Should I go for this upgraded '99 Integra? $8000

[gregorama]

Well, to start, here's a basic background of my automobile career. I've been driving a '95 chevy blazer since I was 16, now 18. I totaled it in a freeway collision, so I'm used car shopping now. I've always been interested in a smaller, fast car with good mpg as I am a delivery driver to pay bills and help pay for school.

I've been mostly looking at civics but this acura really catches my eye. It's got 66k miles on it, automatic transmission (is this a bad thing later on if I want to have some eventual racing fun?), 1.8L I4, and is in good condition. Paint and interior look great, not to mention the body. 15" rims, tinted windows, pretty decent system, cool speedometer LED effect, and a moon roof. I think there was some work done to it..maybe a kit added..not sure, don't know much about cars. The car dealership wants just under $8k for it. It's around my price range and looks fun. Will it last me without much money being put into it for 4 or 5 years until I finish school? I realize I may sound scrubby, just looking for any help I can get. Here's a few pics:








I'm really excited about this. The car looks like a lot of fun. Should I go for it?

[integra_guy]

I wouldn't take it, becuase it has a body kit, glow gauges, altezza tail lights, which lower the value of the car price, and if you looking into racing it at the track bad idea is a auto, the color of the dash doesn't match the seats.

The good thing about the car is that it has low miles, paint looks pretty good.

so in other words I would keep looking.

[gregorama]

Originally Posted by integra_guy

I wouldn't take it, becuase it has a body kit, glow gauges, altezza tail lights, which lower the value of the car price, and if you looking into racing it at the track bad idea is a auto, the color of the dash doesn't match the seats.

The good thing about the car is that it has low miles, paint looks pretty good.

so in other words I would keep looking.

Those are mostly reasons I want it, hehe. I don't care too much about the value of the car being lowered from the kit, rear lights, and glow guages because those are all things I want.

[I Go To Costco]

Oh boy.... I 'll try to be as polite and as helpful as I can.... but I will eventually need to bring the bad news.

Anyway, I'm not really sure how to gauge modifications such as that, but they don't really add much value. That's an LS or a GS... and that bodywork is not original, it was an aftermarket kit that was added on, along with the gauges. Looks like its in good condition from the outside, but drive it first before you make a decision.

So the bad news. I think that car is disgusting... an eyesore to look at. A looooong, long time ago, before even the first Fast & the Furious movie came out, I thought body kits were so cool. Then when the movie came out I thought they were even cooler until I decided to do some research. Most people think that body kits like those are a joke, then I realize they are just for cosmetic effect. Not to mention most are ugly.... I still had taste back then though so I didn't like all the crazy body kits, but still.

Sorry if I'm being mean but I'm trying to do you a favor. If you really like it, then fine, go ahead and buy the car as long as everything checks out. Drive it to see if anything is messed up. That is a good value for such low mileage, though the automatics have less value. I'll also note that the manual is much more fun to drive, learn it... you won't regret it.

But 95% of people who see that car will go Everyone has different taste, but there's a point when too much is too much.

[duckdog]

I have to agree with everyone else. I also think that car is a bit overpriced because of the mods. Most of these guys have a lot of knowledge of this model and can be awesome guides in making the choice.

However, if that is what turns your crank, then go for it.


Good luck with your choice, and to Acura World!

[coldfire]

In my opinion, the only redeeming quality that vehicle has is that it only has 66K miles on the clock. That and all the mods appear to be cosmetic meaning that the previous owner who did this to the car didn't have the balls to get into the engine and do some (possibly damaging) mods there. However thats just my opinion. I think 8K for an automatic LS with that milage is a little high. If you really want the car I would try to talk them down to at least 6K.

To everyone else: Just about all of us have gone through the ricer stage at some point in their life. Most of us have had the altezzas and the bumblebee exhaust. If he likes the car the way it is then he should purchase it at a fair market price. Maybe in a couple years when hes older he'll return it to its original glory.

[food2000]

Originally Posted by coldfire

In my opinion, the only redeeming quality that vehicle has is that it only has 66K miles on the clock. That and all the mods appear to be cosmetic meaning that the previous owner who did this to the car didn't have the balls to get into the engine and do some (possibly damaging) mods there. However thats just my opinion. I think 8K for an automatic LS with that milage is a little high. If you really want the car I would try to talk them down to at least 6K.

To everyone else: Just about all of us have gone through the ricer stage at some point in their life. Most of us have had the altezzas and the bumblebee exhaust. If he likes the car the way it is then he should purchase it at a fair market price. Maybe in a couple years when hes older he'll return it to its original glory.

Why aren't you insightful?

I remember the real orginal reason i wanted an integra was to:

1. Bodykit
2. Exhaust
3. Big wing
4. Get Chicks with my coffe can

Then i started learning about "intake" and eventually lurked around enough to know that these glow ricey things are equivelent to waving a small penis flag.

don't be this guy:

[rewsintegra]

buy a stock integra with a 5 speed for a whole lot less. make it look clean and not like a pos like that one.

if you want wings, body kits and OMG LOOK AT ME get a cavalier or probe

[MC Teg]

IMO, I would laugh and just walk way from that teg. I don't see the need to modify the whole body, tegs look great without comestic enhancements. But if that car suits your needs, I would definitely negotiate on the price because all those "upgrades" is killing the price, not making it more valuable.

[Ska]

Style preferences aside, here's what I'm thinking:

The good:
1.) Paint & body look like they're in pretty good shape.
2.) Only 66k on the clock - this engine's got at least another 150k to go, assuming it hasn't been thrashed from day 1.

The bad:
1.) If, like you said, you want to work on modding it later, especially if you plan on doing stuff more serious than bolt-ons, an automatic is not the way to do it. If you want the extended version, I'm sure one of these guys will be happy to elaborate.
2.) If you DON'T plan on driving this car into the ground, the demographic you're selling to will be severely limited because of those modifications. Aside from looking like a hopped-up racer boi's car, most people aren't into that sort of thing.
3.) A car with really obvious exterior mods like that is just begging to get stolen since thieves will probably assume you've got lots of valuable performance parts and/or a sick stereo in there. Obviously, this varies by where you live (I've had Integras since I was 19 and never *knock on wood* been broken into), but it's still a factor since integras get stolen. A lot.

THat's my $.02, anyway. I wouldn't buy it, but if it floats your boat, go for it.