Purchasing a 1996 850 GLT N/A with 279,500 Miles?

[mika]

Long time reader, first time poster....

Our main family car (a honda fit 2012) hit a deer on a rural road: engine got ripped off mounts and into the dash ( no injuries or anything, car totaled). This has left my 1998 NA v70 (172k), to be the main family car (fiance works 2 hours earlier than I do, so I have been dropping her off at work past few weeks, and then picking her up after I get out again.) We have agreed that we do not want to finance a car right now, and have an extra 1500 saved up for a car. Car selection here in rural midwest is poor (anything under 5k looks like complete crap) : the best we can find are old saturns and 1990 f150s. Then we came across this car:

http://fortdodge.craigslist.org/cto/4737054728.html

Met up with the guy, drove the car. accelerates and drives straight, solid car. A/C works somehow, no stains from heater core. (TB, brakes, all done) Things drives better than my 98 v70 to tell you the truth. Looks like he put some care into the car after he rescuing it from the junkyard. Got a mechanic's "used car inspection" scheduled this weekend (want them to check compression, exhaust, other things I cannot see with my cheap-o jack and stands)

Asking price is 1400. What do you guys think?

Would any of you in a right state of mind considering purchasing a vehicle with such high mileage?

[matthew1]

Looks ok to me.

By "ok" I mean I'd meet the seller and see the car, like you did, instead of dismissing the ad outright. The mismatched wheels may mean the car has been molested. It's a sign of the possibility, not a certainty. High miles, lots of recent work, not a lot of money.

[dosbricks]

These cars are capable of unreal mileage if they are kept up. Good idea to have it checked out professionally. BTW, I love those Columba wheels. If you buy it, change the plugs to Volvo OE. NKG in an 850 NA are not simpatico. Good luck!

[mika]

Thanks for your input Matthew. What do you mean by mismatched wheels? I thought the 16 inch perfos (or are they columbas? ) came stock on the glt? Please correct if I am wrong.

I would also be interested in finding out if the engine <might> not be original. Does anyone, of the top of their head, know if engine has VIN stamped ( + location) that I can compare with chassis?

Thanks in advance (P.S. I have read all of the "high mileage" club 850/s/v70 threads. )

[tryingbe]

I'd buy it. I paid $1000 for a running parts car, and this car sounds a lot better than my parts car.

[mika]

Anyone know if VIN is stamped/printed on engine? (cant find anything) Want to compare to chassis.

[misha]

I don't know what you mean by this...vin number on the engine?

Vin means Vehicle identification number and it's stamped onto chasis.

Engine number is stamped on the engine.

[mika]

Looks like i was mistaken. I thought I would be able to match the VIN number from the engine to the same vin printed or stamped on the chassis of the car, thus proving if the engine is or is not original to the vehicle.

[rspi]

Looks like a great car to me. The '96 GLT NA cars did not come with those wheels, those came on the T5. The motor should be a 2.4 not 2.3. I don't consider 280,000 high mileage, 300,000 is the magic number for me. If it's not missing, the motor is probably still strong. Give it the glove test to see if the PCV is good, that can also let you know if it has low compression bypass.

[erikv11]

I communicated with this seller some, when he first placed the ad about a month ago. He has an 850 parts car in his garage too, a white 94, unless he already sold it. I say thumbs up. You will want to un-do some of his work though like the NGK plugs and wires, as mentioned. I have a paint code 417 rear tailgate with zero rust or dents that you can have for $20, you can pick it up on your way home from Ft Dodge if you end up buying the car.