Your Opinion: Do I Get it?

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Yes or no?

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    33
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1X83Z

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200 or so miles from here, a great car has gone on sale and I'm wondering if I should go for it:

- 1992 Dodge Spirit RT
- 71,000 miles
- $11000

I've given my wife heads-up on four or five cars that I could buy if one came up locally, and I think this qualifies. It's definitely one of my top twelve dream cars of all time. The price is very high for the vehicle (even with the great mileage) which is my main concern. What do you think?
 
It has a turbo... :drool:

Seriously, I think its a nice car and well worth the 200 mile journey. What are going to do with the R/T since you already have the Typhoon?
 
11 grand for a car thats 13 years old and has 71k miles on it seems a bit high.

*edit: KBB says the value is 4 grand with 71k in great condition.and every option. Just a little food for thought.
 
MrktMkr1986
It has a turbo... :drool:

Seriously, I think its a nice car and well worth the 200 mile journey. What are going to do with the R/T since you already have the Typhoon?
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Probably just drive the Spirit occaisionally. I do want original examples to survive - most have either been modded, driven to hell, or crashed. 1200 were built and I would bet from what I've seen that less than 20% remain original and in good condition.

BlazinXtreme
*edit: KBB says the value is 4 grand with 71k in great condition.and every option. Just a little food for thought.
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I usually see them in the $7000-$9000 range. The difference is opportunity; usually they're nowhere near me. It might not be worth it, I might pass it up.
 
Just think of all the cars you can buy with 11k... That's not even worth 5k, honestly.
 
PunkRock
Just think of all the cars you can buy with 11k... That's not even worth 5k, honestly.
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The Punk has a point. I can't see myself paying 11,000 for a car thats 13 years old, even if it is one of 1200. I just don't see the value in it, unless you have that much money just sittin around - and if thats the case you should wire me 5,000 for the car I'm getting over the summer, :lol:.
 
Well, if it's one of 1200 ever built, it's got a good chance at becoming a collector's car in the future. If you don't really have $11,000 to spend elsewhere, I'd say go for it; it could prove to be a good investment if all goes well.
 
eliseracer
My RC car is one of 50 built. I'll sell it to you for 12 grand.

Kind of a flawed way of looking at cars.
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Funny. :p

I'm talking about full-size cars, not scaled-down cars. It's not a flawed way of looking at cars. Rarity is a factor in a car's price.
 
It does 0 to 60 as fast as a WRX manual. They're just such cool cars. But maybe the time isn't right. I don't really want to drive 200 miles to go see it unless I buy it either. I just love Spirit RTs so much...
 
MrktMkr1986
If only 1200 were built, regardless of what kind of car it is -- it's a classic.
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It's not a classic, it's based on a friggin' Aries K. It's not worth more than 4500$, I tell you. Turbo Dodges such as this ones were pretty much grenades with the pin pulled off, anyway.


If you really spend 11 000$ on a Dodge Spirit RT, Doug, your picture will be next to the word clueless in the dictionary. :)
 
.....I've never seen M5Power like this before. He's usually all statistical and skeptical of cars, and here he is wasting his money (as if he'd run out) on a 13 year old car...
.....Well, I'd say that you should get 3 professional opinions on the price, and then show them to the seller. Try and fanaggle with him, and unless he drops the price a considerable amount, by 5 grand(ish) then you shouldn't buy it. If the car is in prestine condition, however, and has been well maintained with new parts, then try and get him to drop the price by about 2G's. I wouldn't do it though, not many people know the potential of those things and you're just going to get funny looks cruising around in one.

Brian
If only 1200 were built, regardless of what kind of car it is -- it's a classic.
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[edit]I thought a classic car, by definition, was a car that was 40 years old or older? I can understand collectors cars, or ones that are just rare or exotic, but I think there are literally definitions on the terms

-Classic
-Hot Rod
-Antique

but from an insurance company I got this:
What is a classic car?
Manufactured at least 15 years ago as a standard production model (20 years for some vehicle makes, eg Porsche)
The annual mileage must not exceed 5,000 miles - discounts are available for lower mileage
Must be used as a second car
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Although I hardly consider an AE86 or a DeLorean a classic car, by any means.

And I found this from the My Classic Car with Dennis Gage site:
The CCCA's definition of "Classic" is limited to cars produced from 1925-1948, but is not all-inclusive. The list is long and is very specific as to what makes of each model are given the "Classic" designation. For instance, any Duesenberg or Rolls Royce from those years is considered "Classic" but for Hudsons, only 1929 Series L models make the cut. Many cars on the list are considered individually (the list says simply "Please Apply" for quite a few makes, such as Benz, Fiat, Lancia and many others). Also, 1925-1948 Custom-bodied cars are considered individually, and no Classic Marque is acceptable in a race car configuration.
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God, who knows.
 
PunkRock
If you really spend 11 000$ on a Dodge Spirit RT, Doug, your picture will be next to the word clueless in the dictionary. :)
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I wouldn't spend $11 but I'd probably spend $9 if it was as cool as it probably is.

PS
.....I've never seen M5Power like this before. He's usually all statistical and skeptical of cars,
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With one exception: my own cars. I think the only statistic I've ever used for those is 'how cool do I think they are.' And in case you were checking, that's not a statistic.
 
