looking to buy an 03
 

Hey guys, so driving down the road today I saw an 03 se for sale. So I pull over and check it out, luckily it was sitting across the street from theladies house who is selling it so I really got a good look at it. The interior and exterior look great.
Here's the issue it needs a timing belt, new tires and both rear windows need regulators.
She is asking $1500. Obo
Is this something that is worth the money or is having a broken timing belt a deal breaker. What else would a timing belt mess up when it breaks I've heard if this happens you could need a whole new engine. I really like it but I don't want to spend more a lot of $$$ trying to fix it. Like I don't want to put more than $1500 in it. Would this be with fixing?
Thanks everyone

nope. Timing belt pops, valves bend as they smack the top of the pistons. Lots of things to repair. It will need more than the belt.

Thanks Savannah, I'm gonna have to pass on this one

-Jon

I've had the front and back belt pulleys break, but never the belt. Both cases the cams went to neutral by valve spring pressure and no valves were broke. You can check by looking down the spark plug holes with a bore scope. When they hit, the valve heads break off, then jam between the head and pistons. If you want to test it, you can pull the plastic cover off (3 bolts) behind the passenger front tire which covers the end of the crank pulley, then turn it over slowly with a socket and flex bar. If the valves got wacked you will feel it.