|
A thorough reading of these forums is very important to gauge what to expect. Unless the car has been maintained very thoroughly/proactively and has extensive records, you can expect to spend a lot, even assuming that the engine head/block and transmission are perfect. I've spent a good $1000 in discounted maintenance/"hard" wear related parts alone, you could easily triple or even quarduple that at a dealership with labor. If you can do many of your own repairs, this will help. At this point with that mileage, I would expect at least one water pump, timing chain / etc replacement, motor mount/subframe mount replacement, etc to have already been done. Maybe the radiator/hoses/belts and fuel pumps. It may be time again! A general rule I've seen here is to have 3K in your pocket immediately you buy one, an expect to spend it on the car.
The "wear and tear" parts you mention add up fast. A new top and seat covers can easily run 2.5K+ at a shop. Even in parts alone this can be 1K. The freaking carpeting is expensive and complex .I figure I spent $400 on third-party weatherstripping and DIY'd them.
It depends on whether or not you can live with cosmetic imperfections. But keep in mind that bad weatherstripping/seals cause water to run into places, causing rust, which is a "walk away" situation on this car.
|