Is this 626 a good deal?

[SteveD2]

Ebay Link

Thinking about getting a second car. My main commuter is getting some miles Eclipse, 202K, and I just want to get a "really" cheap and "reliable" car, for my wife + spare + running around getting parts if I do need to work on my Eclipse someday, etc.

I think if I can get it for around $200, it might be a good deal. I had the exact car before, same color, same everything, but it was a 92. It was totaled at 130K (other girl's fault). With that insurance company money I got my Eclipse. My old 626 was smoking, with tyranny sluggishnes etc before it was totaled. The day before it was totaled, I changed all 4 tires and brakes.

Main concern is transmission. For these 626 models ,only manual transmission is good, people told me.

If it lasts about 20K-40K miles or about 2 years for around $400 (fixed with parts), I think it is a good deal.

What do you think of this deal? I can fix the head gasket, water pump, timing belts, raditor for this 626. But, I cannot/do not want to work on transmission. The seller told me, it will lot drive.

 

[sprintman]

What yr 626? Stay well away from 626 auto's (bad news). I have an 89 turbo 626 and a good reliable car but it is very well maintained unlike most.

 

[SteveD2]

Thanks sprintman. It is a 1991 LX with 80K+ miles (very nice looking). I think it's the same style as 89. Below is the link. Thinking about ARXing and T-Tech the tyranny if I get it. Going there to have a look this Wednesday.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6783&item=7920320976&rd=1


Oops. Seems like I posted in the wrong place. The topic probably belongs better in Automotive General/Off-topic section. Will any moderator be kind and move this topic please. Thanks.

[ September 06, 2004, 02:56 AM: Message edited by: Larry Oo ]

 

[rjundi]

If you can get the car for $200 and are doing the head gasket yourself it may be a go. However the likely case of head gasket failure although age definitely plays a factor in this Mazda is the car was overheated which can cause severe engine damage as you know. I would be leary.

 

[SteveD2]

Rjundi: Thanks. You are absolutely right. If it is head gasket alone, it's ok. But, if they drive it while overheated (quite likely), the head may be warped. Then, it is a bigger problem.

 

[olddognewtrks]

Re: '89 vs '91. I have a '90 626-last year of that 4 or 5 year series. I know the body changed, not sure about mechanicals. Check it out so you don't get burned. FWIW, my well maintained 90 has 182,xxx miles, runs very well.

 

[seotaji]

quote:

---

The day before it was totaled, I changed all 4 tires and brakes.

---

if you had the reciepts, you could have gotten all the money back from the insurance company.

 

[Ugly3]

seotaji - if you had the reciepts, you could have gotten all the money back from the insurance company.

I had a similar incident a few years back. I had just installed a new engine in a 6 year old truck. The insurance company (Allstate) could not have cared less. Book value for the vehicle or keep the vehicle and get -0-.

 

[SteveD2]

seotaji - if you had the reciepts, you could have gotten all the money back from the insurance company.

Actually, no. The car was tolled to a place owned by Maaco paint shop. They wouldn't even let me go in and see my car. I only had "liability" insurance at that time, and the guys/girls at Maaco wouldn't even let me go in without full coverage insurance (in case of accidents in the yard, they said). So, I went back the next day, showed them the same liability insurance card and told them, I got full insurance now. They took it. And they only gave me 5 minutes for cleaning out my car. So, I grabbed the laundry basket and dump all the stuff as much as I could. Hated the d*mn guys/girls. That's my story.

Ugly3 - I had a similar incident a few years back. I had just installed a new engine in a 6 year old truck. The insurance company (Allstate) could not have cared less. Book value for the vehicle or keep the vehicle and get -0-.

I have to agree with you here. The other party's insurance company was Zurich (people told me they are really good). My car's book value at the time of the accident was about $3500 (I bought it 2 years earlier for $3700). They paid me $4200 for my totaled car + car rental fees for the 3 weeks I was using rental. So, I couldn't really complain.

 

[SteveD2]

Went there to look at the car yesterday. Wow. So nice. 4 brand new Z rated tires! That alone has got to be around $200.

Bid & won for $414.00!!!

The guy said head gasket is blown. But, when I went there and started the car, listened to the engine (sounds solid), nothing other than the badly leaking radiator with a hole in it. Transmission is great. Drove in the lot, smooth idle. No smokes & no coolant out the exhaust. Engine sounds 100%. I checked the sequence it went wrong. Radiator leaks, then coolant lost, then head gasket. Not head gasket went first.

So, I'm thinking may be the owner was told wrong by his shop who wants to rip him off. Owner didn't want to spend that and donated the car to Children's Cancer Society Car Donation Center who auctioned it on eBay.

Aren't there supposed to be white smokes or coolant if the head gasket is completely blown? Hmm. I figure I will get a compression when I pick it up. Anyway, the AC is also converted to R134a and very cold. Pretty good.

I figure even if I got a bad deal, I can be happy knowing that at least I donated the money for a good cause

.