Is this a good buy?

[acslater99]

Hello all I am new to the forums but not new to cars at all. I own a 1991 Nissan 240sx and I daily it. Recently, more like months ago, I have been looking for a Toyota Corolla specifically the GTS model as a project car.

To my luck I have found a GTS and it is really in bad shape, but it has everything on it! Since I have little knowledge in AE86's I was wondering if someone could give me some insight if I should go ahead and buy the car.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto/4565592094.html

He was looking to get $1000 but I managed to talk him to get it down to $800, the car has 220k on the body and engine. It also has minimal rust on the car. Is it worth it? Thanks.

[idreamofdrifting]

Looks like that 86 was a victim of the great Florida floods.
If it sounds too good to be true......but heck for 8 c-notes....why the hell not!

[ZINCHOTRAN]

A GTS hatchback no less. Go for it. It will be worth it once you figure out exactly what the purpose of it will be. Daily and track or strictly track. If you do gut it sell the interior and exterior pieces to those of us that are looking for those pieces.

My biggest regret is donating my red sr5 hatchback back in 2006 because I bought a FWD 2001 Neon RT. (The RT is in really great shape and has under 72K miles.)

What is funny is I am going over this Saturday to park my AE86 GTS coupe and drive my Neon RT. This way I can save money on gas and put the extra money into the AE86. 80 to 100mph in only 4th gear and 27mpg. Sure it loves to rev. But those high rpms sure do wear out the engine really fast when you don't have fifth gear working. I'll be able to accomplish more work than when I try to daily my AE86 and try to do repairs at the same time.

[idreamofdrifting]

My biggest regret is donating my red sr5 hatchback back in 2006 because I bought a FWD 2001 Neon RT.....

^

[acslater99]

Forgot to say the car is not running only needs a fuel pump from what the owner said to me.

[Crono0001]

You are treading on dangerous grounds. Unless you have $$$ or know how to work on a car, that is a money pit.

[acslater99]

You are treading on dangerous grounds. Unless you have $$$ or know how to work on a car, that is a money pit.

I mean I have the knowledge but by no means am I a professional this is my hobby. So I learn from trail and error. I'm a college student and have a job, school come first obviously but I have such a huge passion for these cars and have always wanted one that this opportunity is once in a lifetime as these cars are really hard to find. I'm thankful that my classes are fully paid off for this upcoming Fall semester and I really want this car but something is still holding me back. At the same time I really want it, I'm one confused person right now.

[ZINCHOTRAN]

MotoP the founder and/or Jondee86 and any of the other elders may chime in and offer their wisdom.

You already have a reliable 240sx. And you did say your passion for these cars runs vast. $800 to start with a GTS is not a bad deal. As with any older car it will have to be sorted and defective parts rebuilt/replaced.

We'd all love to have our own shop. We could completely tear down the entire car. Remove the engine, transmission and differential. Then inspect it after we remove all the paint and bondo. Doing it all at once and having another reliable car for errands is great.

[saiGone]

Only get it if you have a place to park it for long periods of time. ie: when you are getting parts shipped or saving up for something.

Although you posted it on here.... It might already be gone lol

[TIVRUSKI]

Your time and money are still probably very limited as a student. I was in a similar situation when I bought my 86, except that I knew nothing. I spent hundreds of hours going through tech articles and forum posts and parts databases prepping for a relatively simple smallport conversion. I'm still "studying." (Its bigport died with a blown piston ring at ~150k miles. The car was cared for and driven daily as if it were a RAV4. I don't know how much longer an engine with ~220k miles in a car of that condition is likely to last.) If I were to do it again, I wouldn't. These old toys are huge timekillers and turn hobbyists either broke or into mechanics, or both.

If you're dead set on an 86, I'd save up and hold out for someone's DD going for a few grand. Ones being sold, though few and far between, are almost always still project-worthy. I know projects are all about the DIY experience, but there's a point where some experiences aren't reasonable, like how a person might opt to buy all the equipment and try to learn how to make proper welds for a custom header instead of paying an expert. Pay just enough to not cheat yourself of the experience you want, because your time is worth more than your money in the case of hobbies.

Also, are you positive that's a GTS? Those look like SR5 wheels. They're only the wheels, but given that they're on a car sporting that ancient OEM attitude?

[acslater99]

Your time and money are still probably very limited as a student. I was in a similar situation when I bought my 86, except that I knew nothing. I spent hundreds of hours going through tech articles and forum posts and parts databases prepping for a relatively simple smallport conversion. I'm still "studying." (Its bigport died with a blown piston ring at ~150k miles. The car was cared for and driven daily as if it were a RAV4. I don't know how much longer an engine with ~220k miles in a car of that condition is likely to last.) If I were to do it again, I wouldn't. These old toys are huge timekillers and turn hobbyists either broke or into mechanics, or both.

If you're dead set on an 86, I'd save up and hold out for someone's DD going for a few grand. Ones being sold, though few and far between, are almost always still project-worthy. I know projects are all about the DIY experience, but there's a point where some experiences aren't reasonable, like how a person might opt to buy all the equipment and try to learn how to make proper welds for a custom header instead of paying an expert. Pay just enough to not cheat yourself of the experience you want, because your time is worth more than your money in the case of hobbies.

Also, are you positive that's a GTS? Those look like SR5 wheels. They're only the wheels, but given that they're on a car sporting that ancient OEM attitude?

Wow thanks for sharing that informative post. Yes, I am 100% sure it is a true GTS if you download the picture that has the engine on it you can zoom into the VIN and see it has AE88 on it.

I agree with all of you. At the same time I want it but then again time and money are a huge thing to me. It is very frustrating trying to decide whether or not I should go ahead and buy the car. I've been told by my friends to buy it before another drifter gets ahold of it and destroys it. It's a hard decision to make.

[TIVRUSKI]

Just keep in mind that while 86 hatchbacks are uncommon and ones in good condition are rare, the college experience is once in a lifetime. Don't let anything get in the way of that. Studies and social life come first.

The fact that it doesn't run also makes me very ... skiddish, since it could be hiding a lot more problems than a faulty fuel pump. Personally, I'd still wait for someone's grandma to sell her daily. You'll most likely also make enough money after you graduate to hunt down one in much better condition. Who knows, maybe you'll make enough to do what tradition classic car collectors can afford to do (if your goals are restoration instead of taking it to the track.) And if you don't want it then, you'll know you dodged a bullet.

And a follow-up thought: $800 isn't much of anything in the grand scheme of things, especially if it's local-ish for you. As a working student, it's probably a couple months of paid work. I'd say buy if you have a place to stow it while you tend to other commitments, read up on the car, and sort out what needs to be done. You'll have to be willing to swim VERY deep into the technical side of things. I mean, just look at some of problem-related posts! A good number of them are only ever half-answered.

[grappletech]

Since your in college and making something of yourself, buy it and store it. At least do the basics to try and make it run... You know when you have a few bucks and a little time between your studies and other hobbies. Then once you've graduated and get a decent job then build it however you want it! Then you'll really get all the chicks

[phanist]

grab it ... if it the car is in Cali it would be gone by now....

[acslater99]

I'm having a battle with myself. I'm thinking of 2 cars to get the AE86 or an S12. By the way, I do have the money to buy these cars I just want something that I can have fun in. Obviously I will not get both just deciding which one to get.

[aukword1]

the 86 as long as you are willing to put the work in it...I bought mine for $1500 and it wasnt even as complete as that one...

[acslater99]

Close. Missed my opportunity. Maybe next time.