Sell my MX-3 or buy a parts car?

[TVC]

Hi folks -

Let me first apologize for the length of this post, but we've done our homework and still can't find an answer to this predicament.

Been reading this forum for quite a while, and got through a lot of tough times in repairing the wife's MX-3 when we couldn't afford to take it to the garage. The manuals, coupled with the extensive knowledge of the members here, have saved us countless hours and dollars - but, alas, we've reached a crossroads with ol' blackie.

We just experienced radiator failure, and after looking online, I see that a radiator can run anywhere from 140 to 300 bucks. On top of that, she needs tires, a right fender (thanks Mr. 5:30 AM deer that appeared out of nowhere in the most urban of settings outside of Birmingham), and some suspension work, so we're weighing the pros and cons of keeping vs. selling.

The thing is, we know where to get a car in basically the same shape (of course, the parts we need are intact on the car in question - though it does have other similar issues), but we don't know what it's worth.

My question is, how can I determine (roughly) what our Mazda might fetch versus what we might end up paying for a parts car. We're going to spend probably 500 bucks to just get the rad and tires back in shape, so if we could buy a complete car for that much, that might be the better deal. We can't part it out because of where we live - we can't have a broken-down piece of a car in the yard for weeks or months.

I'm hoping that maybe you guys can post the going rates of completes that you're recently bought or sold, or that just the combined experience of the forum can steer me in the right direction.

Here's the skinny on our Maz:
1993 4cyl
Damaged right fender and some of the right door.
Scrapes and dings on hood
Missing cargo cover
Missing spoiler
Radio display is shot
Heater issues
Clunk-n-thump in front end suspension
Power windows becoming problematic
Has recently had the seatbelt recall performed on both sides.


The "other car" a friend has:
1993 4 cyl
rear passenger qtr crunched
Back seat torn up from big dog
Radio dead
Needs shocks all the way around
Cracked headlight enclosure
other small things I can't remember at the moment.


Thanks much, in advance.

[umcamara]

If you were closer by I would give you the spoiler or the cargo cover. I know those are the least of your worries though. Personally I'd rather change bolt-on parts like front fenders and rads than welded on sections such as the rear quarter-panel.

[fowljesse]

There are alot of factors.. Such as whether or not the possible parts is being driven. I've seen people buy running MX-3 for as little as $300. Have you checked junk yards? Even a little drive may be worth it. You could buy all those parts, or find an MX-3 that doesn't run for about $500.
Also, post up a [WTB], and see what happens.
I say keep it, ands try those things.
Good luck with it!

[93vtecklr]

Don't look at that other car ever again. You are much better off replacing dented parts than replacing creased sheet metal. That stuff needs to be cut out....

EDITED for spelling mistakes....derrrrrr

[wytbishop]

I think the thing to keep in mind when asking us for advice like this is that we're all a bunch of psychotic MX-3 lunatics. We keep and maintain these cars when most sane people would cut them loose. We are not an unbiased sounding board for a "Normal" person in your situation. If you're keeping the car on the road because you just can't afford to buy something better that's one thing. But if you just want to avoid throwing good money away on an older car, and you don't have the passion for it that we do, maybe cutting your losses is the right thing to do.

Having said that it sounds to me like everything on you car is easy to fix. A fender, door and hood are a breeze to replace. The suspension can be a bit troublesome but stock replacement Munroe struts are not extremely expensive and many other replacement options exist. Replacing the ball joints and other small things don't require a lot of mechanical know how and can be done for a couple hundred dollars.

If I were in your position, I would check the local auto wreckers first for a rad. You ought to be able to find something. http://www.car-part.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; has a searchable database of used parts and will tell you where the closest one to you can be found or the cheapest. Very useful tool. Get the car running first. Replace the suspension next. You should be able to do all that for less than the price of that parts car. Then pick away at the other stuff as time and money allows.

[Juans_93_MX3]

Dont buy a radiator brand new
Rip off

Instead, go to the junk yard, look for a MX3/MX6/626/Probe and get one from them.
You can test them by pouring water in it and seeing if it will hold up.
Hell, Im sure you can even get a radiator from a Honda or Toyota or something. You might have a lil trouble making it fit but its possible