Should I buy this car for $1800?

[noKYspider]

Hi all,

I had posted a hello note in here a couple of days ago (the one about the north of the south) and now have some questions about a car I'm looking at. I made it down to look the car over today and took some photos. I have a video too so you can actually hear the engine.

Three things that I noticed; the lights and everything electrical works but the guy said it was wired directly off the battery because of electrical gremlins. The next issue are the rear brakes. One side has the caliper welded to I assume the rear axle and the other side has a bolt in the bleeder hole. The guy says the brakes aren't good and the pedal goes almost to the floor. Last, the paint is about a 15' paint job. My brother said he saw runs and orange peel in the finish so it would need to be redone sometime farther out into the future. Electrical and brakes are two things that make me nervous but I also don't expect a showroom ready car for $1800.

Thanks for whatever thoughts you might have.

Photos are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/79353296@N ... 956479228/
Video is here http://www.flickr.com/photos/79353296@N ... hotostream

[maytag]

In my part of the country (Utah) you should be able to drive-home and immediately register / inspect any Spider over $1500. (But you'll also count on some rust issues.)

So should you buy it? depends on how good you are as a DIY-er.
Sounds like you should count on replacing ALL the calipers. (brakes don;t get that bad without severe neglect and faulty maintenance. that won't be confined to one or two) And I would replace hoses and master-cylinder while I'm at it.

If I'm understanding the electrical items correctly, they'll be a nuisance 'til you fix em, but not something you can't drive. (it sounds like you can still switch everything off, just not by turning the key off. right? ) You'll need to diagnose WHY they did this, before you can determine how to fix it. Wiring issues rarely cost a DIY-er alot of money. But they tend to be time-consuming.

So if you're a good DIY-er, this car is probably more likely a $1000 - $1200 car, in my opinion. (assuming it's rust-free, and tires are matching and serviceable.)

If you are NOT a competent DIY-er: then RUN, don't walk from this car. The cost of having those brakes repaired professionally, along with having the wiring sorted will quickly surpass the $1800 he's asking.

Edit: now that I've viewed the pics in their entirety, I'll modify my statement to allow that it probably IS worth $1500 - $1800 if you can DIY it all. It looks reasonably clean.
But I still worry about what else you'll find from a previous owner who thought a bolt was a good substitute for a bleed-screw, or welding a caliper down was a good idea. or fixing whatever issue he had electrically by direct-wiring everything to the battery.

Buyer-beware!

[Kingme2]

I'd buy a car that was in decent shape, body-wise, as most mechanical things can be done piecemeal, where as a paint job (plus body work!!) is an all at once proposition...

my $0.02

[124ADDHE]

A caliper welded on sounds like trouble. Electrical gremlins sounds expensive. Run, run fast and keep looking, one will come up!!

[noKYspider]

That's kind of where I am right now after reading the replies and talking to my cousin that's a mechanic. Thanks for the thoughts everyone!

[dmwhiteoak]

Now about the bolt in the bleeder screw, I have done this and that is how it is on my left front caliper. It works for now until I can get a replacement but I would never sell a car rigged this way. Thats just me. The car looks to be in better shape than what I paid 1600 for but I have done all my work and I would not take 5 grand for it although I don't have that much in it Anyone have an extra caliper. I actualy forgot about it.