QUICK Responses very appreciated!

Found on cList and negotiated $1800 (I'm in PA, philadelphia suburbs)

1992 prelude si (2ws) non vtec (are all preludes 4 seater's and 5spd? This one is... I feel noobish all of a sudden... )

266,000 miles, but owner says he is a mechanic (I believe him) and rebuilt the motor himself 10k ago. Has CAI w/splash guard and custom cat back.

He's owned it since April this year and is selling already. (bad for winter?)

He won't go lower on price, and will only sell tomorrow b/c he's getting a loan to pay for a new turbo civic, and will take out a small loan, or a larger loan depending on if he sells the lude or not. I know what you're thinking here, but it's a kid, and his father is cosigning the loan, blah blah, right?

Anyway, it's now or never for this kid (he's taking it personally that I want to take it to *my* mechanic, since *he* is a mechanic himself).

Worth the risk? (I've always wanted a 4th gen prelude....)

 

he says he will only sell it tomarrow cuz he wants you to hand him the cash right away.......

 

Run away. He shouldn't have any problems with you wanting YOUR mechanic to look at it, that's just shady.

 

So this KID is a mechanic and his dad is CO-SIGNING a loan. Your in the PHILLY area. Can we say STOLEN CAR?

Even if the motor is ****, 1800 for a 4th gen with good trans and full running interior isnt that bad a price. Go wit 1500. Offer him 1000 settle on 1500. Take it or leave it. No big deal these cars arent worth that much anyway. I paid 4500 for a 92 Si with 1 owner and 110k miles on it. That car has now been fulley rebuilt, so I could of been better off with a beat as lude with blown motor.

 

I think his father is pressuring him since he's cosigning the loan, and he wants to know how much the loan is for. He's like 20 and I remember being 20 and having parents control my thoughts like that...

I suppose it doesn't hurt to go see him, and get a read on him (and drive the car)

I can always come home without it... (I'll just keep the cash inside my boots or something in case he tries to rob me lol)

What can be so bad about a 92 si for $1800 though? What scary things are there to go wrong?

 

read my post, at 20 I had no parents lol. I was on my own.

 

I really had to squeeze him down to 1800 (he was asking 2500 and I got him down, and to include the sound system).

And I'm far enough north of philadelphia that it's not a philly jacked car (lol) Hes closer to pennsyltucky (i.e. everything between philly and pittsburg) than philly (i.e. he might be a redneck)

Do we risk the 1800? Or risk a really good deal...?

 

X2

 

have him provide you with the receipts of parts for the rebuild, otherwise id say pass on the deal, for 1800 you can definately get a better deal but thats just me. Good luck man

 

He did all the work himself, he's a mechanic - I'm just gonna have to feel him out and go with my gut (it serves me well).

Before I go I'll call the police to run the vin, and if it's stolen I'll set them up to meet with police instead of me ;-)

Not much else to be said!

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR RESPONDING!

 

I've got all the receipts for parts that I've bought for my Prelude going back 5 years now. If I ever want to sell the car and prove I really did change the timing belt, adjust the valves, or replace the brakes I can simply show the buyer my parts receipts that are time/date stamped. Without receipts I wouldn't take anyone, other than those I know very well and personally, at their word when large sums of money are to be exchanged.


I'd pass. Keep your eyes on Craigslist and Ebay for another....

 

So this kid is 20 and he's a mechanic? Certified? I work on my car but that doesn't make me a mechanic. I'd rather buy a completely stock car (like I did) than buy one that some teenage kid learned how to work on cars wrong, because God knows what got half-assed. Idk, your call man.

 

Same here i paid 4500 too. now that i think of it these days i also coulda been better off with a beat as lude with blown motor.i coulda paid 1000 bux then throw that 3500 on a swap u kno!!!!

 

Word. I paid $6k (yes, six THOUSAND dollars) for my first Prelude (it was a mint BB1 with 119k miles), but it still wasn't worth 6k. I would've rather bought a piece of **** for $1k and spent $2k or so on body work/paint, then you got 3k for a motor and some other goodies.

 

So pass all together? I was just about to contact the DMV and police to make sure it's not stolen, and possibly purchase a shotgun on my way there in case they're setting me up (lol). I want a damn excuse for my wife to let me buy a firearm!!! (half jk)

I've been on cList for like 2 or 3 weeks now. I'm on a *tight* budget, and my mother (I'm a grown man, so this is embarrassing) is putting it in her name for tax purposes, so she won't let me buy a roller. Civics I'm finding are 3.5k+ and del sols for about the same. Pickings are thin, and I need a car. I found a couple fox body mustangs (the only ones worth my time) but they're either a touch pricey or they're automatic.

I'll check cList again, but I've been on 3-4 times a day for the past 3 weeks (my wife hates me now :-/ )

Wish me luck

 

Hey man did you get it. If so cool.

Also, Im just north of philly as well, and I do alot extra work on the side for preludes as well, and I always have extra parts laying around.

IDK where you are, but Im in Morrisville area.

So let us know the out come here.

 

I told the kid that something (out of my control) came up and I can't meet him tonight. If he spazzes, I'll walk away (and grab a 93 dizzy del sol or this 98 subaru 2.5RS that I've been looking at, even though I <3 Honda)

If he's reasonable, and will still sell it *after* today, then I'll go for it.

I'll update when I know either way, and when this is done, I'll get this thread removed, or whatever. Thanks all for the support :-)

 

This is the original (and only) ad btw:

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/1968552276.html

 

If you have to ask so many questions then dont buy it???

 

was that a debian rtfm response? great.

How do I delete this thread?

 

Dude, do a CL search of all surrounding areas everyday (2-3 hours away is about it). Or find one for around 3K here: http://www.allofcraigs.com/ or here: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/index....=1274158919012 or here: http://www.cars.com/?aff=national&CM...id=1801366178/ and have it shipped (usually costs about $500).

 

I picked up a 1994 Vtec w/ leather for $1300 last week in West Chester.... w/ less miles but probably more rust lol. I got it to drive to work everyday, my Tundra isn't so hot on gas, and my other prelude isn't a DD type anymore. If he can show you proof that the engine is rebuilt, its an "ok" deal, if he can't.... walk.

 

Here's a 94 with a blown engine for $500.

http://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/1978339623.html

 

thanks for the find - that looks like a sweet deal, I'll call him!

looks in the pic like an auto, though - Not trying to sound picky, and I dont' need a stick for racing, etc, I just have no faith in automatic transmissions - they always seem to automatically do the wrong thing... (in my experience...)

 

^^^ auto is of course a huge downer.... Its just more responsive and fun to drive stick... Not picky... just preference..