Wait a minute. You're saying that you need a reliable car, yet you are looking at a Z that has had a turbo on it and you don't know any of the history of the car? I would run the opposite direction. There is a reason why you can buy it cheap, and it isn't because the car is going to be reliable.

 

I said "fairly" reliable as in i'm not fixing it every other week like i know some people do because they go crazy with the boost and other things. Like I said im a sucker for speed and i would sacrifice some reliability if it is a properly tuned turbo'd Z.

 

That is the problem with this car, you don't know what kind of shape the engine is in, how good a setup the turbo is, what kind of tune it has now, and what kind of tune it has had in the past. All of those are some serious unknowns. You could have a mechanic go over with, if they know the turbo setup, as well as do a compression test etc... but even then there is a lot you don't know.

I'd buy a stock car, and then save your money so you can put your own turbo kit in it. That way you know what you have and can make sure it is done properly.

 

I would never put a turbo in it myself becuase of me simply just not having the money. I was going to for a stock one and invest in a grand and a half or so on bolt-on's over time just to add to the power a little. However i saw this deal and figured i could take advantage of someone elses loss of money through turboing and trading it in. Would it be better if i turned the boost down to 6 or 7 psi instead of the stock 8 on the Turbonetics? Since i think that's what it is. I don't want HUGE power, i am not a weekend tuner even. I want a DD with plenty of power. My uncle has an 08 sti and man the power of that thing is awesome...i would be happy with something like that for sure. The Z will probably be fast enough stock but it will leave me wanting more after a while so if i can turn down the boost even a little bit im sure it would be fast enough for me and probably be more reliable than 8 no?

 

dhays^^^ has a very valid point. You have no clue who tuned that car. On a z the tune most be precise otherwise it will go kaboom. Their are alot of issues that might have to be resolved with buying a car like this. I can understand if you where buying it from a member on here that has people to back up the work and etc on the car but you don't. Have a real quick question what car do you presently own. I'm trying to figure out if the z in stock configuration will fill some what quick to you or not. Another thing you might not understand is that it doesn't matter if the car is running 4psi if the tune is bad the engine will go kaboom no matter what. Anyhow if you are really interested in this car i would get someone to do a good job at checking it out. I would say compression test, possible even retune the car so you know how your car is running and so on. It can be done but you will spend some money getting this car checked out unless you like to do guess work with your money.

 

I'm sure a stock Z will seem very quick to me. I drive a modded eclipse GT right now it pretty much has all the bolt-on's and i pretty much bought it like this. It runs around 14.7(the old owner did this) in the 1/4. I know a Z will feel fast to me it's just the fact that i wished i had a car that was as powerful feeling as that sti without actually having to be an sti since i don't like them or evo's...i like the Z's

My reasoning is if i am and was planning on putting a grand and a half into the Z with an upgraded exhaust/plenum spacer/popcharger/tune etc all the bolt-on's over-time why not just spend the extra 3k mark-up for a turbo'd car....i may not have the best reasoning but the power of a car like this is driving my thoughts right now hah..

 

Is the sti stock. The z will feel very comparable to a stock sti. Hell you will even pull an sti a bit from a roll. Of course on a 1/4 mile track the sti has an advantage from a dead stop being awd. Sora1421 sorry to say bud but i dont think you know what you are getting yourself into. A stock z Is a high 13 second car and possibly a mid 13 second car with a good driver in the seat so it will feel alot quicker than your eclipse. Won't you go test drive one at the dealership or something first. I'm not trying to take your enjoyment away im just trying to save you some grief in the future.

I HAVE A BETTER QUESTION FOR YOU! IF YOUR ENGINE GOES KABOOM DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO REPLACE YOUR ENGINE. IF YOUR ANSWER IS NO THAN YOU SHOULD PROBABLY PASS ON THIS CAR. IF YOU DO GET THE CAR THOUGH I WOULD TRY TO RUN THE LEAST BOOST POSSIBLE UNTIL YOU FIGURE OUT YOUR TUNE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

 

yes the sti was stock it was brand new....i understand that you are trying to save me a lot of grief and i really appreciate it. I'm just trying to understand how really un-reliable a properly tuned TN kit is. As long as the turbo works out i could get the car tune checked by a local tuner shop(which is the one my friend with the GS-R runs). Like I said i'm just trying to help myself in the long run too.

EDIT: A properly tuned TN kit running the stock or lower boost....is it reliable as to where they don't randomly blow up engines? If i bought it i would make sure it would become properly tuned

 

Budgets and FI are mutually exclusive.

 

WELL, i will tell you this much a z with a bad tune will blow running any boost level. Ok, i see you are set on getting this z so i will give you some pointers instead of gossiping to you, lol.

#1: I see you are in philadelphia. There are a few really good shops that tune z's in newjersey. You are not that far away so get them to check the car out, compression test and the works. Plus get the car retuned for goodness sake.

#2: If your friends shop has not tuned a z before please dont get him to tune the car you are asking for trouble. The z is a very tempermental car.

#3: If an approved shop gives you the go buy the car and get the retune and enjoy the car. Be sure to keep up with the maintenance with it being a turbo car.

*****WILLIE YOU ARE RIGHT BUT YOUR NOT GOING TO TALK HIM OUT OF IT ALREADY TRIED, LOL. SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO TAKE CHANCES AND LIVE AND LEARN. HOPEFULLY YOU WON'T BE DOING THE LEARNING BECAUSE YOU BANK ACCOUNT WONT LIKE YOU TO MUCH, LOL.

 

This belongs in FI. You might get more informed advice (although from the pic it would be pretty hard to offer whether the "bay" looks odd

 

Anyhow I Guess I Better Get Back To Studying This Dumb *** Microbiology And Physiology, Lol!!!

 

I'm not 100% set on buying the car im just trying to justify the buying the car for such a good price right now and having it tuned properly to be reliable.

Maintenance is nothing, if a turbo'd car needs more then i will do just that. Just tell me one thing though. If the car is properly tuned and not ran ***** to the wall all the time(which will blow up any car) will a turbo'd Z still be fairly reliable? I am not a crazy tuner i don't want to push my luck with upping boost or anything like that. I just want a reliable enough to where the engine won't be on me Z with tons of power. I am not neglectful and don't have the money to not make sure a car is maintained properly

 

 

Should i ask the dealer owner if it looks like the a/c lines and other things were wrapped?

 

Like willie said russian roulette is the game your playing. Their is no way around it sora1421. You can take chances. No, you shouldn't ask the dealer anything other than if you can bring it to get it checked out and take the advice of a reputable z and g shop not a dealer. They are trying to sell the car they could give two ***** if that car blows up on you or not.

 

I understand i appreciate your help. You know what's sad? I expected to get flamed regardless if i put "noob" in the thread topic becuase of how many people just like to be dicks on here. At least you guys are helpful...

 

we all use to be noobs at one time or another, lol. I would rather ask a question than end up being in debt and without a car just think of it like that. Like i said if you do get the car you are taking a chance but to eliminate alot of B.S. you might encounter bring it to a REPUTABLE SHOP their are plenty near you so you have no excuses. Anyhow take car man and good look with whatever you do. If you do end up getting it dont forget to post pics, laterz.

 

if i decide to play a game of russian roullete then i will post pics however there are some nasty 19Inch chrome falkens on there that i would want to get rid of for some nice....not chrome-ones. Also it has leather....don't track's have cloth?

 

yes track trims should have cloth. It might possible be a touring if it has heated seats and all the stuff. I have the touring model.