Topic: Going to look at a Calibra tomorrow, Advice please (Read 437 times)

VivSe5 · « **on:** October 16, 2011, 13:28:16 PM »

As the title says just need to know basics what I need to look for
and check to make sure its ok

Thankyou

ALZ1307 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 16, 2011, 13:45:10 PM »

Rust on arches etc, check its cold when you get there, look at oil and water for signs of shat, turn steering lock to lock, give it a good run out and check for smoke out the back, listen for any knocks, use all the gears several times, use every switch it has in cluding sunroof AC etc, check heater blower get hot and cold.

Just look at everything as if it was your own, if your not 100% happy walk away... There is a 'buying guide' on here someplace, good luck! Wenchered.

VivSe5 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 16, 2011, 14:09:52 PM »

Cheers wenchette

vexorg · « **Reply #3 on:** October 16, 2011, 16:11:04 PM »

What engine? and age?

VivSe5 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 16, 2011, 16:47:57 PM »

16v 1996...... 67,000 on the clock, so fingers crossed, looks tidy from pics

Butcher · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2011, 17:07:17 PM »

My advice is don't crash it. That is all

Gav · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2011, 17:56:39 PM »

What colour?

VivSe5 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2011, 18:02:38 PM »

Cheeky sod lol I was crashed into

It aint black

vexorg · « **Reply #8 on:** October 16, 2011, 20:31:48 PM »

An ecotec..... walk away now.

And if you are still insistent, then make sure the ecu light works.
Fuel and brake lines corroding.
Tyres and wear pattern.
Knock and noises when driving over a bumpy road.
Pulling to the side.
Colour of the oil and water.
MOT advisories.
Quiet engine when warm (they all rattle when cold)

J@zV6 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 16, 2011, 22:22:34 PM »

'Kick the tyres and bounce on the wing...'

Supposed to make you look like you know what you're doing! LoL

Seriously though, there are so many things that you need to check on a fifteen year old car, as with all of the advice above plus:

Check the offside rear wheel-arch for rust, or repairs. That's not because they don't rust elsewhere, but because, for some reason, that area seems to suffer from rust more than anywhere else on the car.
Check that ALL the warning lights come on when the ignition is turned on and that they all go out after a few seconds, with the exception of the handbrake warning light, if the handbrake is on and the brake-light warning light, which should stay on until you depress the brake pedal.
Check the travel on the brake pedal, both before and after the engine is started. You should find that it doesn't depress as far without resistance once the engine is running.
Check the boots (corrugated rubber sheaths on the suspension struts) for rips and check for signs of oil weeps on the struts. Not that you have to turn it down if everything else is perfect, but take account of the cost of getting them replaced and use them to negotiate the price.
Check for play on the front wheels, especially if you can jack them just off the ground.
Check all the lights, including indicators, rear number-plate lights and headlamp reflectors etc.

Don't be put off about the Ecotec. True it isn't as powerful as the pre-Ecotec 16v. It also has more sensors, which means more sensors that can go wrong, but providing that they are all working properly - the EML should indicate if any of them aren't working correctly - it shouldn't be a problem. The problem is that, if you by a pre-Ecotec (1993) model, you may get a more reliable engine, but it will probably have done a much higher mileage AND the body and running gear are all going to be much older and more liable to failure.

VivSe5 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 17, 2011, 09:48:29 AM »

Lol get my fat arse on the wing, the car will be lowered even more

Thanks for advice guys, ive managed to borrow a 6ft 4" growling biker to come with me,
so hopefully if the guy has got any sense, wont sell me a duff car!!!

ClubCalibra · « **Reply #11 on:** October 17, 2011, 10:32:08 AM »

Quote from: VivSe5 on October 16, 2011, 14:09:52 PM

Cheers wenchette

Lol

Glad you're getting a new one Viv, what happened to the black one that you had all those years ago? Can you believe that it was over 4 years ago when we lived in Waterleaze?!?

You'll have to come along to the next Bristol meet, its been too long!

VivSe5 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 17, 2011, 18:39:14 PM »

Quote from: ClubCalibra on October 17, 2011, 10:32:08 AM

Lol

Glad you're getting a new one Viv, what happened to the black one that you had all those years ago? Can you believe that it was over 4 years ago when we lived in Waterleaze?!?

You'll have to come along to the next Bristol meet, its been too long!

That black got got high miles and too much for mot, that one was replaced with another black one that I boiled dry then engine wrecked by dodgy mechanic, then that one was replaced by another black one that got into a fight with a volvo 4x4 and lost and written off

Now my fourth one...... Prune

And yes I must come along, be nice to see you again and catch up and some of the others

juan · « **Reply #13 on:** October 17, 2011, 18:54:10 PM »

open the bonnet and check for sines of damage on the chessy for frond impac . check olso the saftey belt pre tensioners if the jellow plastik is out then it is a sine that the car was mabie in frond prang

J@zV6 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 17, 2011, 21:59:20 PM »

Quote from: juan on October 17, 2011, 18:54:10 PM

open the bonnet and check for signes of damage on the chessy? for frondt impact . check oalso the saftey belt pre tensioners if the jyellow plastikc is out then it is a signe that the car was maybie in frondt prang

Hawke · « **Reply #15 on:** October 18, 2011, 14:06:09 PM »

Good luck Viv keep us updated on how it goes fingers crossed for you

ALZ1307 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 18, 2011, 14:48:05 PM »

As the wenchered now has a car have a look here eh? LOL http://www.clubcalibra.com/calibra-chat/finally-my-new-calibra/

Hawke · « **Reply #17 on:** October 18, 2011, 14:56:18 PM »

Hi there Alz yes noticed the new thread after i posted the one above but thanks anyway

ClubCalibra · « **Reply #18 on:** October 18, 2011, 15:36:30 PM »

So come on Viv, how'd it go?

ALZ1307 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 18, 2011, 15:37:41 PM »

Quote from: ClubCalibra on October 18, 2011, 15:36:30 PM

So come on Viv, how'd it go?

OMG!

Quote from: ALZ1307 on October 18, 2011, 14:48:05 PM

As the wenchered now has a car have a look here eh? LOL http://www.clubcalibra.com/calibra-chat/finally-my-new-calibra/

Damn skim readers...

Author Topic: Going to look at a Calibra tomorrow, Advice please (Read 437 times)