http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/827053789.html

My Accord keeps giving me problem. Originally I wanted to save up and buy a really nice mint 4th gen or 5.5 gen but my accord keeps breaking. 3rd gens are growing on me. This looks like a 92 5 speed VE in decent shape for 900. Thinking about giving him a call. What you think?

 

That ad seems fishy, There's no chrome around the windows indicating it could be an SE. But it has GXE tires, mirrors, and the grille could be body colored or chrome, I can't really tell from the pics.

I would ask for the VIN on it and see why it has all sorts of GXE parts if it isn't one.

 

True man something is definitely fishy there. Investigate before you buy.

 

Is the chrome around the windows mean its a gxe or se? I mean he doesnt say if its a gxe or se. And looking for his other ads I think he may be a mechanic that when the customers can pay for the repairs they sign it over to him. or something to that affect.

 

First off, in case you don't know:

1989-1991 SE = VG30E Engine (Manual or Auto Trans Available)
1989-1994 GXE = VG30E (Only Auto Available)
1992-1994 SE = VE30DE (Manual Or Auto Trans Available) *different trans for both though*


All GXE's had chrome around the windows, single tip exhaust, body colored mirrors, chrome grille, usually no fog lights unless a dealer put some on, (they'll be smaller than SE fogs), the wheels on it are GXE, SE's had the turbine looking rims, GXE's had chrome around the tails, SE's were slightly smoked and black trim, SE's had a factory spoiler, GXE's had dealer option spoiler, etc.

Seeing as though it's a 1992 and a 5-spd, it would have to be a VE30DE, which may be the case, but it has GXE parts all over it if it is. I would be curious as to why, maybe the guy just had two of them and the GXE's were in better condition and just threw them on, I don't know. Might be good just to go look at it in person.

 

Thanks man I was aware of some of it like the engines but not all the little details thanks. Do the 3rd gen 5 speeds have the same issue with the diff bearings as the 4th gens? Yeh I am going to give him a call on monday and take a look at it if its a SE with The VE30DE and decent mech. condition might be a good driver so I can sell this accord before its not worth anything ( I have put over 3 grand into it in the last 8 months and it only has 125k on it. must be a lemon) And hey if the maxima is nice enough body wise might be a good project car one I buy a newer car.

 

No problems of differential bearings that I've ever read about. The VG-5spds have problems with the input shaft bearing, I've heard some VE 5-spds do too, just not nearly as many cases.

 

I think its worth a call and look at. could be a pos could be a great solid find.
So there were no VG gxe 5 speeds?

 

Get the vin first an go look at it in person. It is a little sketchy but if it pans out you wanna be the first to know. Good luck

 

No. Just VG-5spd SE's

 

it could have been a 5 speed swap into a GXE

 

Thats good so it most likely as long as its a 92 a SE with gxe mirrors and wheels

 

and grille. that sucker is chrome. you're gonna hafta look under the hood to find out for sure.
then again, it could be another third gen, with the same color(maybe), 'cause the poster was unable to post pic's of the real car.

 

its a 1989-1991 SE 5spd or 1992-1994 SE 5 spd......it cannot be GXE cuz it doesnt have any chrome around windows...

EDIT: and those side mirrors color could be done after cuz i can see the front bumper's bottom part and side skirts are painted same as body color wen they suppose to be black....

 

Hmm I bet it was repainted and they decided to paint to mirrors and skirts too. will never know until I look at it. If it is a 92 and runs good and carfax checks out think it will be a good pickup for 900 I will give him a call and go look at it its only 15 min from my house

 

For a quick reference, look at this. When the guy gives you the VIN#. You can automatically tell if its a VE or not.

The 4th letter is an "E". Just so you know

http://www.courtesyparts.com/specs/vin.html

 

Stop speculating and go look at the car.

Grille, mirrors, paint, window trim, and wheels are all easy things to change on a 16 yr old car.

 

The fact that it has SE window trim should be the biggest "pro". The window trim isn't all that easy or quick to replace and unless somebody went completely out of the way to replace it is normally the best indicator of SE or GXE (when other stuff like wheels have been replaced over the years). The wheels, grille, taillights, mirrors, etc. are all super easy to replace.

If it was a GXE that was converted to a 5spd, then that means the person went to the trouble of 'converting' the window trim to SE trim, but didn't bother doing the much easier task of changing the wheels and grille. It looks to me like the car is a repaint which probably explains the mirrors. Also looks like it's been wrecked which explains the possible chrome grille.

3rd gen Maxima's don't list "SE" or "GXE" on them ANYWHERE. Many non-enthusiast Maxima owners don't even know which trim level they have. In the case of wrecks, body damage, replacement parts, etc. most people don't know the difference between SE and GXE parts and mismatch them indiscriminately. My money is that it's a slightly ragged/wrecked SE

 

heres something else about it though: if i am correct it seems as if it doesn't have the keypad from a gxe. therefore if it doesn't have the keypad then its an SE but then again who knows they could have swapped them out for SE handles. and another thing it also seems that it has the stock spoiler but that doesn't say much.

 

It may have been wrecked. But monday I am going to give him a call and if he still has it go take a look. For 900 as long as its mechanically sound and looks decent from a far it should make a good little driver. Dont mind say a small front end collision as long as it was repaired right for 900.

 

Yeah definitely. I've never been or would be leary of small wrecks. As long as the front clip isn't completely smeared over to one side or anything it wouldn't bother me. Most stuff you can pull out yourself to pretty darn straight (as long as you don't mind some ugly metal 'behind the scenes') anyway

 

Take a look at the radiator core support and underneath the front suspension and rear suspension. If that is sound, it is probably OK.

That car definitely had some things replaced or some work done to it. Odds are that it was in a minor wreck and someone found the same color GXE at a boneyard, then swapped everything they could find. It might not have been that bad because it still has the fog lights. Those are pretty hard to find and most people wouldn't even bother.

 

Well looked at the car. Its an SE with a repaint thats why the mirrors are painted, and gxe wheels decent shape little rust bottom of the doors( not noticable from the outside). windshield is cracked. runs and drives great. There is a little vtc clatter but not much. I would have more then likely got it as a driver but as I was looking at it someone showed up with cash and bought it right there. Damn its really hard to find a VE 5 speed around here.

 

hard to find one anywhere.

 

Nuh uh! I found one for $310!.......

 

I did say
not impossible.
d'jyou get that one? I can't recall....
(just 'cause it's on your account doesn't mean jack)

 

Hah, yeah... got it almost a year ago now. Stole all the parts from it, including the 5-spd swap parts, and gave the engine to one of my neighbors with a 3rd, it's still driving around with over 210k miles.

 

Ahh, you should always go look at a car with cash in hand

 

$50 :

I miss those days

 

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/ctd/827448103.html

found another one little more but seams to be in better condition I will go take a look at this one. as soon as he sends me some bigger pictures since its a 40 min drive.

 

that's what I paid for my current car.

 

Try to find something that won't be a nightmare! You get what you pay for....