im thinking about buying a 93 ford taurus for $950. the owner says it will probably need a new water pump and brakes in the near future. is it worth it? i dont know anything about cars!
Brakes aren't very expensive if you do it yourself. If it's just pads your looking at $20 and a little d.i.y. If it needs rotors or calipers walk away now. He knows it's going to need a new water pump? Sounds like a recurring issue then. A water pump isn't something you can really spot the wear on until you either hear it beginning to knock or see your coolant on the ground. But if it's doing either of those things the car isn't drivable. Water pump will run you about $70 for the part. Your probably looking around $200 for the part and install. My advice, take your money and walk away.
if okorder for the water pump
Front metalic pads including labour is around 200-250$ Water pump it depends what its driven by, if its just a drive belt it wont take no more than an hour to do but if your timing belt drives it your looking at alot more money.. find out what drives the water pump..
New brakes are not a huge expense unless the discs need machining. Brakes should be done regularly as a part of on-going preventative maintenance. Water pump is not a big ticket item and is so easy to get at. Make sure you get a new gasket as well. Maybe $200 for brakes unless you know someone mech minded. $70-$80 for water pump plus fitting
in good condition (depending on the mileage) it may be worth a thousand dollars, but if all the brakes need doing and the master cylinder, and the rotors, that brake job and water pump could be almost as much as you paid for the car. And what is the guy so lazy or cheap he does not do repair work, ? I bet it needs tags soon too, this guy sounds like some cheap basshole, tell him to fix the car, and walk away from it any way, the transmissions were bad on the early 90s taurus, go with a later model after 97 they are much better, let this guy keep is crappy taurus, that he will not fix, and keep looking, patience, patience,patience is the name of the game for good cheap thousand dollar cars, and this is not the one. good luck
