We have temporarily turned off the ability to post while we deal with a massive spam attack. Thank you for your patience.

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

12728303233853

Comments

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I couldn't even tell...maybe 2001 or something like that.

    The Defender was burned to a crisp inside as well. All melted...the dash looked like a dripping ice cream cone.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Here's a $100,000 total (that's about the pay off for insurance). It's a 2002 Porsche Twin Turbo with special X-50 engine package: Notice the side damage but also in the second photo the rear wheel/suspension has collapsed and also damaged the motor no doubt.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,039
    I always thought the '57 Pontiac wore the 4-door hardtop style very well. Much better than the Chevy of that year. As far as I know, it was the same roof, but somehow it looks sleeker and better balanced than on the Chevy...maybe because the Pontiac was a lot longer overall?
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    That Defender brakes my heart and that is a 110 edition too so very rare if that photo was taken state side.
  • lemmerlemmer Member Posts: 2,689
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,493
    I'm sure there are plenty of people that would be happy to sell you a 12 YO rover with 85K on it for $4,000, although they may pay you more if you get it out of their driveway before it leaks anything else :blush:

    $43,000 for this thing? Only redeaming feature is it is a stick shift!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,493
    now that one looks a lot better than the other rats you dug up!

    I'm sure Shifty will say it's overpriced, but 9K doesn't seem like too much to me, if the engine work was done correctly, and all the other associated stuff (pumps/belts/clutch) were done when it was apart. If the work was done right, it should be good for a long time.

    I would be tempted by that car at that price (after a real good inspection by a Porsche expert) if it dropped into my lap locally.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,493
    one thing that concerns me is someone that owns a car for 15 years, then obviously spends a fortune on a rebuild, only to sell it 6 months later? Why?

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • jaserbjaserb Member Posts: 820
    I think that happens a lot, and it's a psychological thing. Someone spends a bunch of money fixing a car thinking "Well, I'm gonna keep this forever." Then after they spend the big money and something else little breaks they start thinking, "well, I don't want this thing to start nickling and diming me to death". Finally it's "sheesh, if I don't get rid of this thing it's going to eat me alive! I've spent $5k on it this year!"
    I bought a beautiful 1991 Maxima for my brother earlier this year. The PO had babied it from new, and had just put brand new Michelins on it, replaced all the belts and hoses including the timing belt, put in a new battery, starter, and alternator, flushed the transmission, replaced all the fuel injectors, replaced all 4 struts and strut mounts, and recharged the A/C. Seriously, it drives and looks like a new car. The only flaw I could find was that the in-dash clock only worked intermittently. So basically she had taken care of all the repair / maintenance items - meaning it's good to go for probably another 50k miles with nothing but gas and oil - and then she decided she needed a more reliable car!

    -Jason
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    That is a 110 model Defender they only sold them in the US for one year in 1993 and only brought in 200 or so. Up until 1993 there was no Land Rover North America the company was called Range Rover North America because only Range Rovers had been sold in North America for the past 15 or so years. The introduction of the Defender 110 was something of a promotional event to announce the name change and the lauch of the Discovery in 1994 and the Defender 90 also in 1994.
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    How many miles did that Maxima have when you got it? Those older Nissans have a great reputation for running forever with minimal maintenance.

    Oh yeah what do you make of older Audis (say, late '80s/early '90s)? My friend wants to get one as a project and to beat on for the winter.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,493
    hard to tell what it needs, and I have no idea what a real nice resto one is worth, but it does look like a good project base. At least when you are done, you have a nice, usable "muscle" convertible. If it doesn't have the correct motor, etc., deduct $$ since it will just be a driver.

    Used Audis? Yes to beating on one for the winter, but as a project, bad bad idea 9and expensive too!)

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Nope, not overpriced on the 1989 Porsche 944S2. It's the first one he came up with that a) wasn't a rat and b) was more than fairly priced. I've seen them up to $13K but of course that's for a 1991. A good buy at $9K if it checked out.

    Remember, all front-engine Porsches are just used cars. The older they are, the LESS they are worth----not like collectible cars which is the other way 'round ----older means more valuable----BUT----not always either!

    Oddly enough, a 1965 Mustang is worth more than a 1915 Model T Ford---so age doesn't translate into greater value automatically, even if the car is "collectible".

    AUDIS: Audis are dead in the water in terms of resale value but some of them are great buys and great cars. For instance, you can buy a 1992=1994 Audi S4 Turbo AWD sedan with 5 speed, fully optioned, for $6,500. That's a hell of a lot of car for the money.

