Hey guys, I knew I'd be coming to this site eventually, and finally the day is here haha. So here's my situation:
Looking at a 1998 Z24. 180-odd km's. Looks pretty clean, the underside has minimal to no rust. Many parts have been replaced, here's the list:
-Upper and lower motor mounts
-Radiator
-Cooling fan
-Altinator
-Tensior
-Power window switches
-Rotors and pads (last week)
-Driver side and passenger side ball joints
-Passenger side wheel bearing (last week)
-Passenger side cv axel (last week)
-Passenger side lower tie rod end bushing (last week)
-Ngk iridium plugs
-Power steering pump
He has all the receipts to prove this. It's an auto by the way. Took it for a test drive. When shifting into gear there is a slight jolt or shudder. He tells me this is from the control arm bushings, which makes sense, and he will be getting these replaced this week. As soon as i started the car, the fan cut in, which made me think she'd heat up pretty quick. It was a 25 degree day, and I put it through the paces with a little aggressive city driving, but it did not go over half, although the fan stayed on. Anyone know why? Drivers side window shakes a bit when going down, but goes up ok. Has performance tires on now, but front ones are on there last legs. However, he is throwing in 4 new summer tires. All emblems are shaved, and the trunk key release as well (Reasonable for the key, as he had a 1000 dollar system in the trunk, so it prevented theft. But body work was a bit shady, and I can see it is beginning to bubble out). There is a very small engine oil leak, which I think he said was from the timing case or something like that, I'm not really sure. Got the old man to check this out he, he said thats the source. The guy whos selling the car said the mechanic said it's not really worth replacing for the amount thats leaking. Any idea how much this would be to replace? Oil change every 5000 Km's. Has Angel Halo headlights, and Chrome Altezza tails I do believe. Has a Cold Air Intake. Also has a Sony CDX GT500 Head unit. I got him to 3000$. What do you guys think? I knew if there was anyone to ask, I'd find them on this site! If I can figure out how to put up some pictures, I'll post some up. Thanks a lot you guys,
Hodder
Think about it. He replaced all that stuff. He A)Beat on it or B)its a lemon. Look around I saw a 2001 Z24 for 4000 with 43k (mi) and 17 Enemki (sp?) rims. right after i got my 2000 coup for 4200.
Nope, it sounds used up to me.
That, and it has a 2.4.....
I would pass on it. The only way it would be worth it is if the body was perfect. The fact that the tires are worn and were performance tires would worry me. It probably has been driven hard not that that would worry me but 2.4 engines have a problem with spinning rod bearings. It is not uncommon to see a stock 2.4 with a bad rod knock at only 100,000 miles. I do not know the equivalant between miles and km but I do know that 180km would be over 100,000 miles. Also I highly doubt that the rough shift in the trans is caused ny control arm bushings. From my experience with transmissions it sounds to me like the transmission might need a rebuild soon. The oil leak is probably not a big issue except that it will require constant attention to the oil level. If it has ever gone low on oil it would be even more prone to spinning a rod bearing than it already is. If it is leaking where you say you would almost have to pull the engine to get to the gasket to replace it.
In my honest opinion I would look for a newer 2002 or up cavalier with the ecotec. This will obviously be more than the 3,000 you were planning on spending. However the ecotec is a much more reliable engine. I know you will not regret it if you go that route.
FORGET GIRLS GONE WILD WE HAVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING GONE WILD!
Lol, belive me, I have done my looking around, this is the best I could come up with in my price range. Shifted, No, the check engine light was not on. Wade Jarvis, I seriously think it's those bushing causing it. Besides, he's replacing them this week, so I'll take it for another run to be sure. Are these 2.4 Twin Cam engines not really relible or something? I have like no experience, so I probably sound pretty dumb, but spinning a rod bearing, what exactly would this cause, what would need to be repaired, ect? The newer Cavaliers with the ecotec woud be the more relible, and maybe better route, to go, but I can't find anything else in the Z22 or Z24, and it would send me up to 4000$ and above, which is out of my price range. And I must say, the body is pretty good. Anyone else have anything to add? Any feedback is good feedback
Thanks again,
Hodder
Hmmm. no problems here with my 2.4 at 123k,only thing replaced was the water pump,timing chain and tensioner.I will agree that the Eco motor is a good reliablle motor but do not underestimate the Ld9 at all.Spyhunter is at oh...a measly 428hp out of the 2.4.That's for you Dave Z but with what you said I still think 3k is too much
15.2@89mph 2.171 60ft. 9.830 1/8 R.I.P. "LULU"
Well, it is 3000 Canadian lol, if that chages anything.
