What to look for - Buying an MK3

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Worstenemy453

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May 5, 2012
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Getting ready to buy this car and it will be my first supra.

What is the common things i need to look out for ?

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Guy keeps telling me he thinks its a 1jz LOL He doesnt know much about supras from talking to him on the phone.
 
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Satan

Supramania Contributor
Mar 31, 2005
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Yeah, check the basics that are common for most cars. The old advice about checking for BHG is kinda different these days. Assume you need to replace the headgasket/engine and go from there. Rust, frame damage, and dash wiring is what I'd focus on. The interior/exterior cosmetics is probably something you will have to put time/$$ in, depending on your tastes & goals.

Good luck!!
 
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Worstenemy453

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The interior looks decent.

I plan on studs and a cometic MLS headgasket anyway because I plan on building it. What's a tell tale sign of a blown HG ?

Car is supposed to have coilovers with "eclectronic boxes" on them. Pic looks to have a blow off valve in it. And the blue body kit might be getting painted white to match. I want to see how bad it looks on the car in person. It doesn't look too hateful to me.
 
mkiiichip

mkiiichip

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From those pictures, it doesn't look to be in running condition. And thats a funny looking 1jz.
 
Another MkIII

Another MkIII

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Given how unfamiliar he is with the car, I would guess it hasn't been taken care of as it should. I could be wrong, but that's my first impression. Given that, I'm going to say that 3K is probably too much. I personally probably wouldn't pay more than 2K, depending on the body and interior. If the car has BHG, cut that number in half.
-AM3
 
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Worstenemy453

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May 5, 2012
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mkiiichip;1838164 said:
From those pictures, it doesn't look to be in running condition. And thats a funny looking 1jz.
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I can pretty much tell its a 7m-gte from the pics compared to a 1jz, but he tells me it has a 1jz cast mark right on the block, i didnt ask him where. He says the car runs just fine, i dont see anything from the pictures that would tell me its not running.

Another MkIII;1838170 said:
Given how unfamiliar he is with the car, I would guess it hasn't been taken care of as it should. I could be wrong, but that's my first impression. Given that, I'm going to say that 3K is probably too much. I personally probably wouldn't pay more than 2K, depending on the body and interior. If the car has BHG, cut that number in half.
-AM3
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Im going to make him an offer, he thinks the care is rare and valuable and that the 1jz in it is worth as much as he is asking for the car so im going to need to set him straight on that.
 
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Worstenemy453

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May 5, 2012
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Turbo Habanero;1838185 said:
Yeah his lack of knowledge should allow you to talk him pretty low otherwise... You can find I some cleaner mk3's for 3,000
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Not within 400 miles of me, i cant find shit. I wanted a turbo/targa, but im going to get a turbo and convert it to targa maybe or just trade it off later on.

His lack of knowledge actually gives him the price advantage, he could go off thinking he has a rare/valuable/1jz powered car and not want to negotiate in which case ill walk away. If it runs and drives ill maybe bring it home for $2500, it all depends on what i see and feel when me and my stepdad get up. My stepdad has some knowledge of Supras but he is a mechanic over all so he doesnt have specialized supra knowledge.
 
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Worstenemy453

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May 5, 2012
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Turbo Habanero;1838191 said:
Then be patient this is not a car that you want to rush into anyhow trust me. Patients is your friend.

Check it out

Turbo and Targa for $2500 and it runs

http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/2951442036.html
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Ive seen that one, i hate red/burgandy, the interior looks thrashed.

I am going to be redoing the interior and motor but i want to do it in stages. I am definitely not going to buy junk but im going to take a look at this one. Im not in a buy or die mood.
 
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Worstenemy453

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May 5, 2012
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RazoE;1838195 said:
You laugh at him for not knowing the difference between a 1J and a 7M, but then you drop "I'm converting it to targa", that is funny...
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Converting to targa is easy for someone in my position. Ive researched, i know what it entails and it will be very cheap for me to do correctly. Thanks for your useless insight.
 
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Worstenemy453

New Member
May 5, 2012
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Virginia
Turbo Habanero;1838203 said:
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/2946261647.html Not sure how far baltimore is from ya but this is a nicer one i think it's N/A but converting it to a turbo is much easier then converting a hardtop to targa...

Just a little hint it's not a very easy thing to do and requires tons of frame and subframe work. If you want a targa find a targa they are not rare...
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Thats about 6-8 hours from me round trip.
 
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