Is this a scam or a good ebay deal?

[gt3000gt]

Hello, i am a newb and am buying a stealth can you tell me what is wrong with this car and what it will prob need to be done to it to make it work perfectly? thank you and buy the way i am the current high bidder.eBay Motors: Dodge : Stealth (item 270019309493 end time Aug-21-06 16:59:11 PDT)

[BeZerK2112]

It looks like a good car. They have a good feedback rating and looks like they have been doing this for a bit.

But why dont you go after a Stealth TT?

[3kvr4]

shinny, but I dont like the valve cover nor the front header

[elon3kgtslowner]

hi, i bought my 3000gt sl off ebay and can point out some stuff for u. first of all i know from experience that since the car was not inspected you have no gaurantee for anything he says being true. I am not sure what e-bays policy is for fraud and i think u can get you're money back if he flat out lies but why go through the hastle.

first off there are some things that don't look good. for a car with 83K miles on it, the thing looks terrible. Mine has 130K and my paint is a little worn and my engine block isn't worn away. If i had to guess i'd say there were many more than 83K miles on it. also since not only is the paint peeling, but the enterior is stapled together, panels are missing, and the stereo, which doesn't work, is mounted on who knows what and isn't even close to fitting into the space for the stereo. obviously the previous owner didn't care much for the look of the car and probably didn't care much for taking care of the rest of it either. he says the engine is sound and the transmission is good along with the clutch. yet you could still have a leaky exhuast, bad starter, shot alternator, and oil pan that leaks so bad u need another quart every 1000 miles.

I bought my mine, uninspected, for $4000 (a 94 with 130K) and have wound up putting near $3000 worth of repairs into it. if you are going to buy this car for around a thousand I would expect around that much to be put into it over the next year. then again it could be mechanically perfect and a good deal but personally i wouldn't take the chance. if u have more money to spend then get one thats inspected and if u don't, i wouldn't go for a car that costs as much as a stealth does.

its still up to u since is ur money and ur gamble, but i'm just letting u know that if i was going to do it over again there is no way I would touch that car without having a long talk with the owner over the phone and perhaps working out a test drive before the auction ends if its nearby. best of luck.

[VR43000GT]

If you get it for a cheap price it may not be a bad deal. Paint is pretty scuffed in some areas. I would also be suspicious about that A/C. If you need a new compressor that can be very big bucks. Depending on where you live that may or may not be a huge deal. Also with 82k on it ask to see some records that a 60k service has been done on it. And you may ask for any additional maintenance records they may have. Someone that has really taken good care of it will have their records. Good luck.

[gt3000gt]

Originally Posted by elon3kgtslowner

hi, i bought my 3000gt sl off ebay and can point out some stuff for u. first of all i know from experience that since the car was not inspected you have no gaurantee for anything he says being true. I am not sure what e-bays policy is for fraud and i think u can get you're money back if he flat out lies but why go through the hastle.

first off there are some things that don't look good. for a car with 83K miles on it, the thing looks terrible. Mine has 130K and my paint is a little worn and my engine block isn't worn away. If i had to guess i'd say there were many more than 83K miles on it. also since not only is the paint peeling, but the enterior is stapled together, panels are missing, and the stereo, which doesn't work, is mounted on who knows what and isn't even close to fitting into the space for the stereo. obviously the previous owner didn't care much for the look of the car and probably didn't care much for taking care of the rest of it either. he says the engine is sound and the transmission is good along with the clutch. yet you could still have a leaky exhuast, bad starter, shot alternator, and oil pan that leaks so bad u need another quart every 1000 miles.

I bought my mine, uninspected, for $4000 (a 94 with 130K) and have wound up putting near $3000 worth of repairs into it. if you are going to buy this car for around a thousand I would expect around that much to be put into it over the next year. then again it could be mechanically perfect and a good deal but personally i wouldn't take the chance. if u have more money to spend then get one thats inspected and if u don't, i wouldn't go for a car that costs as much as a stealth does.

its still up to u since is ur money and ur gamble, but i'm just letting u know that if i was going to do it over again there is no way I would touch that car without having a long talk with the owner over the phone and perhaps working out a test drive before the auction ends if its nearby. best of luck.

Thanks guys that has been a great help! i will really think over before buying this

[Linebckr49]

Originally Posted by crappyEbaySalesperson

The 5 speed transmission shifts nice and smooth and the clutch is in good condition. Going into first gear you have to be familiar with the car otherwise it'll make a grinding noise.

Those are two contradictory statements. if the tranny shifts smoothly, then there should be NO grind when going into first. any moron can tell you that when in first and starting from a stop, there should be no grind in the transmission.

Originally Posted by crappyEbaySalesperson

The glovebox does not shut properly because the lock is jammed, see picture.

lock problems easily fixed. glove box problems are common. mainly the plastic hinges break, but from 92.5 on they switched to metal hinges. as for the lock, i'm sure you could just take it apart and repair it (that's why i had to do with mine).

Originally Posted by crappyEbaySalesperson

We do our best to describe the vehicles fully and accurately and will gladly answer any questions regarding the auctions.

well he did horrible job 'fully' describing the vehicle. i would ask him for more detailed pictures of the 'minor damamges' and 'minor stains' and 'minor dings' he speaks of.