    But stickguy is right, they "can be" expensive to fix, depending. Power steering hose for an S4? Maybe $500 just for the part. Headlights both sides...try $1,000. But other items can be quite reasonable. So it depends. Again, you need to do your homework---can you imagine buying a nice used S4 that only needed a power steering hose and replacement of two broken headlights? Hey, you'd say---that's NOTHING!
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,039
    this one before. Even though it's probably a bit pricey, and I'm sure a slug with the 260 V-8, I like the idea of having a LeMans that adults could fit in the back seat of! Also, I wonder why I keep finding these things in Ohio?! Did Pontiacs in general and LeManses in particular sell better in Ohio, or something? Here in Maryland, the '76-77 seemed fairly obscure even when they were still fairly new!
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,039
    I like this beast too! I just wish they said which V-8 it had in it. Could've been a 301, 350, 400, or 403. Heck, I guess there's a chance a 260 or 305 might've ended up in there, too! It's funny how you can put 18" wheels on a smallish, upright modern car and they don't look out of place, but on a mastodon like this (they were small compared to the pre-downsized big cars, and smaller even than some pre-downsized intermediates back then, but still pretty big) they just look like overkill.
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    I realize what you're saying about parts prices on certain Audis. They can be more expensive than, say, Saab or Volvo parts but maybe that's because they're German-made (I don't really know).

    The S4, though, is just a turbo version of the more plebeian 100 series, which I imagine would be cheaper to maintain and run than an S4. I tell potential Audi buyers to avoid 4000s and 5000s at all costs though, even the 1989-91 100/200 series (which was just a renamed 5000). I remember a reputable tech telling me once that 5000s just assaulted their owners in terms of maintenance costs.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,493
    OK Shifty, you find me a '94 S4 stick that's clean as a whistle for 6k, and I'll be happy to buy it. Certainly cheaper than a new IS250 @35K!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,493
    So, I wasn't nuts to think that 9K for that Porsche if it was really that clean was out of line. Don't think I can fit the whole family in it though (2 kids in back), but I could try!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Actually I just did find a sharp one but asking is $7,500. I think I'm going to buy it myself! It's a '92 which IMO is the best year for the S4, as it has the rear sway bar and other interesting options that the '94 doesn't have. I hate to give up the Porsche 928 but their value just keeps sinking and sinking and it needs a quick $3,500 to get it up once again to my standards. However, one can always unload a clean S4 no matter what. Those who know, know what a fab car it is.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    No you weren't nuts---you spotted a good deal (presuming the car is ready to roll).

    '77 Bonneville -- I wish people would post VIN numbers. The 5th number in that car's VIN gives you the engine size (at least the one the factory put in there). There's not a V-8 of that year though that would pull skin off rice pudding, sad to say. I mean, a 350 V-8 putting out 140 hp is pretty pathetic....however if you got the gas-sipping (sarcasm alert) 455 you could get 200 HP out of it.
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    That S4 is a steal...get it while you can! I know you will take exceptional care of the vehicle.
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    Then what will happen to the 928 if you ditch it?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Well since we are talking about projects, etc., here are some real numbers that I have to deal with. Maybe it will help you all in some way to ponder these machinations of mine as well. Hope so.

    Probably trade the 928 towards the S4. Why? Well, I won't get much for it on the trade, tht's true, but since the Porsche shop is giving me a good deal on the front end, I really can't get greedy on the back end. They can fix up the 928 a lot cheaper than I can. It needs water pump ($1,500 retail), tie rod, front brakes and rotors, AC servo motor, rear shocks, rear tires, cruise control module, ripped front seat repaired, cracked rear tail light lens, one busted exhaust header bolt, cracked windshield washer bottle. That's $3K-$4K retail, which is about what the car is worth. Soooooo....if I got $2K trade in I'd be happy man.

    True, I "lost" money over a couple years (maybe $4,500 bucks total) but that's two years of use (22,000 miles) and fun.

    This is about right on target to keep a somewhat exotic used car repair and happy....around .20 cents a mile. Obviously, I am now on the debit end of the stick with the car.

    To fix it myself and sell it, I'd only get perhaps $,4000--$4,500. Let's say $6,000 and I hit the jackpot. So, why spend $4,000 to make $4,000??

    I could sell it as a "project" to somebody, but really unless they were Porsche mechanics they'd end up a loser. I'd rather not do that to some starry-eyed young lad.

    You win some, you lose some. I made out like a bandit on the Mercedes diesel, recuping almost 90% of all my repairs and maintenance at the time of sale. On this car, I only recouped about 30%. But I'll be getting an S4 which will at least never depreciate another dollar and is a really fast and fun car.

    Listen to me, I haven't even DONE any of this yet!!

    Yes Yes I should "get practical" and buy a toyota, but every time I try, I get behind the wheel of one, go ten blocks and start to get spasms and shortness of breath.

