i am a youngster to some and am quite new at the car knowledge life... i need some advice. i owned a 95 neon for my very first car about four years ago and had a lot of problems from altenator to brain box to coil over pack and fuel filter. i know that things happen and that was a first gen neon but i am thinking about buying a car to play with to learn and to possibly put some performance in. i am not looking for the high end performance just the ability to do it for the first time. i just found a posting for an 01' neon with a turbo and front end damage he is selling it for $500 i have not looked at it because of my hectic work schedual during the week, i am going to see it this weekend, and i would like some advice as to what i should be wiery about. anything that some one could tell me woud be great. i appreciate it.

 

what kind of front end damage? is it intercooled? check the radiator.. its gonna be hard to check for shaft play on the turbo if its still mounted. just ask general knowledge questions..see who installed the turbo when it was installed? is it the stock engine.

 

these are the pictures that are on the post for the car. it does not look like there is very much damage to anything but cosmetic but that is also kinda what worries me cause there is a reason why they would try selling it for $500 and not more, but i have no idea exactly what. when i go look at it i will most likely be bringing my mechanically inclined friend but he deals with diesel and muscle not tuner so he still doesn't know some things about cars like this.

 

Personally, I'd look elsewhere. Buying a modified car with your lack of knowledge can come back to bite you in the end. Question such as:

a. Does the car run?
- If not, why?

b. How was the car driven? (abuse)

c. What is the compression ratio of each cylinder? Should be 180 and up with all numbers close together. (180, 185, 180, 190) GOOD (175, 185, 120, 180) BAD

d. Who did the work?

e. What condition is the car in now?
- does it run? how well?
- are there any leaks? oil, coolant?
- any rust, dents, scratches
- where are the headlights? Does everything electrical work?

f. Turbo information
- was it purchased new?
- did the car smoke from bad/blown turbo seals?
- is there any shaft play? Make the owner show you.

Hope this help in your quest, but a car to learn on should be a decent platform. Not a POS with a turbo. Not saying that car is, but it would be worth very little if the turbo is bad or going bad, the block has spun rod bearing or poor compression numbers.

 

is it just me or does that car look non turboed? looks like there is a coolant resevor, and the cruise control box mounted still.... could be the pic, but it looks na from that pic......

 

Looks like there is an intake...but nothing else? Hard to say from small pics though I suppose.

 

cant think of his name but he has a 1st gen neon exact same paint scheme..and it was turboed i wonder if thats the same people who sold him his?? where are you located remix?

 

I dont see one either. I was always told to never buy a car with front end damage. I had a car that I got in a accident with (I got hit by a 16 yr old punk with a suspended license) and after that I had problem after problem.

 

Stay away from it kid! Yeah it sounds really cool, buying a car that's already been turbo'ed. You're buying someone else's problems especially since it's been wrecked. Start stock and do a little at a time to improve performance. This is the best and cheapest way to learn.

 

yes you guys are right it does sound nice to buy a pre turboed car but i am very new at this side of the performance scene i have always loved to watch but now i want to be a bigger part and i am very open to knowledgable insight. i also just found a 98 neon with a 00 engine and tranny swap still needing a harness and computer swap that they are trying to sell so i am going to look at both of the cars i know that the one with front end damage presents a lot more problem petential than the other but i am looking for some thing to fix and tune up so it still gives me a good base for my start unless you guys think otherwise.