New bloke with suzuki. Got questions...

[mongrol]

Hi folks,

After moving here from Scotland 7 months ago I've went and done the bloke thing and got myself a 4WD. Because this Grande Vitara cost 20k and we'll be having visitors over at some point in the future, I'm after a Sierra or Vitara cheapstylee to A) take folk camping in as an additional 4wd, B) I can go offroad in it without being scared of pranging a 20K car and C) do things to it like when I was a young lad.

I've got the chance of getting a 96 Sierra (leafy) from a mate who runs a car yard for around 3500 with 140k on the clock. I've been to see it today and its a real state. The interior has most of queensland in it, steering wheel's ripped to shreds, door lock nobs are broke off (can't unlock passenger side), everythings covered in dust, both seats are burst wide open and one wiper is missing, everythings covered in dust, it needs a new soft top badly and um.. everythings covered in dust. Its a real mess and has been bushwhacked heavily for most of its life.

Now, inside wise, a good scrub (tips on restoring dashboards welcome) and a trip to the breakers will get most things back in working order. My concern is if the previous owner was carefree enough to let the inside get into that state then what can I expect from it mechanically? I took it a rip up the road and besides driving like a cement mixer it seemed to run ok. I did detect rattle that could be a tappet thing but I'm not a mechanic so it could be anything. I've no idea if its stock or not but it did seem to have bigger tyres than I'd reckon would be stock. It also had some quite new, clean looking blue shockies underneath.

What sort of things should I be on the lookout for if I go back to see it? Should I avoid it completely? Is it even worth that much? Or would I be better off waiting to get a cheapie that hasn't seen so much off road action. Advice welcome.

[munga]

did coilys come out in 96 or 97?

3500 sounds like a lot to me, for a zook in the condition you describe.
but its all relative.
if you think its a fair price, then tis a fair price. someones always going to say you paid too much..
( i could make short arm, long pocket references here )

if its strictly a weekend toy for camping and moderate fun consider an older, 1lt sierra.
i wouldn't recommend a 1lt if you plan on regular freeway action tho. otherwise, theyre ideal cheap second cars: nobody wants 1lt running gear and it seems everyone has bits in their shed/backyard/friends shed.

if it is a coily, then its relatively cheap for a coily. i think coilys are overpriced in general tho. all those specialised bits you cant retrofit from other sierras makes not a budget weekend toy.

[mongrol]

Coilies came out March 96. I've decided not to go for it. After some looking there's similar rigs for sale at the same price but are in much better nick. I think I'll go pay them a visit instead. Thanks for the reply.

[Nev]

On paper it sounds like a fantastic car but from the description Id say your doing the right thing. Generally if a cars not looked after inside then its not looked after outside either..try one that looks a lot less flogged even if its older for the same price as they didnt really change at all and parts are all very similar and cheap..