Hey there guys! I'm new around these parts, so take 'er easy on me

I am looking to buy a nice 4x4 to plow my driveway in the winter time, in addition to trail riding with buddies. I saw this ad on Craigslist for a 1998 Honda Foreman 400, its has a winch on it already, and comes with the plow! The guy or gal, is asking $1800 for it, but take a look at this excerpt from the ad:

"The quad runs very good, but it could use the rings replaced, it smokes. It's been this way for a while and doesn't hurt anything, but it does smoke quite a bit. If the rings were replaced this quad would be as good as new."

What rings are they talking about? (I'm fairly new when it comes to mechanic work also) and how expensive would it be to get this baby up and running 100%, and non-smoking? It will also need a set of new tires, they are really getting bald in the pictures. So what do you guys think? Should I offer like say $1200? and how deep would I find myself in replacing the 'Rings'? Thanks a million ATVconnection!!!

P.S. here is a pic of the machine itself:

-Travis

 

The rings on the piston are what they are talking about as far as price to get it done is talk to a mechanic at your local Atv shop and find out what they have to say then with that price in mind find out what you could get one in a little better shape mechanicly and try to get it for several hundred less because of the hassle you'll have to go through to get it fixed.

 

Thanks for the speedy reply!! I have checked out several other Foremans, and they are going for about $2000 - $2300 mint!! New piston rings are going for about $40 on ebay, would the new rings fix the smoking issue?

 

It should fix the issue but the labor is gonna be the expensive part so I would defiantly talk to a mechanic so you would have an idea on what that will set you back before I dove in and bought it.

 

Yeah, definitely good insight. I wouldn't have to pay a shop to do it though, my father is a mechanic and says that he could do the work fairly easily, it would just take about a weekend or so worth of work.

 

If you look at blue book values a machine you defined could be as high as $1,800 dealer offer or $1150 trade value in excellent condition. Blue Book definition of excellent condition is a spotless machine with no mechanical imperfections. The machine you are talking about would struggle to qualify as poor condition. If it is burning oil, then what else is of marginal quality? Brakes? CV joints? Frame integrity? etc. etc. There would be no way I would pay over $1,100 for a machine in that condition.

 

Thanks for the input Jcd! Unfortunately the guy didn't much like my offer of $1200, which I think is more than fair for what I'd have to put into it. He claims that $1200 is a horribly low price, one which he won't even consider. So it's whatever, I told him he can keep it then, I don't need to buy something that high in price, just to put more money into. Thanks everyone for your input!

 

Hopefully you left him your number. He may, in the end, call you and say OK.