Project Cars--You Get to Vote on "Hold 'em or Fold 'em"

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Comments

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    But we don't know the mileage of our "bargain". Given that it costs about $1.50 per mile to drive a Ferrari (easily) for the first 30K, I'd expect that cost to go up considerably thereafter.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,598
    I wonder how long this goes between breakdowns condition looks good anyway

    Should be useful to someone somewhere

    Rebadging is the lamest thing in the world This car irks me...the wheels don't seem to fit right, the trunk and hood look misaligned - not a good sign, miles aren't low and neither is the price, looks like a base model, sunroof open in the rain...
  • lilengineerboylilengineerboy Member Posts: 4,116
    I learned to drive stick on a Peugeot 505 S Turbo Diesel we affectionately called Turd. MTBF was measured in weeks, but it did have excellent ride quality and had interesting driving characteristics. It felt like a boat, but would actually stick in the corners. Body roll was horrendous but it would hold a line.
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    My understanding is that Peugeots are fine cars, but I think that you would have to have great devotion to the marque to subject yourself to the inevitable hassles of parts and service (un)availability. Why not just get a Camry?

    The $650 Merc D... gas prices are moving up. I'm surprised that they aren't billing it as a biodiesel special and asking $4k.

    The "AMG" looks like it has been torqued... run, run quickly, far, far away. :sick:

    james
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Yeah but diesel prices are also moving up, and pump biodiesel prices are ridiculously high.

    You could easily buy a diesel right now and get two "benefits": degraded performance and higher operating costs.

    Case in point...by ditching my 300D and buying a Scion for commuting purposes, at current fuel prices I'm saving $900 a year. And at $100 a month to keep the old girl in repair and maintenance, vs. $250 month to finance a car with a good warranty, you can see how it all makes sense. (for me).
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Ah yes, but you deal in reality, whereas the the average car buyer lives in a fantasy world. Example: the whole SUV craze (extra points for 22" wheels and 40 series tires).

    james
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I wonder if they realize that wheels that big affect acceleration and braking, both adversely? So basically one is spending $2,000 to stop slower and go slower.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,144
    Along with a tooth-rattling ride, poor tire life, expensive tires, and easy-to bend rims - it's a lose/lose/lose/lose/lose/lose situation. And, IMHO, a Tahoe just doesn't look right riding on 2" of sidewall...
  • seminole_kevseminole_kev Member Posts: 1,696
    LOL - funny you mention that. I remember this total jerk a few years ago in a suped up pickup truck with probably 20 or 22" rims. He was being a total jerk in traffic and pulled up next to me and my (at the time) Focus hatchback. Sitting there reving his engine at the red light like he was behind the wheel of a dragster.

    Light turns green and I left him in the dust with all that 2.0 liter, normally aspirated, Focus power ;) because he had to overcome a ridiculous final drive ratio. Was hilarious.

    (Wasn't street raising or anything. Just was getting away from a you-know-what and I had a turn not to far up ahead anyway.)
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    As far as any old BMWs is concerned, you don't buy a fixer-upper.

    There's a chrome-bumper E30 coupe sitting a quarter-mile up the road for $600. I'd probably buy it for kicks if I didn't already have two platefuls of other automotive needs to take care of.
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    Circling back to your message #9315, Shifty, you said, "If you buy an '86 Monte Carlo, it's so much easier and cheaper to cope with repairs than on an '86 635CSi...probably on a scale of 1:4 for parts and labor."

    This brings up a question that arises in my mind from time to time, that I've never asked, because I come up with some lame, time worn answers, such as, "supply and demand", that temporarily satisfy me, but not fully. So my question is, just why IS the differential so great? Why isn't it a more reasonable 1.5:1, or 2:1, say? I can understand 4:1 if we're comparing the maintenance costs of a Rolls versus a Chevy, but a BMW or Mercedes, while more upscale than a Chevy, to be sure, doesn't generally cost 4X as much. Not a 3 or 5 Series, anyway. Is it that the German brands use the cost of parts to subsidize the selling price of their new cars, maybe? Or, are they making huge profits on parts?

    And why should the differential be 4:1 for labor, rather than a more reasonable differential?

