Hi,
Been awhile since I've been here...two years in fact, since my son totalled my 2nd max (he totalled both too ) but Ive been driving a 240 since..ok, but reason for post...

My son is in Iraq, he'll be home for his 10 day R&R at the end of February. He'd always planned to get a car with the money he saved while he was in the middle of the desert where he couldn't spend it (but mom adds they need ot take amazon.com away first:-) ), but he's always wanted another 93 5 speed SE.

We've found one, 97K miles, the guy says it needs a throw-out bearing which he says they can fix or we can. He said it's about a 2-300$ job. He said there is no tic, I haven't had a chance to go see it but my ex...the better car person than I, is going to try to go by today.

I thought the ad was for $3995 so I said "so you're askign $3995?" and he replied "yes". I said "well a little mroe than I wanted to spend I didn't want to go over $3K". He said to come in and we'd talk. THEN my son, who was on yahoo IM at the time said "MOM it was $3400.. Now I'm thinking we should shoot for trying to get it no more than $2500...what's your opinion...

and how hard or much is a throw-out bearing repair. The ex said not bad and while you're in there you might as well put a clutch in...but would love the opinion of who I consider the max experts... Thoughts appreciated.

 

I hope his money will be better spent

Even in germany 60k maxima is 1000€.

 

do the whole clutch at one shot, a complete set will come with the throw out bearing.
But PLEASE don't let him buy it.
a VE5 is a rare bird and if he gets it that'll be one less on the road
get him an 89-91 SE then he can still have a stick and it won't be a major loss when he totals it.

 

A throwout bearing is about $35 for the part, and about 4-5 hours of labor to replace. a complete clutch kit (including TO bearing) for the car will run $100-400, depending on the brand you get, and take another 1/2 hour to replace it while you're in there.
might as well just replace the clutch and TO bearing and be done with it for another 100k miles.

If the guy is asking $3400, you might be able to get it for $3k, but I doubt they'll go any lower than that.

 

Hi all,
Just wanted to say, we didn't end up getting the white one with the suspected bearing problem. We (he) went with a '92 SE, 5 sp, black with black leather, all power, tinted windows. Listed in wheels and deals for $2850 and we bought it on the spot. Had to wait for the guy to get home from work to look at it, and had had one car already stop, then say they'd come back, and one came while we were looking at it. Didn't offer him any less cuz he took $2K cash and waited a week for the next paycheck so figured we were lucky he'd done that.

102K, some cracking on the top of the back seats, a small crack in the plastic fender in the rear in the middle, a small crack on the dashboard. I test drove it, then drove it to his Dad's house and it was a neat ride. Didn't hear or feel anything wrong but guess we'll really see when the son gets home next Saturday and drives it for his 14 days home from Iraq, then I know, he will be sadly disappointed to park it until probably December. he's so excited he can't stand it! Here's a pic:

 

Looks veery nice, details sound better! Prayin he can enjoy it for all fourteen days... He has done a great service for all freedom loving people, although the infested media will cont to spit on this issue. Hey, I am happy for u!

...check out the loaded electronics could be tuned to serve him happily...
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/748507/1

 

I'll share that link with him. I know he's already got some stuff in the mail, maybe a shifter...dunno, can't remember, he told me just a little bit ago. He was getting ready to buy speakers online and I told him he needed to wait until he got here, it may not need any. I didn't test the system, should have, but I wanted to hear the engine when I was driving it. I mean, it did sound good and loud, I just didn't test for it's tolerance, to see if it would make the windows rattle, which is what he'll want.

It's a pretty car. I will hate when it's parked for the rest of the year, but we're putting it in his name and the insurance is $200 a month. And since it's what he's wanted greatly since the last one we had, I can understand why he wants it parked instead of me driving it once a week, but I hate that decision...lol, but I do understand.