http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=250260051347&Category=9843&_trksid=p3907.m29 Is that a good buy? I dont want a turbo and it looks ok. Just worries me about there being MOT till "Jun 08" lol

What do you guys think?

I wouldn't buy a car that's been dragged out of a pond...

Is that their idea of a good spot for a photo? lol

Seriously, I dunno. You get what you pay for I guess...

Thats what i thought. It seems to good to be true?

On Ebay especially, things that look to good to be true usually are.......

First thing I spotted is the extra pipe running across the radiator. The 20v na doesn't usually have a pipe there so it could be a bodge of some sort, either cooling or aircon

It's a cheap car, if you go in with your eyes wide open, and go view it first before bidding, then you *might* be okay.

I'd buy it on the basis of being a rebuild project and if it turns out to be a decent car then you win, if it turns out to need £1500 spending then it's a cheap project but you'd be unlikely to get your money back on it.

Yeh, this is why i'm asking you guys!

I dont want to spend loads on it but i dont mind spending abit!

I'm really unsure about it

At 126,000 miles there are a few things you'd need to check have been done, or budget for:

Clutch
Timing belt/tensioners/water pump (although may have been done at engine rebuild in 2007, you'd need to check and I'd certainly hope they'd been done! )
Front lower wishbones
Drop links
ARB bushes
Rear arm bushes
Radiator
Air con radiator (it gets the full force of stones coming through the bumper openings, so "needs a regas" may mean "because the aircon rad is holier than the Pope! )
Brake lines and rubber hoses throughout could be "tired".
Dampers all round will also be tired.
Obvious things like brake discs, pads, possibly even rear callipers will all need checking, as will the rear brake bias valve.
Handbrake cables.
And then a full service.

If you have to rely on someone else to the work for you then a £1500 refurb budget is quickly eaten up, even if you only pick 3 or 4 items from the above list.

Or.........it could be a hidden gem that sails through the next MOT and you've nabbed a bargain

These cars aren't cheap to get to a decent standard which is why the common sense approach is to buy the very best you can afford.

I ignored that advice on purpose because I wanted a project, but it's fair to say that even parts blew the £1500 budget!

Oh, and there's a cover missing in the engine compartment, just to the left of the battery. It should sit above the wiring connectors beside the cam cover. You can see two holes in the plastic resonator box where it was bolted into. Those holes are now allowing unmetered air the system. Lovely!

Other bits I forgot about:

Thermostat
Exhaust
Wheel bearings
CV joints

Again, that car may be fine, but it's the sort of thing you'd need to check before buying.

We haven't even got on to the body repairs yet......

This is what a 20v na engine bay should look like: click

Time for a trip to the opticians....

I think it's definitely worth it at the price it's currently at!

I was just testing to make sure you were paying attention Matt!

Okay, so it's 112600 with a wavy clock..........

Haha! Well, thanks for all that. Though i'm still undecided.

I think i'm going to leave it. I'm that undecided it seems like the better thing to do.
I'll keep on looking and i'm sure something will all of a sudden appear and i'll buy it.

Also its along way for me to drive to if its going to be crap!

Why has a 20v got 16v cloth seats?...most change the other way round as the 16v ones are a bit *ahem* green !

Theres one in the for sale section:

http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=613133#Post613133

Midlife crisis hints at an older owner(!) tan leather and it's had the belts done. Not too far from you.