Checking out a Black 140k Trans Am Saturday morning. It's a 6spd, cloth, T-tops, power, etc. Guy will take $5k but it's got 140k. That scares me. I plan on a blown/forged 383 within a year so don't think I need worry about the engine much.

What "little things" will start going though? I don't want to always be working on this thing, let alone it nickel and dime me to death.

 

142k and still ticking. Coil is probably on it's way out. Opti/Valvetrain just got replaced (no issues though). Also recently had to change the accessory belt and water pump. Nothing out of the ordinary.

 

Only thing about a car with that many miles on it is that you dont know if those are hard miles or not. Plus you dont know if that person has actually taken car of the car.

Just look it over. Check out the engine. See if anything is leaking or the engine is making any noises.

I have 130,000 on LT1 and it is a beast.

 

The ad says "very well maintained," so assuming it was taken care of--nothing really to worry about? Sweet.

I'm obviously going to test drive it too. I can't wait because the fastest thing I've ever driven is my Mom's '03 Eclipse GTS

LT1

 

Hehe, your gonna fall in love then. An LT1 is a very fun car to drive.

 

Make sure you check the power windows to see if the motors are good. See if they roll up well or if there slow. If one or both is slow that means the window motors are on the way out. They can be a PITA to swap out, so you could use this to get the price of the car down a little.

 

MAke sure you have a mechanic or someone with some mechanical knowledge look it over . It really would be a good idea as they can find some stuff that you would never notice. They can also help you work down the price by complaining about things too for you.

 

I second paying attention to the window motors. Those things are a major mutherf*cker to change out.

 

140k is not much as long as it has been taken care of, these cars are beasts!

i would personally stay away from anything but bolt ons til i'm rdy to put some money into the block...

he could go down on the price tho.... my car was 5K cash and its an auto 97 TA with 90K miles at the time... also had leather...

window motors arent hard, takes an hour or so...

mine held upto 105K miles, then i put a turbo on it, and with a not so good tune, it cracked a piston at 107K miles... now i'm rebuilding

u'll never have to worry bout ur tranny tho, they can hold a good amount of power

 

i say don't worry about the window motors they aren't hard at all to replace. You just remove the door panel and drill 3 holes and drill out 3 rivets. I would say they can be changed out in about an hour. I've done one in under an hour before. I would use it to knock down the price though if they are going out. If it has 140k there are lots of little things that can go out. I have 141k on my car and here is the list of stuff i've replaced minus all the motor and mods. Opti, waterpump, clutch pedal start switch, ignition switch, 2 power window motors, wiper motor, low oil sensor, 02's, clutch and fuel pump. The fuel pump was still working but it wasn't putting out enough pressure anymore to keep up with my setup. There was probably a lot more that would of needed to be replaced but it was all replaced when i put in the new motor and all the other upgrades. These cars can need a lot of help in the maintaince department but none of it is all that hard to do. It seems like right around 100k they seem to have some problems such as opti, water pump. It all depends on how they were maintained and a lot of luck.

 

sorry if im gonna hijack this thread but how much would it cost to get a replacement motor for the mirror, just that my passenger side one is goin to the sh!thole.

Maxim

 

Here's my list of things that have either been repaired/replaced or are currently in need of repair (120K miles as of now):

opti
tranny mounts
windshield wiper motor (surprisingly expensive)
window motors (Driver & passenger sides)
waterpump
head gasket
cats
all radiator hoses
rear axle (my fault on this one kinda)
rear end - differential, pinion bearings
O2 sensors (all)
as of recently - slight tranny slip

see if the guy will let you drive the car for a half-day or so before buying....then take it to a TRUSTWORTHY mechanic

 

......hummm, 123,000 miles and;

1. transmission mount
2. a starter {although its sounds like its almost time for another one}
3. a headlight
4. serpintine belt
5. a license plate light bulb
6. turn signal flasher
7. brake light bulb
8. neither window goes down {but they only broke a year ago so give
me some time to fix 'em ..... Hey, at least there stuck up & not down.
9. a battery

thats it ... but wait, is it a cat or a bird that only has 9 lives???