Starion Buying Guide!?

chunkhead · Post by **chunkhead** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:24 pm

Hi guys! Have been quite interested in starions since my old man had one back in the day, nearly bought one last year, but changed my mind at the last minute in exchange for a Honda Prelude, (Got it cheap), but alas, snapped the cam belt yesterday, bent all 16 valves and need a new car!

So... what I would like is some sort of guide explaining what to look for and check to ensure I don't get a lemon Stazz! Also what sort of money should I be paying? I do know a bit about the stazz, but you guys are far more experienced then me! I'm currently looking at an '85 JB, that sounds immaculate (Two related owners, always garaged, full service history with receipts, rings/bearings replaced recently, also brand new CAM BELT, etc) Has done 270,000 though!?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I'm looking forward to becoming a Starion owner very soon!

Cheers!

Entaran · Post by **Entaran** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:24 pm

Buy a cheap one with an immac body and have the engine reco'ed with the free 2000 dollars you save. Start with 0 km on engine and you'll be fine? :)

I'm not a guru tho.

decoy · Post by **decoy** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:31 pm

chunkhead wrote:Has done 270,000 though!?

explains why the rings/bearings were replaced recently... make sure there's a reciept for that one. JBs are good to start with, get the late model bumper, side vents, 15s and elec mirrors. just gotta source a bonnet (well, don't have to). Also check for an lsd on the jb, rust in the quarters behind the front wheel but before the door starts. check general car stuff, compression, smoke on idle/on boost, air con works, oil in the crossover pipe etc.

Post by **Alspos** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:31 pm

Hey Chuk. Welcome aboard. The one you found sounds alright, treat it with respect and it will be as reliable as the next 20 odd year old car. If you belt them like the rest of us do........ then expect to break a few things.

Entaran · Post by **Entaran** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:34 pm

If you belt them like the rest of us do........ then expect to break a few things.

I'm putting that on my wall. :D

chunkhead · Post by **chunkhead** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:34 pm

Here's the full write up anyway:

Sought-after JB model with mod cons including electric mirrors etc., 2 owner, in family since new, garaged and well-maintained, Sony 10 stacker CD, turbo timer, factory LSD, original and unmodified, straight body, very reliable, immaculate overall condition, rings/bearings replaced by Mitsubishi 40,000kms ago, just had major service including new cam belt and brake pads (receipt for $1,700), near new Michelin tyres, servicing receipts, just fitted new battery. Includes registration until September 2005.

Wants $4900, no RWC!?

Entaran · Post by **Entaran** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:35 pm

Light blue. Drives like a dream has an LSD. I've alraedy checked it out and passed it up. The blokes currently interstate at a wedding :) But he'll be back in a week or so.

My guess is it's a daily that's been sorta babied.

www.carsales.com.au is your FRIEND

robert26t · Post by **robert26t** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:35 pm

i cant stress it enough, make sure it doesnt blow smoke and it is registed.. dont make the same mistake i did. I got the car on the 2nd may and it still isnt on the road. But dont get me wrong the car is wicked!! there is only a couple small things to fix then its back on the road :)

chunkhead · Post by **chunkhead** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:42 pm

Hey Entaran, that's her! What's the story with her? Shit house? Worth a look? I'm buying this as I need a car quick and I've always liked the stazz!

Entaran · Post by **Entaran** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:48 pm

It was clean as far as I could tell. Check the pin that holds the wastegate closed, you mihgt have to spend a couple of dollars replacing it. Otherwise it's got an LSD which is enough reason to buy it.

MrBishi · Post by **MrBishi** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 8:46 am

Entaran wrote:Buy a cheap one with an immac body and have the engine reco'ed with the free 2000 dollars you save. Start with 0 km on engine and you'll be fine? .

In my experience in looking for a staz, 'cheap' and 'immaculate body' are mutually exclusive. 'cheap' meant 'shithouse everything'

Spend the extra on a good starion. Getting harder to find but in the end will save you $$ and headaches. Stretch to a JB/D and you won't regret it.

dirty sanchez · Post by **dirty sanchez** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 11:09 am

MrBishi wrote:In my experience in looking for a staz, 'cheap' and 'immaculate body' are mutually exclusive. 'cheap' meant 'shithouse everything'

Spend the extra on a good starion. Getting harder to find but in the end will save you $$ and headaches. Stretch to a JB/D and you won't regret it.

I agree. Every now and then a starion comes up for $6k or $7k that has had an absolute fortune spent on it and is in as good or better condition than new.

fr335tyl3r · Post by **fr335tyl3r** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 12:16 pm

yeh but then where is the fun in fixing it up? :P if u were gonna buy a car that didnt need work done, get a boring car.

chunkhead · Post by **chunkhead** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 8:40 pm

Ok, have bought Silver's starion from the Buy\Sell area of this site! I'm quite happy with what I've got, I feel it'll be a good introduction to the stazz and will allow me to mess... as fr335tyl3r said, I want to learn also, not just own one!

hcca · Post by **hcca** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 9:05 pm

and will allow me to mess... as fr335tyl3r said, I want to learn also, not just own one! Wink

It's more fun messing with performance goodies than replacing broken shit :) Good luck though. My 'cheap' Starion has turned out to be a friggin nightmare! (actually, it's not that bad, but geez it pisses me off).

Austarion

Starion Buying Guide!?

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