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

stevedebi

" I was told once when I had a silver car to get a full repaint should it ever need it, even if I had to split the difference with insurance."

We have a really good repair shop locally that custom matches the paint to whatever color it currently matches. The results are very, very good. Now, as to how well THAT paint would fade along with the rest of the vehicle is a different story.

michaellno

We have a really good repair shop locally that custom matches the paint to whatever color it currently matches. The results are very, very good.

I'll second that. When my '03 Saturn L300 was involved in an accident (front end damage), I took it to our local auto body shop and they did an amazing job of matching the Pewter color. I'm sure professionals could notice the difference, but to my untrained eye, it was a perfect match.

colloquor

My daughter's silver Mercury Sable was hit in the left rear quarter a couple of years ago while parked on the street. After repair, you couldn't tell it was ever hit. A magnificent job of paint matching. And, it still looks great today.

lemmer

Cheap Ferrari 308 GT4. Needs a little work, but what do you expect for $4K?

andre1969

Here's one of the last pictures I took of my 2000 Intrepid, just before it got towed off to that great junkyard in the sky...



This picture was taken in December 2009. Way back in July 2000, someone tried to break into the car at Six Flags America near DC, and they messed up the door enough that it had to be repainted. The whole door wasn't repainted; I think they did it down to that crease under the plastic strip. I remember the body shop replaced the "I-N-T-R-E-P-I-D" lettering on the door, as it was cheaper to peel the old letters off, repaint, and stick new letters on, as opposed to trying to paint around the letters.

You really can't tell from the picture, but I think the spot that the body shop had to fix actually faded better than the original paint! I was very impressed at the job they did on the car. I remember testing one of my friends, who said he was good at spotting body work, asking him to find where it had been repainted. This was around 2003, when the work was still somewhat new. Well, he ended up finding a few factory flaws, including some I hadn't noticed, but never could spot where it had been repainted.

The body shop did tell me though, that silver is one of the hardest colors to match.

andre1969

Any period radios in the pile of parts? Those are sought after, and are pretty cool. The small trim pieces and gauges are where the money is on that car, not body parts.

I'm not sure what's in those boxes...never really paid much attention. I might look through the stuff tonite and see what all is there. I finally got ahold of the owner of the car this morning, and he's going to look into getting it out of my yard next week. At this point he has no idea where he's going to store it. I looked at some storage places online, and for outdoor parking, most places want $100-120 per month. I found one indoor storage place that was $300/mo! Hmm, maybe I should rent out a space in my garage to him!

fintail

That's insane. I rent a garage for my fintail, and it costs me a fraction of that...I can't see why it should cost any more out there. Craigslist might be a good place to seek that, people will rent out a space as a mortgage helper etc.

lemmer

I see Shifty isn't going to bite on the Ferrari oxidation experiment, so I've found a real car.

I haven't really considered TT's due to Audi's reliability reputation. But this one looks nice for the money. He just dropped the price $1500.

michaellno

I see that the TT you posted has the rare 5-cylinder engine.

Just like the New Beetle Cabrio, eh?

:P

lemmer

Yeah, I caught that. Not the best sign.

texases

Too bad that TT's from the dark ages of VW/Audi engine problems. The TTs gotta be the best way to get a Golf-based convertible, better than Beetle, Golf, or Eos.

stevedebi

"Cheap Ferrari 308 GT4. Needs a little work, but what do you expect for $4K? "

Did you notice his website? rustytubs.com! Sort of says it all...

stevedebi

"I see that the TT you posted has the rare 5-cylinder engine. "

Maybe it's out of a Volvo?

Mr_Shiftright

have you noticed how rapidly Audi's reliability reputation has improved?

Me neither. :P

the Audi TT --- VW cabriolet performance at Audi repair prices.

lemmer

Classic shiftright response. This is why I keep coming back. I love the brutal honesty.

I'd already kind of talked myself out of it. It has room like a Miata and acceleration like a Miata, but a Miata is about 100 times more fun to drive.

gsemike

Dubious Prices but Interesting List

boomchek

The Tucker is on there because of their rarity. At only a handful existing in the world, no wonder one or two sold at a million buck a pop.

