http://olympic.craigslist.org/cto/1677573616.html
What would you do?
I went and looked at this car last year and the seller is describing it accurately. I think he was asking around $2K at that time. I want to say it has 150K or 170K miles. Transmission and engine seemed fine but theres a noticeable clunk which may be U-Joints. I don't recall any issue with the brakes. No rust (which is not uncommon here), but one fender has some damage, and it needs paint and a windshield. Dash pad and all upholstery needs to be replaced.
Is this car worth saving? I've been looking for an '88 Sport with leather for a while, but even if I picked this up for next to nothing, I don't think it makes sense. I don't mind putting more $ into a car than its worth, but I'm thinking I should be able to get a clean one for a lot less than the cost of restoring this one.:confused:
I'd take it.All of the "bad" stuff is all easy fixes.The good stuff is all there.Nice looking car as well.Worth what they're asking (by looking at the pics).He'd probably take a little less.
For a sport , It don't look to bad. But it don't growl like a CAT.
All that stuff seems minor, and it seems like a sharp car. Even the leather looks pretty good. Do you want to restore it or drive it? I don't know about finding one for less. If its got wheels, and it moves under its own power, its typically worth $500+ now-a-days.
I Paid $300 for my cat but it needed a new engine, trans rebuild, front end rebuild, and front brakes. Not to mention the dash was cracked and the exhaust was gone.
But, thats just my $0.02.
I would make an offer and see what he says
I'd buy it. Definitely make a lower offer though.
That alone should help make up your mind. I've been saying it for a while now, but these cars are rapidly getting into the "buy one while you can" status. They are only going to get harder and harder to find...
Thanks for all the input everyone. I agree these cars are getting harder to find, and that's why I'm really thinking about this one even though it needs a lot. I guess I want one to "restore" more than drive. I'd want it to be nice, but it doesn't need to be 100% stock.
The interior looks OK in the pics, but it is all dried out as the car was previously in CA. Every seat cover is badly torn and the dash is cracked. Most of the stuff it needs is cosmetic but I start adding it up - upholstery, dash, windshield, paint, etc. If I have to get the seats done, I guess I might as well just get a cloth car with a good dash and windshield.
Anyway, you guys have almost talked me into it...
You really should buy that one. All the thats wrong with it is trivial at best. Id fall over if i could find a car like that here in PA for that price.
dont forget, a 5.0 car is the easiest to swap a ho into, and yeah thats pretty cheap anyway, if i didnt have 3 i'd get it lol...
It is defintely worth a save for sure, especially is the engine and tranny is running good. All the stuff you decribe is minor and that car sounds like it is in better mechanical shape than mine is in.
Don't sweat the interior. I am managing to restore mine and even modify it with different year and model parts and even a Mustang dash.
Save it. It's cheap and if I could find a rust free one for that much I'd be all over it. The only reason my 88 is rust free is that it spent it's first 14 years in California and hasn't seen but one Chicago winter before I bought it. Us rust belt guys would save that car in a heart beat.
If this is going to be a restoration/project then you have plenty of time to do it right. If it runs take your time and fix the interior, exterior, and then worry about mods to the engine and drive train.
Yeah that's a great find, depending on the miles. I mean even if it had 150k miles I'd still get it. How often do you find a sport with the gray leather?
Missed the part about the cracked dash and torn leather. A dash cap is about a $120 buy and you glue it to the dash. The leather however is tough. There are places that sell Mustang replacement leather for seats like ours, but it would be a few hundred.
Here's another one.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/1697694733.html
If I got it for $1,500, and put a leather kit in it, I'd probably be way ahead of where I'd end up on the other one. But the dreaded heater core...
The silver Sport...:headbang:
I like how it says it has the HO in it :hick:
Yeah, an HO would make it an easy decision. :) Since this one is owned by a detailer, its probably much better cosmetically.
Would an '88 Sport have a digital speedometer?
It's possible, but as far as I know, it'll have the buttstuffog.
Just like a TC's cluster, only w/o the boost gauge.
'87 Sport had full digital, '88 had buttstuffogue
Well my mechanic quoted me $800 for a heater core replacement so it looks like car #2 is not such a great deal either. I could probably do this job myself, but I really don't want to.:(
If you follow the instructions on Coolcats you should be able to do it yourself. No way would I pay someone else $800 to do it. I'd go with car #2.
But a cat only has nine lives...A Thunderbird rises from the ashes.:D
Is that under Tech Info? I don't see it.
OK, I found the article. That doesn't sound too bad. My mechanic's software was telling him he needed to pull the whole dash and console so he was calculating 7.5 - 8 hours.
Is it possible to do this without disconnecting the A/C?
Our cars are always worth saving. lol Don't let the fox bodies go extinct!!!!
$800? It shouldn't cost more than $300 to have someone do it.
For $800 I would fly there from TN change your heater core and take you and your significant other to Red Lobster then fly back :D
Local ford dealership here only charges $350
no Sir the A/C must be disconnected
Thanks for all the input. I think I would gladly pay someone $300 - $400 to do that job. My only concern would be getting my dash back in one piece from a rushed mechanic.
I just learned that car #2 is the Standard model. I assumed it was a Sport because of the black window trim. I guess I'm still looking...
Hey I did wanna start a new post over this and knew it was kinda the same topic here, check this out!!!
Is this one of us??? !!!!
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/1716738729.html (http://"http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/1716738729.html")