Should I save or sell my SHO?

[24Nathan]

Here's my deal: I absolutely love this car more than any other I've ever been in. It's a '93 green automatic and we've put a lot of work in:

new tire rod $90
both lower control arms, new $108
new battery $73
new starter $46.50
two new tires (other two are good) $204
new transmission ~$1300

And then the fateful day...I ran off the road after a long day. Fell asleep at the wheel. My new transmission now needs rebuilt again and apparently the subframe is busted. I also got hit by two deer and need a new hood and a new frame for the headlights to be fastened to.

Is it worth fixing the transmission and subframe to get this car running? Or at this point, will it be a money pit? Would it be better to sell for parts? I'm hurting for money as well as a car right now, which is why I'm asking. Thanks for your help, anything will be appreciated.

 

[kevinspann]

Depends on how handy you are...

All of the parts (subframe/hood/header panel) should all be able to be found in a junkyard, or possibly someone local, for probably not much money.

Actually check the subframe and the underside of the car to see how bad it is.

It may have rusted out on one corner and finally broke from the crash.


How bad is the trans? I assume it busted the pan and let all the fluid out?


As far as being worth it, that really depends on the condition of the rest of the car...

 

[intimdatr]

Where in Missouri are you? if youre close id love to talk to you about and help if needed.

 

[RonPorter]

Well, over the next coupla weeks, about $2,700 is going into my white '89: $1,100 at the body shop for paint (on the front end), $600 from SHO Source for parts, ~$1,000 at the shop for installs of new struts+alignment and basic 60K work. This is after the ~$8K I've spent on the $1,725 eBay car I bought 2.5 years ago.

And it would still need a bit of work to be perfect.

Then it's For Sale. And I won't get what I have in it.

These cars ain't cheap to keep going "properly".

If you want an old SHO in good running condition, it will cost you. Less so if you do all the work yourself (which, personally, I don't do anymore).

You just hafta decide.......

 

[sperold]

I just have to ask... how do you get hit by two deer?

All the problems don't seem so bad if you do a lot of it yourself. You can check around Missouri to see if any other SHOs are available, and compare the prices between fixing or replacing the car.
Get some better advice on the subframe and transmission as well, you can probably remedy both for not much money.

 

[JRA2000TL]

These cars ain't cheap to keep going "properly".

This is the first time I've ever heard Ron describe anything SHO related as expensive.

If you're passionate about it, you'll either fix her up or buy another SHO. Passionate = putting yourself in a $ crunch to buy crap, give up other stuff, eat cheap crappy meals so you can buy parts, etc. I never save $ mostly because of these cars.

Like he said, it's all about what you want. I loved mine so much, I bought air tools, books, got on this forum and learned how to work on these things myself. This forum is a great resource. If I can go from only being able to do a front brake job to doing 60ks, a/c work, engine bearings, interior work, etc., then you can too. Don't be scared; dive in, read the forum, learn stuff and give it a shot. If I paid a shop to do EVERYTHING, I could not own these cars. Be selective on the work you do, and if you're not comfortable, pay a shop. Otherwise, save some $, try it yourself, and enjoy working on it.

 

[TimboSHO]

If it is rusty at all, I would find something else. If you have to put this much work into it anyways, you might as well find something rust free that might need some work...

 

[bringit]

Oh well, I spent $3000.01 last year on a car(95 shomatic)worth about the same /k.b.b.value. I still need to replace my b.d.a., and a couple window switches and a wind. motor, and carpet & headliner, driver's seat cover, lumber inflator. Not-to-mention what pops up in the meantime, it will be done........to each his (or her ) own. Whatever Lucky No. 13 I'm dunn.

 

[Art5]

Same here. I even lost count how much only money in parts, I've spent on my most recent SHO and still, this damn thing is demanding money.I can be sure that I spent over 8500 in total on it. Did most of the labor myself, but I am tires of working on this more than driving it, but what is it worth?
I need to dump another 1500 on it still, to get it back on the road and will if I was to sell it tomorrow, it wouldn't cost more than $4000, besides, how many people know what SHO is?

As for parts that you need, think about Subframe swap(it is becoming a lot cheaper than before), and you may find other parts cheap, too.

 

[dohcsable]

I've dumped over 3k into a thankfully well maintained $700 95 mtx, and it still hasn't been on the road since '07. Still needs tires and will still need suspension/brakes.


Honestly, if you are that attached to it(and have the money), fix it. You could honestly buy another one with next to no issues for around 3k if you look hard enough.

 

[RichieSHO34]

It really depends on how you feel because with the money your looking to spend if your going to pay someone to do it, you could buy a new SHO

 

[24Nathan]

Where in Missouri are you? if youre close id love to talk to you about and help if needed.

I'm in Owensville, about an hour and a half away. PM me, we should talk.

I just have to ask... how do you get hit by two deer?

Horrible, horrible luck. Mind you, it wasn't at the same time.

Get some better advice on the subframe and transmission as well, you can probably remedy both for not much money.

Well, the guy I took it to is known around here for his transmission work especially. About how much money should a transmission/subframe job cost, do you know?

All of the parts (subframe/hood/header panel) should all be able to be found in a junkyard, or possibly someone local, for probably not much money.

Do you know how much is a good, average price for these parts?

Actually check the subframe and the underside of the car to see how bad it is.

It may have rusted out on one corner and finally broke from the crash.

It may have, but I wouldn't know by looking at it. If I posed pics on here, could someone identify it?

How bad is the trans? I assume it busted the pan and let all the fluid out?

Don't know. It let the fluid out for sure, I'm not sure of any details.

As far as being worth it, that really depends on the condition of the rest of the car...

Condition of the rest is great. Something has been said about the struts, but I don't think it's dire.

As for parts that you need, think about Subframe swap(it is becoming a lot cheaper than before), and you may find other parts cheap, too.

What do you mean, just a replacement job? Do you know average prices for the parts/work?


Thanks for the responses, everybody.

 

[jlunde15]

there are a few threads on 3rd gen subframe swaps around here...there are plenty of 3rd gens in jys.

Don't have someone do a subframe swap for you.

If you don't have one, rent a cherry picker from Sunbelt Rentals at ~$50/day for one day, hold the motor up, put the new subframe in, return the cherry picker, profit from learning and not having to pay someone for a day's worth of labor.

Also, most junkyards, at least the ones around DFW, are willing to negotiate to a point. Just be ready to walk away, as with anything else.

Give it a shot. I had no experience swapping the subframe on an SHO in 2006, rented a c.p. from sunbelt, did it with a friend, took us no less than 12 hours with double the beers.

 

[24Nathan]

Mine is a generation two. And if I had a friend do the work (he runs a small shop, but I've known him for years, so he won't overcharge), how much should it run?

 

[shobote]

You've invested very little in parts, unles the list is a LOT longer, and if you fix all the accident damage, it will still be a money pit down the road and a PITA to work on. I'd part it, collect whatever insurance money, have it hauled to a JY, and get a used Japanese car.

 

[intimdatr]

Pm replied.

 

[Phoenix]

If you shell another 2k into it , just remind yourself , how much a POS you would get for 2k if you buy another car for that money. Plus you wouldnt know the history. Maybe theres a bunch of stuff to do in that other car as well...

At least this one , you know whats been done to it.

In the other end , If you are on a tiny tight budget you might wanna consider a older Tercel or a Civic , if its reliablility you are after...Parts are dirt cheap.

 

[shobote]

If you have to pay somebody to fix everything, a SHO is just not the car to own. You will never recover the costs put into fixing it when you go to sell it. Japanese cars are much better built, easier to work on, and parts are cheap.