jalopnik festiva you should buy really for sale locally for me

[BustaBust]

Remember this car? http://jalopnik.com/5919042/for-2499...-actually-want

Well its for sale about an hour from me, from the original modifier that put the 1.8 in it (B8?). I'm in contact with him and am very close to pulling the trigger. I'm worried about a few things and would like some feedback from the most knowledgeable festiva people I know. I'm familiar with the overall car obviously but want to know what hack jobs to look for when I go for the test drive. I'm afraid I'll be to excited when I get there and will be blind to the issues because i've been wanting this setup since I got into festiva's.

The owner states that the car has a high idol and has a whine since its inception of the new engine at highway speeds and assumes there is no underling issue. this is my big red flag but maybe I'm being overly precautious. From the photos the paint has aged a little but still a 7/10 cosmetically from the photos he sent both in and out. I would provide the link to the f/s ad but I don't want any competition in buying this thing.

The other thing i'm concerned with is it still has the stock festy trans (5speed) and i'm not sure if it will hold up to the 1.8. I'm not a race car driver but every once in a while I do my best impression on local desolate farm roads.

I know there is always going to be some extra baggage with a swapped vehicle but the other thing I noticed from the pics is it seems the ecu is hanging under the dashboard right to the left of the pedal cluster and I just want to know if that is typical in this swap. it does not look clean and I'm kind of a fit and finish guy.

some welcomed pluses to the vehicle are: cup holders!, custom rear spoiler, decent miata wheels
some noted minus on top of above: race car red, no head unit and aftermarket cut in door speakers, auto seat belts, no a/c, the unknown, I already have 4 vehicles in my driveway one being a slightly modified festy, my wife may murder me.

any feedback will aid my decision so please don't hesitate to chime in.

thanks in advance and please don't steal this thing from me.

[TWFodor]

I had a B8 with an e-series trans and it held up fine with an Exedy clutch. No slippage. Just avoid doing burnouts.

If its the BP engine, then you may want to consider swapping in a g-series trans, but again if you avoid burnouts and treat it relatively nice, it should hold.

[BustaBust]

correction this is a bp engine out of a 94 escort

[shorestiva]

I was going to buy it until I looked at my bank account. No idea about the whine or idle I'd have to hear it in person to really tell anything. Did he cut or dent the firewall to clear the intake manifold? The ecu is probably hanging down because the stock one is still under the dash so there's no place to put the bp one. Id probably redo the intake piping but that's just personal opinion. E series trans with a bp isn't ideal but as long as you drive with some mechanical sympathy it should hold up. As long as it's not rusty it should be worth what he's asking.

[bhazard]

If it's stock trans I'd have a hard time giving more than 1500-2000 for it. Swapping an engine in is fairly easy. Swapping a G trans is a lot more involved with the mounts and all.

And what's the point in having the extra power if you have to be careful with it?

[ThisVelologist]

Seller is asking $1499, which I think is very fair. You may be able to talk him down a bit too.

[BustaBust]

well he is asking $1500 now and being a professional negotiator (car salesman by trade) I'm thinking my magic number is going to be $1,200. I'm going Sunday to hopefully purchase it or atleast check it out. If its all there and no hidden issues it may be the first car I ever pay asking price for though. I understand your point with the no fun having power if you can't use it, but even if I get to use only 80% we are still close to doubling the cars stock hp. if the trans goes I feel confiedent I can do a proper swap since I'm already ahead of the ball game with all the other work being done for me. this will be a fun car not a daily driver so if it sits for a couple months while I source parts it just means I don't have can switch it to a garage policy and not pay full insurance.

[ThisVelologist]

I would not hesitate to purchase that sweet, sweet ride (former sales consultant). Best wishes!

[Studebaker]

why does it have to be in NJ?

For 1500 I would have cash in hand and someone to drive me there.