Yo

Next Saturday I am going to make the journey to check out my 1994 Formula!! Well, what I hope to be anyway. I was supposed to go with a friend to go check it out, but now he can't go. I figured i'd still go anyway, and check it out myself. I just need to know some "F-Body" specifics on what to look for and check out to see if anythings operating incorrectly. Crap like...

How to check a faulted Opti and crap specifically for my hopeful Formula.

When I get there, i'm going to check the engine surface for any kind of oil leak and crap like that. Opening the little thing for where you insert the oil into the motor. The Transmission by sticking my ear on the stick shift and listen for a grinding type sound. The breaks and rotors (If they are warped). The alignment, by letting it drive without any hands on the wheel. Any disgusting sounds while turning corners. If it turns on... L0L You know all that ****. What else should I look for? Any questions I should ask?

Also... the engine just overheated and he brought it to the mechanic for a quick fix. He said it was a cracked hose but is there a way I can verify that?

But a quick little overhaul of it...

Its a 94 Formula
96k on it
a few mods I listed before. Headers, exhaust, intake, throttle body air foil, hearst shifter, and that about does it.
Wants 7500$ for it... sound good?

Chris

 

No way to check for a faulty opti. I would suggest driving the car easy until it warms up, make sure it drives nice and smooth and doesn't hesitate. Then, give it a full throttle run all the way through second gear, make sure it doesn't miss or buck at all. If that checks out chances are your opti is in good shape.

Intake manifold oil leak is no big deal, it happens to all of them. Just pay attention to the major stuff, ie- no clunking coming from rear end, tranny shifts without slipping, no signs of major wreck, etc.

John

 

Yo

Thanks for the advice man... please people, more more... L0L

Chris

 

check that the headlights operate and the windows work without slowing down. Both 'cheap' well documented fixes, but common problems. but they give you more bargaining leverage than they actually take to fix.

The noisy tranny isn't neccessarly a big deal.

I would put it in 5th around 1200 - 1500 rpms and see how it responds to moderate throttle. See if you can't get on it a little without it falling on its face/stumbling/missing, whatever you want to call it. If it doesn't seem to want to go, thats ok, but if it seems like the motor just shut off, thats not good. Probably just needs plugs/wires/coil.

Make sure the car reaches full temperature duiring the test drive.

That price isn't all that great, unless it's REALLY clean/taken care of and the guy seems like a straight shooter.

good luck.

 

Yo

Thanks for the tips... how much do you think the car is worth than? I was going to ask for 7000$ because thats what I have... well want to spend. Think thats good enough? Or should I haggle for a lower price?

Chris

 

well its sunday night now how did it end up going???

 

I think he means this coming weekend.

I paid 9k for mine with 56k mi. It also had some valueble minor mods to it like wheels and borla. That was last year when the economy was a lil stronger too i think. Not much but maybe a lil. I dunno though, 7k sounds fair if the guy is upfront and honest and the car checks out ok. If he's shady or whatver just pass.

 

Id offer him 5,000 then negotiate from there. always start low and then have a cutoff at like 6500 or whatever you want, tell yourself im not gonna go any higher than $X,XXX, whatever you decide that amount to be. If it helps any i bought my 95 Trans Am with leather and power everything with a beautifully bone stock 92k motor and nice shifting A4 for 6,000. hope this helps you out.

CR

 

i bought mine when i rolled over exactly 100k. the car was maintained to the extreme. and 12k later it still runs great, running low 13's with few mods. the paint you can see the sky in, except for the nose, the noses just suck all in all. paid 5800 for it.

 

Yo

Damn fellas, thanks a ton for all the information, I think i'm going to start and 6500$ because the guy is being totally about everything and just hope he takes it, if not 7000$ is what I want it for.

I'm going this upcoming Saturday, and to be honest i'm ****ing really nervous/psyched. I want to make sure its completely worth every penny and I don't have to keep looking. Because I've looked a ton and only found a few manual Trans Ams or Formulas and I do not want a Camaro because I honestly think they are ugly even though they are very similar.

But thanks for all the help fellas... You think I should do a carfax report on it? Or just go in there and check it out with my own eyes?

Chris

 

Yo

I just posted this statement in another post, so I figured why not here... L0L

I was reading that someone had their car sit there for a year, and when he changed the oil, it was filled with water and coolant or some crap like that.

The guys car i'm about to check out sat there all Winter he said, than he took it out to go to work, and it overheated... he said it was the hose for the coolant, but how do I make sure he ain't bull****tin?

And another thing, how do I check to see if the water and coolant didn't leak into the oil like those other 2 guys cars did? Because that would really suck and really **** me off. Thanks

Chris