    They tell us "You are not your car" and that's true, certainly, but driving is such a pleasure to me----it's the last refuge where I can say "no compromise"...well that and trying to stay single I guess :P
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    Shifty I might say that you're better at numbers than I am. :P

    Where is the S4 currently located- is it at a dealer or private seller? I should note that I did drive a '93 about a year ago and it was one of the most fun drives I ever had in my life. I swear that car will run rings around my Volvo!
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    It belongs to my mechanic's wife, so I expect it's in pretty good shape. Not wild about the color (white) but it's okay. I'll know more Monday.

    Yeah I think the S4 is pretty quick. If in good fettle, it should do 0-60 in about 6.5 seconds---which is actually on second faster than my Porsche 928 (I have the early 4.5 liter motor). It's a porky car, though, the S4, at almost 3,800 lbs. That's the AWD business doing that.

    If you live near a ski area (I'm 3 hours out of Tahoe) you can always sell an AWD Audi for a decent price. They are fabulous snow cars, and will often easily go where the big SUV AWDs cannot go....the big trucks have road height but the Audis have fabulous traction and control--especially up steep grades.
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    Here where I live in the southern part of Vermont, Audi Quattros are always selling for some insane amounts of $$.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Please forgive me, but I think those cars are hideous. They're like a rollling course in "What Not To Do in Design School".

    But sure, for $1,200, you're right they are worth it.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,039
    but I'd be afraid of the Caddy's 4.1 V-8. That New Yorker should still have plenty of life left in it, though. They were among some of the better built, more reliable domestics of the time, and could take a lot of abuse.

    Still though, I think the Gran Fury/Diplomat look better than the NYer...less ostentatious I guess. And I'd take a Toro or Riv in a heartbeat over the Eldorado. As strange as it sounds, while the early 80's may have been the dark ages for many cars, especially Cadillac, it was almost a bit of a golden era, relatively speaking, for Olds and Buick Their larger V-8 models were some of the most reliable cars of the era.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,500
    I didn't find those cars based on anything but price and practicality, with some uniqueness thrown in.

    Do you like the Toro or Riv over the Eldo based on looks or based on mechanicals? I've never minded the Eldo, if it isn't pimped out. It has to have the stainless steel top and no pimpy grille or anything. Then again, I've always kind of like bustleback Sevilles, but without the carriage top and all that crap as well.

    The Eldo also reminds me of DeNiro's role in "Casino", and what's-her-name who rams it with the Mercedes 107 SL. I have a strange association with Dodge Diplomats too...when I was in 1st grade or so, I lived in a brand new housing development, and when we moved in the streets were in, but most houses didn't yet have landscaping. Two doors down from us lived people who had a Diplomat, and they always parked it in the dirt yard. To this day I think of rednecks parking on the lawn when I think of Diplomats.

    Well, it *looks* nice, but I bet it drives awful
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,039
    I think mechanicals do have a lot to do with it, because I'd much rather have an Olds 307 than a Caddy 249. Although I think the Eldorado did come standard with an Olds 350 in '79. Actually, IIRC, the Toro and Riv did, too. And in 1980 I think you could still get something decent in the Eldo, like either an Olds 350 or Caddy 368. So I could put up with a '79-80 Eldo!

    Another reason I think I prefer the Riv and Toro is the interior. There's just something about Caddy interiors in general around that timeframe that just seemed tacky and overdone compared to an equivalent Olds or Buick.

    Oh, and to further your Diplomat/redneck association, I have to confess that my '89 Gran Fury spent an awful lot of time parked on the lawn. Either over at my grandma's across the street or at my place! And I have a few vehicles scattered out in the yard right now. :blush: But at least we're not in a housing development...heck out here having a '79 NYer parked in the yard probably gives the neighborhood a touch of class! :shades:
  • steine13steine13 Member Posts: 2,825
    I live in East Lansing, MI, a midwest college town.
    No lawn parking.
    No gravel driveways.
    No parking in the street 2-6 a.m.
    No parking in driveway without valid registration.
    No...

    You get the idea.
    I'm gonna put four cinder blocks on the front lawn. Classic rectangular arrangement, to make a point :-)

    -Mathias
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    I know these are porky, a bit gaudy, and not really fast by today's standards, but I like that it's one owner, a 5-speed, looks unmolested and well kept, decent color and has low miles:

    http://chicago.craigslist.org/car/104577297.html

    Somehow, I don't think he'll have a problem with the 'looking to sell this week' part (probably could have at twice the price with the right ad in the right place).
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,493
    If it was near me, I would give him the $2,200 sight unseen, based on these pictures, if he pinky swears it's not really a rustbucket with a quick respray.

