[Antman]

Hi Everyone

I'm looking to buy a 97 Sierra, the one I'm looking at has no rust, but is a bit rough around the edges, seems to run OK with about 200k on the clock. They have just spent $3,000 on it and are asking $4,500 with reg and RWC.

Searching carsales, ebay, and the usual sites seems that it should be around 5-10k, but searching on this forum looks like there have been better deals to be had in the past.

Are the advertised ones on the above sites way overpriced? and is the one I'm looking at a reasonable price?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[alien]

Depends what State you're in. The market for Sierras in WA is mad - Average price around $10k. Do some research too - the SJ80 is generally thought of as less desirable than an SJ70 or even a Jimny, generally due to the fact they only made them for 3 years (parts availability) and the design of core components changed just enough to make them hard to modify (low aftermarket support). If your plan is to keep it stock-ish then probably not a huge issue, but if you wanted a bit more of a lego car, then SJ70 or Jimny would be better choices. Jimny being more similar to the coily but with far great parts availability and aftermarket support.

[ZUZUKI]

Hi Antman - welcome!.

Rust is the biggest killer of Sierras - the rest can be fixed or substituted in one way or another, but chasing rust can be an ultimately futile exercise, so if really does have no rust (that would be rare - there are traps behind sill cover molds, molds at the bottom of the B pillar (if it is a softtop, footwells, around the battery & the mudguard to the body, inside the front guards, below the headlights are areas to look) & it has a genuine RWC, then that price is not bad.
Go for a haggle at $4,000.
The days of decent, cheap Sierras, seem to be behind us - those cars might not get sold at $5-10k, but that is certainly a common range for listing.

The SJ80 Coily is a relatively rare beast, only made 1996-98, so trying to find trim items to bring a rough around the edges car back up to nice is going to be hard.

The SJ80 is a slightly nicer thing to drive on road (if it is standard) than a SJ70 wide track leaf sprung, but has earlier limitations off road.
If you are wanting to seriously off road one of these, the recommendation would be to skip the SJ80, but as an introduction to Sierra's, ok & you can always buy a leafy later, if the serious 4WD bug bites later on.
The windscreen doesn't fold on the softtops - every Sierra owner should try folding the windscreen & donning some goggles at least once - an almost unique experience.

Km is about right. If the $3k wasn't just spent trying to overcome years of neglect, then I say go for it.

Rgs, Michael

[Antman]

Thanks Alien
I'm in Vic, and can't find one cheaper.
I plan to have it as a semi daily, so not too many mods, just an engine swap with (I think) a g16, and very light off road, but keep wheels and suspension stockish.

I'm leaning towards buying it at the moment. Thanks for your reply.

[Antman]

Hi Michael, thanks for the welcome.
It's a hardtop which is what I'm after. Just as a bit of background, I've always regretted selling my Datsun 1600, and the Sierra reminds me of it in a lot of ways, and have always admired them. Now with a family (mid life crisis?) I want a fun and easy to maintain car. I figure if it's not for me, I can always sell it on.
Back to the car, I removed the side skirts and there was rust under the left, but it looks like a rail just for the skirt to sit on, easy enough to remove and weld a new one on. Removed the carpet and couldn't see any sings of rust.
I know the current owners and think the money they spent was missplaced, but not a complete waste, but could have been spent better and they are just trying to break even.

Trying to type this on my phone, sorry if it doesn't make sense.
Thanks for the reply.

[Gwagensteve]

If you're across the advantages and disadvantages of the coil sierra, and that's the direction you want to go $4.5K is a fair price for one.

Shop one carefully against a cheap Jimny though (if you're interested in 4WDing) or a SWB vitara (if you're mostly into road driving)- both cars are similar money to a coil sierra and are better at their respective jobs, and both have more aftermarket support.

[HarryHoudini]

Yes,$4-5000 is the ball park figure for a reasonable one but there is a demand for them and they usually sell quickly as there is not many around for sale at any one time,at least in this area,Northern Rivers of NSW.
As mentioned rust is the big drama,lots of places they rust especially if used on a beach.Ours was an ex-Forestry one used out the back of Casino/Kyogle but still had both sills rusted out,take plastic covering/protection off sills to check the rust has been treated before outlaying $.

Interesting story with ours,parked in local Bunnings store when a tradie walked over and asked if it was for sale,offered $3000 cash on the spot,told him it was part owned by my brother and i would have to ask him first,gave him our phone number.Rang back that night and when told not interested he upped the offer to $4000.Doesn't stop there,rang back about a week later and offered $5,000,got his phone number and told him we would ring if we decided to sell.
Point being they are very popular with some people looking to go beach fishing/4WDriving in an old car so the demand is there,pre Covid at least.

Edit..i should mention ours had 4 new Toyo Open Country tyres and 6" rims on so that probably inflated the price by a grand or so....

[Antman]

Thanks Harry

From what you guys have said so far, I might have another look for more rust on it first. The left side sill needs to be replaced but looks like it is just the trim panel (don't know what it is called) but hasn't migrated to the body. Michael mentioned some spots on the soft top to look at, but is there any more likely spots on the hard top version. I'll see if I can attach a photo.

Thanks again for every ones help.

[Erik]

I have a rust-free 96 Coily and I wouldn't part with it - horses for courses I know but it sometimes goes places my Patrol can't and vice-versa. For most 4x4'ing the coily's a great little truck.
Yes, that's a fair price if the vehicle is sound mate, IMHO

[HarryHoudini]

Erik wrote:

I have a rust-free 96 Coily and I wouldn't part with it - horses for courses I know but it sometimes goes places my Patrol can't and vice-versa. For most 4x4'ing the coily's a great little truck.

Yes,same here.

Antman,the sills have a protection bar riveted(?) to the sill under the plastic covering.Where this bar is attached to the sill seems to be where the rust starts at least on the cars we inspected,2 were for sale and a couple in the wrecking yards.

[Antman]

Thanks again guys, I've got it at home now, drove home great and got it for a bit less than expected .
Thanks for everyones advice.