'01 Formula Firehawk ?
#1
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I have been reading through these great forums while researching a possible Formula Firehawk purchase...
These things about the car are bothering me though, making handing over the $$ hard. Thoughts?
1. It is a hardtop and has the bad bubbling of the paint on the roof and sail panel. Understand replacing is the only real solution?
2. Both door panels have the notorious crack. Recover, or?
3. On the passenger side, underneath there is a little body dent. Looks like someone bottomed it out? It is not noticeable unless you look underneath. It has a clean car fax though.
4. Small 'crack' in the paint on the hood.
5. Windshield replaced recently because of pitting? Seems **** and 'good', but why then bald tires?
6. Only 1 key fob
7. No slp paperwork. But VIN checks out as legit.
8. Oxygen sensor wire hanging down real low under car?
9. No TCS? Is that good or bad?
10. A paint 'run' in the SLP front nose cone in the Fog light area? Is this normal? Can feel and see it if crouched down.
The good:
Clean as ever underneath
Shiny paint
Perfect chrome SLP rims
Perfect cloth interior
Saved hurst shift **** (was stored - not used)
All stock except k&n filter
Priced right
So, jump on it? Or keep looking?
Thanks!
These things about the car are bothering me though, making handing over the $$ hard. Thoughts?
1. It is a hardtop and has the bad bubbling of the paint on the roof and sail panel. Understand replacing is the only real solution?
2. Both door panels have the notorious crack. Recover, or?
3. On the passenger side, underneath there is a little body dent. Looks like someone bottomed it out? It is not noticeable unless you look underneath. It has a clean car fax though.
4. Small 'crack' in the paint on the hood.
5. Windshield replaced recently because of pitting? Seems **** and 'good', but why then bald tires?
6. Only 1 key fob
7. No slp paperwork. But VIN checks out as legit.
8. Oxygen sensor wire hanging down real low under car?
9. No TCS? Is that good or bad?
10. A paint 'run' in the SLP front nose cone in the Fog light area? Is this normal? Can feel and see it if crouched down.
The good:
Clean as ever underneath
Shiny paint
Perfect chrome SLP rims
Perfect cloth interior
Saved hurst shift **** (was stored - not used)
All stock except k&n filter
Priced right
So, jump on it? Or keep looking?
Thanks!
#2
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I will cover point #1, because the rest of your list is open to personal opinion about whether or not they are actual concerns.
You have no option but to replace the roof. There is no other fix, period. Everything has been tried by many people, nothing will work outside of panel replacement. This is particularly bad with a hard top, because the job is harder and the panel is discontinued from GM. The T-top roof panel is also discontinued, but site sponsor 6LE is in the process of having reproductions made. The repros will only be T-top panels, no hard tops, but 6LE stated that you could use the t-top panel in conjunction with their Targa panel to custom make a new hard top roof. This is obviously additional fabrication that you'll need to be prepared to deal with (or outsource).
You have no option but to replace the roof. There is no other fix, period. Everything has been tried by many people, nothing will work outside of panel replacement. This is particularly bad with a hard top, because the job is harder and the panel is discontinued from GM. The T-top roof panel is also discontinued, but site sponsor 6LE is in the process of having reproductions made. The repros will only be T-top panels, no hard tops, but 6LE stated that you could use the t-top panel in conjunction with their Targa panel to custom make a new hard top roof. This is obviously additional fabrication that you'll need to be prepared to deal with (or outsource).
#3
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10. A paint 'run' in the SLP front nose cone in the Fog light area? Is this normal? Can feel and see it if crouched down.
There was not SLP front nose, it just had a different hood, so my guess is that the car has been repainted at some point if there are runs in it. And how big is the crack in the paint?
Honestly most of the things you listed seem like minor problems but if they bother you that much now, they will continue to bother you so I would walk away. But honestly just about any used car is going to have a few imperfections, its just finding one with imperfections that you can either fix or live with.
And just because it has a clean carfax does not mean its never been in a wreck, Ive seen several cars when I was looking that clearly were in some kind of wreck but had a clean carfax.
There was not SLP front nose, it just had a different hood, so my guess is that the car has been repainted at some point if there are runs in it. And how big is the crack in the paint?
Honestly most of the things you listed seem like minor problems but if they bother you that much now, they will continue to bother you so I would walk away. But honestly just about any used car is going to have a few imperfections, its just finding one with imperfections that you can either fix or live with.
And just because it has a clean carfax does not mean its never been in a wreck, Ive seen several cars when I was looking that clearly were in some kind of wreck but had a clean carfax.
#4
TECH Regular
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I personally wouldn't go for it unless it was cheap and I was buying for a project. Not liking the Formulas aside; it's been repainted, possibly not well with runs and cracks, this "crack" in the door panel, the dent on the floor pan and the new windshield screams wrecked to me.
#5
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For anyone else in the market, the car being discussed is car #160. VIN 2G2FV22G812123583... These are all just opinions and speculations. Food for thought...
#7
TECH Fanatic
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Here's a break down of the options for that VIN. It is indeed a Firehawk.
http://www.compnine.com/vid.php?vin=2G2FV22G812123583
http://www.compnine.com/vid.php?vin=2G2FV22G812123583
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#11
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What kinda miles on it? And do you have pictures or a link to the ad? It really depends on the overall condition of the car and how well it runs. Being a firehawk if its in good condition it might be worth a little more while at the same time if its beat to hell it doesn't hold its firehawk value as well.
Also is it fulled optioned? I know some of these were special order so its hard to tell, but with cloth seats and no TCS it could be more of a stripper model which would lower its value to some potential buyers.
Also is it fulled optioned? I know some of these were special order so its hard to tell, but with cloth seats and no TCS it could be more of a stripper model which would lower its value to some potential buyers.
#13
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Well, things happen for reason I guess. A long story short, I finally made up my mind to purchase it today, and he just sold it because he thought I was no longer interested. My loss...
If you see someone around from Wisconsin with a new black 01 Formula Firehawk, wish him my best!
If you see someone around from Wisconsin with a new black 01 Formula Firehawk, wish him my best!
#14
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Here is the link to the one for sale:
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hn...403114645.html
And a screen shot of the listing (since Craiglist postings aren't forever).
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hn...403114645.html
And a screen shot of the listing (since Craiglist postings aren't forever).
![](http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j334/blitzur/craigsFireHawk.png)