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, Thu, 9 Aug 2001 08:52:35
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I bought a 1997 CS (lpt) 5-speed w/cloth interior. It had 29,000 miles, and it was $5,000 less than a 1997 CSE with 49,000 miles at the same dealer. From my research, I found that at the time lack of leather really reduced the price: a CS with leather and auto cost about the same as a CSE w/leather and auto, so if you really want both those options, a CSE is probably much better value. It appears that in this market (MA) everybody wants leather and most folks want automatics. I knew what was needed to upgrade to full-pressure turbo (costs about $750 from Maptun), and that was the only CSE feature I really cared about. So, I kept $4,250 plus sales tax in my pocket, and got a car with 20,000 fewer miles, and six months left on the factory warranty as a bonus. I figured that money will pretty much pay for any upgrade I will ever want to make to the car, and I will end up with a car that suits me perfectly, for the same money. I probably won't get as much for it at trade in time, but with the miles I put on cars, the difference probably won't be that much.
I would not seek to swap an existing cloth interior to leather... for one thing, as Ari said, there is more than just the seats, for another, finding one in the right color in the right condition may prove very difficult... you will have to find a late model car written off in an accident, and a complete interior is not the easiest thing in the world to transport if you are on the other side of the country.
There are a few exceptions, but most CS are 170 hp lpt, except for a few early 1993/94 cars. Plenty of them came with leather and/or automatic, so that should not be a problem, just keep looking for the right car (remember what I noticed about price). I was not aware that any CS came with the 200 hp turbo, but in any case I would expect those cars to be very rare... as I said earlier, it is relatively easy and inexpensive to upgrade the power. CS also are sprung a bit softer, so they ride better, but suffer a little in the handling department as a consequence. Again, there are plenty of upgrades for this, though I find the capabilities of my CS are far beyond what I can use on the road. The one area I would really like to improve is braking from high speed, but the CS shares brakes with the CSE anyway. There are a couple of upgrades available: Abbott makes a very nice kit which increases front rotor size to 308mm, and adds 4-piston calipers, but it is a little pricey ($1,500 parts only), and it needs 16" wheels, which only came on Aeros and 1998 CSE. There are plenty of postings from people frustrated by how expensive 16" Aero wheels are! ($1,300 new $800-1,000 used), so that makes those brakes a very expensive upgrade, but one I think may be worthwhile.
Good luck in your search - there are enough good 9000's out there for you to be able to be choosy, so wait for the right car.
posted by 63.217.1...
, Thu, 9 Aug 2001 08:52:35
, Wed, 8 Aug 2001 21:56:25
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