    Thanks in advance.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,598
    I have a strange like for those C140s, big and weird. And talk about depreciation...IIRC that thing was actually likely about 120-130K when new, so it has lost around over 10L per year for 10 years
  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    After lots and lots of calls, me being stuck in Anchorage for 2 weeks so couldn't show the car, and coming home seeing the car again. I think I'm going to keep it, lol. Would be nice to have a second vehicle so I don't run my 01 Durango into the ground in one summer, lol.

    I priced out tires, a 4 wheel alignment, 02 sensor, and having the airbag light turned off. Should be able to do it all for under $1000, would be nearly impossible to find a good running beater for under $1000 I think.

    Hubby was very concerned about how the car drove home when we picked it back up 6 weeks ago, said he wasn't sure if it was the ice on the roads or something was wrong with the car.

    The roads cleared and he decided to take it for a spin yesterday. Mind you this car has been sitting in freezing temps for 6 weeks covered in snow. I unlocked it, slid into the driver's seat, hit the key and she fired right up, acted like I had just shut her off. That's impressive me thinks!

    He took it about 2 miles out and 2 miles back at 65 mph, said it has a hard left pull and needs an alignment BAD, but other than that ran and drove great.

    So, am I nuts for keeping this crazy car and pouring more money into it? BTW, it was very popular with the "can I make payments??" crowd at $1500. :sick:
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    RE: Sebring: yes you're nuts :P You are plummeting to earth. There is still time to pull that ripcord if only you can...get...your....hand...to...grab...the....ring.....

    RE: Repair ratios on BMW vs. Monte Carlo.

    I see this happening for 3 reasons:

    1. BMW repair shops charge more per hour than a local shop/gas station.
    2. BMWs are harder to fix, i.e., to do each operation.

    3. BMW parts are (usually) way more expensive. Go price a power steering hose (the pressure side) for that 3 series and be prepared to say "excuse me....what did you say?"

    Case in point...you got a bad u-joint, right? Okay, go price a U-Joint for a RWD GM car at Kragen. Now price a J-joint for a BMW...oh wait, they don't sell u-joints...they only sell entire driveshafts (not rebuildable).

    Can you shop around for parts and save money? Sure...but then are you going to bring your own parts to the BMW specialty shop----they won't like that.

    Sooooo....unless you are a DIY-er, it's about 4:1 repair ratio.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    77 Corvette---yeah, he's high. Make it $$15,000 if you even want a '77 Corvette for some reason. Oh it's not an L82...make it $12,000.

    65 Mustang Coupe---he might get $13,000, if it's as nice as it looks. They're hot right now, because so many of them are rats. But of course he has the wrong engine, so I dunno. He might get it still.
  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    RE: Sebring: yes you're nuts You are plummeting to earth. There is still time to pull that ripcord if only you can...get...your....hand...to...grab...the....ring.....

    LOL, so what should I do with it? I'm not interested in trying yet again to sell it, seems like everyone wants to "make payments". I kinda like the car, it runs well, always starts, doesn't have any major issues and needs less than $1000 dropped into it including tires. Its a good beater to have around I think.......errr, thought, lol.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Well you scared me when you started talking about fixing it up....we all know what happens to that kind of plan :cry: $1,000 becomes $1,500 and then what the heck, let's make it $2,000 and then you think....hmmm...the $2k I spent plus the $1K I could have sold it for....I could have bought a better-beater....or go to Hawaii...
  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    Well you scared me when you started talking about fixing it up....we all know what happens to that kind of plan $1,000 becomes $1,500 and then what the heck, let's make it $2,000 and then you think....hmmm...the $2k I spent plus the $1K I could have sold it for....I could have bought a better-beater....or go to Hawaii...

    Since I own the car for nothing, I figure I can't get hurt too badly (famous last words right?). I'm going to start with an alignment, $104, and if something BAD is found that's it, next stop will be the junkyard where I can get around $600 for it. So won't be out anything and will have made $496 over and above anything I have into the car. So, am I still nuts? LOL
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    You're starting to sound more rational, I have to admit.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,886
    as far as the last question goes, the answer is 'YES'. ;)
    i am sure shifty is giving you some good info, though. :)
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,144
    Yeah, that was my problem with the Mustang - why not put in a 289, keep the 289 emblem on the side, and eliminate the questions. Bench seat is one of the odd, but not valuable, options.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    The market is so hot right now for early Mustangs that people don't even care about correctness at this price level...unless it's a K code or a GT car, they pay the same price correct or incorrect. You have to remember that they made a boatload of these early coupes and that there are still a lot of them around.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,886
    at 14k the seller is probably not going to get their money back on that mustang. it looks like a good effort. it is not my kind of car, but it does look pretty good.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    "...it is not my kind of car..."

