never purchased a car before..

[nova1313]

I've never purchased a car before from a private owner cheaply. my last one I paid the price being asked and got it.

This one is a 99 eclipse spyder 70k miles he is asking 10k. I took it to a mechanic and the inner wheel shroud is broke (20 bucks for the piece at a junk yard) It has a decent stereo system, leather interior, racing guages (that don't dim because they were installed incorrectly) and a muffler so loud I wanted to cause physical injury to myself when driving to put me out of my misery.(that has to go), also has a brand new top & catalytic converter

the bb valus is like 9615 (excellent condition). So my dad said I offer him 9200 since it needed work. So we did. It's getting relisted in the paper next weekend because he didn't accept. He mentioned he was looking for 10k. What woudl be my next step. Wait to see if he comes back next week saying he got an offer and wanted to know what I was willing to go max? Or do I make him another offer now?

the car is really nice and the next closest I can find for sale thats manual is in jersey (2 hours away) so do i make an offer closer to his price or sit it out?

[ashah000]

What is the blue book for it in good condidtion? That is the max that I would pay.

[RiceRocket18]

never pay more than what's worth to you. and becareful with private sellers. ashah can tell you that

[scottsee]

a friend of mine bought his 2000 gs with 55k for 10200. low ball him, and see how he acts. offer 7000

[audio101]

offer bluebook value then, I mean most of the cars you find for sale are going to be above the bluebook value (find that same car at a dealership and 9615 will sound like a sweet deal)

[nova1313]

the good value was like 8500. The problem is they are rare to find around here. I think he knows that the next closest I could find was in jersey.

I realize that 9615 at a car dealer would be a sweet deal even 10 would be. I wasn't sure what to offer him. I guess i offer bb next.

[RiceRocket18]

if you really think it's worth that much to you. yo shouldn't let it get away then. it's whatever makes you happy.

[BoostedSpyder]

you need to sit down and have a offer-counteroffer session with him. offer BB, see what he says.

you should also look into what has been done to this car. is it a turbo or not? [is one of the gauges a boost gauge?] has it been raced to hell and back? obliviously somebody was racing it around. and here you are already complaining about the exhaust, and if it has a cat on it it can't be THAT loud...

[nova1313]

it's a cat with welded on tips that make it ungodly loud. My only comparison is it's louder then a loud motorcycle (not joking). And yes we checked no exhaust leaks

No it's not a turbo. By racing guages I mean the spedometer, tach, etc were all changed.

Aparently the kid just liked to tinker around with his car.

I talked to him on the phone for about 30 minutes last night he stands firm at 10 because it's his sons. His son isn't willing to part with it for less. He said he would call back if he didn't get an offer this weekend. So I guess he's just going to wait and see if he can get more.

He said he never raced it. (we dont have a track anywhere around here really for that stuff) If it was in small street raced I'm not sure. He mostly used it for commuting to school and back and now his parents want him at school all the time.

Thanks for all the great advice.

[amdsoldier]

Originally Posted by nova1313

it's a cat with welded on tips that make it ungodly loud. My only comparison is it's louder then a loud motorcycle (not joking). And yes we checked no exhaust leaks

No it's not a turbo. By racing guages I mean the spedometer, tach, etc were all changed.

Aparently the kid just liked to tinker around with his car.

I talked to him on the phone for about 30 minutes last night he stands firm at 10 because it's his sons. His son isn't willing to part with it for less. He said he would call back if he didn't get an offer this weekend. So I guess he's just going to wait and see if he can get more.

He said he never raced it. (we dont have a track anywhere around here really for that stuff) If it was in small street raced I'm not sure. He mostly used it for commuting to school and back and now his parents want him at school all the time.

Thanks for all the great advice.

Didn't have time to read your whole reply, however if it's a non-turbo modem, and 10k, NOT WORTH IT.

Well I'm off to catch my plane to pick up a turbo Eclipse with 8k+ in mods for $7200... just to get you an idea of what you can get if you look hard enough. Good luck!

[scottsee]

defently not worth it. seriously. wait for the right one. car dealerships are the places to buy cars, its amazing how much people want for their cars when they sell them in the wheels and deals, or private party.

[RiceRocket18]

ya... ididn't know it was a none turbo car you're talking about. for 10 K i agree with the majority, definitely not worth it. i got my gst 26k miles for $9000. i am not saying you should look for one it's that cheap since i bought it off a friend. but just so you know what the price range should be. good luck to the guy who's trying to sel it for 10K NT. and more luck to the one who actually buys it. LOL

[nova1313]

thanks for the info.ive held back on my offer ill see what he does. All the dealers around here are asking 13k plus for non modded non turbo 99spyders with 60k+ miles. They aren't budging on prices either. I guess they feel they can find someone to pay it... *twiddles thumbs and waits for another*

[nova1313]

i have patience. I've been waiting a good 5-6 months now to find one. Time however I am lacking. I have 2 jobs one I work 14-16 hours a day 6 days a week. The other I work 8 hours on my day off.

I've driven max 2 hours to try one before. It was nice I made a fair offer and got shot down he wanted 14k for it.

[RiceRocket18]

friend of mine traveled all the way to vancouver to get his Type-R and on the way back hit a deer on the road. totaled the car. spent tones of money to get it back to the way it was.