Need your advice!

[TitaniumSpeed24]

AHHHHH YESSS!!! You guys dont even know how many times ive tried to register and post here to no avail! I always get an error screen and a "Failure" message. FINALLY it worked!! I've had so many questions about this car that I never got to ask because i could never post. . . and theres no other way to find out about it because no-one else knows anything about it! But anyway, heres the deal, I'm lookin into buying an MSP and I have a specific one in mind. It would be my first car - I've read quite a bit on these forums and have decided that the MSP is the best combination of what I want - quick, good mileage, fun to drive, manual, killer stereo, fantastic suspension, and good looks. Now, the MSP i'm looking to buy is a Titanium with 26k miles. It had a front end collision with a guy who ran a red light at like 15 mph. It was all repaired professionally and suposedly it is like new (according to the seller). He says he ran 10 PSI with an MBC for like 2 weeks before getting tired of having to go out and adjust it under the hood - he said he then removed it and ran stock boost levels. He had / has a boost guage on the A-Pillar so he could see what he was boosting and he mentioned reading up on the MSP before-hand and knowing that over 10 PSI on stock internals = death to the engine. He says it runs great and has no bogging even with the blow off valve he has (stock boost levels). The pics of it show an aftermarket exhaust although i asked him and he said the exhaust was stock (its CLEARLY not)? I dont know, I've decided on an MSP as my first car and i've saved enough to pay for half of it + gas which was the deal with my parents. . . I'm just weary of the 10 psi (he could have easily run more / longer and it "slipped his mind") and the fact that it was crashed at one time (although it had no frame or suspension damage). As well, he said that he only gets like 21 mpg city and 24 highway? that seems kinda low compared to what I saw on the mileage thread on here - what do you guys think about everything? I was kinda set to buy it until the guy told me that it was "stock" exhaust in the pics. Here, take a look - http://i7.ebayimg.com/03/a/000/77/38/4f4c_4.JPG - is this Vibrant? It kinda looks like one of the Vibrant tips I saw on google and while i dont really think it is, i'm trying to keep my hopes up because i planned on buying Vibrant anyway =D. Thanks for your time and any input is apreciated! OH! almost forgot, it would be for $13k trailered from Michigan - is this a good deal? I hear of people finding some for 9k-11k sometimes but I'm looking for something with low mileage. Thanks!

 

[exoticracr]

I'm from Michigan. Where is this guy from? Where is the car? Sellers name?

Details. I know of a Titanium MSP going around for sale with a semi-blown motor! (low compression test was done by my dealer, they asked if I knew who it was after the guy IM thinking of said forget it after Mazda wouldn't cover it)

 

[TitaniumSpeed24]

hmmm Grand Rapids I think? $13k, 26k Miles - watch it be the car i was looking at - I'll be SOOOOO glad i posted

 

[k-lea]

13k at that many miles seems like a steal to me.

 

[Rush]

With a muffler like that, the exhaust could be just about anything. It COULD be that the guy just had a different muffler slapped on his MSP, and the rest of the exhaust is genuinely stock. Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure would be to see the car in person -- OR to ask him to take pictures of the undercarriage, so you can see the exhaust for yourself. If he won't do it, then it's definitely time to be more than suspicious.

 

[exoticracr]

Speed24, you have PM. I can help out if you wish mediate the sale before ANY cash is thrown away.

 

[exoticracr]

Wait a SECOND. Ask the owner if he ever has gone to "Classic Stereo" with his car to show it off. That'll tell me enough.

 

[orng1]

I wouldn't buy it unless I drove it, it really surprised me to see how much of a difference there is from abuse and lack of maintenance. I bought another MSP with hallf the milleageof my own car recently and when I first got it was garbage, it had exhaust leaks everywhere and wouldn't make boost. I repaired it and it's a much better car but I don't think others would be as lucky as I was. I had all the spare parts I needed and I have the experience from breaking everything on my own car.

 

[TitaniumSpeed24]

thanks for the input guys, I dont know about the exhaust but now that I think about it, i dont know if it even really matters. If it sucks, i'll replace it with vibrant, if its good I'll leave it - I'm more worried about the wreck it was in - supposedly there was no frame or suspension damage (carfax verified). Is 13k a good deal for an MSP in extremely clean condition inside and out with 26k miles? I couldnt really find anything cheaper. . . THe seller is going over to the owners house to look at the exhaust, take a pic or 2 and then call me back about it so hopefully I'll know soon. If the exhaust checks it what do you think? basically about to buy it and when i really think about it, theres nothing really WRONG with it, just confusion over the exhaust which isnt important so I will most likely get it. I just want it to be checked over by the pros so if you have a sec take a look.

 

[dannyboy17]

thats a scam most likely

honestly, if hes asking for a money order, check or something of the sort it is most likely a scam. Dont make a deal without test driving the car

 

[TitaniumSpeed24]

nah, he's gonna trailer it down and let me look at it and the deal was we would pay him once he was here. He doesnt want a check or money order or anything.

 

[Dugg E Fresh]

26K is fairly low for miles I would say. The pics look pretty clean, but that was also 9000 miles ago. If the motor might be messed up, you FOR SURE want to test drive, have somebody that knows about these cars help you, AND run a compression check with the owner/seller/whoever there. If you can, take it to a trustworthy body shop and have them take a look as well. If carfax says ok and it wasn't totalled, as long as the shop was reputable that fixed it, they usually can do pretty good work putting things back together. As far as price, you could probably knock him down a bit, but it seems like a pretty good deal, again, as long as he isn't hiding something. Ask him about the LSD also.
If this becomes your first car you will love it! This is my 14th and I do. You just have to understand what your getting. You aren't getting a world beater; you're gonna lose some and win some. If you want to win ALOT more than lose, get an SRT, if you wanna look damn good doing either, get an MSP. Uniqueness is a HUGE part of why I keep mine.
(first)

 

[TitaniumSpeed24]

Thanks for the input Dugg! About the motor, I think I'm just being paranoid as they both keep saying that it runs great and the car is excellent in all areas. the seller is an auto detailer and he says that the car is in top shape. As well, all factory parts were used in the repair and it was repaired to "original new condition". The Carfax said no frame or suspension damage and the title is NOT rebuilt. it is a clean title. And about the price, 13k is the already knocked down version - shipping is included in the 13 so its actually more like 12.2-12.5k

 

[SeR_Cyclops]

guys there is bad things in every car if you dont plan on modding this car a great deal and just going to drive it you should have no problems. also you need to beware buying from anyone they all lie to get you to buy their car if you dont know anything about wrecks DONT BUY IT!!!! my dad rebuilds wrecks and when i bought my car i clearly looked it over and desided it was safe agian if you dont know what your looking at alot can be hidden from just looking at the out side take a peice of string and pull it down the car make sure its straight also look in the trunk for leaks another thing check the inside frame rails you might get a idea how hard it was wrecked and agian dont trust anything he says.