Found a Z, to buy or not to buy?
 

Hi guys, I've always admired the Z series car, and I had planned on investing cash for the next couple of years to hopefully own a new one. However I've paid my Civic off and I saw a deal on Craigslist, I could essentially trade my civic for a used 350, which would rock! I testdrove the car and really enjoyed it.

However, the front bumper has been damaged pretty extensively. I'm curious how much this would be to replace? Now that I think of it I should probably take a good look under the car because I bet it's been scrapped to hell too.

Anyways the guy is asking $12.9k, the car has 56k miles and has the touring package.

Here's the damage:

http://www.tothepixel.com/car/z1.jpg
http://www.tothepixel.com/car/z2.jpg

Thanks for your help!

12.9K, yes. Sounds a awesome price. Run a carfax, take it to a shop you trust etc. A re-spray on the bumper is not too much.

Also post up the link, so we can check it out. Maybe we will see something you don't.

Bumper can be easily resprayed and you can often find people selling them in the my350 classifieds in favour of aftermarket varieties, so I wouldn't worry about that. IMO, your main concern should be whether the rest of the car checks out. If it does mechanically, then any other cosmetic issues are fairly easily addressed. I'd go for it at 12.9k, assuming there's nothing else wrong with it.

Front bumper may require lots of man hours because of damaged alignment hardware behind the bumper. Headlight, hood and front fender fit should be perfect. $1,000.

Hi guys, thanks for the help! I'm still debating the automatic transmission, from what I read this would only put down 220ish whp, are the loses really that significant? Obviously I'm not one to race(I drive a civic right now :D) but I don't want to abandon the fun of a manual car if it's also going to cost a lot of power also. I think I might push the guy on the price a little bit because of the bumper, some parts of it looked like a respray wouldn't even fix. You can see below the center of the lip is cracked. So I guess I'll tell the dude I'd like see him cover the cost of the bumper, I'll pay for the repaint.

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9334/63736030vo9.jpg

Here's the ad I found online:

the AT just about keeps up with the MT. that's still a lot of power. check out the drag racing section if you don't think AT's can get up and go, they have lists for natural aspirated/FI/tire types and top ten lists.

A huge point in favor of ATs: They're MUCH more reliable than ATs! These are stats, not my "opinion". The price sounds right on that Z; if you're willing to spend a few extra $$s on the front end damage, I guess you're O.K. A final thing on ATs: Zs with auto trannies have
274ft/lbs torque, versus 260 for MTs. I'm v-e-r-y satisfied with mine!

I was in an accident and had to get a new bumper for my 05. The invoice said it was $345.18. I can't tell you how much the labor cost because the side and hood were also damaged so the labor includes that. Its better if you do get a new bumper and get it painted though cause I got a new rock chip on my bumper or hood once a week. I was forever touching up my car. After the wilburns painted it, I haven't even gotten one.

What did you get?

if its a 03 that damaged for $13k the owners trippin. for an 05 i'd offer 11.5k otherwise walk away, if you don't paint it yourself your looking at at least $1000 for a new repainted bumper which will most likely look much nicer than the rest of the car.

how did the bumper get damaged so bad? check carfax but also check with a mechanic. he may not have reported it. who knows? but do it to be safe.
try to get it down to 12k

The RSX is a good car and less expensive to insure.

:thinking:

Requested an update from the OP
 

We should know the results of this soon.