Looking to buy Z24-Need Help

Hey guys, sorry....I'm a Ford guy, I know, I know, be quiet. Mustangs rule. Anyway, I'm looking at a 96 Z24 auto with Quad 4/auto. I don't know much about the Cavs and the Quad, what should I be aware of and lookout for? The car has 160,000 miles on it. I'm going to look at it tomorrow. The miles scare me but the price is good and the guy says the car is clean. He just got a newer car so that is why he is selling it. I figure it would be a good car for work, winter, and gas. Thanks guys! Any help is appreciated. I have to admit, SOME Chevys are cool to, don't tell anyone I said that though.

A 96 shouldn't have a Quad4, it should have a Twin Cam. Granted, the Twin Cam is just an evolution of the Quad4, but if that motor says Quad4 on it, he's selling you a 95, not a 96.

Timing chain's the big one. Heard some complaints about the connecting rod bearings. But at 160,000, the water pump should've already been replaced.

The motor's got great potential if you find yourself an older Quad4 H.O. at a junkyard and swap over a few things like cams and intake manifold. Just something to think about.

Oh yeah, and just to stir up trouble...I think you'll be quite surprised by the pick-up that little 4-banger will have. Its not a push rod, but when you hit that torque curve around 4k, you FEEEEEEL it.

Yeah, the guy new it was a 4cyl. but wasn't sure if it was the Quad 4. About how much would a car like this sell for realistically, if it runs/looks good? I know it books for $2,000(private owner) and $3,000(dealer), but what are they actually selling for in the paper with miles being that high? He's asking $1,500. If I needed to turnaround and sell this car with that many miles what could I actually get? Oh yeah, it is loaded-sunroof, auto, a/c, power locks/windows, cd. I think he said it has new tires and brakes. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!

MAKE SURE THE A/C WORKS! Beyond that, $1500 isn't bad at all. Put 10-20 thousand on the odometer and you should be able to get the same price out, possibly up to $2000 if you keep it looking/running very nice.

Thank you sir, I will let you know if I get it or not, and I'll make sure to look for the Quad or the Ecotec2.2 (I think that's the newer Chevy 4cyl.). Like I said I'm a Ford guy. Thanks for your help!!

NoGo. Did not get it. One thing the guy was a jerk, the sunroof wouldn't open (you could hear the motor turning though), driverside mirror glass was broke and tape was holding the mirror housing to the door, pass. mirror had no power. Oh yeah, the roof popped up about 1/4 inch and wouldn't go down. I did lowball him at $900 and he got pissed off and left. I was going to eventually go up to $1100. Oh well, I didn't really want the car anyway. What do you think was wrong with the sunroof? I could hear the motor turn and it did pop about 1/4 inch then wouldn't go back down. Is that a $50 fix or a $200 fix? Do you think I should of tried harder to get the car even with what it needs? It did have a Quad 4. Everything else on it did work. It had some rust on the rear fender about a 2 inch circle not all the way through. It did run good though. What do you think? Call the guy back or does it need too much work? Thanks.

I forgot, when I was in the parking lot (low speed) and stopped a couple times the backend would squat. What the hell is that for?

just let it go , if it was meant to be you would have bought it, look on www.craigslist.com for cars, you can usually get them cheap there just look on the right side for the closest city to you

Yeah, that's what I thought. It's funny, he said it was clean and EVERYTHING worked, but not everything worked properly! Plus I was kind of scared about 160,000 miles on a 4cyl. even though it ran good, but for how long. Thanks for your help....don't tell anyone that I asked you Chevy guys for help...like it matters. Oh well, I guess I learned something. Thanks.