the street. Just about every panel has dents including the doors, the hatch is rusty around the weather seal, and the clear coat on the cheap paint is starting to peel in a few spots. I've got ahold eye for bodywork and that's all I noticed.
The underside has no rust and the pinch welds are straight which is amazing, no evidence of any serious accident or front/rear collisions.

Interior: Surprisingly good shape, everything works, seats and carpet are in good shape, drivers door panel is a little loose and rattles. No major complaints.

Engine/drivetrain: 100% stock including all cats. Cold start had no smoke and the exhaust didn't smell sweet, started quickly on the first try. Rev'd to 3k then I blipped the throttle and it dropped to around 2500(not right!), after that the idle dropped again and hunted between 1,800 and 2,100- the idle never stopped and the owner told it's been like that for a few months. I took it out for a quick drive and it felt ok off the line and on decel but was boosting weak. Took it to redline a two times and didn't notice any huge smoke clouds, I also got no 3k RPM hesitation but it felt slow. When letting off the gas I could feel a small clunk(still have to search about what it could be unless any of you feel generous enough to tell), no clunk when getting on the throttle. It needs shifter bushings.

Suspension/brakes: both felt good, no issues found. Brakes had recent work, everything else was 20 years old.

The car has been woman owned it's whole life except where it was driven by two sons for a few years at college. Neither of them were car guys, it doesn't seem flogged on too bad. The current owner knows the body is rough and was told by several people that it's time for a rebuild. Her husband wants her to sell it, she wants to pay to have it restored, he doesn't. They got the car for free about 8 years ago and I actually fixed it for them at the time. The body was rough then but it the engine was boosting properly then.

It also smelled like gas on the passengers side and passenger side interior. I told her to look into having the FPD replaced.

I'm looking at it like it needs a rebuild, underwood refresh, and a good amount of bodywork to the tune of about $10k+. What do you guys think a decent offer would be?

My first thought was to run, but it's also a potential opportunity to get a cheap FD I can restore myself. Another plus is Ray Crowe is about 15 mins away!
Talk me into it or out of it, please!

ken125

iTrader: (1)

I bought one in October that was in similar condition with the exception of it needed a engine(missing altogether). I paid 2k but it did have the usual odo issues too. I would say it's a 5-7k car with the work needed you described. This is just an opinion obviously and regional values appear to vary a good bit....

Molotovman

iTrader: (49)

Just to clarify, when I said cluster, I meant the odometer. It's been repaired, old one is in the hatch.

ken125

iTrader: (1)

Keep that old cluster! The repair is not difficult with it already out of the car

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

Start low maybe $2,500 and negotiate up. I'd walk away as it approaches 5k. You are definitely looking at potentially spending 10k on the car.

At 90k on an original engine, it might be tired or might be ok. Compression test will figure that out for you. Definitely plan on it being tired for budgeting purposes. Turbos may be ok. Might need wiring harness if it is brittle. Will definitely need coolant hoses and clamps and the usual fuel system fixes (FPD and hoses), rats nest vac lines and solenoids to fix the boost issues.

Shocks on these cars are surprisingly robust so you can probably live with the stock shocks for a while. It might need some pillowballs or diff bushings if it is clunking.

The paint has the potential of being the biggest expense but it is also the least necessary for a driving car.

Would be a fun project and since it is already running and driving you could slowly build it up the way you want. But you can find some pretty decent examples for 15k as well.

Molotovman

iTrader: (49)

Sorry I left it out of the first post, they're asking $10k. I wanted to offer $6k to start and $6,500 max. Being in the area that I'm in they fetch a little more.

I figure now is the most realistic time for me to get one and there's no way I'll be able to buy one that's been very well kept or put together already, my wife just won't have it. We're just starting to have kids and a slow project will be more suitable.

Thanks for the advice!

ken125

iTrader: (1)

10k is too much you can get one on the forums for 15k in much better shape that need nothing but a few small things at most. Your offer seems realistic to me at 6k

allrotor93

iTrader: (126)

Almost bought the car. She is pretty firm on the $10k and knows what she has. You can probably get her down a little

Molotovman

iTrader: (49)

What did you offer her? Did you drive up to check it out?

Tripple 7's

10k is high for the description, your going to be better off paying a little more finding a nicer car. Along with saving lots of money and aggravation. FD's are not cheap to rebuild when uncared for.

