Looking to finally buy a GN...how much is it worth?

[SSninja]

Hi, I'm pretty new here (Been lurking around every now and then), and I'm finally looking to buy a Grand National. There's one for sale the next town over, and I'm trying to get a handle on how much I should offer the guy. It's a 1986 with 169k miles on it, and a little bit of rust bubbling under the trunk lid. Besides that, it seems to have a pretty good body for a NE car. The interior seems to be in really nice condition with no rips or anything, and I'm going back tomorrow to see if I can get ahold of the guy to go for a test drive. He's got a sign on it asking $7500 or best offer.

My main concern is the condition of the drivetrain considering that it's got so many miles on it. Given the (Lack) of information I have so far, is it even worth close to his asking price?

Any other advice you can give me would be great too.

Thanks in advance guys.

 

[salvageV6]

If it's running and registered recently in New England with that description it's probably worth $6500.

Obviously you start subtracting for lack of maintenance such as bad tires, bent rims, broken options, bad tranny, driveability issues, battery dead......

I bought my GN 4 years ago with 113K on it for $7200 good interior and fair body and repaint, highly optioned.

169K is just broken in assuming a stocker with timing chain already done hopefully.

If it's got the original timing chain subtract $400 from the price.

 

[Little6pack]

Hi, I'm pretty new here (Been lurking around every now and then), and I'm finally looking to buy a Grand National. There's one for sale the next town over, and I'm trying to get a handle on how much I should offer the guy. It's a 1986 with 169k miles on it, and a little bit of rust bubbling under the trunk lid. Besides that, it seems to have a pretty good body for a NE car. The interior seems to be in really nice condition with no rips or anything, and I'm going back tomorrow to see if I can get ahold of the guy to go for a test drive. He's got a sign on it asking $7500 or best offer.

My main concern is the condition of the drivetrain considering that it's got so many miles on it. Given the (Lack) of information I have so far, is it even worth close to his asking price?

Any other advice you can give me would be great too.

Thanks in advance guys.

1st off looking at your signature why & what are your plans for wanting a GN?
Is the MCSS not fast enough that dumping another $7500 into it make it faster? or are you looking to get a GN with the intent of sinking more money into it cause as we all know STUFF COSTS unless you do it yourself. I am assuming the GN you are looking at has either been through a few hands or it maybe an original owner daily driver.

I looked at a few in mass when I was looking & the price seems like it is a 5500 to 6500 car.

 

[Little6pack]

Check this one out

http://boston.craigslist.org/car/154808722.html

 

[SSninja]

1st off looking at your signature why & what are your plans for wanting a GN?
Is the MCSS not fast enough that dumping another $7500 into it make it faster? or are you looking to get a GN with the intent of sinking more money into it cause as we all know STUFF COSTS unless you do it yourself. I am assuming the GN you are looking at has either been through a few hands or it maybe an original owner daily driver.

I looked at a few in mass when I was looking & the price seems like it is a 5500 to 6500 car.

I'm looking for something that's somewhat reliable given that it's a 20 year old car, so it would have to be as close to stock as possible.

I'd maybe look at doing a few "bolt-on" mods later down the road, but nothing too radical...I want to drive it daily three seasons out of four.


...I talked to the owner today, and it's bone-stock. It's been in his family since new when his parents bought it back in '86.
My concern is that it's been sitting for about 6 months now (it had a valid inspection sticker that expires next month), and I don't want a car that's falling apart because of it sitting so long. The body is in really good shape except for the rust bubbles on the trunk that I already mentioned, and some rust on the pass. door and rocker panel. The floors seem solid too, and the interior is mint.


As for the engine bay:
There was a decent amount of oil and grime on the valve covers, and while the car started right up, it sounded like it was in need of a decent tune-up. It didn't smoke as far as I could tell though, which seems like a good thing. There was also some surface rust on the turbo shield and some of the piping (I'm not sure how to describe it, but it was the pipe that lead back into the intake...sorry, I'm new with turbos)

I'm going to test drive it tomorrow, so hopefully everything works out well.

Anything else I should look for? Also, any updates on how much I should offer? I was thinking of $5000-$5500.


I know that if I spent a few thousand more, I could probably get a nicer/faster one, but I'm working on a college budget, and I'm just looking for a daily driver (don't shoot me for wanting that...I just want an attractive daily), since I already have a money put G-body.


Thanks,
Dave

 

[salvageV6]

Six months isn't much for sitting.

Tune up and free spring cleaning mods. would be in order for any new to you TR to do anyway.

Ask about the timing chain and any transmission work ever.

You have your first offer in the right range, don't be too surprised however if they say no.

There will always be grime on the valve covers.

Look at the oil and fluids after the drive too, especially the tranny fluid.

Good luck.

 

[CHARGED]

If he's asking $7500 the lowest he will proably go is $6500. If your close enough to Cotton's it would be worth the money to have him or someone with similar skills to check it out.
If the trans isn't shifting firm and maybe feeling soft that could be a $1000+ bill, fuel pump and hot wire needs to be changed $250+, timing chain 300+, inj's 250+, PwrMaster $300 ect,ect,ect,ect.........Then again it could go another 100k without many problems

These cars will $2-300 you to death, after 3-4 yrs you don't even want to add up the bills and you will still have a 170k+ mi car that needs paint and an overhaull. Sometimes its better to buy it off the guy that got $300 to death already

 

[SSninja]

Thanks for all the help guys, but I just got a phone call about a half hour ago from the seller, and someone showed up with $6000 in hand, so the car's gone



.....So the search continues.

 

[no-nos]

Check this one out

http://boston.craigslist.org/car/154808722.html

not bad, where did you find this one at i would'nt mind looking into it but it's pretty much gone buy now dude it's only $5000 you should look into this one unless you want one untouched, i have a gn but would not mind taking a look at this one if your not going to buy

 

[Little6pack]

Thanks for all the help guys, but I just got a phone call about a half hour ago from the seller, and someone showed up with $6000 in hand, so the car's gone



.....So the search continues.

Maybe someone here was watching your thread & went & bought it.
Maybe Grumpy?

Hey if you can wait I am selling mine at end of season. It is a Turbo T Limited that looks like a GN somewhat. Minor mods & is a good daily driver too. I am in the price range unless they skyrocket then I will price accordingly.

 

[SSninja]

Maybe someone here was watching your thread & went & bought it.
Maybe Grumpy?

Hey if you can wait I am selling mine at end of season. It is a Turbo T Limited that looks like a GN somewhat. Minor mods & is a good daily driver too. I am in the price range unless they skyrocket then I will price accordingly.

Haha, yeah it's too bad that I didn't even get to test drive it, but at least the seller was a nice guy and called me right after it sold to tell me.

I'd definitely be interested in your car...it looks real nice. I'd love a GN, but a turbo T would be just as nice. I've always liked the white T's with the blackout package too.

Where in MA are you? If you can, send me a PM with more info on the car too.

Thanks