Desperately need some expert advice on buying a 2002 G500
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Joined: Nov 2024
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Desperately need some expert advice on buying a 2002 G500
Hi all, just joined the forum and have been looking at one of these. Recently came across quite a fair deal. 2002 G500 with 150k miles on the odo. Seller asking 20k. The seller is a bit sketchy though, I can go more into it a bit later.
About the car first:
1. when I was test driving it, the TPS failed, throttle had no response, the seller didn't know about it and we went to oreilly and pulled the code, ended up being the TPS.
2. check engine light had another code which was p0445, a evap code or something.
3. slightly rusty frame, but mostly surface rust and no holes
4. smoker car
5. center locker engaged with no issues, front and rear we were hearing clicks but they never ended up engaging.
6. Because the TPS was failing I didn't test drive it as much I would liked, but when he was driving it the car drove and sounded fine.
About the seller:
He owns a small car dealership, but this car he claims he is selling for his uncle, so it will be a private sale, not through the dealership. He said his uncle has been owning it since 2013, and he hasn't been driving it for the past year because he has been traveling outside the U.S. The carfax record seemed to match his story, and the car did seem adult owned. The title is signed and ready to go.
He said if he doesn't get 20k he will just ship it to auction, he said the auction estimate he got was 19.2k.
I'm debating now whether it's worth the risk, because 20k is a great deal and i don't think I'd be able to find anything else like that. If nothing major is wrong with it, it probably won't cost me too much to get it in a decent shape. I would love to hear some of your advice on whether this thing has a potential to turn into a money pit, or whether I should pull the trigger. Want to make sure I'm not forgetting something important. Thanks!
About the car first:
1. when I was test driving it, the TPS failed, throttle had no response, the seller didn't know about it and we went to oreilly and pulled the code, ended up being the TPS.
2. check engine light had another code which was p0445, a evap code or something.
3. slightly rusty frame, but mostly surface rust and no holes
4. smoker car
5. center locker engaged with no issues, front and rear we were hearing clicks but they never ended up engaging.
6. Because the TPS was failing I didn't test drive it as much I would liked, but when he was driving it the car drove and sounded fine.
About the seller:
He owns a small car dealership, but this car he claims he is selling for his uncle, so it will be a private sale, not through the dealership. He said his uncle has been owning it since 2013, and he hasn't been driving it for the past year because he has been traveling outside the U.S. The carfax record seemed to match his story, and the car did seem adult owned. The title is signed and ready to go.
He said if he doesn't get 20k he will just ship it to auction, he said the auction estimate he got was 19.2k.
I'm debating now whether it's worth the risk, because 20k is a great deal and i don't think I'd be able to find anything else like that. If nothing major is wrong with it, it probably won't cost me too much to get it in a decent shape. I would love to hear some of your advice on whether this thing has a potential to turn into a money pit, or whether I should pull the trigger. Want to make sure I'm not forgetting something important. Thanks!
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 3
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From: New York
2008 E350 2017 GLS450
That code might be a gas cap issue or some kinda gross leak but who knows. Check how long this guy had it listed for.. I resell cars through dealer auctions and buy off Facebook regularly. I don’t like working with dealerships since it’s easier for them to hide stuff but if a cars been listed for a while for that price chances are other people have looked at it and haven’t bought it because of the issues. If you think you can handle the problems it has go for it, otherwise I’d say save the money on the problems and spend a bit more on something running perfectly unless this thing has every option you want
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 3
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It's been listed for less than a week. I just don't know whether this is good enough of a deal to justify the potential costs. If I can get it fixed for say 5k, and can still sell it for 25k. I would buy it. But if the market prices is just 22 23k, then I need to think about it. It's most about the price at this point, I've never seen something with this mileage for 20k.
Last edited by bobliu; Nov 3, 2024 at 03:40 PM.
