Buy a Sycone?

[olds443]

So I have a chance to pick up a Syclone for $7K. It has 143k miles and needs paint (what's there is ok, rock chips and heavy peeling on roof but otherwise straight and solid). I don't know how it runs yet but supposedly fine and shifts fine, all original no mods. Will test drive ths weekend.

I would like to get a Lightning but with the house we just bought that is not in the budget. I know someone who could paint it for a reasonable price and in the mean time I could just drive and enjoy it.

We will be needing a truck as we will be selling the curent one soon (It's the Girlfriends Dads and he has it promised to a friend).

We have talked about getting a newer GMC or Chevy full size but this Syclone intrigues me as I have always wanted one. What makes it worse is there is a guy down the street with a Typhoon.

The price sounds fair and I like the idea of having a Syclone but what do you guys think? I know later on it won't lose value as much as a regular vehicle so I could sell it and get something else if wanted.
What to do, what to do........?

 

[Slow91z]

can't tow with it (not much anyway)

7000 and 143 grand...I don't know about that, sound a bit pricey for me...I found one in that price range that had a bunch less miles and paint wasn't bad.

Don't get me wrong I love Syclones and I WILL have one someday, but you should shop around more.

 

[azgn]

143,000 miles is 143,00 miles

pass

 

[olds443]

I'm not real interested in towing anything. I don't own a trailer or boat and really just need an open box forese of hauling parts, furniture occasionally, etc.
As far as the price that is just what the guy said he wants which is already $500 lower than what he originally asked and I am sure I can get him to 6500 or less. 143K does seem kinda high, but the current truck has 135K and wasn't maintained as well but still runs/operates real well. I think it is all in the maintenance, but the again I don't know how it was maintained except by some strangers word.
Anyone else?

 

[JDSfastGN]

it depends really, if kept stock and just doing all the tune up stuff, it may be prettyn nice. It seems like a decent price for a syclone even considering miles, they hold their values extremely well. But like AZGN said 143,000 is 143,000 no matter the vehicle. They are very cool trucks though

 

[olds443]

As far as the price that is what I am thinking. These are hard to find and the last time I found one near me it was $8k and had been repainted a cool pearl orange color, aftermarket rims etc. I dragged long enough that it was sold before I made an offer. I will probably try to get him down on the price a lot lower t cover "repair" The bad paint is my bargaining chip as well as the high miles. If he doesn't want to come down on the price then I walk. I have no problem doing that and have before with no regrets.

 

[Makaveli]

I paid $10k for a 99K Mint Typhoon... I would show up with $5500 and see what goes down...

 

[ALBERTAN]

I wouldn't want a SyTy with that mileage period. Paper tigers they are. Who knows what mess you are buying into.

 

[mytyphoon1993]

Bring 4k cash in one pocket and another 1k in the other, waive the 4k and if he doesnt budge, add the other 1k, if he says no, pass on it, its alot of miles and on our trucks thats where stuff starts to break and it needs to be painted on top of that.

 

[olds443]

thanks for the replies guys. This is the kind of helpful insight I was hoping to recieve. I am glad some of you SyTy owners chimed in as well. I just might pass on it.

ALBERTAN, have to ask, what are "paper Tigers"? Never heard that one before.

 

[TurboTer]

Originally posted by mytyphoon1993
Bring 4k cash in one pocket and another 1k in the other, waive the 4k and if he doesnt budge, add the other 1k, if he says no, pass on it, its alot of miles and on our trucks thats where stuff starts to break and it needs to be painted on top of that.

That seems a bit crazy. I'd kill to get a Syclone for that cheap in pretty good condition (or so he says). Anyone selling one for that low is nuts.

 

[TurboTer]

Originally posted by olds443
ALBERTAN, have to ask, what are "paper Tigers"? Never heard that one before.

A paper tiger is something that looks stong on paper, but in reality is weak. I first heard the term during the first Gulf War when Saddom called the US a paper tiger. He was, of course, wrong.

 

[Gothmog]

Offer 6k
no more. He may not accept, and I think he may get what he's asking from a really motivated buyer, but I still think its too much.

 

[myclone]

Originally posted by Gothmog
Offer 6k
no more. He may not accept, and I think he may get what he's asking from a really motivated buyer, but I still think its too much.

I agree.. 6k tops since its high milage and needs paint. If its a "peeler truck" (late 80s/early 90s GM and ford peeled terribly) then it needs to be stripped to be painted correctly which isnt cheap. Its not a matter of if the trans will need gone through but when so at that milage Id say you'll get minimal use before it needs attention.

Offer him 5k cash but have the other 1k in the other pocket. If the owner wont sell at 6k I say pass.

BTW, got mine with 64k miles for 8.5k.

 

[Chuck Leeper]

A little "reverse engineering"...

I would take the price you think you can get it for, then start adding back to that number, all the things you know for sure it needs. Then add in some cushion for a major failure due to the hi miles. If that number is higher than what the syty guys tell you you can find a nice low mile unit for,,,,,,, don't buy it!
Also, look around and see what kinds of availability there is for interior, decals, trim pieces. Could be that stuff is discontinued...
IMO, 143K on a GM V-6 is pushing the envelope... turbo or not.

 

[CraigT]

I wouldn't worry about the miles. I have seen too many high milage cars that worked perfectly fine, including GM V6's, one with 240K on it. The key word here is it is still stock! That says a whole lot. The miles can work in your favor for the price. the cladding is the hardest part the get for them.

 

[dconnor]

I don't own a trailer or boat and really just need an open box forese of hauling parts, furniture occasionally, etc.

Payload capacity on the Sy/Ty's is only ~500lbs so you can't really haul much & the tow capacity is zilch. Not to mention the tighter than a penny-pincher engine bay, I helped my uncle work on his Syclone and Typhoon on many occasions & always came away with 3 times the busted knuckles / scrapes as any other car I've worked on.

Doug C.

 

[mytyphoon1993]

Look if it drives and shifts nice and hard, and rides good, and most of the cladding is in good shape, then 6k is ok, but that is tops. And yes most of the stuff on our trucks is discontinued.