Buying advice

[janko]

I am looking to get an S13 coupe. Most of the cars I have found are 89/90ish with +150k miles. I don't mind the mileage as the brakes, wheels, engine, suspension etc. will be scrapped. What should I look at paying for one that has a pretty good exterior/interior. I am looking at an 89 coupe right now w/ 150K for $1700 shipped.
Thanks

[sepulchral]

dude thats awful you shouldnt have to pay that much...

i paid 800 for this

then sold the motor for 500.... 300 for a 1992 with all pwoer options, perfect body n frame, black ext black int

http://www.bizlocker.com/project240/1.jpg

[janko]

Damn , where the hell did you find a deal like that? Everything around me and on eBay for that matter is rediculously expensive relative to what you got.

[sepulchral]

i waited for 6 months.... get smething newer than a 90 atleast a 91, you'll be greatful you did... personally i dont like pignose bumpers but thats my opinion.

i found the car behind some guys shop with a blown clutch in it he sold it to me for 800 he wanted 1000 i brought 800 CASH... MONEY SPEAKS!

[240trainee]

Yea, and I hate you for it Mike.

[janko]

Why something newer than a 90? Whats wrong with the 89s?

[the head]

DOHC vs SOHC 89 did not have the same motor and no matter what you end up doing with the car (swap, N/A KA, KA-T) the dohc cars are a better platform with a lot more aftermarket performance parts readily available

[killjoy]

There is nothing wrong with an 89 or 90 car. If you can live with the pignose, and the fact that you will have to swap ps lines if you do an sr swap, then there is really nothing else to consider/ Not sure which "aftermarket parts" made for teh 91 that won't fit a 89 or 90 as most parts you buy are made for chassis so as long as they are all s13 it don't matter. I have had a 91 and now have a 89. I swapped in 91+ ps lines and silvia tach when i swapped it. Whoopee, big deal.

Oh, and please list the differences in why the dohc is a better chassis. I got to hear that.

[janko]

Well I am doing the silvia front end conversion so the pig nose doesn't matter. I don't understand how weather or not the stock motor is a SOHC or DOHC motor will make any difference since I am swapping an SR in there. Anyways I ended up getting this one for $1600 out the door shipped from SC to NY.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4551535748
Did I pay too much? Probably but I have the money and I have been looking for a while.

[the head]

speaking in motor terms slick how many companies make aftermarket cams for a sohc KA? secondly he is taking out the motor which means he is probably going to put in a motor with less milage than the one that is currently in said car be it an SR or (gasp) a newer KA now he could spend the time sorcing PS lines in the junkyard which may or may not be good or he can buy new ones which is not cheap, lastly you can make your own with some braided steel line and three adapter fittings (which is what I did) but why do all of that when you can just buy a car that is one year newer?

btw the correct term is "it doesn't matter" or "it does not matter" I am sure they applaud your redneck dialect in texas but most of the country prefers to use proper english

[janko]

I couldn't find a newer coupe (which is what I want) for the price I wanted to pay. I would be interested in how to make those PS lines though. That would be sweet.

[drift freaq]

the differences between 89-90's and 91's are not surmountable.
The real issue is the perceived difference from the average enthusiasts viewpoint i.e. 89-90's are inferior for a number of reasons that people have stated above. Whether or not the differences make the model years inferior or not it has set up a mindset. Results being , resale value for 89-90's are lower in stock or modified form. The other factor is more 89-90's were made meaning more cars meaning lower prices. This is good for someone who wants a chassis for a good deal.
91-93's Have a higher price to start with because there are less of them out there and due to what I stated above they are more sought after. Yes resale value of a 91-93 car is going to be higher in stock or modified setups for the reasons stated above. It really is a mindset deal overall.
Much like the kids who are afraid to buy auto cars and swap them to 5 speeds yet want to do a SR install. Doing a SR install takes care of 80% of the auto to 5 speed swap part issues and you have to change the tranny on a SR swap anyways. Crack up is these kids for the most part run the other way with their tail between their legs when they see auto tranny cars. Hahahahahahaha, almost all of the Nicest chassis's I have ever owned have been auto tranny cars.
To sum it up , if you concerned about your resale value go 91 up. If its a strict track car that you don't plan on selling get a 89-90 more chassis's cheap if you crash. Less investment in chassis.
there ya go .

