Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

imidazol97

oldfarmer50 said:

Those two cars are almost identical mechanically. I believe both have the series II 3.8L. I'm sure a 2005 would have some more sophisticated electronics but most parts are interchangeable.

I sent you an IM in your profile with comments on the Buick. I suspect they are not as identical as you think. The Buick is based on the platform similar to Park Avenue and shares the platform the Seville was based on. In 2003 or thereafter the Seville was being discontinued, and the ads had the same option packages my leSabre had, such as the self-dimming outside mirror on the left door but not on the right door, both heated IIRC.

The transmissions, I believe, are different in the electronic controls and the newer one was beefier from the factory after 2002. And the really important thing, is if anything goes wrong with the Buick, there millions of donor cars in pick and pull and others still on the road that will be available for an engine or transmission. If you look on Rockauto.com and click on the blue linked part number, it will show all the cars sharing that same part, often including the other brands within GM.

PLUS the Buick has an access in the trunk for the fuel pump while the Olds platform requires the tank to be dropped. Makes the replacement of or repair of the fuel sender much cheaper.

I didn't recognize the rims on the Buick as original. Are they replacements? If so, that's good. The chrome plated rims tend to corrode from saltwater at the bead and seep. I replaced two of mine on the leSabre with original chrome-plated wheels from rockauto -- Keystone restored/remanufactured.

The $5000 price, if the car doesn't have any bad history, is less than 10% too high, in my opinion.

snakeweasel

oldfarmer50 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Depends how thorough the detailers were. On a really valuable car, it might pay for them to really take the pains to hide everything they can.

Another reason to buy old hoopties. No one would spend the time to hide flood damage and if by chance you find yourself stuck with one you park it, take the plates and go home.

Why do that? you get nothing for it. Take it to the local salvage yard, they will give you a few bucks for it.

I took my sons 12 year old nearly 200K mile Dodge Neon to one and got something like $175.

sda

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Those two cars are almost identical mechanically. I believe both have the series II 3.8L. I'm sure a 2005 would have some more sophisticated electronics but most parts are interchangeable.

I sent you an IM in your profile with comments on the Buick. I suspect they are not as identical as you think. The Buick is based on the platform similar to Park Avenue and shares the platform the Seville was based on. In 2003 or thereafter the Seville was being discontinued, and the ads had the same option packages my leSabre had, such as the self-dimming outside mirror on the left door but not on the right door, both heated IIRC.

The transmissions, I believe, are different in the electronic controls and the newer one was beefier from the factory after 2002. And the really important thing, is if anything goes wrong with the Buick, there millions of donor cars in pick and pull and others still on the road that will be available for an engine or transmission. If you look on Rockauto.com and click on the blue linked part number, it will show all the cars sharing that same part, often including the other brands within GM.

PLUS the Buick has an access in the trunk for the fuel pump while the Olds platform requires the tank to be dropped. Makes the replacement of or repair of the fuel sender much cheaper.

I didn't recognize the rims on the Buick as original. Are they replacements? If so, that's good. The chrome plated rims tend to corrode from saltwater at the bead and seep. I replaced two of mine on the leSabre with original chrome-plated wheels from rockauto -- Keystone restored/remanufactured.

The $5000 price, if the car doesn't have any bad history, is less than 10% too high, in my opinion.

Didn't GM revise the intake manifold and gaskets somewhere around 2000 to address the problem related to those? That would be a real plus as well for going with the Buick.

graphicguy

Forums are doing weird things with my posts....like repeating them for no apparent reason.

houdini1

ab348 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Speaking of depreciation, which of these low milage beauties would you choose? I'm thinking of replacing my son's 1998 Lasabre.



https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/5611423136.html




https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/5617748409.html

I always had a soft spot for those Olds 88s and that seems like a nice survivor. But at almost 20 model years old it may be a bit of a gamble. I am not enamored with that style of Lesabre and it needs more pics/info.

