Is this a good deal?

96 Hatch DX
Silver
5 speed
66k miles
was damanged in the fender but fixed.
$3000.
Clean title

?

 

That's a little low, are you sure the fender was the only thing hurt? If so, that's a h-h-heck of a deal.

 

it looks like a damn good deal, pull up a carfax and inspect the car thouroughly.

 

Could you give me some advice what to look for?
I am in IL and I'd be driving a long ways to get it.

 

Make sure you run a carfax. Look along the frame to see if it was previously bent/pulled back, look for panels that do not align, look for paint that doesn't match perfectly. Just as a start :D

 

For $3000 you're stealing it even if you have to get the subframe rebent and the entire front suspension changed. If you don't buy that car you'll be kicking yourself in the *****.

Also look for:

interior damage (seats, seatbelts, water damage/leaks, gouged steering wheels, evidence of smoking and/or pets, etc.)
look inside the head (through the oil filler access hole) and see how brown the junk is: if it's caramel color you're good, if it's black, hit the guy in the face and drop $300 of the price.
run your hand along the fender/area where it was hit and "repaired". paint feels smooth, bondo feels like notebook paper. bondo is bullshit, but for $3000 you'd be better off buying it, replacing the fenders and reselling it for $6000 if you were too disapointed.

of course check the clutch for engagement. a bad clutch won't engage until all the way at the top of the pedal travel.
the transmission shouldn't have any grinds when you shift and it should feel reasonably solid when doing so.

Good luck, man. Bring us back some good news