to buy or not to buy

[240_de_Ville]

i wanted to make this a poll but i have no idea how. ok i have an 89 240. i believe it is the se model..its got power windows,mirrors, and did have cruise(stopped workin one day) and a rear windshield wiper. a buddy of mine has the same car but none of the options listed above. he told me he would sell it to me for 500 bucks..the kisker is the compression is 90,60,60,60..and it wont start. i tried to start it today and it really wanted to but just couldnt. i know there is a problem with the radiator (it leaks) would that be the reason it has low compression and wont start? i could prob use some of the parts from it to make one complete decent car. so i guess here are my different options...

1) buy the car and use what i can and sell as is

2) buy the car and use what i can, try to rebuild that engine and then sell the car

3) buy the car use what i can and part it out

4) pass it up completely

i mean its 500 bucks...and the wifey even agreed that it really wouldnt set us back financially. i'm not good with money so i want to make a good financial decision with this....sorry bout the long post just wanted to cover all the bases and i want to know what you would do if you were in my decision. thanks for the input.

[GSXRJJordan]

The question I would first ask is, why do you want another car? If your car works well, and you want to keep it as a daily driver and get this one to do a motorswap/etc, that makes sense; as long as you actually foresee doing the swap.

I've seen waaay too many people buy extra chassis like you're thinking about doing (the motor's shot, BTW, its not just the radiator, its at LEAST a head gasket), and just let it sit outside collecting dust/rust. If you can make room in your budget to upgrade it, do it. If you're thinking that you'll get $500 worth of parts off of it, you're probably wrong, and shouldn't bother picking it up.

[EDacIouSX]

if you don't need it why buy it? if you are a mechanic then yuo would know how to fix it and be able to flip the car after you fixed it. I say don't buy it, it's someone else's headache.

[projectRDM]

After buying numerous 240s for years for parts only, I finally quit buying S13s altogether unless they're free, because absolutely no one is willing to pay one bit for anything off of them. S13s are so old now that most buyers are just kids with zero cash, and although they really want a clean, uncracked dash the most they're ever going to offer is $10 for it. Gone are the days where you actually had enthusiasts who paid what parts were worth, now you've got a slew of people who know nothing, assume they know everything, and can't afford anything, that's your buyers market. To fix it and flip it you're in the same boat, no one is going to pay what it's worth.

And a leaky radiator has nothing to do with low compression. Asking that question proves you'd be in over your head no matter what you do.

[Revolver Ocelot]

The only reason you should get it is if you want a completely dedicated track project. And only if you actually have plans of doing so, not "dreams" of doing so.

[240_de_Ville]

i was kinda wanting to buy it and use what i could and fix the engine and sell it. and was thinking that i would be able to make more than what i paid for it and spent to fix it and then use that money on mine. r240na really changed my mind kinda puts my thinking back in the real world. i guess i could save some money up and swap out the engine in my car while my wife is overseas and use her car as a daily driver. thanks for all the help now i see i prob would have screwed myself yet again.

[downshift_sideways]

Me personally,
Lowball him a little more possibly 400$
Fix the problem, flip that shit online.

buy some more goodies for your car.

just IMO

[240_de_Ville]

he just put new tires...300 and a steering rack...100 or so i think...he wanted 600 i asked what about 500 and i looked at it again...he was talkin about scrapin it thats what got me interested cause i didnt wanna see it go to waste

[downshift_sideways]

well if hes scraping it, and hes a friend.
Have him sign that shit over to you.

Te'll him I'll give him 200 and I'll pick it up

[240_de_Ville]

i'm thinkin bout tellin him the wifes iffy on it and wait a lil bit he just moved so maybe when it comes down to scapin or tryin to move it i can get it for 300-400. :)

[downshift_sideways]

i'm thinkin bout tellin him the wifes iffy on it and wait a lil bit he just moved so maybe when it comes down to scapin or tryin to move it i can get it for 300-400. :)
call that a friend?

Shit, I've given cars,suspension,wheels,seats,helmets,tires...etc

to "Friends" for free just because.

Check your rep...

[240_de_Ville]

thanks for that rep. greatly appreciated...hes a guy i work with i'm new to the shop..and hes not my supervisor but hes sewin on staff soon so i look up to him a lil and hes a pretty decent guy. i know his moneys a lil tight cause he moved on base and just sold his foxbody saleen clone for 1500 and it was worth way more...so i kinda have that workin against me. :/