84' Jalpa help. What do you think about this car? (pics)

I went to a new exotic car dealership just outside of town and saw a Jalpa sitting in their shop. After talking to the salesman, I am looking at trading my countach replica. Now he doesn't want to give me much for the replica for a trade in ($15,000) but I am hoping I can get him up to 20k (which would also include the $2,500 I still owe paying the car off). He was asking about 35K for the Jalpa (I believe he said 17,000 miles on the car and 1 owner). It looks pretty good, but I have never had any experiance with a Jalpa and don't know the typical problems and expenses envolved. He mentioned it had a new "brain" computer system that costed about him $5,500, and they were kinda tweaking on the carbs and such at the time.

I'll post some pics below. Please let me know any of your expierances and what kind of problems, maintainence to expect. What aboout the $5,000 clutch and 5,000 mile tune up like required for the Countach? Will I need to consider things like that? I don't have alot of extra money to spend, so if something goes wrong on the car, what would I expect in replacement parts and location of these parts?

I work on all my cars myself and last year I built a mustang drag car from the ground up, so I'm not worried about the work envolved, its the parts and reliability if the car I am not sure about. Thanks for your time folks. -Paul

I posted a pic of the dent in the door. weird damage, but can be fixed.... other than that. the car looked REALLY good!
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wow, your first post and it's a VERY helpful one! lol, thanks! How did you find the online add for the Jalpa? Send me a PM if you can. I see it had 3 owners and I was told it only had one, lol.... typical car salesman. The mileage on the car I am interested in looks to be in kilometers, so I'll post a picture and if anyone can tell, chime in. According to the add it has 31,970 Miles and the picture I have at the shop has 36,255. So depending on how long that add has been online, there has been about 5,000 miles put on that car. Thats ALOT for a short time it has been up for sale, unless the add has been online for 3 years, which seems very unlikely. Well, that would tell me someone let the car sit and then sold it, then the new owner drove the crap out of it and then decided to sell it. That kinda scares me that they would want to sell it after putting 5,000 miles on it.

Any other thoughts on this? What do you guys think? Maybe I can get the VIN # and someone can help me out with a Car Fax?
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PM sent.

 

Thank you for the info. I have always loved the styling of the Jalpa. I just know it's a gamble for something somewhat reliable... I know it's a "real" Lambo, but I also know the shock value will drop by about 75% with the Jalpa compaired to my replica. Alslo, my C/T replica is about 1 second faster 0-60 and a few tenths in the 1/4 compaired to the stats of the Jalpa. So I would be in a less jaw dropping car and it will be a bit slower.... but it is a real Lambo and that would be nice too. I'm just wondering how much time I should spend on persueing this and since they will take my replica as a trade in, it is a nice thing, because I will not have to sell my car on the side and wait around with no exotic, till something pops up on the market, which can take years for my price range. This seems like one of those "do it now or regret it" deals, but the dealer is just not adding up with his background and facts... Makes them seem flakey and that scares me away from a purchase.


Someone just give me their Murci! I'll be your best friend!


Here's my replica and it has been a good car for the 5 years I have had it. I just can't see letting it go as a trade in for $15,000. 20 or 25 would be much more appealing, but of course it does have it's stress cracks and what not up close.
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Oh by the way, AIR4C 1.... I FRIGGIN LOOOOVE your Jalpa! Probably the finest one I have ever seen! I only WISH I gould buy it from you, but probably a bit out of my price range and I would have to sell my rep first. Just not something practical for me right now. Good luck on the sale though... Very attractive car!

 

Yea... and the more I look at the pictures and think about it, I am falling in love with that Jalpa. I have had the countach replica for 5 years now and I'm ready for a change. I just hope I can negotiate with the salesman and get a little more for my replica and make a deal. I may also be willing to trade in my "Texas Mustang" I built, along with the countach rep, but that will be the last resort.