Spirit R/Ts are 'way cool cars. I'd get one. If the guy is asking $11,000 for it, odds are it's in excellent shape and has had the problems taken care of. For instance, the head is by Lotus and if they crack they are extremely expensive to replace. Maybe that's already been done? Find out as much as he'll tell you about what's been repaired or replaced. The Shelby/turbo Dodge community is relatively tight-knit (not to say they're all friends, but they all know each other). I can put you in contact with a person or two who can tell you what to look for. They may even know the owner or car.
 
neon_duke
Spirit R/Ts are 'way cool cars. I'd get one. If the guy is asking $11,000 for it, odds are it's in excellent shape and has had the problems taken care of. For instance, the head is by Lotus and if they crack they are extremely expensive to replace. Maybe that's already been done? Find out as much as he'll tell you about what's been repaired or replaced.
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I'm calling the dude tomorrow and seeing about pricing, I'll ask him about maintenance too.

The Shelby/turbo Dodge community is relatively tight-knit (not to say they're all friends, but they all know each other). I can put you in contact with a person or two who can tell you what to look for. They may even know the owner or car.
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Indeed - and AllPar is the best website ever. On a side note. I knew you'd come in here and give me good news Duke!
 
skip0110
Only get it if it is white or black. ;)
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Red on gray cloth. White ones do look good (in pictures) - can't say I've ever seen black. On a side note, I can't say I remember the last time I've seen one of these things. I always look whenever I see a Spirit, only to be disappointed by the ES model.
 
Here's my variables, in decending order of importance:
0) Is the wife okay with it? This may not apply to everyone. (Sounds like this is 'yes')
1) Do you have the money to spare? (Another yes)
2) Do you really want it? (Yup. This affects variable 1. IE; the more you want it, the more money you have 'to spare')
3) Do you have somewhere to put it? (I assume you do)
4) Is it going to be a stupid money pit? (Omiting the possible head problem, probably not) (This is of flexible importance, depending on variables 0 and 1.)

What doesn't matter:
1) What anybody else thinks of it, or you for buying it.
2) It's potential future value. (This is only important when you're buying a car because you need a car. If you're buying a car because you want that car, it doesn't matter.)

(/.02$)
 
M5Power
Red on gray cloth. White ones do look good (in pictures) - can't say I've ever seen black.
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Good. They never made any in black.

In '91 they made 1208 R/Ts: 774 red, 434 white.

In '92 they made 191 of them: 92 red, 68 white, and the ultrarare 31 that were silver.


On a side note, I can't say I remember the last time I've seen one of these things. I always look whenever I see a Spirit, only to be disappointed by the ES model.
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http://img55.exs.cx/img55/9655/HPIM0046.jpg (Thanks for that big ass picture, Firebird. 👎 - sn00pie)

My '90 ES. :D :cheers:
 
M5Power
- 1992 Dodge Spirit RT
- 71,000 miles
- $11000
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As a European i can't really comment on a Dodge Spirit RT - because i've never even heard of one.

But as a keen follower of classic car prices, and future predictions for what will become a 'classic' i would have to say - leave well alone!

For a car like this to become a true classic with any kind of future market value it would have to qualify under most of these factors:

- Built in limited numbers
- Great reviews in period road tests (performance & handling)
- Motorsport perigree
- A cult following
- A good looker

Plus for an individual example:

- Low milage
- Original condition
- Service history
- Good colouring (of lesser importance, but could be a deal breaker)

As far as i can see the Spirit RT doesn't qualify with many of these points, Original condition is certainly in its favour, if like you said most are now modified in some way, but 71,000 is still considered high-milage for a 'mint' example and at $11,000 you would want it to be mint!

As a car to buy because you always wanted one and just want to use it regulary, would mean that you are likely to loose at least half of your investment pretty quickly.

As a car to cherish as a future 'classic' - something that may increase in value. I would have to say, especially with all those miles, i would very much doubt that there will be much of a market for this car and you are unlikely to ever make any money out of storing it - even if it was 'mint'

...but what do i know
 
Well, with the above post in mind, and with Firebird's rather interesting breakdown of the colors and years, I've indeed decided not to get it - the dealer won't come down in price and all but admitted to me he's going to be using the car as his own personal vehicle.

Michigan law requires him to list all for-sale vehicles as in fact being for sale or he has to register them; many used-car dealers list cars 'for sale', price them intentionally high, then use them as personal vehicles (with dealer plates, meaning they don't have to pay car tax and can get out of photo radar tickets) and I think that's what's going on here.
 
The Spirit never really made it to the rest of the world. What I know of it is what I've read and I think a guy I went to school with in Buffalo had one, but a normal Spirit. All I can say is that it may be a great car under the hood. On the outside it's just an ugly early 90's American car; as uneventful as a Ford Tempo or a '92 Cavalier.

I understand your quest for "saving cars from extinction", but seriously, in that car I'd only save the 224 hp Lotus-designed engine and scrap the rest.


Save the 11K for a better car.
 
The Spirit R/T definitely has a collector value attached to it, despite what the ignorant think. ("ignorant" in this case being used as a synonym of "European" :D )

It was the quickest sedan in the Americas when it was on sale (as far as I know the only sedan of that period that was quicker was the Lotus Carlton/Omega). And it is rare. And it has a cult following.

Facotring that in I doubt you'll ever find one in relatively good shape for much less than $10,000, to be honest.
 

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