Hello Everyone And A Question !

[ExHondaMan]

Just joined and figured I would post and say hello to everyone !
Just a little info about myself I suppose...
Im 22, live in Phx AZ. Im a technician for Mercedes Benz.
My current car is an 05 Cobalt SS/SC. Prior to this car and my previous car (an 02 SVT Focus I owned for approx 1yr) I built many Hondas. Used to own a low/mid 11s turbo CRX...  :lame: I know...  
But anyways...
My reason for joining was this.... I have my car as listed above... but due to recent circumstances that I wont go into  :mad: I need a second car for my GF to drive for a little while... maybe a year or so and due to my current financial situation it has to be something cheap (basically we just did a giant move from MI.. Shelby TWP/Detroit area and are trying to buy a house)... A guy I work worth (nice guy seems pretty honest.. seems to take care of his cars) has an 84 200sx turbo he wants to sell.
Car has 150k on the body. He put a slightly used (sayed it had 20k on it) ca18et in it about 20k miles ago (so about 40k total on the motor/turbo). At that time he put a new clutch in. Car is an all AZ car... no rust.. Body is pretty darn nice.. but the paint is fading. Interior is really good considering the age. Everything seems to work on the car even the cruise (I read around the site a little bit... seems this may be rare..). Hes asking $1500 for the car.

Do you guys think this is a decent price for the car ? I think its a little high... but besides the paint... the car is in pretty damn good shape. Is there anything else I should look at on the car to get a better idea of the condition.

I only have max 3k to spend on a car right now... the other option I was considering was a used accord (91-93) just because they are pretty available and I have tons of experience fixing them. Do you guys honestly (please be honest... I know sometimes forums tend to show a little bias ) think the 200sx would be a decent buy from a reliability/repair cost stand point ?

SORRY for the extremely long post... just wanted to get everything out there.. Thanks !

[ravenS13.5]

Well, I am biased toward the s12, but being it is the turbo, and you want reliability,.........gd I hate saying this......the accord might be the better buy. The turbo s12s can be reliable, they are sure as hell a lot more fun than an accord, but fun isn\'t what you asked about. It\'s really comparing apples to oranges. s12 rwd turbo 84\'............accord fwd no turbo 90-94\'......??????????

[ExHondaMan]

Well, I am biased toward the s12, but being it is the turbo, and you want reliability,.........gd I hate saying this......the accord might be the better buy. The turbo s12s can be reliable, they are sure as hell a lot more fun than an accord, but fun isn\'t what you asked about. It\'s really comparing apples to oranges. s12 rwd turbo 84\'............accord fwd no turbo 90-94\'......??????????

Thanks for the reply  

The reason im somewhat interested in the s12 is that its a little cheaper then an accord.... would be much less hassle for me to get... but also... It is a turbo and I love FI  ... I was also thinking in 6mo-1yr when I can just buy the GF a new car I maybe use it as a project (I have a redtop motor w/ harness, ecu sitting in my garage  :guitar: ) later on... I basically am just curious to know if you guys think that for the time period I mentioned it would be decently reliable.. ?

[drumpet15]

Check for oil leaks and vacuum leaks.  A compression check probably wouldn\'t hurt either.

[superwhite]

I tried to get a ballpark figure for this car from Kelly Book Blue. Unfortunately KBB only goes back 20 yrs, so I used 1985 for quote. Given the mileage, KBB quoted $700 for the car.

Some things that add / subtract from this figure:

- 1984 depreciate a bit more than 1985
+ New engine
+ New clutch

Parts aren\'t too hard to find in junk yard, since the turbo car shares most non-engine parts with the NA car.

FWD vs. RWD probably isn\'t an issue in AZ. However, most women I know prefer newer cars due to perceived sense of greater reliability. I\'d definitely ask the lady before buying a car for her.

The new engine and clutch are nice, but bear in mind the insurance company may not give you the additional $ if anything happens to the car. Something to keep in mind when you buy a car above KBB value.

