Hey, I'm having problems with my 1993 Nissan Altima GXE all the time and want a change. So for the past few weeks I've looked on Craigslist.com just to see what was on there. I came across this amazing 1994 Ford Probe GT for $500. I wondered why such a hot car (with two racing stripes) would be so cheap. The man explained that it has 131,000 miles, it needs new water pump, CV joints need to be replacedm it has a dent on driver's door, and the transmissions slips every once in awhile. He says the transmission needs to be "flushed" or something. I e-mailed him back saying that I will only buy it if I can take it to a mechanic first to see if the WHOLE transmission needs to be replaced which will definetely not be worth it. Does it sound to any of you that this is a good deal? And how long would a 94' Ford Probe GT last? Kelley Blue Book prices it at $1800 in FAIR condition. I was thinking of buying this and then selling my altima to break even. Any response is much appreciated!!! Thanks!
2007-03-21 16:52:29 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
If you were to Buy the car in present condition it would cost more to fix the car than what it is worth. In reality you are going two pay twice the amount you are paying for the car to get it in working condition. Is it a Good Deal? Yes if you are a Mechanic and just have spare parts lying around! If not I would take a pass.
2007-03-21 17:06:26 · answer #1 · answered by Italian Medallion 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The 94 Probe GT can be a fun car to drive. The 2.5 Litre V6 is the same engine used in similar years Mazda MX-6's. This is a Mazda engine and drivetrain in this car, and the parts are really not that cheap compared to other vehicles.
If the CV joints need replaced, you can get the parts yourself for around 50 bucks each, then you need the boots and the tools and know how in order to change them yourself. A garage would likely charge a couple hundred dollars to change them, as the task is somewhat labor intensive.
The water pump, again, is not quite expensive when you buy it yourself however, having it installed is very expensive due to the amount of labor and time involved.
Automatic transmissions can be a hairy subject. Flushing the tranny and installing new fluid would definitely be a great idea, but if its been slipping, there is more than likely some wear. Replacing the transmission is an expensive chore as it is both labor intensive and the transmission itself is very expensive. Replacing the unit would likely run into the 1200 to 1500 dollar range. I would definitely try the flush and fill first and see if it helps.
You did mention that the car has 131k miles on it, so I would guess that there are also other things that could use replacing. What kind of maintenance has the car seen in the past? The timing belt has a limited lifetime, and if it breaks, your dead in the water. This is a cheap belt, but expensive to have changed at a shop. Oxygen sensors and spark plug wires are expensive for this car, when compared to most.
Although 500 dollars doesnt sound like a lot of money for a car, I would definitely have the car thoroughly inspected by a mechanic before purchasing it. It could easily cost you 5 times as much just to get it reliable again. Look into it, but my personal experience would tell me to keep looking.
2007-03-21 17:13:52 · answer #2 · answered by Jim M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The mechanic will probably tell you that you need to replace the transmission but it all depends on how much it slips and at what gear it slips at. The slipping could be that the transmission fluid is low due to a bad seal, which if changed would fix the problem. This car is worth $500 all day long, (even if it didn't have the sweat stripes). The CV joints and water pump will not be $700 if you find the right mechanic. I say go for it
2007-03-25 16:36:51 · answer #3 · answered by z 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Forget it, the transmission needs work and that cost big $. A flush will not fix it. It has a host of other problems....but what about the ones you dont know about that will become apparent after a week of ownership.
You say you need to replace your Maxima because it is having problems...and then you are coming to this message board to ask if buying a Ford laden with problems is a good idea. I can see no logic here.
Look for a car that is in good running condition. That is the only way forward.
2007-03-21 19:04:18 · answer #4 · answered by jman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't touch that car with a ten foot pole. phone around to some shops and get estimates for changing both front axles (it actually cheaper to replace the entire axle than to just replace the CV joints, go figure), then phone a transmission shop and ask their price to completely overhaul the transmission. You are thinking about buying this car, so look at worst case scenarios and don't try to sugar coat any of the problems with the shops. I would just about bet, that if you take the $5oo car, your repair bill is going to be around $3000, so now you have twice as much money into it as it is worth. Do what you want, but there are lots of cars out there for the money you want to spend.
2007-03-23 03:38:40 · answer #5 · answered by al b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The trans repairs will put you out of the game, that never was a good car. at the dealership, we used to give those to the new guy because
of the many troubles we had simply replacing failed parts with new.
It is just not a decent platform for ford, limited production throughout the years, and was a hybrid using parts from joint ventures.
You can make it run but you wont be able to resell it easy.
2014-11-09 19:00:01 · answer #6 · answered by Dannyl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Prelude has a L4, not V4. L meaning Inline-4 engine. V4 engines are not used in cars. Only old motorcycles. I would usually go for the manual transmission, but at that mileage, I would have to go for Honda. Eventhough the Ford Probe is Japanese since it copies the Mazda MX-6, it is not as reliable as Honda. The Honda has less miles and handles better and is more fun to drive in general and faster too. I would expect the Probe to die soon. Honda will last at least another 75,000 miles.
2016-03-28 23:08:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That car is NOT worth it, Your looking at close to $700 for pump and CV installed, and THEN a tranny issue. I'm not 100% sure but want't the GT turbo? If it was 131k miles on a turbo, will need to be replaced soon. (turbo or not, I say no way) Your way better off w/ your Altima. (ANOTHER RED FLAG IS THE RACING STRIPES)
2007-03-21 17:02:23 · answer #8 · answered by wsnealis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a mighty fine deal...if your the guy selling the Probe GT, even if it has two racing stripes.
2007-03-21 16:56:51 · answer #9 · answered by lwjksu89 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is a bad deal because it will cost about 800 dollars to fix the car but it is still a ford and they suck. but it can be a good deal because you could get it running good and sell it for about 2500. i know i just said fords suck but some people love them. And dont worry about the 131k miles on it if it gets fixed there are plently of people who would buy it and do an engine swap or something. just be sure not to be to stupid or you will get screwed over bad
2007-03-21 17:29:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