Hello everyone...new here but I've also got a 99 neon coupe (which I'm babying along with 147k but the other half has been driving it)

Anyway I can't keep dumping money into my big V8 car so I'm looking and I found the following:

1998 4 Door
60k miles
Gonna need 2 new tires (within the next 5-6k miles)
Rough paint with some surface rust like it's down to bare shiny metal in some places and some spots have some light surface rust
4 door
Automatic tranny
One owner - elderly couple (with all paperwork back to 1998 including the original sales paperwork)
Head Gasket was replaced at 26k miles
Speedometer was replaced at 47k miles (vehicle history report indicates accurate reporting of miles at present)
Brakes Replaced ~15k miles ago (don't feel squishy)
Belts and hoses feel alright
AC crazy cold
Has factory original plugs and wires (appears to at least so I know it will need a tune up)
All the fluids look so clean you could eat off the dipsticks
It's the SOHC model

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What else should I check. I checked the following:

When the car started it had a small amount of moisture and white smoke coming out, however after the car got to running temp the exhaust was mostly hot and dry with no smoke. I ran the hell out of the car on the test drive flooring it at every redlight and let the car idle for 20 min before driving it and 20 min after driving with ac on max and the temp didn't go to half the entire time. So I'm assuming that it was just from sitting

I checked the suspension all the way around including the mounts on all 4 wheels all felt good

Interior is good however it is missing the 1-P plastic piece where it indicates what gear the car is in.

The dash is cracked as is typical however has fitted carpet dash cover

Is there anything else I should look at ? I can get it for $1800 out the door including TTT

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence...Here's some pictures:


Very light surface rust on the pass side

Roof

Back corner panel (some light rust) and more disappearing paint

Driver back corner side (with more paint again)

Hood up, note that the original battery brackets and cover are in place...

Interior Front

Interior Rear

Dash and etc....Car had been through 20 min idle, 15 min hard test drive and 20 min idle at this point, check out the temp....this is with the AC on MAX RECIRC the entire time

The Clock

The wad of paperwork for maintenance including the original purchase paperwork from the first owner

The handwriting alone lets you know that this was grandma/grandpa driven

I forgot to mention that the dealer said this was a trade in ~1 month ago and he picked it up and of course said, "I'll paint it and fix the wheels and do the minor stuff if you don't buy it and sell it for double" LOL
Let me know now that you guys have some images, while IDK about tearing it up, she did go through her paces well...everything seems to work with no lights on, the only ODD noise was when the wheel was all the way to the left or right (to do tight circles in the parking lot) there were the occasional soft squeak noise, like the car was saying hey buddy you can't turn the wheel further, just slightly pulling back a bit it immediately went away.

 

If anyone could help me with my decision I would really appreciate it I have to give him an answer tomorrow

 

Seems like the mileage is low, if its accurate. With how many clusters take a dump I Wouldn't be surprised if its not original. Just a heads up on that. Car looks a little rough body wise also. I would pay 1000 for it if it ran and drove nice with no or very minor leaks. And that would be the absolute most. I am considering a super clean 95 sohc 5 speed that is spotless no rust underneath and I just went through the motor so its fresh as a daisy. His bottom is 1,500 with a cd player and I told him 1,300 no higher. That car is 81k original, garage kept. But prices will vary depending on location also.

If the neon this guy is trying to sell you were to be fixed up body wise you would be lucky to bring 2,500 around here. Hate to say it there just not worth much. The car would have to be bought knowing its not worth fixing it unless you do the work yourself. Even then you will risk not getting your money back because of the poor resale if you ever did decide to sell it. I would offer him 750. If he said get real I would walk away. If he counter offers i would work my way up to a 1000 and that would be the limit.

 

Used car prices here in Florida are INSANE most vehicles here in this price range have 3x the miles

As for the Rust I'm not sure, we don't have snow here and it looks like the car has never left the state.

According to the receipt in the dash, the speedometer was replaced at that mileage, according to the paperwork there's only been one owner and it's been driven ~4k miles a year

 

i would walk away and check Craig's list i got an 03 sxt 5spd for not much more than that and it was in almost brand new condition

 

I've been scouring it for months 99.9% of cars under 2500 here have 100-200k

 

If YOU think its a good deal, take it... I know how prices can vary by region, up here in the snow capital of the midwest I just bought a relatively rust free one for $500 but the body and interior are kinda rough.