Problems - Driven 1100 miles in the last 8 years

[FarEastGrappler]

Found an NSX that has only been driven 1,100 miles in the last 8 years. TB/WP replaced pre-2004, no mention of valve adjustment or clutch replacement, likely in need of tires.

Pros - No accidents or paint work, only 55k miles, and asking $37,500 (for a 1995)

Cons - so the PPI will likely be $200, TB/WP $2000, Valve adjustment $250, tires $1000. (please correct me if I'm wrong, just tried to see what I could find on Wiki and Tire rack)

Is it a bad idea to buy a car that has been garaged for 8 years? what else do I need to be concerned about on a car that hasn't been driven? Change all fluids, hoses, etc? considering the $3500 or so I need to get this car updated, what is a fair offer?

Thanks as always !

 

[kenjrbanga]

I would offer $27000. You will spend at least $4000 to get caught up with maintenance.

 

[tbromley]

I don't know that I would even make an offer on it. He's not going to take 10k less than advertised and he's asking too much for the car if it had been driven. Not driving a car but 1100 miles in 8 years is crazy. On this car I would not worry about the timing belt - no way. But there will be other stuff you will have to worry about and it's too complicated. You'd have to have a PPI first of all before I'd even think of making an offer.

You can't operate in a vacuum like this. You're better off moving on in my opinion.

 

[shawn110975]

minus off the valve adjusment, thats included in the TB/WP

whats the Link so we can see the car.

 

[grybrd]

I just bought a car that had not been driven very much, garage kept. The original owner just stopped driving it much. I paid $10K less than was being asked for the car because of the maintenance requirements AND it had a bad electroinic power steering rack.
Depending where you live, a PPI can be around $125. That is money well spent to know with some degree of assurance what is being offered for sale. After that, make an offer that is in line with what you want to pay. Before I knew about the rack issue, I had offered about 10% below the asking price because of the TB/WP issues. After the rack issue became known, I just said I'd have to give it a good long think. Two days later they came back to me with a sale price that I could not say no to.
Remember, if the present owner is not driving the car, they are probably looking to sell. You want the car, but for the right price. Start with the PPI and go from there...and good luck. If it feels wrong, keep looking.

 

[FarEastGrappler]

Thanks for the replies. Spoke with the owner today. And then posted this thread here. He gave me his wife's number to talk details about the car, but posted here for advice before even calling them.

He said the Acura dealer is like 60 miles from him (Santa Barbara, CA), but said he has a local mechanic that he has used (for what, I don't know, only 1100 miles driven, right). He said I could arrange for PPI with either. I think I should call the Acura garage and see if they have any guys qualified for an NSX PPI and go from their.

http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154108

http://nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154088

Assuming it would cost $4k to get the car up to date. Would $33,500 be a good offer ($37,500 - $4,000) ?

Thanks again

 

[Teej]

Buddy of mine up north just sold a car to another Prime member who is picking it up on Detroit tomorrow. This car has probably been driven less than 2,000 miles in the past 7 years. #justsayin

 

[nsxtcy85]

Buddy of mine up north just sold a car to another Prime member who is picking it up on Detroit tomorrow. This car has probably been driven less than 2,000 miles in the past 7 years. #justsayin

Cool story bro.

 

[nsxtcy85]

Thanks for the replies. Spoke with the owner today. And then posted this thread here. He gave me his wife's number to talk details about the car, but posted here for advice before even calling them.

He said the Acura dealer is like 60 miles from him (Santa Barbara, CA), but said he has a local mechanic that he has used (for what, I don't know, only 1100 miles driven, right). He said I could arrange for PPI with either. I think I should call the Acura garage and see if they have any guys qualified for an NSX PPI and go from their.

http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154108

http://nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154088

Assuming it would cost $4k to get the car up to date. Would $33,500 be a good offer ($37,500 - $4,000) ?

Thanks again

Don, I would not offer what you expect to pay in maintenance costs less the asking price. The seller is asking for that price knowing he will have to come down some, or at least one would think so. I would start off at 27k like Ken said. This leaves you will enough room to play with in case something major does need replace. Personally I would not pay more than 30k for this one.

 

[RPM217]

I would not use "his" local mechanic. There are a number of NSX specialists around the country, find the one most local to where the car is, and pay to have a proper inspection. Go from there.

 

[PHOEN$X]

You'd have to have a PPI first of all before I'd even think of making an offer.

I agree with this. If the seller seems willing to work with you, do a PPI w/compression test to find out what services are needed, then make your offer with the required work factored in. There's no reason to overlook this car just because it needs some maintenance, IMO. It's not like it's been wrecked.

 

[Rob4092xx]

The fact that is has driven only 1100 miles in the past 8 years is not the issue in my opinion. My concern would be if it had been started and driven at least twice per month, as well as fuel stabilizer added. So long as the owner drove it at least twice per month and got it at operating temperature each time, everything should be fine.