Is this car right?

[6a13]

Hi there,
New member here. Just paid my membership fee and am looking forward to accessing all the hidden treasure!
Has anyone out there looked at the silver Galant vr4 in the deaded K-T-C? The 1 with the facelift bumper. They only got it in last wednesday and i put a deposit on it there and then.
It seems like a spotless example, Mechanically sound and good value BUT...
The bonnet, n/s wing and n/s front door are a slightly different colour from the rest of the car.
It may only have been keyed or scuffed slightly or may be something more serious.
The chassis legs appear straight and the welds original with no spanner scars on the wing bolts.
I asked the young guy there, and he said there was no recorded repair on the car and all the panels line up lovely.
Any advice would be gratefully received.
I'll try and post a pic to show you what i mean.
If all is good i pick it up on wednesday, so watch out for me in a ditch somewhere.
Thanks
Andy.

[Beastlee]

I would ask a few more questions and get it checked. If you look at the B pillars the front door is more of a dull/matt black than the front edge of the rear door. It's definitely two different silvers and I would say that the door has been changed based on my above observation.
Did you actually go and look at the car before placing the deposit? How much was it?
Te car looks great otherwise, I must admit.

[6a13]

Hi Beastlee
The car is up for £3995. Apart from the colour difference it is spot on.
I had a good look over it on wednesday and it is a cracker. Freshly serviced in japan 1000k ago and looks like someone really looked after it before export.
I am prepared to overlook the colour difference cos it is so good.
Remember i have a deposit on it so no sly buying it or anything!!.
If all goes well when i test it tomorrow, i'll be the proud owner by wednesday! Woo Hoo!!
It has goodies too, like Tein coilovers with the fancy electronic gizmo( looks like the control box has been knicked tho), a turbo timer and remote starter.
I think it was well worth waiting for the right car to come along.
It will look sweet next to my facelift v6sport in the drive.
I'll post after the testdrive.
Andy

[6a13]

Oh yeah. The D pillar is a different colour. QED it is off a different car!
I know a man who will colour match that paint for me and no one will ever know.
Andy.

[Axeboy]

Have the history checked to be safe...


http://www.bimta.org/

[Kieran]

Ask to see the auction sheet. Don't let them give you any crap that they don't have it - Especially since it's got a facelift bumper.... That was a 1998-on option, so it's either been retrofitted or it's a crash repair. Could be either.

There was a Legnum at KTC recently that someone on here (who shall remain nameless unless they wish to identify theirselves) was watching when it was still in Japan. Quite a few toys on it, but It was a Grade 'RA' with a bad sounding engine knock- so they aborted the purchase. 3 weeks later, KTC have it at £3995.

Having said that... KTC do bring in some good cars too. A few members on here have had no issues with them... But the general feeling from the foums is they're the lucky ones. That said - had a quick look at the pictures and it does *look* alright.

Good luck with it Andy - I hope I haven't put you off, but KTC should be treated as a 'private sale'. Buyer beware, but it's not guaranteed to be a dog - it may be a perfectly honest car.

Oh - and finally.... Welcome to Club VR-4, and hope you like it here. Why not pop and see us all at Japfest?

[timiano]

Oh yeah. The D pillar is a different colour. QED it is off a different car!
I know a man who will colour match that paint for me and no one will ever know.
Andy.

Hi Andy

Phil from car planet talked to me at lunch about you looking at the car. Met Karl a couple of weeks back and he had a sit in my VR-4 and said you'd be looking for one.

Sounds alright as you said, and does look clean, but as everyone else said, watch out for KTC. Take a man down with you who knows if your not too sure.

Good luck, and hope to see you round Warrington for a bit of

Tim

[6a13]

I did a search on the forums for k-t-c last week, before i went to see the car.
There was a lot of truth in what was said and i went in with my eyes open.
I had a good look over it and i couldn't find anything obviously wrong apart from the colour thing.
I'll have another good look tomorrow
Thanks for all the advice, so far.

Tim, I'll keep my eye out for you and maybe see you at the manor. 2nd tuesday of the month, right?
Andy

[White Lightning]

It does look alright in the photos. I've just realised how angled the car looks (sloping towards the front) when the front and rear arches have been set at the same height ... blimey

[6a13]

I think that sloping apearance is an illusion caused by the different coloured side skirts??? Or maybe not. God what a stupid thing to say!

[Beastlee]

Don't worry I won't be sly buying it. I have my hands full with my current one. I noticed the gizmos on the top of the struts and wondered what they were. If it all pans out wel then I think you'll have a cracking car!

Good luck.

[6a13]

Cheers B.

[bradc]

Definately looks like the door and the black B piller are a different colour, and it's obviously had the front bumper replaced as well. It's probably been in a minor accident that has only done superficial damage, it sounds as if everything else lines up, just make sure you take it for a good drive and that the AYC, Air Bag, and other warning lights come on, then go off when you start the car. If one of them is faulty it is quite easy to just unplug the light

[6a13]

I'm making a list of things to check. It's getting very long now.
All usefull advice
Thanks
Andy

[IAC77]

Sorry to the hijack the thread, but has anyone looked at the other VR4 for sale at KTC (Trigger Muave £5995 one - http://dealerservices.autotrader.co....545&pageid=4)? I remember seeing an advertisement for the car in December of last year and I'm very surprised to see it still hasn't sold? £5995 for a 40,000 mile facelift VR4 sounds like a good deal to me?

[Kieran]

It's a bit suss though..... It's a type-V and it's got a 1997 set of plates on it. Iffy.

[IAC77]

Yeah I noticed that too, could it be that KTC told fibbs about the car's actual age when importing it (to avoid restrictions) or are there any giveaway's to suggest it is a 1997 car fitted with facelift parts?

[steve190]

The price has dropped £2000 since the pictures were fist put up, it was £7995

[6a13]

Road tested the Galant yesterday. I checked the inner and outer wing welds and everything looks spot on. The suspension is set very soft, both preload and damping backed right off ( set for comfort, I suppose )
The motor and transmission all work, but the brakes are very wooden ( much worse than my v6 sport ) and will require an overhaul. Pads and fluid added to the shopping list.
All in all, it is a solid genuine car with a bit of a dodgy paint job.
I cant pick it up till Wednesday or thursday which is a bit of a killer. Still, it will soon be here and i will have fully joined the fold.
Thanks
Andy

[Beastlee]

Glad to hear you are happy with the car. I did the rear pads after 2 weeks and that felt miles better straight away.
4 or 5 nights lying in bed thinking 'What can I do to it first?' I bet