Ditto-Olds 88

graphicguy

Imid...saw one of your beloved Malibus in the flesh the other day in a parking lot. Pics don't do it justice. Pretty darned sharp cars. As much as there's still a lot of room for improvment with GM. They're on a styling high with all of their vehilces.

abacomike

ab348

graphicguy said:

Imid...saw one of your beloved Malibus in the flesh the other day in a parking lot. Pics don't do it justice. Pretty darned sharp cars. As much as there's still a lot of room for improvment with GM. They're on a styling high with all of their vehilces.

I had one this week as a loaner and posted about my thoughts in the Midsize Cars forum.

2016 Malibu impressions

abacomike

I took the above photos this morning during my walk.  If you look closely, the two-tone paint job looks bland for a $360+ thousand dollar car.  It's a RR Wraith pretty loaded.

stickguy

that is about as far from my "style" as you can get in a car.

abacomike

stickguy said:

that is about as far from my "style" as you can get in a car.

I don't like it either.  Now the Ghost is something else!  A decently equipped Ghost would MSRP for around $320,000 or about the same price as a nice townhouse in a nice area down here.  I'd opt for the townhouse, without a second thought! 

suydam

graphicguy said:

Imid...saw one of your beloved Malibus in the flesh the other day in a parking lot. Pics don't do it justice. Pretty darned sharp cars. As much as there's still a lot of room for improvment with GM. They're on a styling high with all of their vehilces.

I had one as a rental awhile back. They look nice, but I didn't find it a very comfortable car inside. Visibility was poor. But obviously many people like them. Just not my cup of tea.

abacomike

This afternoon after lunch at the NYY Steak House, I'm picking up a Sony Bluetooth speaker system.  It's in the shape of a cube and comes with rechargeable lithium ion batteries so you can place it anywhere.  Of course, you can plug it into a wall socket if you like.

I don't have any speakers in my bedroom so I will set it up next to the TV and play my music from my iPhone.  They are giving them away as a gift - I checked out retail on it and you can pick one up for about $50-$60.  Will be a nice addition to my lifestyle. 

sda

Sounds nice . Wireless speakers and products have really improved of late. I'm sure you'll enjoy. I have been going the opposite direction lately. Just purchased a older Technics Direct Drive turntable from e-bay to replace a lesser quality turntable that I have. To get a new turntable of equal quality they command a price I'm not willing to pay since I only listen to albums occasionally. I have ordered a new stylus and should be good to go.

abacomike

sda said:

Sounds nice . Wireless speakers and products have really improved of late. I'm sure you'll enjoy. I have been going the opposite direction lately. Just purchased a older Technics Direct Drive turntable from e-bay to replace a lesser quality turntable that I have. To get a new turntable of equal quality they command a price I'm not willing to pay since I only listen to albums occasionally. I have ordered a new stylus and should be good to go.

Enjoy - there's something about a vinyl LP record playback that cannot be duplicated off a CD or digital recording.  I think it has something to do with the "crispness" of the sound through the amplifier.

Mr_Shiftright

abacomike said:

I took the above photos this morning during my walk.  If you look closely, the two-tone paint job looks bland for a $360+ thousand dollar car.  It's a RR Wraith pretty loaded.

The front end looks like it came from a kit car. I'm sure the interior is very nice though.

explorerx4

I like the Olds, but the small headlights bother me. Not sure how well they can work.

tjc78

I had an Olds 88 just like that in burgundy. Headlights stunk. Only had that one 10 months. It leaked water inside from the 2nd day I owned it and they could never fix it.

abacomike

Well, I picked up the Bluetooth speaker.  It paired easily to my iPhone.  It's about a 3" black cube with a speaker in front and one on each adjacent side to the left and right for a total of 3.  Sound reproduction is good, but nothing to brag about.  It has a range of about 20 feet.  

I plan to use it when I'm on the PC or in my bedroom.  Is this something I'd run out to buy for $50-$60?  Absolutely not!  But it cost me nothing so at that price, I'll enjoy it. 

driver100

abacomike said:

I like!

I cannot afford!

abacomike

driver100 said:

I like! I cannot afford!

If you tap on the bottom photo, it will enlarge it on another screen.  With your fingers, enlarge the photo - it shows MSRP!  Ouch!  $362,225

ab348

These days, these sort of cars are owned by people I would not care to know.