    I know this is a classic car forum, but if you don't mind a quick, temporary detour to new cars, are there any <$40,000 '07 cars that you might consider "your kind of car", besides the Scion xA, or are they all too large, complex, heavy, and driver isolating in character?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I like the MINI Cooper S, the Mitsubishi EVO, the Mazda3MazdaSpeed, maybe the BMW 3 Series. I would like the Chevy HHR if it wasn't such a pig to drive, I would like the Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart if it came in a stick shift, and can you get a Porsche Boxster for under $40K? (not sure about that last one anyway).
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    I liked all of those, especially the Chevy!
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,144
    I'd sure buy that clean $14k one before looking at this: expensive 6-banger
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    " Cars I should have bought and cars I have owned and now wish I had never sold"

    As an example, when I was about 16 and working in a gas station, one of our customers got drafted. He had about two weeks to sell his TR3. I don't remember what year it was but it looked and ran great!

    He advertised it and got no takers. The day before he was to leave, in desperation, he lowered the price to 300.00.

    I had neither the money or a place for it. A beautiful, rust free Southern California car too!
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Quit it!!!

    One of these days you will post something I'll go buy.

    That guy with that Olds thinks it's a "muscle car".

    It's a nice car but it doesn't fit in that catagory.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    At least most of the 633/635 owners know how to price them, that is....LOW...

    I had a 320i---it was okay but every day I would tell it "you're no 2002".

    Gee that "muscle car" needs to go to the gym!
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    The last year of the Cutlass muscle was '70. The '72 was definitely a looker, but I grew up in an Olds service dept. and we owned a '72 convertible, and I never saw a "factory installed air shocks" option. Even the historic 1970 W-30 442 didn't have air shocks.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,760
    In terms of selling it, I think part of the problem is that your market is limited to areas outside Fairbanks (and Anchorage, for that matter) unless the buyer wants to sink a bunch of money into it, as it cannot be registered as it stands... except with seasonal tags.

    But, if you can dump 1000 into it and have a reliable car for a year or two (not including general maint. costs), then its a heck of a deal to just keep it!

    BTW, 01 Durango? Let's see, you must have 5+ cars between you and your husband! Maybe you should sell one of the others that is worth a bit more and just keep the old beaters.... ;)
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    I'm thinking keep the Sebring, $1k to make it sound again is minor. Heck once the roads clear up it can be driven as it is really, but it does need tires and an alignment to make it drive better.

    We actually have 4 vehicles: 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD/6-spd DRW 4x4, 2001 Dodge Durango 4.7L V8/auto 4x4, 1997 Ford F-250 PSD/auto 4x4, and the 1997 Chrysler Sebring LXi.

    I'm sure you are now scratching your head wondering where the second 06 Ram 3500 went. I trade it in 2 weeks ago for the Durango. Was paying $820/month in payment and insurance for a truck that I wasn't driving much and never towed much with, not to mention it did seem stupid to own 3 diesel trucks. Decided it was rather silly so off it went.

    The Durango has some miles on it (70k), but it needs nothing and runs great. Its a one owner car out of NJ. When I bought it the brakes were terrible, the dealer "fixed" them before I picked it up. The fix lasted about 24 hrs, took it to a brake shop and was told it needed a complete brake job. Looked at it myself and was stunned. Took it back to the dealer and after the GSM drove it and got his pants scared off, they agreed and did a complete brake job including a brake flush in it 4 days after I bought it.
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    interior is leather burgendy with the driver side seat has small cut on it but is fixeble

    That statement (and the pictures) make you question every other claim the sell had made. :confuse:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/mazda-rx-7-GSL-SE-13b-GSL-12a-rotary-engine-rx7-r- x3-rx2_W0QQitemZ290098853137QQcategoryZ6327QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem-

    james
  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    interior is leather burgendy with the driver side seat has small cut on it but is fixeble

    That statement (and the pictures) make you question every other claim the sell had made.


