Am I getting ripped off bad?

[camaroheat3400]

Hey, this is my first time posting here and I really need your opinion. Do your good deed for the day and help me out please.

I have a 1995 Chevrolet Camaro named Betsy it has 80,000 miles, an M5 tranny, a 3.4l v6, pacesetter headers, CAI, window tint, cd headunit, short shifter and Grant GT steering wheel. It was already in rough running condition when I bought it and it has some very minor body damage and paint coming off. It sat for months after I bought a trans am and then went to college.

When I came back, it wouldn't start. I changed the oil, oil filter and a few other things, but it still wouldn't start. With starter fluid it would almost crank, but never fully start. I don't know if my friend cranked it too much and killed it because now the engine will do nothing at all. I thought it was probably the fuel pump. Everything else works in the car ie. lights, radio.

Now I have to sell it and this guy who is letting me keep it at his house is offering me $200. He keeps lowering his offer. First it was $1,000 and after he hooked it up to a scanner or something he said the car's computer was not working and it would be at least $800 for a used one. A week ago he was offering me $350 and today it was $200...He has a 79 camaro with a 305 that he is going to implant into my Camaro if I sell it to him.

I am not too savy when it comes to knowing what to do with things like this. I really need some cash to study abroad and $200 will not go far. I feel like it would rape me to let it go for that. What do you guys think? Please help a brother out. Parting it out is really not an option. I am located in Eustis, Florida 32726 if anybody here is looking for a project car. I am not looking to make serious bank on this...I just want both parties(seller and buyer) to walk away happy.

Kelley blue book put the car at $2,760 in fair condition which means

• Some mechanical or cosmetic defects and needs servicing but is still in reasonable running condition.
• Clean title history, the paint, body and/or interior need work performed by a professional.
• Tires may need to be replaced.
• There may be some repairable rust damage.

It is not in fair condition since it won't start right now, but it is not so poor to justify the DRASTICALLY lower price. I feel somewhat obligated to sell to this guy since he has let me keep my car at his house for a couple months and is a friend of the family, but he is not a close friend and I feel that I am being lowballed. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Bruce

[nascar24jd]

Re: Am I getting ripped off bad?

You said it ran very rough to begin with, so even if he gets it running it may have other issues.

$500 and call it a day. After all, he has let you store it at his house for several months...

[cantrip]

Re: Am I getting ripped off bad?

I would try and get it to work. Sometimes its the smallest thing and it could make a huge difference. How much did you pay for it?

[1LOMARO]

Re: Am I getting ripped off bad?

Parting it out will bring better than $200. I also agree with Cantrip..... the smallest thing could be the problem......

[flamingchicken]

Re: Am I getting ripped off bad?

id say depending on what you paid for it, tell the guy you want to get at least 950 for it and see if he makes you a counter offer. if not, put it on cl for 1500 obo.

[Rob Bell]

Re: Am I getting ripped off bad?

So when you say it would almost crank, are you meaning that the starter spins the engine but it does not start? Or do you mean that the starter just barely spins the engine? If the starter is spinning the engine OK then check for fuel and spark. Whichever is missing, go from there.

I agree, he's trying to rip you off. He knows what the problem is, and he's going to fix it and make a tidy profit at your expense. If it really is in decent condition (except for not starting) I'd get it off his property and throw a couple hundred his way for his trouble.

[RadRacer]

Re: Am I getting ripped off bad?

Don't do it! You're getting ripped off

Almost start, as in the car stumbles while turning it over? If so it's a fueling problem; check the fuel filter, first thing. Heck, go ahead and replace it, it's like $12......do you hear the fuel pump prime when you first turn the key on? (turn it to run, but do not start it) If not, you might need to replace it; if so then check the injectors. I bet if you took a weekend and dedicated it entirely to working on it, you'll get somewhere :)

[cantrip]

Re: Am I getting ripped off bad?

I would document everything you replace so it will look really good when you sell it. (even if it is just something worthless, people are dumb)

[J3$$3]

Re: Am I getting ripped off bad?

Maybe the guy did something to it just so he could talk you way down from $1000..... Could just be a fuel filter. I doubt a fuel pump, maybe even a fuse under the hood? My Monte Carlo wouldn't start one time, sat for a week and It ended up being a fuse for the fuel pump.

[flamingchicken]

Re: Am I getting ripped off bad?

if we are gonna diag the car, my money is on the fuel pump. i say this because "almost crank" sounds like its busting off but not running.

[camaroheat3400]

Re: Am I getting ripped off bad?

Wow! You guys are freaking awesome! I post this on ls1tech and no one answers me, but you guys...you guys are something else. I wish some of you guys were close by and could look at it. I love cars, but I dont know much about them...I should learn, just dont have much time or tools.

I think I should at least get $600...and even that is a good deal for the buyer IMO. Let me explain the car a little better. The interior is all messed up because the previous owner cut the rear seatbelts, stained the carpets and spray painted the formerly brown interior black. The body has a palm sized space where there is no paint or anything...just metal and more paint keeps cracking off. The driver door also does not open all the way...just a messed up hinge, but it kinda pushed the drivers side fender in. There are also a buch of scratches on the hardtop that some vandal did. I HATE VANDALISIM!!! It may have a blown head gasket and exhaust leak(at least that is what a not so good mechanic told me a while ago). It has some leaks and it has a fan switch to leave the fan on all the time or it overheats.Then there are things like the passenger side mirror is missing(just the glass) and both headlights are out. Besides the vandalisim, everthing else was done by previous owner. It does have a clean title. I don't think the car had any fuel pressure.

How could I diagnose the exact problem? I dont have much time before I have to leave for Italy and I need cash. Guys, I really can not tell you how much I appreciate this.

Please continue to help me.

[nascar24jd]

Re: Am I getting ripped off bad?

It sounds like it has tons if issues. You mentioned $600, so tell him you want $600 and see what happens. If you are running out of time I think you need to dump that car and call it a day.

[J3$$3]

Re: Am I getting ripped off bad?

yeah, I agree. If your strapped for cash just try to get $600 out of it, because it needs a lot more work then what it's worth. But I wouldn't let it go more less than $500.

[Teal3800]

Re: Am I getting ripped off bad?

I'd recommend having the battery tested or just try a new one, especially if it's the original battery. My 96 did the same thing, wouldn't start but lights and everything else worked just wouldn't fire up, after I parked it for a few months. Had the battery tested and it had a full charge but it's health wasn't good, I rebuilt my alternater shortly after just for good meassure.

[Rob Bell]

Re: Am I getting ripped off bad?

I agree with Nascar and J3. It sounds like this car, even if it runs, would be too much of a hassle and expense to fix up, even to bring it to the point where you could sell it in "fair" condition. Your description makes it sound like a piece of junk. If it were me, I'd see what I could get him to pay you for it, and if he wants to throw his money and time at it, then he deserves to make a profit. Sounds like the previous owner really knew how to maintain his ride. Yeah, it probably has good potential to be restored, but at what cost? It seems you don't have the time or money to do the work, so I'd let it go if I were you.