Looking to buy need help?

[sho_shane]

Ok guy a few day ago I asked on this forum, What should I get and with the few ansers I got befor the mod's shut it down tells me I should get a SHO now I have some Q's about what I should buy:
1. What is the best year to buy?
2. What year has the most parts still available for it?
3. Im only going to get to save up about 1500 so I know he car I get will probly be abused and have HI miles what do you guy think I sould put in to the car when I first get it?
4. What should I look for in getting a sho?

Thanks for any and all help!

 

[trueSHO]

Gen I or II, I'd go with a gen II cuz the interior is nicer. And get a 5 speed over the automatic. Other than that, look for one that looks like it's been taken care of, for 1500, I think you could get a pretty clean gen I for sure if you look good enough

 

[trueSHO]

parts for any gen I or II are pretty easy to find, just gotta look a little harder for some...

 

[jaded93atx]

Dont get an automatic, and if you can find one in decent shape get a 1st generation, they are tanks. I bought a 91 + that had bad paint but no rust for 500.00, I loved it... it was faster, handled better, way more reliable and easier to work on than my 93 atx that I've had to dump a ton of time and money in and will still never drive as good. The blue book on these cars if "very fine" is under 2000.00 so for 1500.00 if you are patient and shop around you should land a pretty sweet ride. Also look for one that hasnt been modified, theres a better chance it hasnt been abused. When you find one make sure you take it for a long test drive so it gets up to operating temperature, to see if its getting a check engine light. If it has one so get frightened off just dont pay as much.
Good Luck

 

[60kmaintenance]

Check the axle boots to see if they are not torn. If they are it will cost you lots of time and some money to fix them. (Not fun)

Try to get one that has the regular maintance cycles done on it, if you do not, plan on spending a lot more on maintenance.

1991 with a rod shifter would be nice (might be a little hard to come by), look under the car and you will see two rods going from a black box to the transmission, right next to the exhaust.

You can tell how bad of maintenance one will need by a test drive...

If it "stutters" taking off it probably has oil in the plug wells. You can check by pull a spark plug wire up and looking. If you can not do that in the back, just try to feel if there is oil around the valve cover.

Look for excessive oil coming out the covers of the timing belt (behind accessory belts) this will tell you if the cam seals are any good, and at the bottom, the main seal.

Listen to see if the water pump sounds ok, no funny noises.

Granted some SHO's will have all that maintenance done, and you can just double check, some will have nothing done at all.

93 and newer are kind of nice, they have a rod shifter, newer interior, and the new console. HOWEVER I am a fan of Gen 1's, they are my favorite years!