Need some advice, I’m looking at a deal on a 99 Formula. For only a couple grand, but the car has 260,000 miles on it. It seems to be well maintained and currently has no issues with it inside or out. Do these cars run much longer than that? Or am I tying my own noose?

 

Can you take it to a mechanic to have it looked at? Like compression test, trans condition, look underneath to see if there is any rust in spots could be a major problem. These engines can go quite a while if maintained properly. Does the seller have record of maintenance history? For a couple grand, it would probably be worth it, but I'd want it checked out by a professional, if you aren't familiar. I'd be mostly concerned with the trans and underside at that mileage really, moreso than the engine. Are you in an area that has snow/salted roads in the winter?

 

If the car is in good shape overall and you're only paying $2k or so for it then don't worry about it. You can always do a rebuild or block swap later and still be into it for less than a "finished" car goes for. Plus the odometer doesn't necessarily tell you the mileage on the drivetrain. Lots of things can change in 20 years.

 

The car is a former cop car from Oklahoma so I’m not sure but I’ll check for rust. I live in TN. It’s also a little too far out for me to conveniently take it by a mechanic, I don’t know of any mechanics near the cars location, but I’ll check into that.
thanks for the input!

 

Thanks a ton for the input. I’m definitely hoping to not have to do to much to the car. The owner did inform me it needs a valve cover gasket and I’m assuming that’s something I would want to address immediately..

 

the ls-1 is a lot the same as the truck engines and those can run to 300,000 even when towing ect., if it's been taken care of , on all original parts

 

Like others have said, if you're only paying like 2-3k for it, and the car is in good shape go for it. Even if the engine went, you could part it out and get your money back. I sold my 99 Z28 as a roller for 2 grand. Trans was going and the engine wasn't holding oil but the body and interior was in great shape. You could always buy it and save up for a replacement engine down the road, used LS1s won't set you back too much. Or you could even throw a 5.3 in there.