Great forum you got here!

I just picked up a 96 value model sedan, I was looking for a cheap reliable daily driver. The car is in average condition, runs and drives decently and the body is good overall, it has a couple dings and such. Seems to have a little wiggle at 65+ mph and it pulls to the right a hair at all speeds. Interior is a little rough, the previous owner was not as gentle as he should have been while installing his aftermarket stereo and then uninstalling it so it has a few cracked and ill-fitting parts. Engine purrs. It has a little bit more motor and wind noise on the highway than my friends 95 EX but I assume thats because its the cheapie model.

Carfax was good, it did show "dealer service" at 95k (has 139k now), which I assume means the timing belt was changed however I may go ahead and do that anyway if I cannot confirm it. I'm not planning to do a ton of mods, I will probably put some alloys and new tires on, and upgrade the stereo and the headlights, and replace as many of the worn or cracked things as I can. But the name of the game for me is cheap, reliable daily driver.

I'm wondering if there is a "to-do" list of common things that need to be checked/replaced. I plan to drive the wheels off of it and I am a reasonably competent DIY mechanic. Thanks in advance.

 

welcome to the site. sounds like you need an alignment. when i get a new car, i do a total tune up and replace as much stuff as i can so that i KNOW whats been done to it and when. fuel filter, air filter, plugs, wires, motor oil, oil filter, tranny oil, check tires, distributer cap and rotor, maybe even brake rotors and pads, depends. check and make sure all the lights on the car work (the 3rd brake light is easily overlooked). you wanna get a baseline basically. it puts you more in control of your car.