Advice For A Prospective Purchaser

Good Morning All,

I have a GT/GTO itch that I need to scratch. I have been researching extensively however, I would appreciate a little advice. I have seen and spoken to the seller of an H Plate GTO on eBay - early car with none of the bells, whistles and turbos however, it appears free of the tin worm. On the downside it has no service history, owned by a mechanic since 2009 and serviced personally, and advised the cambelt would be wise. My questions are, would the group recommend prioritising a lack of rust over most/all else and how difficult is a cambelt for a experienced local mechanic?

Many Thanks

Neil (NE Essex/Suffolk Borders)

I would say rust-free is certainly a bonus. And it’s often those bells and whistles that go wrong on these cars. Sounds like a good introduction to the platform and you can always swap for a twin turbo later on.

The cambelt isn’t too much of a pain of a job, especially on an NA with slightly less things to remove. It took me a 12 hour day in my mechanic friends heated garage. I do almost everything on the car myself, but I’m certainly not an expert mechanic. If you’re talking about getting a garage to do it, I’ve been stung in the past, and many others have too, but some have good success stories and regularly take their cars in to get serviced or to have work done. It is rare to find a garage that will work on a 30-year old mitsubishi, even if they are experienced.

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Thanks JoeB, appreciate the advice, rust free did seem to be a key factor!

To be fair, my local mechanic is more of a friend, certainly in terms of cost, and has a passion for 90s cars as do !.

Thnaks again - off to eBay to review the GTO again!

Is it this one?

From the photos it does look to be in really good genuine condition and would likely last you many years.

However, the price may be a little on the high side for an N/A auto. It depends on what you’re after, for a few thousand more you could get a twin turbo, but then you’d probably be working on it all of the time and it might not be as original.

Even with the owner servicing it himself, I would factor in when you buy it a full coolant flush, thermostat, oil, oil filter, autobox flush. As even with the low miles, the age of some of those components would be past their service life.

seems expensive for a n/a auto

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Hi JoeB,

Yes, that’s the one!

The seller has sent more photos and a walk-around video - does look very tidy in and out but I image through not being used between 2013 and 2025! A real conundrum, no rot but a decent amount of recommissioning to be safe and the result is a very original car or, as you say, a little more and all the toys! That said, the few TTs out there all seem to have rust to a greater or lesser degree.

Thanks

Neil

Where have you been looking? Just on eBay? Facebook Marketplace too? Perhaps importing one from Japan may be an option?

All the standard places, eBay, FB Marketplace, Car & Classic, Piston Heads - Mariana Blue one in Mansfield on the radar too!

Good luck with your search. I’m sure you will find the right car for you.

Have you read the buyers guide?

Yes, digested the Buyers Guide over the weekend - thanks again for the advice!

Thank you again to all who commented, I am now the proud owner of a 1995 3000 GTO!

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Congratulations on your purchase. I hope it makes you happy for years to come.

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Beautiful example.

Congratulations :confetti_ball:.

Look foward to seeing you and your car at a future meet.

Tracie :united_kingdom:

I would be interested to know if there any owners near me in the Colchester area (NE Essex/Suffolk borders)?

Im bury st edmunds, not too far, always driving past in a lorry for work

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Welcome aboard, Neil. Yep, she looks a beauty! Well done, and Happy Motoring!

Mike

Frinton on Sea/Kirby Cross so not too far away! Do you go to any meets in the area?

No, my car been off the road for about 4 years now :slightly_frowning_face:, and my daily is a audi a8, not the best car meet car :rofl:, going for engine rebuild and extra power mods, but money been an issue with competing it, but when it is done I will be looking for meet again

Welcome along, a nice example there, well done.

Terry :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

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