I've been searching the web (Gumtree) for a long time before I made this purchase. So I thought I had a good deal when I saw this as most of the 98-00 rexes (I love this shape to bits) was going for between $4000-$8750. This guy were asking for $7000.00 and I got him down to $5900.00. To be honest with you, I did test drive about 2 rexes before this one. One was a 98 ($4000) and the other a bugeye 2000 ($5000) (which I didn't like so much) but both paint work was horrible and just didn't feel right (Who am I to make the call because, I really don't know a lot (or anything) about cars)

So when this ad comes up and the body work was in a relatively good condition, engine inspection came up with no leaks showing, test drive was good and the seller was just saying there were no issues, etc. I was sold... he seems like a real genuine guy (this is where the heart over head theory comes in).

I know I read in this forum that people's car are in the 10's of thousands and my $5900 is nothing, but I suppose it just hurts to know that MY rex (that I still love; albeit the early morning start issues and throttle lag issues - along with the leak issues) is not going anywhere (it is running, I just don't want to damage it further until a pro looks at it).

(of course there's the part of the $5900.00 that my Mrs absolutely told me that I couldn't spent and only months of cajoling allowed me to get it at the expense of a holiday, and now the prospect of spending another'000s to get it right or to put it up in GT for a loss (I will do the right thing, I will advertise it as a mechanics dream to fix and as is, I won't lie and tell anyone it's in a good condition, especially a dreamer like me who knows nothing about cars don't want to start this cycle again.))

BUT.... yeahnahs, post kind of put it in perspective for me, I think from here on end, I will just do this slowly. I will start cleaning out all the old leaks (things a NOOB like me can do), start her up every morning at least, read up on the rex (I think - because of reading, my throttle lag could be because of a throttle response sensor; amazing I even know what that is (all thanks to yeahnah putting things in perspective last night), and just start cleaning things up that I can think off. This at least when I go to Stechnic, Evo R or wherever they don't laugh at me so much for buying an absolute lemon...

But I appreciate all the kind words everyone and thank you guys for being so welcoming, I do hope that I am strong enough (both $$$ and will) to keep this going.

WOW. Sorry for the story book post.... when the answer was just $5900.00