Buy the nicest one you can.

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

If the interior is black and in really good shape it's an 8k plus car even if it needs a complete paint strip etc...... and I'm guessing that's about what allrotor93 offered.

A nice black interior alone is easily worth 4k and is more important than good paint because good used parts are impossible to find and very expensive new (some are N/A).

Consider most of these cars need paint and body work if they have over 75k miles and will absolutely need body work if they weren't garaged. This is why nice low mileage FDs with good paint are typically 20k plus cars and worth every penny

It's silver which I think is a great color especially if you plan to daily drive it or drive it often because it blends in and doesn't get dirty easily etc.... Also again black interior is the only way to go.

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

Yep if you have the money go buy the best possible FD you can

Tripple 7's

Even if you don't now saving and waiting a little will pay huge in the long run.

Molotovman

iTrader: (49)

Waiting to hear back, offered $5,500. I doubt she'll take it, but I dont think its a good decision for me to go much higher- I don't have the resources or work space alot of you have.
I'm not going to be bent if I have to wait longer, I just hope I don't wait myself out of an FD!

Thank you, everyone who replied. If something crazy happens and I end up with the car you'd better bet I'm going to be heading down to meet you, Fritz!

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

There will always be another FD for sale. There are plenty on the forum right now and another at 11k on the VA craigslist.

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

There will always be junk FDs available for 11k in need of another 11k to get them 1/2 way to OK

If you want a decent FD it's going to cost 20k

If you want a creme de la creme FD 25k plus

Tom93R1

iTrader: (2)

90k original motor will likely need a rebuild within the next 10k or so. But that said, your description sounds to me like it just has a boost leak, bad motor mount, and maybe a bad fuel pulsation damper. Aside from body work may be a pretty nice car.

Molotovman

iTrader: (49)

Here's the follow up:

I bought this car today, the owner got back in touch with me and said she was ready to let it go; I was caught completely off guard by this and am thankful my wife allowed me to go through with the purchase.
The mileage is around 87,000 and I purchased it from the second owner who received it as a gift. It is almost 100% stock, the exceptions are the radio and the radiator. The interior is beautiful and everything functions except for the side view mirrors which I'll be looking into. It drives beautifully but is lacking power when the secondaries are supposed to come online the idle hunts between 1200 & 1600 RPM. I'm thinking will be taken care of during a top end refresh. The radiator hoses are original and the upper is leaking so I will take care of both of those as well.

I'll be selling my other FD and FC and slowly restoring this car. The exterior needs a lot of work but finding a car with an interior this complete and a drivetrain this unmolested is proving more and more difficult.

I received a folder with the original purchase invoice and invoices for what appears to be all maintenance this car has received. It's been a great day.

If anyone is looking for a '93 FD that's got a bunch of new parts but is still a project in Northern VA PM me.

Molotovman

iTrader: (49)

Interior pic, nothing is missing in the front or rear, it's a PEP with no Bose!

Littleguy

iTrader: (5)

It really looks amazing, congratulations!

adam c

iTrader: (2)

Congrats on your purchase. Having a good interior is a HUGE bonus. I see so many nice cars with rotten seats, and broken plastics.

The PEP/PEG didnt come with the bose. That was on the touring model.

Good luck with your project. How much did you pay?

ZoomZoom

iTrader: (2)

If you like to work on cars and have a friend who does paint and body work it's not the worst car in the world. Otherwise you will end up with 2x the money into it than it's worth.

Molotovman

iTrader: (49)

The interior being nice is a big thing for me. I've seen what the nice pieces go for on the second hand market and the money saved there will go a long way.
I was saying that it had no Bose because it is a PEP in my earlier post! It wasn't something I wanted.

I drove it away for $5k; because of my history with the owner and the time I spent looking with her looking at it and talking about it the first time she decided to call me back instead of others who offered her more. I'm truly looking forward to turning this car around, it's going to take time but the end result will be worth more to me.

Once I get my '93 sold I'll be seeing Ray @ Malloy and getting started on Fritz' list from the FAQ, until then I'll probably cover it up for the winter.

Tem120

iTrader: (5)

I agree the BIGGEST bane in my car is the interior . I basically need to replace every interior piece to make it look mint

TomU

iTrader: (11)

I highly recommend Mr. Spoiler in Manassas. I had a bunch of door dings they were able to pop out. Their paint work is quality as well, but you pay for it