2003 Vibe GT. Might be a minor fix. ATL. $500. Excellent Challenger!

This car is mine.  I loved this car.  It has served me well, always been reliable.  I loaned it to my son- he drove it for about 4 months without problem.

A couple weeks ago, it died while driving.  He said it was making a noise he hadn't heard before.  He had it towed to a mechanic who said it had a rod knock.  I'm not convinced.  I think the guy was trying to sell us an engine (my son is not mechanical).

We picked it up a couple weeks ago, and I had very little time.  I couldn't do any diagnosis.  I heard it crank, but it didn't start.  It had a disengaged sound- like when the starter is spinning freely.  It didn't sound like it was turning over the engine.  No visible damage or fluids leaking.  But I couldn't put more energy into it.

Here's the deal.  The car is in ATL, and I have no desire to tow it back to SC and start working on it.  I have no space, and no time.  It's time to walk away.  It needs to be removed from where it is in ATL within a couple weeks.

Car is a 6 speed.  It's the GT version, so it has the 2ZZ engine.  Yep- the same one used in the Lotus Exige and Elise.  Has a recent clutch, and 4 recent (basic) tires.  Paint is faded.  No rust- never been wrecked.  I also put new coil packs in last year.

It might need an engine.  Or maybe it just needs a starter, or something simple.  I am offering it at a price that I think is fair even if it needs an engine.  You might get very lucky.

I won't do any further diagnosis.  $500, come and get it.

If I have to tow it back to SC and start working on it, the price will go up a lot.  Or, I may just send it to the scrapper.  It would make me sad, but I really don't have the time for this right now.

GREAT Challenge car, or daily driver.

Sooo tempting

Oh dang. Tempting no kidding.

How many miles are on the car? 

In reply to jmurf28 :

Don't remember... maybe 180K?

I'll check. 

How's the oil?  Any shinnies?

In reply to Stampie (FS) :

Shinnies?

If somebody wants to try a wicked swap, I've got a complete running 2GR-FE equipped Avalon that I want $950 for. 
 

Buy them together, and I'll knock $200 off the combined price. $1250 for BOTH. 
 

It would be a rocket. 
 

Or if you happen to have a couple MR2's laying around (cough, cough Mr Joshua cough, cough), you'd have BOTH a 2GR and a 2ZZ to play with!!

In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :

Little shinny bits of metal that previous belonged to bearings.

In reply to Stampie (FS) :

That would require opening the drain plug. I have done no diagnostics. 

Mileage is 188780. 
 

Oil on dipstick appears normal. Didn't note metallics, or burned smell, etc. 
 

Attempted start that sounds like "free spinning" is usually a broken timing system.  The 2ZZ is a chain but if the tensioner started to go that could have been the noise the song unit heard before things kaplooed.

Interference motor, my money says it needs a new head.   But shouldn't be too hard for someone to fix.

KyAllroad (Jeremy) (Forum Supporter) said:

Attempted start that sounds like "free spinning" is usually a broken timing system.  The 2ZZ is a chain but if the tensioner started to go that could have been the noise the song unit heard before things kaplooed.

Interference motor, my money says it needs a new head.   But shouldn't be too hard for someone to fix.

I was gonna say something similar,that broken timing belts sound like a free spinning starter. Didn't know off the top of my head if 2zz was chain or belt.

I have the time, but no shop or room for it.  I'm getting tired of this situation.  

In reply to spitfirebill :

If you can figure out the space, I will offer you free transport.

I was just looking around for a Matrix XRS(same car), but unfortunately ATL is too far from NEPA.

Ah, E36 M3. This is a perfect first car for boy-spawn.

In reply to Brett_Murphy (Forum Patrón) :

You're in Raleigh. I'll bring it to you. 

Why is this so tempting to me?

Im thinking the haul would be expensive back to NC though.

But, dang, tempting

In reply to hybridmomentspass :

Where in NC?  I may be willing to haul cheap. 

I'm discussing this as a potential purchase with my wife. She's hesitant because it's a manual, but I've advised her that:
1. The kids should learn how to drive a manual, and they're not using my Subaru
2. Same for her
3. Manual means you're less distracted
4. Kids friends are unlikely to be able to drive it
5. It's a good, safe first car.

In reply to Brett_Murphy (Forum Patrón) :

Buy it so I don't.

In reply to Brett_Murphy (Forum Patrón) :

I have 5 kids. All of them now drive. All drive sticks.
 

All of your reasons are exactly correct. The best thing about teaching my kids to drive a stick (and then forcing them to do it) was watching how their attentiveness shifted. The mind of a kid driving an auto is wandering into every distraction possible. They are bored, and they can't focus.  Put them in a manual and they are instantly focused on their driving. 
 

Plus, they have more fun!

Manual transmissions also cut down on the number of people that will try to borrow your car.