1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
are not often found in the same sentence - they may well be better than the 900 one, but they can have their issues after about 100k miles. However, it's a late car, not pushing out the full 200bhp, and it appears to have lasted till 190k - maybe it's original, or a replacement, or a rebuild, only the records and previous owners can tell you which. Also, most non-terminal problems can be DIY fixed with the 'box still in the car.
I can tell you that IMO it's a thoroughly nice gearbox and works very well with the CS and, particularly, CSE engine options. A rebuild is about $1800, I think (call Eriksson Industries).
Head gasket - well, they like to go at about 100-120k too and that probably just means your car's had one replaced sometime and may or may not need one again. Sound familiar?
The DI cassettes can also die and many people keep a spare in the trunk. They can be taken to bits and inspected but I have my doubts about the value of this. DI death can be slow and tentative or sudden, like the car works fine, you park up and then it won't restart. Anecdotally, sudden failure is becoming more common than slow expiry. But an Ebay spare should get you home and a new one should last a good long while. Bottom line - it will go sometime, and why not, it's an old component in an old car (OK, you can read the week and year of manufacture from the label on the unit).
The digital displays can fail, or just the bulbs can fail, but as far as I know they won't kill your car either way, unless there any legal issues re. not getting an MPG readout.
Whether the above is bad news is up to you, and certainly doesn't have to be - for a start the car is extremely cheap, and this board is incredibly useful, plus parts availability from site sponsors and fleabay is excellent. I imagine you wouldn't take this on unless you do your own work and are up for helping your mom if she hits a problem.
I have been left by the side of the road over the past fifteen years of 9000 ownership by the following:
Corroded fan wiring - led to overheating
Serpentine belt fell off - tensioner failed
Auto gearbox broke - I had a rebuild, not worth it for a beater
DI failed - had a spare
Steering pump pulley broke off - towed, fixed same day with a used part
The only thing that has made the car fail inspection (our MOT certificate) was a split UJ boot, cost $120 to fix same day.
Final thought - if you buy the car, first thing, take out the plugs, look at them and glean all you can. Then chuck them and fit a nice new set of NGK BCPR-7ES gapped to 0.9mm.
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