Good or Bad Purchase?

[oplease19]

I may purchase a 1993 Supra with 104,000 miles. The seller says that mechanic said 'the coolant level was very low, and upon further inspection spark plugs discolored with coolant. Recommend head gasket and timing belt replacement.' Does this sound logical? If so, once fixed should that be it, or is there a high probability of future problems? It's probably apparent, but if not - I have no mechanical knowledge, and don't want to get screwed out of money or time. Thanks for any help. Oh, and if the diagnosis makes sense, how much should it cost?

[paul1979]

would be a good purchase if:

1. It was very very cheap
2. as you dont know anything mechanical take someone with you who does to have a look. ( I mean a proper mechanic, not some one that knows a bit)

The way I look at it is surley the car would sell for more if it was 100% so If I was selling it I would fix it then sell it. so why are they selling it with faults .

Dont know where you live but in the uk that sort of work would cost a fair few ?100 at a garage.

[oplease19]

I agree - I think it is strange that the seller doesn't fix the car then sell it. But does the diagnosis make sense? Would a head gasket problem cause very low coolant level and the coolant to have fouled the spark plugs?

[j3pz]

a bhg can cause low coolant levels but i dont know who it would get on the ignition wires unless it sprayed... and congratulations on owning a mk4.

[paul1979]

if the guy was an honest mechanic and had actually taken the plugs out of the engine he may have seen discolouration on the plug electrodes, but it would be unusal for them all to be the same, head gaskets usually go in 1 or a couple of places very unusal for the entire thing to fail cos then you get oil in water system, water in oil system and both oil and water in the bores making lots of smoke if it actually runs.

[paul1979]

how much is the asking price , and in comparison how much cheaper is it compared to fully working cars of the same year etc.
what he has said does sound resonable so if the cost of
head gasket, head set, head skim and pressure test, timing belt, new plugs, oil and filter, anti freeze and labour.
makes the car more expensive by a long way than buying one that is right. then it comes done to . Do you want to pay a little more and know that all that head work has been done seeing as it is a commen fault on that engine, or buy one that is right now and you may end up with the same bill later on.

If its a turbo the over here in good condition it would fetch ?1500 - ?2000
rough estimate for that work ?800 ish
so if the car is ?800 or less then might be a good deal,

[oplease19]

What? A MKIV turbo in the UK is only around $3,000 to $4,000? The non-turbo here is at least $9,000.

[ddmcse]

if you can't

SEE

TOUCH

FEEL the supra yourself

do NOT get involved .
there are people out there preying on people who want a supra so bad they can taste it
don't get suckered .

it's a scam

[oplease19]

Originally Posted by ddmcse

if you can't

SEE

TOUCH

FEEL the supra yourself

do NOT get involved .
there are people out there preying on people who want a supra so bad they can taste it
don't get suckered .

it's a scam

Thanks, though I already know that. I assume that some people do fall for it, though, or the scamsters wouldn't keep doing it. Can you or anyone confirm that MKIV Supras are that much cheaper in the UK? I'm curious, not planning on buying one.

[paul1979]

sorry with you saying 93, thought u were on about mk3, my mistake, sorry, probably about the same price as over here there. Feel a bit stupid now.