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Originally Posted by elon3kgtslowner

Mine has 130K and my paint is a little worn and my engine block isn't worn away. If i had to guess i'd say there were many more than 83K miles on it.

engine block isn't worn away? where do you get this? the only picture that remotely comes close to alluding to that absurd statement is the one where the black paint on the front valve cover is peeling off. most likely, somone decided to try to polish the valve cover, then after trying to strip the paint off a little they gave up.

and for the paint? mileage has nothing to do with it. a 15 year old car has everything to do with it. some of that paint fade is common and expected on a car that old. its probably never seen a coat of wax. and the supposed crappy paint job is peeling.

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all in all, you get what you pay for. but plan on spending at least twice the price of the car in repairs in the not so distant future. unless you know how (or have the desire to learn) to work on the car yourself for repairs and maintenance, you'll be spending quite a chunk of change.

i would wait for another car in better condition. there will always be another great deal out there. just be patient. in the meantime, read our FAQ and read the websites referred to in there, and learn all you can about the 3000GT/Stealth cars.

welcome to AF!

[gt3000gt]

Originally Posted by Linebckr49

Those are two contradictory statements. if the tranny shifts smoothly, then there should be NO grind when going into first. any moron can tell you that when in first and starting from a stop, there should be no grind in the transmission.



lock problems easily fixed. glove box problems are common. mainly the plastic hinges break, but from 92.5 on they switched to metal hinges. as for the lock, i'm sure you could just take it apart and repair it (that's why i had to do with mine).



well he did horrible job 'fully' describing the vehicle. i would ask him for more detailed pictures of the 'minor damamges' and 'minor stains' and 'minor dings' he speaks of.

-----------------



engine block isn't worn away? where do you get this? the only picture that remotely comes close to alluding to that absurd statement is the one where the black paint on the front valve cover is peeling off. most likely, somone decided to try to polish the valve cover, then after trying to strip the paint off a little they gave up.

and for the paint? mileage has nothing to do with it. a 15 year old car has everything to do with it. some of that paint fade is common and expected on a car that old. its probably never seen a coat of wax. and the supposed crappy paint job is peeling.

-------------------------------

all in all, you get what you pay for. but plan on spending at least twice the price of the car in repairs in the not so distant future. unless you know how (or have the desire to learn) to work on the car yourself for repairs and maintenance, you'll be spending quite a chunk of change.

i would wait for another car in better condition. there will always be another great deal out there. just be patient. in the meantime, read our FAQ and read the websites referred to in there, and learn all you can about the 3000GT/Stealth cars.

welcome to AF!

thank you very much, sir. another question though what do you think caused the header to rust so badly?

[Igovert500]

I'd want to see a carfax adn proof of the 60K tuneup. The car looks like it was waxed less than once a year, which really isn't a great sign in terms of the owners care for maintainence. For $750 if it is mechanically sound, has teh 60k done, and has a clean title, sure why not, you can dump money into fixing it up. But I wouldn't go much higher, because you are looking at a few grand for paint, maybe a grand for repairs if you don't do them yourself, and another grand to 2 grand for the tuneup if you don't do it yourself (if it's needed). Instantly, that could be another 4-6k in costs...

[Linebckr49]

Originally Posted by gt3000gt

thank you very much, sir. another question though what do you think caused the header to rust so badly?

the rust exhaust manifold (some call header) is common for any car more than 5 years old. any and all exhaust parts will have rust on them after a few years, unless its an aftermarket part which uses a different kind of metal. so nothing to worry about on the rust there.

but i agree with Igovert. GET A CARFAX REPORT, b/c the seller doesn't seem to know much at all about the car. also, i wouldn't bid more than 750. the car just doesn't seem to be in very good condition, and you would spend twice, if not three or four times that amount in repairs, maintenance and paint.

[AutostradaVR4]

said it once, ill say it again. I wouldnt recommend buying ANY car, on eBay or anywhere else, no matter how good of a deal it seems like, without driving it.

CarFax is all well and good, but sadly, it doesnt always know everyhting. I got in a major rear-ender with one of my cars 5 years ago...does not show on the carfax. There is no substitute for an in-person lookover and a 'spirited' road test.

[gt3000gt]

well i bought it so i hope it it is a great car. so i am now apart of the 3s community! i am so glad and have been waiting for this day for so long and its finnaly here i hope i have a reliable one. thanks all

[Linebckr49]

did you even bother to get a CARFAX report? did you bother to test drive it before sending payment?

Originally Posted by gt3000gt

well i bought it so i hope it it is a great car. i am so glad and have been waiting for this day for so long and its finnaly here i hope i have a reliable one.

no offense, and pardon my bluntness, but those are the words of a moron.

you get what you pay for. hope it all works out. unless you're a skilled mechanic, hope you have some more money saved up. if you're smart, you'll hang around here to learn a thing or two.

hope its a great car!

[Morphius289]

He hasn't won the auction yet, he just has the highest bid. It still has 2 days left, and I already sent him the carfax report. So theres still plenty of chances to find a different one.

[Linebckr49]

there's also a chance he won't be outbid in 2 days, so he's stuck with the car.

and why in the world did he say he bought it when he has only bid on it? something is weird here.