Like this fellow.

oldfarmer50

sda said:

imidazol97 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Those two cars are almost identical mechanically. I believe both have the series II 3.8L. I'm sure a 2005 would have some more sophisticated electronics but most parts are interchangeable.

I sent you an IM in your profile with comments on the Buick. I suspect they are not as identical as you think. The Buick is based on the platform similar to Park Avenue and shares the platform the Seville was based on. In 2003 or thereafter the Seville was being discontinued, and the ads had the same option packages my leSabre had, such as the self-dimming outside mirror on the left door but not on the right door, both heated IIRC.

The transmissions, I believe, are different in the electronic controls and the newer one was beefier from the factory after 2002. And the really important thing, is if anything goes wrong with the Buick, there millions of donor cars in pick and pull and others still on the road that will be available for an engine or transmission. If you look on Rockauto.com and click on the blue linked part number, it will show all the cars sharing that same part, often including the other brands within GM.

PLUS the Buick has an access in the trunk for the fuel pump while the Olds platform requires the tank to be dropped. Makes the replacement of or repair of the fuel sender much cheaper.

I didn't recognize the rims on the Buick as original. Are they replacements? If so, that's good. The chrome plated rims tend to corrode from saltwater at the bead and seep. I replaced two of mine on the leSabre with original chrome-plated wheels from rockauto -- Keystone restored/remanufactured.

The $5000 price, if the car doesn't have any bad history, is less than 10% too high, in my opinion.

Didn't GM revise the intake manifold and gaskets somewhere around 2000 to address the problem related to those? That would be a real plus as well for going with the Buick.

I could be wrong but I don't think they fixed the plastic intake until the series III motor which came out in 2005 with an aluminum one. I've seen some 2005s with series II engines so maybe it was a mid year change.

Oh, I wouldn't really abandon a busted car in the road. I'm too cheap. I should have put some faces in that comment.

oldfarmer50

Imidazol97:

Thanks for that info. I would never have seen it if you hadn't mentioned it. There were two other messages from you dated last September and August that I never knew you sent. I almost never look at my profile.

suydam

Test drove a Mazda 3 I grand touring hatch today while out in Southern California. Can I say how much I love this car! It seems just about perfect for the kind of driving we will be doing here -- mix of hopping on the freeway for a bit plus in town on crowded streets. It was good to see the differences between it and the little Nissan Versa Note I've been driving as a rental. The suspension is just how I like it -- a bit on the stiff side but also not punishingly hard. Very similar to my '13 Honda Accord, on,y the 3 handles so much better. Really nice to drive. Definitely at the top of my list. Only problem was that this dealer has every car with a black interior. I definitely do not want black in sunny California.

driver100

ab348 said:

These days, these sort of cars are owned by people I would not care to know.

Like this fellow.

I don't think you can generalize (don't worry I won't flag you ab). There are lots of bad dudes driving crappy cars too. And there are probably some very nice people who can drive a new RR. You may not have much in common to talk about, or want to pal around with them, but, they could be very nice people who just happened to be very successful.

driver100

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

I like!

I cannot afford!

If you tap on the bottom photo, it will enlarge it on another screen.  With your fingers, enlarge the photo - it shows MSRP!  Ouch!  $362,225

I did, and as if $362,225 isn't bad enough, the exchange rate would make it closer to $500,000 CDN.

But, maybe there is some trunk money available

driver100

We saw the movie "Eye in the Sky" yesterday, and it is incredibly good. Interesting to see how some of these modern weapons work. Also, moral dilemma of war....how much collateral damage do you allow to take out some bad dudes? The hour and 40 minutes flew by, tension is unbelievable, acting superb. Gets a 95% on rottentomatoes.

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

We saw the movie "Eye in the Sky" yesterday, and it is incredibly good. Interesting to see how some of these modern weapons work. Also, moral dilemma of war....how much collateral damage do you allow to take out some bad dudes? The hour and 40 minutes flew by, tension is unbelievable, acting superb. Gets a 95% on rottentomatoes.