Mr_Shiftright

when I was in college (back when the earth was still cooling), you couldn't GIVE away a Tucker. They were virtually invisible until the mid 1980s. I once wrote a nice (or I thought so) article on the Tucker for Autoweek, entitled "I Ain't Afraid o' no Tucker's Ghost"

andre1969

when I was in college (back when the earth was still cooling), you couldn't GIVE away a Tucker. They were virtually invisible until the mid 1980s.

I think the first time I heard mention of a Tucker was in 1985, in a Chevrolet history book. The book mentioned that, if GM hadn't aligned all their platforms to get them on the same design cycle in 1959, that Chevrolet was planning on using a facelift of the 1958 body, but with a "central" theme, along the lines of the Edsel, or the Tucker's 3rd headlight. The book went on to state the considering the fate of the Edsel and the Tucker, it's a good thing they went all-new for 1959, although the author didn't think too highly of the 1959 Chevy, as it stood!

I don't think I actually saw a picture of a Tucker until maybe a year later, when I got an auto encyclopedia. Those pre-internet days were dark and gloomy, indeed! Nowadays, all you have to do is google "Tucker" and you get mostly pics of the Tucker. Although you also get a picture of Chris Tucker. And a picture of a chick's scantilly pantied behind. Oh, and a dude with his shirt off.

jlflemmons

The only one I would consider is that Pantera. Maybe not the most reliable little beast on the road, but for that era those suckers were fast.

boomchek

I first heard about Tucker when that movie came out. I have it and I think its a decent car movie.

xwesx

Even though I did not do the work on the electrical system that I had intended. When it came down to it, I just didn't feel motivated to hunt down the problem just to sell it for a few hundred more. So, I posted it on Craigslist last night for $1,200 and a fella bought it today, quite thrilled, for $1,000. He drove off in it happy as a clam.

That makes two of us that were thrilled, actually... I was just glad to have it out of the driveway!

andre1969

cool...congrats on selling the old beast. I always thought that generation of V'ger/Caravan/Town & Country was really good looking. Well, as good looking as a minivan can get, I guess!

texases

You're right Andre, I think that was the best looking minivan, by anyone, before or since. Just a good looking vehicle. Not now.

tjc78

I always thought that generation of V'ger/Caravan/Town & Country was really good looking.

We had a Town and Country at work similar to the picture posted. That van was put through hell and back. Stuffed to the gills, driven hard and barely maintained. We got with about 35K on it and ran it to well past 100K. Amazing enough it was on its original transmission, the air worked and aside from some sensor that caused it stall it was pretty much just normal wearable items that went.

To your point, I always thought it was pretty decent looking and I didn't feel too ashamed driving it...

fintail

My dad had a period T&C, the typical late 90s white with gold wheels and trim, grey leather, Infiniti stereo, stickered at something like 38K. Tranny failed in the first few months, but it was relatively trouble free and comfortable for the next 8 years or so, finally moving on about 8 years and ~150K miles later.

tjc78

The one I am talking about had the gold as well. It was a "black cherry" color with the grey interior.

Actually in the 90s there wasn't many Chrysler products that didn't have gold trim somewhere. That hunter green color was everywhere too.

andre1969

That hunter green color was everywhere too.

When I bought my 2000 Intrepid, that hunter green or whatever they call it wa the color I wanted. The dealer searched, and the closest they could find was a light sage/grayish-green that, if you let it get dirty, would just look gray. So, they ended up asking me what it would take to get me in the silver one, today. They were already offering invoice and 0.9% financing, so I said, throw in the 12-disc cd changer, and I'll take the damn thing!

