Ok I will probably get flamed for such a lame post but i don't care haha :P

I'm wanting to buy a 97-99 sports however i've set my budget at 12, preferably less as www.redbook.com.au says the '98 sports go for $7800 to $10k. However all the Sports' I see for sale are over my budget, except this one 2000 sports going for 12,500 however it was all scratched up and had **** loads of dents and I'm after a car thats in fairly good nick as I'm sick and tired of driving around my 20+ year old commie and datto.

So, unless any of you know of anyone wanting to get rid of a sports for around $12k, would I be better off money wise to get a 98/99 exec and fit a cool body kit and lukey to get the extra 8kW the sports has got? And I'll just go steal a sports badge from some random on the street hahahha jk.

ALSO! just one more thing :P I've had a look around and I can't find prices for those interier swaps for like chrome or wooden panels?

Thanks alot,
Bryan.

Where are you located?
1st thing you should do is go to the Government Auctions or Auto Auction groups... the prices you mentioned should get you a TF sports easily, but just got to hunt around i suppose.

good luck.

well im in brissy.. and ye i've been doin a bit of hunting but to no real avail. The search continues!!

I got my TF from the auctions in Eagle Farm...New Farm? :bowrofl: I'm bad with directions :bowrofl: Anyways, I'm sure they're not that hard to find. Look around in the trading post too. As to your sports or executive question, well, personally, I'd probably get an executive. Just buy it, and pimp it up later :cool: Oh, and get a manual!

Interior wood and chrome! pfffff, get blue fluff!

For Pre TJ models, Mechanically, there isn't much different between the Sports & other models. I think it is just suspension tweaks. Brakes & exhaust all the same (i believe). Engine configuration & power output is exactly the same - only TJ onwards had a few extra KW's.

Even with the suspension if you are going to lower it, new shocks, bars, camber etc then i guess it makes no difference either really in the end.

Just make sure it's a manual - Auto Sports get standard traction control though.

Most differences are basically cosmetic - wheels & better tyres (but you prob want to change them anyway), spoiler, side skirts, front bar, colour coding, fog lights etc. Inside it's things like upholstery trim & colours & white faced dials turning red at night.

But the most important factors (for me anyway) were the standard features that came with the Sports. ABS, Cruise, P/windows & mirrors. You can get most of these as options on exec's but they won't be on too many.

I found it really hard to find any other models with P/windows that were also manuals. Though bear in mind that the Pre TH sports models did not have standard power windows either (from memory).

If you want to find out exactly what came as standard with any car you can think of then use this search engine (http://research.carsguide.news.com.au/news/research_new.jsp)

ok cheers :D hrmm i'll keep looking for a 98 sports.. maybe i'll get lucky soon! :D and is it too much to ask for a 98 sports in good nick for around 10 grand like redbook says?

thanks
bryan

is it too much to ask for a 98 sports in good nick for around 10 grand like redbook says?
I've seen a few in Sydney around the $10 - $12 K mark with about 90K on the odo. A lot want more than this or have higher k's though. It is also harder to find manuals.

If you want an auto this one (http://www.autotrader.com.au/photodisplay.asp) may be ok.

Took me about 6 months to find the one i wanted though.

Sorry bout that link, not trying to sway you over to the dark side!! :)

Not sure why that page is coming up but search the Trading Post online - there is a blue auto Sports with 88,000 k's and 10 months rego asking $9,400.

hehe ye i would much rather manual but if i can't i GUESS i can settle with auto as all my previous cars have been auto..

what year was that sports?

Either wait a while or extend your budget to $14k and get yourself a 2000 TJ Sports. 163kw with heaps of features and parabolics lights. I have never really thought much of the TE or TF Sports, even the TH Sports isnt that good. Just look like execs with spoilers and few other parts.

I was searching for the same thing when looking for my car, except I wanted a 99 Altera for around 12.. I checked out auctions but most cars there had low ks and went for 14
I also had a dealer friend looking out for me and he said it was gonna be hard to find and that was only in march.

I picked up my TH Advance earlier this year for just under 12.. that was from a dealer wit 100 000ks on the clock.. it was in pretty good nick but wit no history, and a few little scratches.. stone chips on the bonnet etc.. but definately best bargain id seen from a dealer or auction in the 2 months i was shopping..

I was also under the impression that the only difference between my car and the sports was the exhaust (I'm sure a few people told me that)

Try here the auction is on Tues 14 with pre inspec tomorrow 13. TH 5sp Man Exec 128000 odd Ks. Fowles is at Eagle Farm map on web site.
Was just looking myself.

https://www.fowles.com.au/auctions/auction.aspx?auction=VQ493

Good Luck and yeah get a manual!!

I was also under the impression that the only difference between my car and the sports was the exhaust (I'm sure a few people told me that)
Nope. Very similar to my 2000 TH Sports but, as mentioned earlier, there are a couple of things...

Fog lights, Wheels, trim, dials, and according to Mitsubishi some minor suspension tweaks (don't know what though).

Exhaust is the same i am pretty sure - unlesss the centre section is different, but same muffler - and same power outputs. It's the TJ sports that have diff exhausts.

I also don't think your car came with traction control, which is standard on sports - not to mention the tiptronic gearbox. However your car gets twin airbags as standard, both are only options in the TH Sports.

So nothing major really but depends whats important to you. If i wanted an auto i would hold out for the tiptronic & traction control.

I paid $12,400 in June for my manual TH Sports with 93k's - same colour as yours Mysti, also with a few stone chips on bonnet. Only few months rego left and needed 2 new tryes though. As said earlier i had to wait a long time to find this car at this price and drove close to 3 hours to inspect it.

Check out the previous mentioned link if you want confirmation of original equipment & mechanical specs.