Thinking of buying an FD with 185k
Thinking of buying an FD with 185k
Alright so I'm looking to buy this 1993 R1 FD. It has a bunch of interior and exterior issues (big dent between rear driver wheel well and door, dents here and there, paint chips, interior plastic broken, seats somewhat worn etc) but the motor, and turbos seem fine. Brake master feels like it probably needs rebuild or replace. AST is still stock, so that will need replacement. On rick's rotary's report it also said the main engine harness is a little old, injectors need work. Tires are shot. Rear suspension bushings are pwned.
The good stuff is low mileage efini 99 turbos, and a rebuilt engine from rick's rotary, about 18k on each according to papers. It's also got a PFC. Rebuilt tranny (rick's rotary too) that has 50k after rebuild. So what do you guys think would be a fair price for it? What else do I need to watch out for on an FD with 185k miles?
Thanks!
The good stuff is low mileage efini 99 turbos, and a rebuilt engine from rick's rotary, about 18k on each according to papers. It's also got a PFC. Rebuilt tranny (rick's rotary too) that has 50k after rebuild. So what do you guys think would be a fair price for it? What else do I need to watch out for on an FD with 185k miles?
Thanks!
Sheriff´s FD
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: austria
Sorry, i cant tell you anything about the price because i dont know how much they are worth in the states, but it sounds that you will have a lot of work with this car.
My FD is/was also in bad condition after i bought it from UK and i just can tell you that there will be a lot of things to repair which you realize after checking your car.
Without knowing the price over there, i personally wouldnt give much more than 2-3k dollars for that car.
My FD is/was also in bad condition after i bought it from UK and i just can tell you that there will be a lot of things to repair which you realize after checking your car.
Without knowing the price over there, i personally wouldnt give much more than 2-3k dollars for that car.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,804
Likes: 646
From: FL-->NJ/NYC again!
I agree with Dave, 7k tops and more likely 5k. You'd have to basically give me that car for free to me have any interest in it----LOTS of work down the road.
I can't believe the shop that did the motor didn't insist on replacing the engine wiring harness, that thing must be in horrendous shape with all those miles on it. One problem with a fuel injector or CAS clip and there goes that low mileage rebuild. I wonder if that's the original AST? hopefully it's been replaced before. Also, all the solenoids, check valves etc get cooked from all the heat, they may need replacing.
I'd be prepared to dump $12-$15k into this car in interior parts, engine bay parts, and body work/paint. Otherwise, keep looking.
I can't believe the shop that did the motor didn't insist on replacing the engine wiring harness, that thing must be in horrendous shape with all those miles on it. One problem with a fuel injector or CAS clip and there goes that low mileage rebuild. I wonder if that's the original AST? hopefully it's been replaced before. Also, all the solenoids, check valves etc get cooked from all the heat, they may need replacing.
I'd be prepared to dump $12-$15k into this car in interior parts, engine bay parts, and body work/paint. Otherwise, keep looking.
Greasy bastards..
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: bc canada
suspension bushings, radiator, ast etc the list goes on & on for a high milage fd. imo i would find 1 with all this stuff done already, will save you money in the end. sounds like a $5k car maybe?
Trending Topics
Only buy a highmilage FD that has been properly maintained. I've replaced quite a bit of stuff on my car already and it's no where near 185K. Bushings, tranny, engine harness, interior pieces, pillowballs, door handles, rearview mirror, window switch, I'm sure I'm missing something. Now my passenger's side door handle needs replacing as well.
my car was a pos just like that with 180,000 miles, beat up interior, shot up suspension, messed up body panels...but rebuilt engine. i bought it anyway knowing what i was getting into because i saw all those as parts i wanted to replace anyway. paid $6500 for mine. it definitely was not cheap to repair, but if you want to upgrade or change parts anyway...you might be saving a few bucks...
Thanks for all the advice. He's asking 9k at the moment and I almost got tricked into jumping on it. I'll get another set of eyes on this thing and renegotiate. He might not be happy when I offer him something in the 7k range :P.
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,678
Likes: 97
From: Bay Area, CA
You can get a very decent FD with low miles for ~$12k these days - and even if you pay $5k for this car you will probably get to that number in a year or two.
And resale on the car will always be around $5k or less no matter how much you send on it because of the miles.
And resale on the car will always be around $5k or less no matter how much you send on it because of the miles.
Mentos and Magnums
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,373
Likes: 0
From: FLROIDUH
yeah, I bought a pristene FD and even the reliability mods and basic turbo/non-sequential stuff was a few grand if not cutting corners. add a good front mount and stuff and it really accelerates fast. Fd is a money car no way around it!
You can get a very decent FD with low miles for ~$12k these days - and even if you pay $5k for this car you will probably get to that number in a year or two.
And resale on the car will always be around $5k or less no matter how much you send on it because of the miles.
And resale on the car will always be around $5k or less no matter how much you send on it because of the miles.
