Want to buy this P5 but have a question

[fithos]

I want to buy this Protege 5 but it is 300 miles from me. I have not seen this car in person yet. All I have to go on is pics. I am looking at one of the interior pics and I notice that the passenger side air bag doesn't really match the dash? What do you guys think? Does it look like it came from factory or has it been deployed? The owner said that this car has never been in any accidents. Thanks in advance.

 

[Kittenbitten]

if I remember right it looks different in the stock setting. At least mine does. But maybe mine isnt the best comparison because my P5 was in an accident even though the airbags were reportedly not deployed.

 

[ProtoType5]

Mine is all the same across the dash....I really don't know about the color difference tho...Run a CARFAX check and see if it's been reported. Before you buy it maybe get them to agree to sign off that it has not been in a wreck. Then you could hold them to that if you find it has been.

 

[Sveivo]

Travel and check it out. It's probably an artifact and it is fine in real life.

Looks like it has a short shifter...

 

[fithos]

if I remember right it looks different in the stock setting. At least mine does. But maybe mine isnt the best comparison because my P5 was in an accident even though the airbags were reportedly not deployed.

No, I mean that it kinda looks like a different color or shade than the rest of the dash. Don't you think so?

 

[clicknext]

I don't think you can really tell anything regarding color from this pictures. Get the owner to give you the VIN and run a carfax on it before travelling to see it. (and when you get there make sure the VIN matches)

 

[Sveivo]

Yeah, do what clicknext said

ProtoType5 said it too, but clicknext summed it up, because he kind of digested what I said too. (first)

 

[fithos]

Hey, thanks alot for your answer guys and gals. Yeah I was trying to decide flying there and getting the car or driving there look at the car and drive back. Then take a flight back there to get the car (assuming everything checks out okay. Hehe.

 

[Kittenbitten]

No, I mean that it kinda looks like a different color or shade than the rest of the dash. Don't you think so?

Yes, my airbag cover is a different color/shade than the rest of the dash. In fact I think it has a different texture too.

 

[Sveivo]

Hey, thanks alot for your answer guys and gals. Yeah I was trying to decide flying there and getting the car or driving there look at the car and drive back. Then take a flight back there to get the car (assuming everything checks out okay. Hehe.

Drive with a passenger.

Like your mom.

Then drive two cars back or one, depending on the outcome.

 

[Qcpro5]

you could drive over there with your car, then bring the 2 cars back home at once by driving 1mile, then get out of car, go get the other car, drive it another mile, get out of car, go get the other car, drive it 1 mile and so forth

 

[Mr. 4500 RPM]

I will go check tomorrow, but mine are the same color. It could be how the sun hits it but to me it obviously looks like two different colors and thats not right?

 

[Protege52003]

PM me the vin#, i can do a vin check for you!

-R

 

[fithos]

you could drive over there with your car, then bring the 2 cars back home at once by driving 1mile, then get out of car, go get the other car, drive it another mile, get out of car, go get the other car, drive it 1 mile and so forth

Lol. I tried that once before. Never again. (bang) (laugh)

 

[Lord_Zath]

mine's the same color. Different texture, though.

That car is a 2002 (cupholders are covered). 2002's had some problems with the synchros in the transmission.

Also, the mirror is NOT stock at all. Nor is the radio.

Why the hell replace the mirror with that ugly rectangle thing?

I'd suggest contacting him and asking him to take pictures of different parts of the car and e-mail them to you. Are there any other pictures? Exterior shots? Personally, that airbag cover would be a major eyesore for me if it wasn't the same color as the rest of the dash...

 

[fithos]

Ok. Here are some more pics of the car. Lets just say he is selling it for cheap (about 2 grand below blue book) and I am left wondering why so cheap.
A member of this board, Protege52003 has offer to help me run a carfax report. I really appreciate his or her offer.

 

[Sveivo]

slammed, JDM tails, RB exhaust (?).

LOL @ mirror

What did I miss? (lurk)

Edit: tires look like stock size. Not that any of this matters really.

 

[Sveivo]

Looks good from over here (wink)

 

[nate0123]

as low as that is sitting, it might be on coilovers... coilovers can clunk and pop, so be prepared for that... did the owner state what suspension (and other) mods were done?

the car has JDM taillights and what appears to be a racing beat exhaust

 

[Sveivo]

(alright)