[ravenS13.5]

In that case, since you are a mechanic and know to do the usual prep of a used car,...new filters,oil(very important for tubo,use synthetic like mobil one if you can afford.), gaskets,spark plugs, brake pads....atc...then by all meens, go with the s12. I am working on getting my ka24de from my deceased s13 into my s12 right now. There is not a huge aftermarket for these cars, but you can either buy or make what you need. There are a couple of other members that have red tops,...darn nice too. By far, if you are looking for a cool project car, that can be reliable for a while, go with the s12. Your second post helped alot. My wife had one of those accords, parts are not super cheap for hondas, and the new owner just told us the tranny went out. Get her something unique.....like a turbo s12!!! 8-)

[ExHondaMan]

Ya I think im gonna go with the S12... she isnt thrilled but its her fault she doesnt have a car at the present time so shes gonna get what I buy and like it...  :hit:

What are parts costs like on the S12s... I read around here a little and they seem to have Alternator probs... expensive ?

[drumpet15]

What are parts costs like on the S12s... I read around here a little and they seem to have Alternator probs... expensive ?

Lol, just be glad it\'s not an SE model!

[ravenS13.5]

Ya I think im gonna go with the S12... she isnt thrilled but its her fault she doesnt have a car at the present time so shes gonna get what I buy and like it...  :hit:  

What are parts costs like on the S12s... I read around here a little and they seem to have Alternator probs... expensive ?

depends,...you have some junkyards nearby. The prices are comperable to other cars of that age. It is hell of a lot better than trying to get cheap parts for my friends z32tt. If you are getting her a new car soon, just get her exited about whatever car you are going to buy her, and then make sure you come through....I\'m married....this advice is golden.  :kicknuts:

[drumpet15]

If you are getting her a new car soon, just get her exited about whatever car you are going to buy her, and then make sure you come through....I\'m married....this advice is golden.  :kicknuts:

It\'s when you make a promise and then don\'t follow through that you get in trouble!

[ExHondaMan]

depends,...you have some junkyards nearby. The prices are comperable to other cars of that age. It is hell of a lot better than trying to get cheap parts for my friends z32tt. If you are getting her a new car soon, just get her exited about whatever car you are going to buy her, and then make sure you come through....I\'m married....this advice is golden.  :kicknuts:

Ya im probably gonna end up getting her one of the Civic SI... She really likes the way they look...  So once I can get her into that then the S12 will just be my project car.... Im pretty excited.... It will be something new and diff for me being that ive mostly only worked with Honda in the past.... Im try to expand my horizons   . Thats why I bought the Cobalt.. its domestic and sc.. 2 things I dont know much about but im learning... so far its been really fun..

Well if all things go according to plan (not that they ever do.... ) I should be getting the s12 from the guy in a few weeks...

[ravenS13.5]

Once you go rwd.......you will be posting this (no offence intended) :honda:  sorry, I had to do that.

[ExHondaMan]

Once you go rwd.......you will be posting this (no offence intended) :honda:  sorry, I had to do that.

No it will probably just be \"FWD Is Gay\" ....  :burnout:
Was heading home from work tonight and I pulled up next to a newer CarreraS... We went from a stop and I basically just did a burn out through first and by then he was 2 cars ahead... putting power down in FWD sucks...

I initially got the redtop to do an S13 project but after everything that has happened lately and with this S12 being available I think it will be cool.

[drumpet15]

Once you go rwd.......you will be posting this (no offence intended) :honda:  sorry, I had to do that.

Whatever, dude.  The S2000 is totally RWD...duh!  
.
.
Oh yeah!  BTW, :honda:

[superwhite]

Lol, just be glad it\'s not an SE model!

LOL, so true. Sometimes it feels like it\'s more hassle to hang on to the SE than a ZX due to lack of support for the SE.

[TurboLover]

CRX\'s aren\'t bad. I know someone who can Autocross the shit out of one.
In a straight ,yeah, probably not to cool.
If you really know how to drive any car can be fun....at least through the turns.

[xstunna]

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