We saw "Money Monster" and I tell you it was the opposite of your experience. For how good (or lack thereof) the movie was we were overcharged and that's saying a lot seeing that we had free passes for the movie.

abacomike

snakeweasel said:

We saw the movie "Eye in the Sky" yesterday, and it is incredibly good. Interesting to see how some of these modern weapons work. Also, moral dilemma of war....how much collateral damage do you allow to take out some bad dudes? The hour and 40 minutes flew by, tension is unbelievable, acting superb. Gets a 95% on rottentomatoes.

We saw "Money Monster" and I tell you it was the opposite of your experience. For how good (or lack thereof) the movie was we were overcharged and that's saying a lot seeing that we had free passes for the movie.

Now that's one bad movie!!! 

iluvmysephia1

Looking  forward to seeing CLE at GS in Game 2 of the 2016 NBA Finals tonight. Whew! I have been reading old posts trying to catch up the past couple of days. Around 750 'Cars and Member Conversations' and 550 'CCBA' posts! Those of you who have fallen behind before know what I'm talkin'about!

Nice ta be back on here. Any of you driven a 2015 or 2016 Nissan Versa S sedan? suydam has driven the Versa Note and I believe PF Flyer owns one of each. I'm just researching the 2016 Nissan Versa S sedan 5-speed. There's one in the KC Metro selling for $10,988 in Gun metal grey and 5-speeds that I'd like ta test drive. Very carefully, though.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

We saw the movie "Eye in the Sky" yesterday, and it is incredibly good. Interesting to see how some of these modern weapons work. Also, moral dilemma of war....how much collateral damage do you allow to take out some bad dudes? The hour and 40 minutes flew by, tension is unbelievable, acting superb. Gets a 95% on rottentomatoes.

95% ... I've reserved it from our library. 30 copies and 130 requests.

driver100

snakeweasel said:

driver100 said:

We saw the movie "Eye in the Sky" yesterday, and it is incredibly good. Interesting to see how some of these modern weapons work. Also, moral dilemma of war....how much collateral damage do you allow to take out some bad dudes? The hour and 40 minutes flew by, tension is unbelievable, acting superb. Gets a 95% on rottentomatoes.

We saw "Money Monster" and I tell you it was the opposite of your experience. For how good (or lack thereof) the movie was we were overcharged and that's saying a lot seeing that we had free passes for the movie.

Glad you told me, it was a toss up between the two movies, and MM was next on the list if nothing better comes out. Most people (adults) seemed to like both movies, but Eye had much better reviews. Very few "adult" movies out these days. Both are playing at the second tier theaters here...not much going on in the first run movie theaters.

driver100

iluvmysephia1

You are using up too much white space. You are going to use up all the cyberspace if you keep doing that.

stever

I was waiting for a photo to show up from the Hot Springs trip. Adjusted.

abacomike

Driver - I now pronounce you "Royal Protector of Cyberspace" (Royal because you are part of the Commonwealth)! 

verdugo

abacomike said:

Nice car, but I'll take a house instead

abacomike

verdugo said:

Nice car, but I'll take a house instead

Ditto!

iluvmysephia1

stever, did you go to Hot Springs, AR? Russellville, AR, Motel 6 parking lot is where I saw the 2015/2016 metallic blue Nissan Versa sedan that averted my car nut world to those little rigs. On the way back from Hot Springs, AR.

driver100

abacomike said:

Driver - I now pronounce you "Royal Protector of Cyberspace" (Royal because you are part of the Commonwealth)! 

Have to protect our natural resources...if we run out of cyberspace we won't be able to post anymore.

stever

@iluvmysephia1, it's been years; I was, dunno, 16?, my first trip and got to see my first horse race. Pretty exciting. Got a white "Arkansas Stone" on that trip but I think I sold it in '99 for the sell-out move when we were up in AK (I mention that because a lot of AR mail went up that way. ). Went back with my wife in the 90s I guess and enjoyed all the gardens. Don't know Russellville; went to Jasper about two hours north a bunch of times and floated the Buffalo 7 years in a row. Nice country - my favorite uncle lived in N. Little Rock and I'd visit them a week most summers growing up.

iluvmysephia1

Cool, stever, you got to go catch a horse race. Never seen one of those live. Five years from my retirement (good time to begin a 60-month note on a Nissan Versa S sedan) and I like either Hot Springs or Tucson, AZ, to settle in. Wouldn't rule our Las Cruces or Alamogordo, NM, though, either.

