Buying an S14... question about value

[anyotherone]

I've been looking for a 97-98 "kouki" s14 that is black on black and 5spd for about a year and a half. I got sidetracked for a little while. I hate the idea of buying a car that I haven't driven, that's why I haven't gone ahead and bought one out of state or on ebay...

Well, an S14 that is exactly what I want just popped up on autotrader a few miles from me, with 89K miles and the seller wants $11,000obo... it blue books for $6500 in "good" condition. What is it really worth, in the opinion of everyone here? I mean, I know there are a ton of factors involved, but what would you guys pay for it?

Thanks

[Aries]

I honestly wouldn't pay more than $7500 for it in excelent condition. Value goes down if it has modifications.

[anyotherone]

Thanks for the reply Aries... It's all stock, which is so rare.

I know that I will start by telling them that I already looked at a '98 240 with the same mileage in Austin a few months ago that the seller was willing to let go for $8500.

This kind of sucks, because I'm leaving for England on Thursday, so I want to rush, but I know that is the worst thing I could do when it comes to getting the best price. I KNOW that car will be gone in two weeks though.

[hannibal]

Decide how much youre willing to pay for that particular car (mileage, condition, etc). And dont even think about paying more than that.

Its a beautiful car, but certainly not worth $11K. I got my base 96 zenki with the same mileage for less than half that price.

[GrilledCheese33]

ok, i bought a completely stock s14 off ebay, a 1996 for 5500, a kouki that you described, i would probably pay no more than 8,000 at the very most. look at my car domain, and if the kouki you found is in the condition of my car, it is probably worth 7 or 8 grand, but 11 is way to much. is it at a dealer or private seller?

[anyotherone]

It's a private seller.

Don't worry, I'm not paying $11K for it. I just wanted to know the opinion's of other 240 owners that may have recently purchased or sold cars that might have a better idea on what the going prices are. Sometimes KBB is a little off, and edmunds TMV seems to be WAY low every time I look at it.

[GrilledCheese33]

http://www.nada.com seems to give better values

[ShortyS14]

I bought my '98 SE 5spd for $8200 a little over a year ago in damn near excellent condition. It had only 51k on it and a CAI.

What other details do you have on this S14 in autotrader?

[anyotherone]

2 owners, most service records, regular maintenence, no wrecks, clean title, "newish" brakes, good tires, all stock, middle-aged female driver for most miles, perfect exterior, a little wear on the interior such as front seats, steering wheel, shift knob.

[getnrowdy23]

i bought a 95 zenki from a dealership with PERFECT interior and 115kon the motor for 2800 bucks AFTER tax, tag, and title. it did take some looking ( 14 months exactly) so no i wouldnt pay that much. that is money that could be spent on mods. that just me tho

[Juujai]

i'm not sure if 240s values are inflated in texas also but in california i wouldn't pay more than 8 for a good one.

my friend is picking up a red 5spd kouki with like 92k miles if i remember right for 4k.

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

I looked 5 years before i got mine, that experience is well documented on this site ........somewhere.......

Hey, if you think it is worth your money, spend it. If I was in your shoes and could afford it, I sould buy it in a heartbeat. Looking at the situation from the outside though, I'd say wait, and keep looking.

[anyotherone]

Zenki '95 models with 100K+ miles go for $6500 around here, so it sounds like prices are indeed inflated compared to what some of you are listing. I know that the prices I've found on autotrader and ebay reflect a much higher value than what you guys are talking about!

getnrowdy23 - you got a steal... I couldn't buy a banged up s14 shell around here for 2 grand.

5spd 240's seem to add 1-2K to the price automatically.

I'm going see it tonight and if it checks out, make him an offer he can't refuse. If he says he'll take 8 then I'll do it. It's what I want and I need to get rid of my lexus and out from under these redicules payment-insurance-gas costs so I can buy a house.

[WhiteKoukiS14]

The hardest part I found when lookin for my kouki was prices on 5 spd, every 5 spd I found wanted 1500-2000 more than an auto matic, i ended up pick up a 98 SE automatic, and 80k miles in damn near perfect condition, for $6500, if ur planning on swap or willing to do a conversion, you might want to look into a auto and converting it if the price it right, i just did a manual conversion when i was doin my motor swap

[HashiriyaS14]

I paid a bit of a premium for mine, but I was also extremely specific as to what I wanted, and I got into the situation of having to out-bid other people.

Besides, coming from my $23,000 WRX with mods, the S14 seemed cheap.

I paid $9800 for it, Silver Moss, 1998, LE, incredible condition, 66k, brand new $3700 repaint.

The car had been owned by a retired woman, parked outside, since 1998, then purchased by her affluent next-door neighbor who wanted to build a drift car. He repainted it because the paint had faded from parking it outside, but then his wife made him sell it, to ME. So yeah, I paid $9800 and I consider that a deal.

I honestly really wanted a white one. Would I have paid $11,000 for a white SE w/ABS & LSD, same miles? Yes I would have. And I'd have counted myself lucky around here.

[anyotherone]

I drove it last night and he said that he wouldn't take any less than $10K.

It's in very good condition... no timing chain noise, everything looks good under the hood, compression checks out, clutch feels good, the transmission feels very good, suspension is tight and responsive, steering feels good, the car doesn't have a ton of rattles, it's nice. It has new paint because the car got keyed, so it looks very good.

Bottom line, I'm gonna buy it... because I checked and it not only has ABS but I'm pretty sure it has an LSD.

[grimple1]

bought my '95 (Base Model) with 40k original miles for 6400.

I think 10K is a bit much for a stock 240 but value is in the eye of the buyer/seller.

[compression]

you cant compare a zenki to a kouki, although they are basically the same car, there are definitely a lot less kouki's for sale, and that makes them more valuable.10k is too much for a perfect kouki, in my opinion, I have been shopping, and i found an all-stock one (manual trans, LE) for $7,200 that is in great condition.But it sounds like you already decided, so go for it.

[HashiriyaS14]

Values also WIDELY vary based on area.

Prices in DC, NY, and Cali are *way* higher than in the middle of the country. A sub 100k mile S13 hatch 5spd in good condition is easily a $4,000+ car here in DC. 200k+ mile S13s still break $2000.

[nismofly]

^^^ definately

paid $3500 for my 89 hatch with 73k miles on it, but it was in flawless condition

[anyotherone]

I just spoke with the seller and he got an offer for $10,500 but he's still going to let me have it for 10 because we already agreed to it...

So somebody else out there is even more desperate (or more stupid) than me.

That's comforting though, because that means that I won't loose a ton of money if I need to sell it for some reason within a year or something, because there are other buyers out there willing to pay that kind of price for it.

[Red coupe]

people talk often about these cars they found for 2k but the majority of your 97/98 5spds are going for around this price. Its just what has happened to the market.If you want one you have to pay a premium, or do a long search and get lucky

Congrats, and atleast he didnt want you to start bidding with that other guy...

[HashiriyaS14]

I just spoke with the seller and he got an offer for $10,500 but he's still going to let me have it for 10 because we already agreed to it...

So somebody else out there is even more desperate (or more stupid) than me.

That's comforting though, because that means that I won't loose a ton of money if I need to sell it for some reason within a year or something, because there are other buyers out there willing to pay that kind of price for it.

\

That sounds about like mine. I won a small bidding war at $9800, but then, after we agreed, some out-of-state guy offered $11k, but the owner didn't want to hassle w/shipping, so I got it for $9800.