Adam Hodder wrote:Lol, belive me, I have done my looking around, this is the best I could come up with in my price range. Shifted, No, the check engine light was not on. Wade Jarvis, I seriously think it's those bushing causing it. Besides, he's replacing them this week, so I'll take it for another run to be sure. Are these 2.4 Twin Cam engines not really relible or something? I have like no experience, so I probably sound pretty dumb, but spinning a rod bearing, what exactly would this cause, what would need to be repaired, ect? The newer Cavaliers with the ecotec woud be the more relible, and maybe better route, to go, but I can't find anything else in the Z22 or Z24, and it would send me up to 4000$ and above, which is out of my price range. And I must say, the body is pretty good. Anyone else have anything to add? Any feedback is good feedback
Thanks again,
Hodder
If the 2.4 has high milage, has ever been beat on, or has run low on oil it will be far less reliable. The weakest link in the 2.4 is the rod bearings and this is the part that is damaged by the things I just mentioned. If that goes the engine will make a loud knocking sound until it breaks internally. The long and the short of it is that it will destroy the engine. Very costly to fix. So if you buy the car for 3,000 and the engine goes then what. Put more money into it or cut your losses and sell the car for maybe 500. If you can spend 3,000 then why not 5,000. You can get payments on a 5,000 dollar loan down to just litle over one hundred a month. As long as you have a job it should not be to tough to come up with 100 a month.
FORGET GIRLS GONE WILD WE HAVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING GONE WILD!
...it really depends on were you live and how the car market is to determine what a "good" price is on anything. I got my 2000 Cav z24 with the 2.4 with 131xxx km for 6400 and i looked for months and this was the best i could find. Now if i were to go south of the border there to the US i could get a wicked nice cavalier for that much money.
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2000 Cavalier z24-5 spd, 2.4L
stock....for now, no big things in mind just intake....muffler....short throw shifter...clear climates........supercharger!!!(if i ever get the money lol)
Well, this is my take on it. It's not like i'm going to invest money putting a pile of performance parts on it. For me, it'll be a really nice starter car thats a little more fun than a civic (lol ). All i really plan on doing is upgrading the sound system, catback exhaust, maybe a bit of interior, and maybe even some drop and nice rims if I ever run into the money. There is no engine knock now anyway, so if it did develop in the coming years, I could get a jump on it and replace the rod bearings (Not sure if thats possible, so correct me if I'm wrong) Anyone else have an opinion. Like I said, all feedback is good feedback
Adam, if the fan came on right away, is it possible that the defrost was on? or AC? if I am not mistaking the fan will almost always be on as long as the AC is on.
Hmmmm, good point! I'm almost sure the A/C was on! Thanks a lot
Anyone elses opinion?
Some people have them set to be on right away, i know a few that do, its because they ran hot to begin with.
For all those wondering, as of today, $3000 Canadian Dollors converts to $2876.04 US. As for the Z being worth it, it is up to you. If the individual has not beat on it and has good maintenance records, it might be worth it. I would get the oil leak fixed. It is a big deal and I don't think you want a puddle of oil under your car.
I own a 98Z and now have over 100,000 miles on it and the only things that have needed replaced have been the water pump and alternator.
The biggest thing you will need to find out is did the individual do proper and good maintenance on the car. Good luck!!
98 Z24
RIP Specks
Yeah, I passed on it, had my mechanic tell me it wasn't the best buy. With 180,000km's, and no water pump replacement yet, and it's a costly fix(so he told me), as everything must go back in sync, or you could easy ruin the engine. So, I'll have to start my search aain. Please god let me find a good J-Body