Along those NM lines, there's a job in my line of Allied Healthcare work open in Angel Fire, NM, right now. Nice ta just stay on in Dodge City, though. The Mrs. and I are liking the 'Queen of the Cowtowns.' Angel Fire, NM, near Taos, is about 7200 ft.elevation.

stever

Angel Fire is gorgeous, but too cold for us. Seems like an easier hill than Taos but since my wife bunged up her leg skiing so much, the sliding sports are off our radar anyway. Plus we have a free place to stay in Taos anytime we want, so why move there?

You'd like the roads around there, but lordy knows there's plenty of holler driving in the Ozarks too.

iluvmysephia1

You're right, that '11 Kia Soul took those holler roads like a champ several weeks ago. The little Versa S sedan might or might not be as fun on them. Yeah, I asked about taking the Soul over Hwy 64 between Taos and Angel Fire in the dead of winter. Someone from Eagle Crest said "you'll be all right. Might get some snow tires first, though." Might get snow tires, is all.

Nahhh!

stever

We did that loop drive, 522 to 38 to 64, "behind" Taos Ski Valley. We hit snow.

In June.

Bobcat Summit on the 64 section - the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, June 26, '10.

iluvmysephia1

It looks like you'd want to drive "cautiously" on 64. After driving I-90 through northern Idaho over Lookout Pass and between Kellogg and Wallace (where they filmed 'Dante's Peak'), also on I-90, I feel fairly "experienced" with ice and snow driving.

Much of that time I was driving my '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS with it's little clearance and 18" high-performance, low profile radials. Was a bit of a challenge at times, yes.

abacomike

The only times I was in New Mexico was when I was in Albuquerque for a conference back in the 1980's and when I drove from Florida to San Diego and stopped in Las Cruces for two days.

I found Albuquerque to be isolated from everywhere except Sante Fe, which, in and of itself, was isolated.  Las Cruces was a stupendous place - very artsy and earthy.  I'd go back there in a minute if I had a reason to return.

There really is only one state I have not visited, but would love to visit - Hawaii!  If I could only withstand a 5-6 hour flight to the West Coast and another 5-6 hour flight into Maui.  I don't think that is possible considering my health.  If the doctors told me I had only 6 months to live, I'd finally get my passport and fly to Hawaii, then New Zealand, and finally to Sydney and Perth, Australia.  After that, God could have me at his/her pleasure. 

stever

iluvmysephia1 said:

Five years from my retirement

I like the way you guys have handled it - PacNW for years, then ID, NM, KS. We may not get the itch again, but it's nice living in different places and getting the longer term flavor of them. Sometimes I feel like we're following each other around.

You have good taste in cars too, lol.

abacomike

I'm really beginning to enjoy this Sony Bluetooth speaker.  I can place it anywhere in my bedroom or livingroom and just sit back enjoy my music from my iPhone.  The car stereo system is much better than the Bluetooth Speakers, but I prefer the speakers to the earphones - which I was surprised to admit to.  This way, I just turn on my Bluetooth and sit back and relax.  The tonal quality is very different, even with my Bose earphones.

What amazes me is the sound quality from a 3" cube speaker system and its ability to handle high volume input and reproduction.  Not bad for no cost to me.

But if I got free tickets to a movie and felt that I paid too much for the movie, I'd drool at the mouth and commit Hari Kari! 

iluvmysephia1

I like the way you guys have handled it - PacNW for years, then ID, NM, KS. We may not get the itch again, but it's nice living in different places and getting the longer term flavor of them. Sometimes I feel like we're following each other around.

You have good taste in cars too, lol.


Yeah, well sometimes it was by choice, other times not. When the fickle finger of fate points at you, your time at that job and place might be through. I tell Mrs.iluvmysephia1 from time ta time "Honey, we don't need a Winnebago when I retire, we've already seen a bunch of at least the West and Midwest of America already!"

abacomike - interesting your desire ta go to Australia. I was chatting with a buddy Saturday whose job in Agriculture Management here in Dodge City, KS, took him to those Australian cities you mentioned wanting ta go to! Just part of his job I spose.