1986 FXGT - info needed prior to purchase :)

[jafa.and.proud]

Had a search of the forums so don't have me up about that


I am looking at buying a 1986 FXGT at the moment as a bit of a basher/daily/project car. It has done 350,000kms but in mint condition, always serviced (I know the last 2 owners so yea, not a lie there in the last 10 years or so), cambelt just done 15,000kms ago, brand new wof yestoday with no issues picked up, exterior still in mint condition as well. Its in best original condition I have seen for an FXGT, but I know nothing about them


Basically I want to know what to look out for on it when I go and see it properly tomorrow. What tends to give on these cars? Any particular areas I should look at other than the obvious when looking at buying a car? I have been told rust can be an issue in these cars, but obviously it is something to look out for in any car thats 20 years old

Any help is much appreciated Thanks

[Alex B]

Rust would be the biggest thing on those me thinks.

[Leon]

Rust everywhere there is metal.

Fifth gear popout (drive along motorway, lift and apply throttle a couple times - car might pop out of 5th).

If it's a non power steer model, it will have bastard heavy steering unless you have a car with quite new tyres.

Oil consumption is a fact of life on many 4AGE's

[pc]

All the oil seals will be tired and probably leaking.

Rust is the only major, take the guards off and check around where the base of the guard normally covers. across the roof line just under the boot lid too. If energetic you could pull the dash out and check the firewall behind the sound deadening rubbery mat thingie.

[Defective]

Oil consumption is a fact of life on many 4AGE's

a little OT, but is that all 4AGEs? my 20V loves a drink of oil, but its not smoky and dosnt leak

[Leon]

No, definitely not all 4AGE's are oil users.

However, of the four I have owned for any duration, three of them did use oil.

[slighty_sykotic]

Oil consumption is a fact of life on many 4AGE's

a little OT, but is that all 4AGEs? my 20V loves a drink of oil, but its not smoky and dosnt leak

Think you will think 20vs are the worst.

Don't worry too much about it if its not smokey or leaking.

How much is it using?

And on topic, rust Check under the rubbers around the hatch/boot lid.

[Leon]

Think you will think 20vs are the worst.

Interestingly, the only 4AGE I had that didn't use oil was a 20v the rest were all big ports of various years, and required a top up every couple of tanks of gas. Nothing major though.

[jafa.and.proud]

Great thanks for the info everyone

[Defective]

[

Think you will think 20vs are the worst.

Don't worry too much about it if its not smokey or leaking.

How much is it using?

hmm, bout a litre every two or three weeks.

[GTUWET]

No, definitely not all 4AGE's are oil users.

However, of the four I have owned for any duration, three of them did use oil.

my retop ran on no oil and water for 6 months!!!

[slighty_sykotic]

[

Think you will think 20vs are the worst.

Don't worry too much about it if its not smokey or leaking.

How much is it using?

hmm, bout a litre every two or three weeks.

How much do you drive? Because thats pretty serious amount if you don't drive long distances daily. Any leaks?

[Defective]

probly 30 odd km's a week... im not very gentle on it tho...

[nz_climber]

[

Think you will think 20vs are the worst.

Don't worry too much about it if its not smokey or leaking.

How much is it using?

hmm, bout a litre every two or three weeks.

my 30+ year old 18RG doesn't leak that much, and its leaks oil at the sump plug!!

[slighty_sykotic]

probly 30 odd km's a week... im not very gentle on it tho...

You have a SERIOUS problem...

are you sure its not smoking like a train? or puddles under your car?

[Defective]

probly 30 odd km's a week... im not very gentle on it tho...

You have a SERIOUS problem...

are you sure its not smoking like a train? or puddles under your car?

oops, typo
meant 30 odd km's a day....

does blow a little smoke when cold but not when hot.

[slighty_sykotic]

Even if you mean 7 days a week, thats only 150kms a week, so your talking 300-450km and its using a litre?

Thats still really bad.Oil can't disapear unless your neigbours are stealing it....

Can only really be burnt or droped on the ground.

[Defective]

Even if you mean 7 days a week, thats only 150kms a week, so your talking 300-450km and its using a litre?

Thats still really bad.Oil can't disapear unless your neigbours are stealing it....

Can only really be burnt or droped on the ground.

yeah, my neighbours do look a bit shifty......



but yeah, i have to admit i dont look after it at all... top up the oil when the oil pressure gauge dosnt move to far off the zero... but as i said, only blows smoke when cold, never noticed any puddles... beats me...

still seems to go ok, just as slow as all the other 20V's round here...

i might give it a filter and oil change this weekend and just keep an eye on it so i can see just how much its using.

[jafa.and.proud]

Went and had a look at it today, he said it eats no oil at all (topped it up 250ml at its last service and hadn't touched it since the service before that), no rust anywhere (small bit fixed along the roof at the boot though), runs mint as well

Took it for a drive, runs no problems at all, doesn't smoke at all, interior looks brand new (except wear on steering wheel and gearnob and roof lining falling off, easy fix for all of those)

Doesn't pop out of 5th, tested that many times as I don't like the sound of that

Might have to go ahead with it I think

Cheers for the help

[Defective]

sounds like a good buy dude....