About to buy this- your thoughts?

[AndreaH]

I don't know much about these cars. I started reading online about them about 2 hours ago when I found this one for sale. I had a Celica for my choice of foreigns, but I can't afford one anymore... this seemed to be a nice replacement for the money

I know cheap cars around here are slim pickins - and for price alone I'll probably buy it LOL! I didn't realize how many different motors etc.. came on these cars until I'd already set up the meeting (not that it matters like I said the car is cheap) so I thought I'd see which one is in this one. Can't read it but I know someone here will know sight only.

So the car has 169k miles on it, has a new timing belt and water pump. That last bit worried me a bit, until the seller agreed to drive it an hour on the highway to meet me (they're 2 hours away) with the car. If it's got head problem, it wont make it. Or it will be spewing coolant all over if it does- either way I'll know after that long of a drive.

The body is straight, and ready for paint. Interior is clean other than some wear on the driver side seat near the door. No biggie, I'll cover or replace it anyway.

That's all I know so far.

Selling price is 800.00 I am thinking it's worth it... but thought Id get some opinion here from owners. Maybe a pointer or two on things to look for.

Heres a couple pics of it

[fowljesse]

It looks like a good deal. Look for signs of a front end collision.
Don't worry about the replacements. It's customary to replace the H2O pump, while you're doing the timing belt.
It looks like the economical SOHC I4. Not powerful, but somewhere down the road, you can swap in the turbo 2 overhead cam engine, and go as fast as you want, and beat almost any Celica. My buddy has a 10 sec. I4, that started with the same engine as yours.
For now, you can get 35 mpg easily, and better with some mods.
Personally, I don't know much about the 4's, but there is alot of info on here. Just use the search, under the MX-3 above.

[AndreaH]

Thanks! Just knowing which engine is in it is a help, hard to tell on these compared to american cars!

It has had a minor wreck, which is why it's primer covered etc... someone backed in to it and dented the driver side front qp and hood both have been replaced.

I thought it would get good mileage, I found some website that said it only got 20mpg I thought no fing way!

Thanks again!

[fowljesse]

Heh. My 200 HP 2.5 L V-6 with wide tires gets about 27 MPG, mixed driving, and up to 31 Freeway, and I can't drive slow.

[Mooneggs]

Heh. My 200 HP 2.5 L V-6 with wide tires gets about 27 MPG, mixed driving, and up to 31 Freeway, and I can't drive slow.

lol your tires are stock and you put that stuff in your gas tank LOL

but anyways Andrea, it sounds like you are doing your homework... the mx-3 is a great little car as all of us will tell you on this forum! So I will give you a Pre-welcome to the wonderful world of mx-3's!!!

[fowljesse]

Yeah, welcome to the boards.
Mooneggs, I meant my tires are wider than his.... I thought the RS ones were skinnier, but it looks like he has GS anyway
I use 2 3/4 oz. of Acetone per 10 gallons of gas for a 3 MPGish increase

[AndreaH]

Thanks for the welcome guys! I am certain I will become a fixture here, being broke as a joke it might be a while before I do anything to my car but there's always plenty of inspiration LOL!

Acetone in your gas tank? Maybe I am oldschool, stupid, I dunno... but my dad is a mechanic so I am not totally oblivious... I think he'd slap me if I did that

[fowljesse]

That's the usual initial reaction. Most injector cleaner is 90% Acetone. I've been using it for over 3 years.

[SKDoug]

Thats a great deal considering the km's on it. The body looks a bit rough, but that may be cuz of the rough picture, lol.

Good luck, hope its as good as the price is for it!

[jrors]

I have a for 4 banger under the hood, with a automatic tranny. The 4 cly engines in the MX's seem to hold up incredibly well. So, you should have a pretty enjoyable experince with it. Also, do you have a automatic, or manual transmission?