Yet another person looking at a Vitara

[Prunes]

Anyone think this is a good deal.

89 Vitara JLX Softtop
1.6L Carb
Bullbar, tow ball
179,000 km on the clock
Virtually no rust
Starts first crank when cold
Doesn't leak at all
Smooth ride 2wd and 4wd with hubs locked
Power windows and mirrors work
Power steering is good
all in all its like a brand new car
the only things wrong are...
dirty drivers seat and scratches on plastic near keyhole

$5000 all onroad costs included

[Prunes]

Will be used offroad and eventually looking at doing modifications not sure how far I will go yet, I will mainly be driving dunes and 4wding with subaru fans.

[PCRman]

Seems dear?

Is it a dealer dealer purchase? Warranty?

Rebuild history on engine/gearbox?

Virtually no rust sounds like there is some. Where is it? Location of rust is more important than just presence/absence.

Get a compresion test if you can. It tells a lot about engine condition.

Hope it helps

[Prunes]

Yeah dealer, didn't think to ask about warranty I dont buy cars often, I will ring him tomorrow.
Dealer couldn't give me any details on history he babbled on about privacy act.
There is a slight bit of rust right on the bottom of the drivers side door, looks to be surface rust and not penetrating the metal, its about an inch wide and 2mm high, the paint near the rust is in good condition and shows no sign of rust under it.
being only 179k (less than 9k a year) and the condition its in I would assume no reconditions would have been neccicary, but then its never good to assume things.
Oh and one thing I missed some very small dents on one of the back corners, look kinda like its been backed up and bumped some branchs or something.

[PCRman]

Dealer couldn't give me any details on history he babbled on about privacy act.

Mate, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that any dealer who whips out the "privacy act" to avoid giving a mech history is pulling a swifty. I dont have time to check the act but i reakon he either doesn't know the history or doesn't want to tell you bad news. I'd be calling any other dealer and asking if they have heard of this ahem... "Law"

[saffrett]

5k is a lot for a shorty with a carby.
go a long wb im loving my new one that extra wb makes it feel so much better on steep stuff compared to my coily

[PJ.zook]

Dealer couldn't give me any details on history he babbled on about privacy act.

Mate, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that any dealer who whips out the "privacy act" to avoid giving a mech history is pulling a swifty. I dont have time to check the act but i reakon he either doesn't know the history or doesn't want to tell you bad news. I'd be calling any other dealer and asking if they have heard of this ahem... "Law"

Yeh honestly mate it sounds a bit dodgy. PCRman is right, privacy act is a load of crap, he could tell you the whole cars history without giving away any personal information.

[Guy]

Make it clear that your after the mechanical history, not the previous owners.
If he does not know the mech history of 20 year old vehicle it is time to haggle and hard.

[Toecutta]

You will get one cheaper than that, just keep an eye out and don't get one through a yard. Also if you will wheel it a bit you will find that any warranty you get will probably not cover any damage you do offroad anyway

[david123]

For 5grand you can have my 96 1.6l injected, 131k

[Eff]

BTW you are entitled to the previous owners name and address.

They do not have to supply warranty if the car is more than 10 years or been driven 160,000kms or more. Which is the case.

This is part of the Motor Car Traders Act 1986 Under sections 52 and 54

Happened to have the forms in front of me at work.

Eff

[danssurf82]

dont worry about the kms, i know heaps of vits that have over 300k! and never had a prob.

bought mine for $2500 with 270k now done 350k and still no probs. the motors go forever if serviced regularly-pref every 5k.