Need some help quickly...

[Acca Dacca]

I've just had a look at a Suzuki Sierra. The problem is it may be sold tommorrow as I'm still not sure if I want it. The owner is selling it for 3 grand. It has almost no rust, new clutch, relatively new gearbox and transmission. 4WD works... steering and brakes are good. It has new back tyres and bull bar and tow bar. It's also got a removable hard-top and lockable spare tyre. The only problem is that its running on 3 cylinders. My uncle who's a mechanic has said it will cost $600 for new piston rings and seals or about $1000 for a new engine. The problem is that another $1000 might strech my budget a little. Although a new engine would probably reduce the likelihood of engine problems for quite a while.

So just thought I'd ask, is all of the above + a new engine for $4000 worth it ?

edit: I'm probably going to get it, the body is in great condition for the age, just might have to spend a small bit of money on new front tyres. Its an 89 with about 230 000 k's by the way. Everything in it is great or good, except for the engine as said. So if anyone thinks this is a rip... speak up now...

[moose]

offer him 2000 , then slowly offer more !!
if it,s got a crook motor , he might take a lower $$

[Acca Dacca]

The problem is my dad said he'd give him $2800 for it but he didn't want to accept it. Hes already lowered the price from $3700 to $3000 so I doubt hes going to budge past $3000. He doesn't know too much about cars though (not saying I'm full bottle either but ehhh...) so I reckon he didn't realise the engine problems when he advertised for $3700 and then when he took into a service they said it would cost you a bit to fix so hes lowered the cost rather than fix it.

Most Sierras in the paper with new or rebuilt engines are about $4k anyway. It has pretty much everything I want and it is in great condition, problem is I haven't really had a look at a Sierra properly until now and I'm not sure if its worth that much...

Main problem is a clueless girl my age has already asked about it (she asked if the engine had oil in it ). So because its great except for the motor she might pay 3k for it, not realising its only running on 3 cylinders. So I can't really afford to offer a low price wihout risking missing out on it.

Good thing is that it was well looked after and only occasionly was taken offroad and to the beach, so its in great condition. I could still easily drive it around, but its vibrating quite a bit and its not exactly smooth.

But is the this the usual price for one?

They are often about $3-4k in the paper

[roadrunner]

Price sounds a little steep for an '89 with a screwed motor.

I'd look around and bide my time, something better will show up.

Keep an eye on OL, some good deals have come through lately

[christover1]

cars used on beaches often rust out in hard to see places, best to check rust issues more intensely.
$3K is good if its got a rwc, not so good for a car with a stuffed donk.
If you can change motors, or get help to, an imported low K jap motor costs around $900.
racv check or similar may be a good idea.
and don't let the seller rush you, its just a sales trick.
If it was a great deal, it be already sold.
christover

[munga]

If you have to buy it, then buy it and deal with the consequences (if any) later. If you can afford to wait, then wait for something you think is better.
Someone is always going to say you paid too much, no matter how much you paid.
If 3grand plus a grand is stretching the budget, I'd say go find one for closer to 2grand
Edit: I say this coz usually you need some spare money for things that need fixing within a few weeks/mths of buying a car

[stumped]

might be that prices your way are a bit dearer than in melb, so don't take too much notice of that...

i paid $3500 for mine a year ago with similar kms, was in the best (mechanical) nick and cheapest around newcastle at the time i was looking. mechanically it was good, but had heaps of rust in the body (was bogged, but turned out that it was a crap job)

it's not the most reliable tho, i wouldn't really wanna drive to QLD in it. but if that one is in good nick for $3K except for the engine, and can get your uncle to work on it, is prolly worth buying.


rust spots: bottom of doors, sills, roof gutter, wheel arches (take the inside cover/panels off and see if there's rust where the guard meets the vertical panel)

[Acca Dacca]

I'm likely going to get it, Sunday is when I'll get it if I don't change my mind. Checked it with REVS too, no money owing on it or anything.

From what we could see there was only a rust spot about the size of a 5c coin on the paint, at the back near where the wheel arch meets the body. Plus a few small spots in where the engine is. As I said it is in really good nick. I was going to spend up to $4000 or so, but it will take me quite a bit longer to pay off, would have been nice if the engine was good.

It has not really been to the beach that often though. The owner who had it before the guy who has it now, looked after it well apparently. It hasn't been absolutely hammered bush bashing either. The current owner got a gearbox and transmission from another Sierra about 3 years ago, the gearbox is a little sloppy, but the uncle said that its easy to fix.

munga: As I said everything seeems good mechanically apart from the engine of course, so with a near new engine not much should go wrong. Hopefully.

and the seller isn't rushing me.... I made sure I found out how much I'd have to spend and what I would get for my money. Personally although I don't like the cost putting another engine in, it will be good as it will be my first car.

Pretty random questions now. Would anyone buy the old engine for about $100 - $200.

As I said it still runs, not too bad actually for 3 cylinders.

Also there was a small little wooden box for tools or small parts near the jack under the hood. Is this normally meant to be there or is it something thats been put in ?

[Mudzuki]

Wooden tool box aint standard

[Wolverine]

If you buy it mate and are looking for a new import engine that will bolt straight in then let us know. My mate has some injected 1.3s relatively cheap or other engines if you want. He is a zuk nut aswell.

[Acca Dacca]

Depends how much your mate is selling them for. I'm probably going to have my uncle work on it for a while. No need to rush, I also want him to have a good look over it. So I have a bit of time to look around for engines.

[jasonmcc]

I bought my 1991 SWB soft top for $4000 and that was in pretty wicked condition. Im in Darwin. I have thrashed it for the last 18 months and it doesnt look as good as it used to. But hey I had some fun in it. Keep a look out on this board I have seen some wicked deals on here.

Just dont buy the first car you look at.

Cheers

Jason

[Acca Dacca]

This is a bit of a dig. But I did buy it. It cost nowhere near how much I anticipated. $143 was the bill from my uncle. $10 for a rocker gasket and the rest labour. That included getting it running on 4 again, something with a locator pin in the gearbox and a general check over and top up of oil, coolant etc. The front rotors are fairly new and it has new pads as well as whatever else I've already. My uncle said that its in sound mechanical condition.

So at the moment its cost me roughly $3150 and its in great condition. Score. I do need to get tyres and a wheel alignment, but thats still a pretty good price.