The Good:
- It is in great running condition. I would (and have recently) drive it cross country on a long road trip with no hesitation. It’s basically in Stage 0 condition, with no mods.
- I’ve habitually changed the oil every 5-7,000 miles. Basically every season change. It is running Synthetic blend with no problems.
- Tremaine gave the car a clean bill of health when I took it in for a check up and transmission flush at 200k miles.
- Pirelli’s have about 8-9/32 left. Brakes have plenty of life left and stop firmly with no pulsing/squealing/warping. Suspension/steering has no play and feels solid over bumps and around turns.
- No CEL
- No major rust
- All electronics work. Windows roll fine. Sunroof functions properly. Seat heaters work...barely. Seat & mirror adjustments work properly. One key and key fob remote, and it functions properly.
- No accidents. I have a recent AutoCheck report from when I bought a subscription last year when I was car shopping if you’d like to see it.
- Car has never been smoked in. We are not smokers. Don’t own pets.
- In the last few years I have replaced: dist. cap/rotors/wires plugs several times, cam position sensor, cleaned the PCV a couple times, front and rear O2, coolant overflow tank, misc vacuum hoses, brake lines/calipers on all 4, rotors, pads recently, front struts, end links are ipd upgraded, replaced the HVAC fan, new battery last year. The list goes on, but this is what I can remember off the top of my head. Basically, I've tried to keep it in as close to Stage 0 mechanical condition as possible.
The not so good:
- Driver’s seat has a tear in a couple seams, but all the seats are in great condition given their age. Interior has normal wear and tear for it’s age. Headliner has some discoloration in places. Has normal creaks and rattles for a car this age.
- Paint has normal rock chips and door dings, some slight oxidation in places. Hood has slight imperfections in the middle from previous owner (I think their kids or dog climbed up on it or something). It’s a “5 foot” car. Not gonna win you any concourse de elegance, but doesn’t look to shabby after a wash and wax.
- Tremaine said there is a small oil leak in the turbo oil lines where they connect to the turbo. But…he said that about 60k miles ago, and said if it didn’t really bother me it wasn’t critical to replace. I haven’t replaced them and I’ve been fine.
- Between oil changes, I usually have to add a quart of oil to top it off.
- It’ll be due for a timing belt job soon. I did belt/pulley/tensioner/pump job shortly after buying the car, and it cost me a Sunday in my garage and a couple hundred in parts. It’s probably a mid-level skill job.
- In cold weather I usually have to give the instrument cluster a little tap to get the temperature gauge to unstick when I first start the car. The digital display’s illumination lights burned out. Otherwise, the instrument cluster is fine.
- Cruise control has a loose vacuum line that I’m still trying to track down, so it’s not working at the moment.
I’ve got some personal radio gadgets, an Automatic adapter, and trailer hitch installed that I won’t be selling with the car (unless you really want them, and we can work that in).
