The car is a blue (almost the color of my Mac OS X desktop) 1993 850 GLT, no sun/moonroof, decent leather seats, AC blows cold, straight body, 5-speed manual transmission, smoker's car on which everything works except the cruise control, and the antenna mast will need help soon.

Paint appears to be original, as it matches door jambs and engine compartment.

Mfg. plate states the car was built in 12/02.

The dash rubber/plastic appears to be a little out of flush at the place on the passenger side where it meets and makes a sort of seam with the rubber/plastic next to the cover for the passenger side airbag.

Engine service light comes on started.

Oil present on valve cover, around bolts on top.

The car needs new tires all around - has six spoke 15" alloy wheels. The suspension seems pretty stiff, but has an annoying clunk and apparent lack of shock absorbtion on the front right corner when driving over the many bumps found in my small Southern town's roads.

In the past six or so years, the only stick-shift vehicle I've driven was a 1964 International Load (or Lode?) Star grain truck during '02 soybean harvest, and a couple of tractors, at my in-law's farm in Indiana, so I was pretty pleased not to have stalled or ground any of the gears when I spent part of the day test driving the car on Saturday.

The vehicle has 188,000 miles, and a decal in the engine compartment states that belt service was done at 146,000 miles, although I'm not sure if it was serpentine or timing belt. The diagram shows about five pulleys on the belt.

The asking price is $3000.00 US. The car's not EXACTLY (read as italics, not shouting) what I'm looking for, but is pretty close.

Should I buy it? What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Chris