[janko]

I am buying the car to have fun with / learn etc. I'm not really concerned with resale value since I don't think I will be reselling it anyways.

[killjoy]

speaking in motor terms slick how many companies make aftermarket cams for a sohc KA? secondly he is taking out the motor which means he is probably going to put in a motor with less milage than the one that is currently in said car be it an SR or (gasp) a newer KA now he could spend the time sorcing PS lines in the junkyard which may or may not be good or he can buy new ones which is not cheap, lastly you can make your own with some braided steel line and three adapter fittings (which is what I did) but why do all of that when you can just buy a car that is one year newer?

btw the correct term is "it doesn't matter" or "it does not matter" I am sure they applaud your redneck dialect in texas but most of the country prefers to use proper english

Hahaha, dude you are a fucking clowndick. Don't get mad at me cause you post some bullshit that makes no fucking sense.

You know why there are no aftermarket cams for the sohc? Cause nobody gives a fuck, thats why. Who builds those anyway?

In regards to the lines, yeah its easier to buy an older car for 800. the only people that pay 1K more are lazy asses such as yourself. Smart people would do what i did and go to the junkyard and buy lines off a 91 for 20 bucks instead of paying a thousand for them like you did. My car was 500 bucks and it was a steal. Why pay twice as much for one "one year newer" smart ass?

Lastly, my english is very good. To be perfectly honest, it was my best subject. And I have lived in TX for 6 months. Before that I lived in MD. Before that I was in the Navy, and I was born and raised in South Dakota. So kiss my ass, and get back to your 4th period class.

If it is English class, ask your teacher to give you the correct spelling for "milage" as you call it.

[hkspeed]

power steering compatability with an sr swap is the only reason I'd get a 91+ (face doesnt matter with a silvia conversion). the shops around me (j-spec, & g-dimension) all said they could modify the power steering lines on a 89-90, but couldnt guarantee they would last for more than 6 months. they recommended a steering rack swap from a 91+ which they quoted me around $400 (for that price, i'm guessing its a new part). they said i should just save the headaches and get a 91+, which i did.

[killjoy]

Thats sad that they said that. They are very easy to remove and install on an older car. The cars use the same rack and everything, and its actually less than 5 bolts. But maybe people will keep doing it the easy way and just buy the lines from me:) I frequently visit the local yards here.

[killjoy]

BTW, here is my ripoff car that i got for 500 bucks. Here are a few pics during the swap.

http://image30.webshots.com/30/4/46/45/314644645uSTkWh_ph.jpg

http://image40.webshots.com/40/4/47/3/314644703SCgCxH_ph.jpg

http://image44.webshots.com/45/4/53/3/314645303BTALXv_ph.jpg

[janko]

not working...

[the head]

I love people that think what they say on the internet actually matters to others

I have an 89 240 with an SR swap that was done about two summers ago I bought the car for $195 clean title no damage just a bad auto trans there are great deals out there but they can be difficult to find

You asked the differences i was referring to...i stated said differences...now you are all pissed...any particular reason?

Janko: parts needed for braided steel pressure side PS Line GM O-ring fitting for the pump side russell and aeroquip both make it IIRC is is M12x1.5...I used extruded teflon line for the connection in -4 sizing you can use standard as well since the operating pressure is well below the burst pressure of standard braided line I used it because it was sitting around from another projcet I cant remember the thread sizes for the fittings on the rack but you need a -4 adapter for the top (smaller) port and a standard hose barb for the bottom one in the proper size to connect to the PS reservoir

[killjoy]

I love people that think what they say on the internet actually matters to others



Got you to post again didn't it?

I am not pissed off. Your differences are not worth a thousand bucks, thats all.

For those trying to see the link, try this one to the whole album.

http://client.webshots.com/album/314638888OMLysK

[the head]

is a 90 or up s13 really a grand more than an 89 your definately right though on the value I think i paid about 20 (doesnt include braided line cuz i already had it) to change my ps stuff over I figured simply because of age the cars would be about the same price wise no matter what year given equal ware so that is the primary reason i made the statement.

[killjoy]

sohc cars are more plentiful. The dohc cars usually have less miles and are in better shape so the owners want more.