Looking for buy a 02 C230 @ 150K miles...fun 3rd car???

[Javvy]

Hi Guys, I am looking to buy a 2002 C230 kompressor @ 150k miles as a fun 3rd car. Would like to know what I should be looking out for as far as any major repair or any thing that might cost me major $$$.......not so knoweledgable on these cars....I drive a C280 4 matic which my wify threatens to ****** from me so am looking at this car in white. He is asking for $5500, what should a resonable offer on a car with these many miles...... all ears for any suggestions and recomendations.........any major big ticket repair items on this year model car...... and oh BTW I am looking for a coupy hatchback supercharged car....thats is the reason why I chose the C230..... any and all feedback is much appreciated....if you think of any links that I should read go ahead and post it.... thank You Javvy

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[tommy]

I'd have to strongly encourage you to look elsewhere. A "fun car" generally has to be running to be much fun. Really, at that age and mileage, there are two roads it could take - either most of the major sh*t has happened and has been repaired and the car is now in a sweet spot before the really bad stuff happens down the road several years, or it's just about to hit some major issues like blowing the diff, having to have the s/c rebuilt, electronics (very awful on 01s and 02s), or other stuff. For example, my car with through some major items about 15 months ago, but has been fine since then, except for the window regulator, which was just fixed today. These 02s are serious russian roulette, though. Do you know the car's history?

If you're looking at a fun coupe/hatch for about $5-6k in cabbage, there are several options that I would recommend instead. 02-05 Civic Si, 99-00 Civic Si, even a bubbleback Si 92-95 Si. Then there are older 3 series, Minis, Miatas, GTIs, WRX/RS2.5s, Mazdaspeed 3s, that should all be probably more reliable than the ccoupe, and don't face the problem of the ccoupe in needing a good amount of $$ to make them an acceptable level of fun.

[Javvy]

thank you tommy for a very honest reply. much appreciated.

Javvy