Help with new car purchase

Hi guys, this is my first post here, because I am thinking of buying a daily driver. I saw a 1985 200sx turbo 5spd. The guy says it has about 135k on the clock, but the motor and turbo have been rebuilt about 3000 miles ago. I haven't driven it yet so I don't know how it runs. All I know is that it looks like its in good shape, except the back wheels have some funky camber action goin on. ANyway, I was hoping you guys could tell me some things to check on it when I drive it to make sure the turbo and motor are in good shape.I would appreciate it! Thanks! 'Carl

Well the car is a four wheel independent setup in you case, with four wheel disks. The rear camber you are speaking about is common on the IRS (Independent Rear Suspension) and most likely needs new shocks and such out back. If the turbo and motor have been rebuilt that is a good thing. The T2 turbo (what came with it) is generally not so good, so when you test drive it make sure that the car astually boosts. If the car has the digital dash make sure that all the parts of it work, and if not, it probably means that some solder joints have become loose over the years. The other major places to look for problems is on the passenger side for rust (LHD models), and that the rear calipers tend to seize solid if they sit for any length of time, or are not maintained properly.

is this car going to be reliable? He is saying make an offer, and he is thinking he is going to get like 2000 for it. Blue book retails like 1100 for it. And if its going to need this stuff done to it? Shocks... etc.. What do you think its worth? He doesn't know too much about it, so I have to assume that its plausible that the car wasn't rebuilt correctly, and is there a chance that this thing could really just go up in smoke after a few thousand miles? 'Carl

oh yeah, and I the drivers side power headlight motor is ****ed, and he said something about the low beams not working. The body is in fine shape though, and there is only a tiny bit of rust on the drivers side under the rear wing...

The head light pop up not going up is most likely either a relay, or a wire, and the low beam is most likely just a finger in the steering column (an easy fix). Even with bad rear shock it should still be driveable, so if you could get it for around $1000 I think it would be worth it, but to really find out you need to drive it and see if it makes any really weird noises...

It also needs a new windshield, and the stereo isn't hooked up. (I think the wiring is ****ed up, he says it just needs to be "plugged in") PLUS he is pretty solid on 1400. I think its over priced... You? Its also got new rear shocks, but still has the camber problem..

It also needs a new windshield, and the stereo isn't hooked up. (I think the wiring is ****ed up, he says it just needs to be "plugged in") PLUS he is pretty solid on 1400. I think its over priced... You? Its also got new rear shocks, but still has the camber problem..

Camber problem is due to sagging worn out springs more so than shocks. Or if you are using any sort of lowering springs you'll have a decent amount of negative camber out back. With a 1 inch drop of height in the rear springs your camber will be about -2.5 to -3 depending upon wheel and tire width.

Camber problem is due to sagging worn out springs more so than shocks. Or if you are using any sort of lowering springs you'll have a decent amount of negative camber out back. With a 1 inch drop of height in the rear springs your camber will be about -2.5 to -3 depending upon wheel and tire width.
Yup it is absulute murder on the rear rubbers...

Honestly I would buy it for 1000, but no more...there is not enough demand to ask more than that. For instance I got mine (1987 CA20E) for 100 CAnadian and I had it on the road for 1200 Canadian, and hte 85 CA20E that i had I bought for 50 (yup fifty bucks) and I had to put a battery in it so it came to 100 it is was pretty much ready to go after some brake work, and the usual stuff.

I paid 1500 cdn for my s12 and it was in great shape and only 130k on the odometer with good tires and new brakes. Whip up a list of what this stuff will cost to fix and bring it to him and see if you can get a better deal as 1400 for a car in that condition is pretty steep.

Oh my mileage is (well was low, god I like driving it) the 1987 I bought with 108,000 km's (now 138,000) and the 85 had 194,000km's I believe