 

Thanks guys! I know it's a pretty bad ass rep..... for what is typically out and about. That's one reason why I don't like getting offered $15,000 for a trade in (because there's really no reps out there with the looks of my car)... not to sound arrogant or anything like that, but I have been in the scene for a while now and know what typical replica "kit cars" look like and go for. But I also know that they are trying to get my car, and resale it to make some money. Just like any other buisness would do, so it's business... and I would be doing the same thing if I where in their position. It is hard to decide to go with an older Lambo, real or not, and lose all the popularity driving down the street with video cameras and digitals hanging out the windows of SUV's with kids and adults the same, freaking out about seeing my car going down the road. It's something to truly look back on and say wow.... I would be doing the same thing if I saw that car going down the road. BUT....I'm willing to have a little change and go with a real Lambo if I can go with this Jalpa. I just hope I can enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed my C/T replica.

The funny thing is, my replica is faster in 0-60 and the 1/4 mile..... and looks soooooooooo much more FUN! but, if any of you have ever driven a Countach, you will understand how un-practical the car is! Bah!!!! but it's all worth it in when you park it back in the garage at home and smile as you walk inside thinking......... dam........another fun fun adventure! LOL!

BUT I still fall in love with that Jalpa more and more because it was also one of the cars I truly admired as a kid when I was dreaming of even being in the presence of an exotic car.

Any other advise about purchasing the Jalpa would be nice. I am weary because some of the things just don't add up from what I saw online about the car and what the salesman tells me, but I think that alot of it is just part of the nature of selling cars. .....imagine that. -FROG-

 

Here's a pic of my interior. I cut the shifter and installed a silver ball, getting rid of that tallk setup the previous owner had.

Also, I have made the decision to sell the Countach Replica. I will probably open it up on ebay soon, but I'm looking to get around $25,000 for it. PM me if anyone is interested and I have TONS more pics to aid with your interest. Thanks -Paul
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Here are over 100 pictures of the car. You may need to create a sign in, but it's free and worth it.
http://www.imagestation.com/album/index.html?id=4292457619

The motor is a lightly modded 2.8L V6 from the Pontiac Fiero GT, but the car is the lightest car I have seen. I don't know the actual weight but it has to be quite a bit under 3,000 lbs. I have a fully gutted 1987 mustang drag car, with absolutely nothing in the cars interior besides a battery in the trunk and 2 plastic racing seats and that car is light, but the Lambo is still lighter and I can push the car around, in and out of the garage, with almost no effort. I have used a G-Tech to track the 0-60 and quarter mile times. I believe the G-Tech to be accurate, because I have also used it at the track and it was right on with the 1/4 mile time, but the trap speed was off by 1 MPH. I use my G-Tech religiousely when I tune cars and find it to be accurate time and time again. The Lambo ran a 0-60 at 6.5 sec and the 1/4 mile was 15.1. This was on a VERY hot day in the summer and I didn't give the car a cool down time, so I estemate in the cooler weather and if the car had sat and cooled down a bit, the 1/4 time would be a high 14 sec pass, which is along side a 5.0L Mustang GT. Very nice for a little V6. The sound this motor produces is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! I will GUARENTEE, it sounds just like a REAL COUNTACH at lower RPM's. It does not have the "whine" like a real one at higher RPM's, but I GUARENTEE it is fenominal! You just can't get this sound from a V8 and that is one of the reasons I never wanted to do a swap. I have been happy with it as it is. I stress the sound of the car because I have followed a real Countach a few times in one of my (quiet) other cars allowing me to pay close attention to the detail and raspy sound. I was also in a car show side by side with the same car and was able to compair the 2 cars in GREAT DETAIL and this again confirmed the quality of the cars duplication. (I have pics) It was a real 1987 1/2( I believe). I cannot explain why the car sounds like it does, but it may have to do with the 12" glass pack and resonator tips I had installed. I know it sounds silly, but I cannot stress enough how incredible and precise it duplicates the sound. The tires are 345/35/15 and these are the widest street tires I have seen. Well, I have smoked those big tires a few times and it will spin them at every red light if you want. The torque from the motor launches the car like crazy and that makes red lights fun for showing off! When I pull into car shows and meets, people are stunned when I tell them it is a replica, because they say it sounds just like a real one and of course looks like one too. I take pride in my cars and I MUST have them sounding and running at their best!

 

A few more pictures:
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Well, I'm going to try and find a Gen 1 Viper and have some fun with that.

 

lol, maybe so, but I'm ready for a change and trying to have a little fun while I'm still single. Who knows, by the time I am ready for a purchase a Viper, maybe I will find a jewel.