Therefore my advice to people looking for a car would be to check these in this order:


Test drive car for at least 30 minutes, this way trans and motor will get up to temp

check to see if trans shifts good, does not slip and goes into every gear

Check oil pressure on gauge, if reading below 30 or so, think about it carefully. either have it tested before you buy the car or have the sender replaced before you buy the car.

These 3 steps will help any prospective future owner of one of these cars save lots of money.

I disagree completely, Hans. The sheer volume of items on your list that you didn't check out fully until AFTER you bought it would be terminal in most cases. You should have stayed away from the purchase for the reasons pointed out.

Your success in the purchase ended up being pure luck. Nothing else. Buying a car with an oil pressure issue BEFORE having it checked out by a competent mechanic is bad enough, even ignoring the other issues.

I don't think this is a story of success, but rather a story of sheer luck.

Please re-read my reply instead of pointing out things which I just pointed out.

You were the one that said the brake light was caused by a failing MC but the fluid was just really low. another not-so-common problem but in my case it was the cause.

the point of this most recent "followup reply" was to demonstrate that the "common problems" are not always common.

You are giving advice to any future car buyer that ever joins this Forum. The brake issues and oil pressure issues alone, but combined, are a BAD THING. You got LUCKY. I don't want this topic to be searched in the future for advice in buying without this being clearly stated.

You shouldn't have bought that car any more than the 2000 SSEi which you gave me credit for being right about.

We (those of us that advised you against this purchase) gave you the advice we could based on our collective and individual experience for YOUR benfit.

I'm glad you lucked out, Hans, but most cars in that crappy condition would not have treated their new owners that well.

I have a little more responsibility to this Forum and it'* members to gloss this over and hide the truth from future members.