    I really like these cars, and that is a good price IMO if it really is as clean as he says.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,500
    Yeah, that Supra looks like a bargain if it is as nice as the seller lets on, he could want more for it. I wonder if it is sold already. I like those too.
  • lemmerlemmer Member Posts: 2,689
    They are decent, comfortable, sporty cruisers. The engines are really nice and have good torque. As long as you don't expect to have the reflexes of a similar year RX-7, it sounds like a pretty good car.

    In 1992, I had the choice between a car just like this one and a first generation RX-7. I bought the RX-7, and it was a load of oversteering, high revving fun until the engine blew right at a year after I bought it.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Price is actually high retail market price. Don't let the "supra" name of the later glory years fool you. This is a pretty ordinary old car. But hey, any Japanese car that's clean and decent looking should be worth about that much.
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    This should, might, get you around for three weeks or so, til something expensive goes kaput:

    http://chicago.craigslist.org/car/104680400.html

    Probably kinda fun to drive, when it runs. For the price, you could hardly go wrong.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    The Audi GT is a fun car and certainly worth more than the asking price. Depends on how bad the rust is or what the "exhaust noise" is, whether it's worth patching up and driving or even flipping for a profit.

    Hell I'd buy it just to sell the parts off it at that price. The Quattro version of this car is worth good money but many parts will interchange, so you'd get Quattro people wanting bits and pieces.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,493
    for $300, I would take a flyer on it. At least it runs. Whatever the rust is, it isn't too apparent in the pictures, so it should last a while, or you could do some DIY bondo work in the driveway. Who knows what the exhaust noise is.

    I agree that you could probably chop it up and turn a profit, so you really don't have much to loose. Or, just drive it til it drops (it is winter beater time soon after all).

    This is scary, I keep getting sucked into old, high mile Audis. Good thing none of them are very close to me!

    Still, I would buy the GT if I saw it parked on a front lawn, assuming it didn't sound like a threshing machine when you started it up.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Old Audis are expensive to keep running, no doubt about it.
  • lemmerlemmer Member Posts: 2,689
    I was looking at some Audis from 2000-2002, and I don't think there is any left that don't have malfunctioning radio/climate control/computer displays. They have those bright red letters, so it is hard to ignore that part or all of some letters and numbers are missing.

    I hope you have better luck with the S4 you are looking at. Did you go see it today?

    These A4s are getting cheap.
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    I was a little hazy on the S4, so I found this link to share:

    http://www.audiworld.com/model/historical/92/s4.shtml

    Pretty nice. - james
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    No didn't see the S4 today since the owner had to haul some cylinder heads to his shop, so he used his VW Vanagon (he's looking for a 3.6 Porsche motor and 6 speed tiptronic for that---can you imagine?)

    Arggghhh! I'm not sure what to buy. I HATE debt. An old S4 I can just write a check for.

    I drove the Mitsubishi EVO RS and that sure was fun. That car would keep me amused I think, but I"m not sure Mitsubishis age all that well. Fab warranty though----5/60 bumper to bumper and 10/100K drivetrain warranty, $25,500 sellling price. Dealer is a friend so no hassles on warranty, service, etc.

    I can even get the wingless version.

    The RS is the "stripper" as you may recall.

    ALSO-- still trying to pry that 1988 BMW M5 out of my friend's hands. It's an original, pretty good shape, just a little rust pocket at the front of the rocker behind the front wheels (typical, not hard to fix).

    It's fun and fast (GREAT cruiser) but it's also black, which I don't much like in a car of that type.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,701
    That A4 is beautiful. I am a sucker for that color. :( Not what I would call a "project" car, but I suppose any car becomes somewhat of a project over time! I know my Subaru sure has.....
    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
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    I would love to see you spring for that S4! Fabulous vehicle!
  • steine13steine13 Member Posts: 2,825
    I'd like to observe this:
    That Audi is great for $300. So long as it runs OK right now, and no money is to be invested in it.

    Let's not forget this is snow country -- Chicago, MI, same difference. I had a 1987 Audi 4000, nice car, in 1997. In the fall of that year, I had a new pressure accumulator put in the fuel system. Bad move; where they bent the fuel lines to get at it, they broke and leaked. So there I was, in November, lying in my driveway with a funnel, an empty 2l Coke bottle, and a car with an empty tank up on jack stands. Next to me a fire extinguisher to look good for the missus, and a hacksaw blade in my hand. I cut out the leak and bridged it with high-pressure rubber hose.

    In '88, they went to powercoated fuel lines; it's nice to see someone paying attention.
    But the point of all this rambling is that these older Audis are nice cars, but they work far better in their natural habitat than in the salt belt.

    -Mathias
Sign In or Register to comment.

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.