TL;DR: Should I buy this? http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=139052
So I've been thinking about picking up another car, just to have a backup for when the E39 needs work and possibly another project. I was initially looking at MR2s and Celicas (really want to put a 3SGE in something) but a friend shared this '88 Conquest with me. I've always wanted one of these cars BAD, and this one looks to be a lot of car for the price, but...slushbox.
I'd figure those Ronal R9s are worth at least $500 these days, which would basically make this a $1000 car. Now, I hate autos, but this one is relatively fresh and has an upgraded valve body, and the rest of the car appears to be pretty well looked-after. I would probably detail the hell out of it, put an air dam on, and drive it for a few months then flip it for a mild profit. But, the practical side of me says that if I'm going to go through the trouble of caring for a StarQuest, it might as well be a manual in a more appealing color.
What do you guys think? Good idea? Bad idea?
Well its my fav color quest. And these cars don't sell fast at all. So don't count on a quick flip. I don't think the auto is too bad. They don't rev high anyway, maybe 5500rpm? (shows how much I drive my starquest lol) so I think you'll be fine have the auto as a backup commuter. Also, they never have their front airdams lol
That car has a lot going for it: It's an 88, color, R9's, RUST FREE,
I test drove one, it was an auto in the same color. Cool car, but stock, the auto killed it. Had no grunt on the low end, and was only marginally better in boost. Rode pretty well though, and was oozing 80s coolness
Modified, might fix all those issues. I'd image they are fun once they are able to get out of their own way.
Could be a solid buy at that price, but i wouldn't have big hopes for making much on the flip. From what I've seen, the ceiling is pretty low on those. Ymmv
You'll struggle to move R9s at $500 i think. I ended up pocketing about $240 out of mine after getting berkeleyed on shipping.
Damn, almost going on two years trying to sell the car. I'd pass on that one.
Whenever I consider an 80s-- cool sports coupe, these pop up. I always gravitate towards the 83-85 Supras though. I've always liked the styling just as much, but they are much less problematic. You lose the boosty goodness, but gain usability.
I'd pass on this one. The auto would kill it.
Hearing pretty much what I expected. I gotta say, I scratched the Mk2 Supra itch - three times no less - then had two FB RX7s and a 200SX SE, so the Starion is the only one I really have yet to experience. (Mk3 Supra does little for me, FC RX7s are silly priced, and the Z31s...well...). If this was a manual car I would go for it as the StarQuest is the best-looking car of the bunch, IMO, but the auto really kills it. Also, I'm surprised the old Ronals aren't worth anything, they are really hard to find these days!
I love the color (both interior and exterior). I'm not sure how I feel about that steering wheel.
I wouldn't be afraid of the auto for a commuter. Plus, at $1k its going to be cheap commuting. I would take into account how hard it will be to sell with the auto.
MY roommate in college had a z31 non-turbo auto, and it wasn't fast, but it oozed style.
rcutclif wrote:
MY roommate in college had a z31 non-turbo auto, and it wasn't fast, but it oozed style.
I've read the Z31 turbo's are easy to upgrade to silly amounts of power for such an unloved car. They are also surprisingly hard to find.
Slick, didn't you have an NA z32? I thought we talked about that one once.
SlickDizzy wrote:
Hearing pretty much what I expected. I gotta say, I scratched the Mk2 Supra itch - three times no less - then had two FB RX7s and a 200SX SE, so the Starion is the only one I really have yet to experience. (Mk3 Supra does little for me, FC RX7s are silly priced, and the Z31s...well...). If this was a manual car I would go for it as the StarQuest is the best-looking car of the bunch, IMO, but the auto really kills it. Also, I'm surprised the old Ronals aren't worth anything, they are really has to find these days!
They'd be worth something if they were 5x120.
The 5x114s are exceedingly rare, and people love to somehow twist that as an excuse to lowball. "Well, i can't find any examples of these sold so i'm not sure what to offer. How does $100 sound?"
YOU CAN'T FIND SOLD EXAMPLES BECAUSE THEY'RE berkeleyING RARE
In reply to Xceler8x:
Yep, I had that car for about six months. I loved the interior and style, but I have never owned a harder car to work on - and that was an NA! It was a total nightmare to do even simple maintenance. I would take 80's vacuum line ridiculousness over another VG30 any day.
There is this manual Z31 turbo quasi-local but something about these cars just screams "trouble" to me. http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/cto/4956740821.html
There's this (I'm actually temped to take this to the challenge):
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/4951002537.html
$2000 ask, manual, turbo, probably simple electrical issue (I'm betting ignition switch or a main ground point).
SlickDizzy wrote:
There is this manual Z31 turbo quasi-local but something about these cars just screams "trouble" to me. http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/cto/4956740821.html
HAHAHAHA! Thats what I get for taking too long to post.
I think both of those cars would be great street/fun car candidates. Up the boost on them. Give them some sort of modern engine management or just go cheaper and tweak what you have 80's/cave man style.
So much Solid Gold, Miami Vice, classic 80's stuff going on there.
Nistune is made for those so easy and inexpensive engine management is available. On that car with suspension issues I would just put coilovers on or something. Screw messing around with 80s electronic controlled suspension.
87 is a good year for those
I don't think any bolt on intercooler is made anymore but I would get one fabricated before any power modding.
rcutclif wrote:
There's this (I'm actually temped to take this to the challenge):
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/4951002537.html
$2000 ask, manual, turbo, probably simple electrical issue (I'm betting ignition switch or a main ground point).
I actually went to go look at this car for a challenge prospect. Ended up just being a little too rough for my taste and the asking price. Really cool guy selling though.
He also has a line on an $800 1983 rx7 GSL (automatic) with brake booster issues. Would the GSL be 12a or 13b? how hard to trans-swap?
In reply to rcutclif:
13b was 84-85 GSL-SE only. I would not bother swapping an auto car, FBs aren't worth enough to go through the trouble when you could just buy a manual one.
There was a post a while back from some guy in the Northwest selling one of these Questars. If your love is strong enough buy the all and make your dream car then sell the rest.
Open Classified for other Questars
I drove had one for a while but didn't have the time or money to do it justice.