    WOW, that's the biggest small cut I've ever seen and it multiplied too! No wonder he has no bids, needs a lesson in honesty!
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Well of course it's fixable for about $1,000.

    One thing I noticed is the offhand comment "you have to renew the plates". In California, you have to "non-op" the car every year or the back-due license fees accrue to the next owner. So if the bidder is in-state, he might get a $300-$600 surprise at DMV when he goes to register.

    Racing Beat makes good stuff for the RX-7. Id' consider owning a super clean RX-7 that's been tricked out.
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    Thanks for your response (msg. #9365).
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    "Small rip"

    How about it needs new seats? :sick:

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • gsemikegsemike Member Posts: 2,425
    People can be so dumb. Why make a statement and then post a pic that so obviously contradicts it. We're talking about a 150k mile car. Why not just put a cover on it and say, the seat looks like what you expect it to look like. I guess if you did that, you couldn't shoot for $2500 for it then.
  • gsemikegsemike Member Posts: 2,425
    Everything is a classic these days This is a nice summer car for about 4 grand. Maybe it was kept up better than it should have been, but the price is out of sight. I'd rather buy a used Sebring from Avis.

    How much to fix this and put some proper wheels on it? It looks like it was pretty nice before the wreck... except for the wheels

    Somebody that owns a body shop and has a little time could get a nice car out of this.

    Could this be a decent driver If the miles are real, why not? Being a non-turbo car, how hard is it to work on?

    This Chevelle has potential I'd be afraid to strip it, but all Chevelles and Camaros are insane around here. The front discs are good to have. If we assume that it is complete and has a servicable small block (eng not indicated), he could get this price or close to it.

    If the Seville SLS did it for you when new, now is your chance to own one for under 3 grand Even the interior pics look decent. What should someone expect from a Northstar with 100k? It will go through some oil probably, right?

    Very nice Nova Much nice work here but 25 grand is really stretching it for a non SS car. Maybe put it on Ebay with a reserve of 17.5?

    Decent bones for a go-fast special? The similar Novas have gained some popularity for small block build ups, but you still never see these Skylarks done. If it's a V8 car, it could be an OK starting point. What does the hatchbook do to body integrity?

    Final one. Tell me what this is worth It's handsome but I don't know a thing about the values of cars like this.
  • seminole_kevseminole_kev Member Posts: 1,696
    "I want you to read just the first line of this one's description down in the body of the page and see if you can spot where I threw up in my mouth a little.

    second try
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,144
    Best thing - they put a reserve on it! What, the junkyard offered something?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    50 Olds 4Door -- probably $6,000 if it runs out well. If it were a super clean 2DR deluxe 88 club coupe, maybe $18,000. If it were the 2dr holiday hardtop, we could push over $20K (again, presuming a very nice car), and the convertible version could bust $50K. Olds made "base models" but this 4-door looks like a deluxe, with stainless steel gravel guards, skirts, deluxe steering wheel, rear view mirror, gas door trim, full wheel covers and windshield washers. These are nice driving cars for their age and can move along very nicely on modern highways. Probably no power steering or brakes, though.

    91 Dodge Stealth -- price if fair enough, car's a pig and it has that legendary early 90s Chrysler quality :cry:

    '64 Impala SS -- Hmmm...it's touch and go on this one...we have a somewhat incorrect '64 Impala SS with the small engine in a lousy color....but...it still has some value. You're gonna need frame straightening, front end work obviously, fender, hood, bumper, grille, headlights, radiator and a paint job. Against that you have a car that if it's a nice #3, ready to roll, is worth maybe $12,000 all day long....so, adding the purchase price to all that, my opinion is why bother? Let someone else do it and buy it from them.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Wow, that Jag is sitting in my home town!

    Too bad. Such an ugly car in such a nice town!
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    "...it has that legendary early 90s Chrysler quality."

    The Stealth was made for Dodge by Mitsubishi. Not the paragon of quality, to be sure, but maybe better than Chrysler's in the '90s.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    the blind leading the blind, at least back then. Now Mitsubishi makes a much better product.

    The Stealth would be a disaster to own I think.
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