I guess you are right about that. 185k really is a lot I suppose...My T2 has 228k and it's all fine and good. I guess T2s are less complicated so there's less to go wrong?
You can get a very decent FD with low miles for ~$12k these days - and even if you pay $5k for this car you will probably get to that number in a year or two.
And resale on the car will always be around $5k or less no matter how much you send on it because of the miles.
And resale on the car will always be around $5k or less no matter how much you send on it because of the miles.
This was a garaged, well maintained car.
If I had a bigger garage...
IAC, look around for one that has been maintained.
It will save you a lot of money, just on the parts that are still good, that you don't want to replace anyway if you don't have to.
That engine harness might actually be the *second* one for the car and is already toasted.
Dave
In any case, here's the approx list of things that need to be done (at minimum). Do the numbers look approximately right? Did I miss anything that you guys would throw on the list? Feel free to tack stuff on so I can get a real feel for what I might be getting into...
engine wiring harness $780.00 + don't know how much install is
primary injectors $200.00 + don't know how much install is
secondary injectors $300.00 + don't know how much install is
reupholster seats $500.00
tires $600.00
passenger interior door handle $200.00?
rear suspension bushings $600.00 + don't know how much install is
A/C console plastic broken $60.00
drivers window switch broken $200.00??
front sway bar end links bent -not sure how much these are
radiator supports bent - not sure how much these are
bigger radiator $270.00
aluminum ast $149.00
body work - no idea
ABS light on (abs sensor dead probably?) - sounds like it might cost me a lot too
Yea it actually is the 2nd one on my T2, It was replaced with the rebuild 30k ago.
In any case, here's the approx list of things that need to be done (at minimum). Do the numbers look approximately right? Did I miss anything that you guys would throw on the list? Feel free to tack stuff on so I can get a real feel for what I might be getting into...
engine wiring harness $780.00 + don't know how much install is
AG: I'd probably guess $500. You'll want to clean the injectors while you are there and do the FPD if it hasn't been done.
primary injectors $200.00 + don't know how much install is
AG: You can get a good set of used ones and have them cleaned for much less. Assuming they haven't been replaced already....
secondary injectors $300.00 + don't know how much install is
AG: You can get a good set of used ones and have them cleaned for much less.
reupholster seats $500.00
tires $600.00
Honestly, any used car you will buy will require some general maintenance like tires, brakes etc.
passenger interior door handle $200.00?
They are all broken...
rear suspension bushings $600.00 + don't know how much install is
Potentially a lot less than that depending on condition. Again, here is where you can buy a set of low mileage arms from Japan2LA very inexpensively.
A/C console plastic broken $60.00
drivers window switch broken $200.00??
~$150 new or find them used on the forum.
front sway bar end links bent -not sure how much these are
Check Mazdatrix web site for price. I think they are about $100.
radiator supports bent - not sure how much these are
Do you mean the bottom brackets? The bottom rad supports are also the sway bar brackets which break over time. I have a used set sitting in my garage and so do plenty of others.
bigger radiator $270.00
aluminum ast $149.00
This can be eliminated like on the T2
body work - no idea
ABS light on (abs sensor dead probably?) - sounds like it might cost me a lot too
New sensors are ~$250 unless you find someone that has a known good one
In any case, here's the approx list of things that need to be done (at minimum). Do the numbers look approximately right? Did I miss anything that you guys would throw on the list? Feel free to tack stuff on so I can get a real feel for what I might be getting into...
engine wiring harness $780.00 + don't know how much install is
AG: I'd probably guess $500. You'll want to clean the injectors while you are there and do the FPD if it hasn't been done.
primary injectors $200.00 + don't know how much install is
AG: You can get a good set of used ones and have them cleaned for much less. Assuming they haven't been replaced already....
secondary injectors $300.00 + don't know how much install is
AG: You can get a good set of used ones and have them cleaned for much less.
reupholster seats $500.00
tires $600.00
Honestly, any used car you will buy will require some general maintenance like tires, brakes etc.
passenger interior door handle $200.00?
They are all broken...
rear suspension bushings $600.00 + don't know how much install is
Potentially a lot less than that depending on condition. Again, here is where you can buy a set of low mileage arms from Japan2LA very inexpensively.
A/C console plastic broken $60.00
drivers window switch broken $200.00??
~$150 new or find them used on the forum.
front sway bar end links bent -not sure how much these are
Check Mazdatrix web site for price. I think they are about $100.
radiator supports bent - not sure how much these are
Do you mean the bottom brackets? The bottom rad supports are also the sway bar brackets which break over time. I have a used set sitting in my garage and so do plenty of others.
bigger radiator $270.00
aluminum ast $149.00
This can be eliminated like on the T2
body work - no idea
ABS light on (abs sensor dead probably?) - sounds like it might cost me a lot too
New sensors are ~$250 unless you find someone that has a known good one