Sometimes, I wish I'd held out for a green one, but then I'd probably be griping about it all the more, now that it's gone!

fintail

His previous van was a 93 or 94 Grand Caravan in a dark blue-green (more blue, but somehow I don't remember the color as pure blue, and I don't remember it having gold trim) that gave him no problems...the T&C was an impulse buy. Several years later my brother had a 93 Sundance Duster in the same color, but that thing had gold trim and wheels too. The paint on the Duster ended up peeling in many spots...my brother eventually killed the car somehow.

tjc78

Funny you mention the Sundance Duster. My Aunt had a very similar 94 Shadow ES V6 that was in the Hunter green and gold wheels and trim. Just the other night while cleaning out things in my grandfather's house (up for sale) I found the Infiniti radio that came out of that thing. Tape deck and 5 band EQ..... high tech!

andre1969

I still have the Infinity radio that came out of my ex-wife's '88 LeBaron. It has the little joystick that you use to control balance and fade, all at once. When I got rid of that car, I kept the stereo, hoping I could get it to fit in the 1979 Newport I had at the time. Radio was the same size, but the wiring harness was different. I don't think it has an equalizer though...just a lever for treble and one for base. My Mom's '86 Monte Carlo had a 5-band equalizer though, which I thought was pretty impressive. My 2000 Park Ave doesn't have that! Neither did my Intrepid.

tjc78

but then I'd probably be griping about it all the more, now that it's gone!

All in all, although the slver wasn't your first choice I would bet it held up better over the years than the dark green would of.

tjc78

Your 79 had the "common ground" for the speakers. That means instead of two wires per speaker, there was only one and one ground wire for all speakers. I think Chrysler changed that in 85 or so. With a little effort it probably could bave been done. You would need a donor harness out of a newer Chrysler (any should work) and a common ground converter. I did this in my 79 Continental a good while back.

fintail

Those little cars with the V6 were odd...I don't know if they were actually fast, but my brother modified the suspension on his, put on bigger wheels, and ended up getting enough tickets in a 8 month or so span to get his license suspended. I am not sure how his died...knowing cars from that era, maybe a head gasket.

xwesx

That "black cherry" color, titled by Chrysler as "Deep Amethyst Pearl," was definitely a common on one at least a few models. I see quite a few late '90s Chrysler vehicles running around here with it. The dark green was probably the most common, though. As for looks, I though that this one and its follow-up, the '03 to '07 vans, were both very nice and definitely the best of any minivan before or since. I actually preferred the '03-'07 more than the '96-'02 mostly due to the better integration of the rear bumper fascia. The 3rd gen bumpers just looked like an afterthought the way they jutted out from the rear of the vehicle flat across from tip to tip.

It did its job, though. It was easy to stand on, absorbed impacts well and without showing damage(I found this out first-hand when we were rear-ended at low speed by a Toyota Tacoma a couple winters ago), and was admirably scuff-resistant.

At 215,000 miles, I think my van looked great both inside and out, as well as being in sound mechanical condition. Hah; you should have seen they buyer's face light up when he started it. If it were not for that darned electrical gremlin, we would not have replaced it with the Forester last fall and would likely be driving it still. You have to pick your battles, though, and if my wife says she doesn't trust a vehicle and won't drive it (even if it is fixed), I can bet she is going to hold to that and will make my life exceptionally difficult until I cave to her will. :sick:

Considering we purchased it three years ago for $4,000 and got 45,000 trouble-free miles out of it, I felt fine selling it in its current state at $1,000. That residual return pretty much covers all the money I put into it after the purchase (new tires and a bunch of new parts before and after our cross-country trip last Spring), plus the van will hopefully get more use before it is put out to pasture for good.

stickguy

didn't say wife in order to not insult our female posters...

anyway, the wife in my case has not much interest in cars. as long as it works and does what she needs, fine by her, and no reason to ever change.

Unless, it strands her. then it is personal.

many years ago, our 323 snapped a crankshaft nose piece off while she was on the highway heading to work. Thankfully, I was behind her a few minutes, and saw her in the median with the hood up, and a tow truck. needless to say, I stopped, and she took my car while I stayed with the tow!

anyway, put a used negine in, but she refused to ever drive it again, so it went.

and I am pretty sure that if her current van did something similar to her, it would be time for new wheels!

michaellno

anyway, put a used negine in, but she refused to ever drive it again, so it went.

and I am pretty sure that if her current van did something similar to her, it would be time for new wheels!

+1 on that statement, stick.

Has happened to me twice in the past 3 years. Back in the summer of '07, our '05 VUE simply quit running on the way home from running errands. Fortunately, we were less than a mile from home, so we walked home, called AAA and had it towed to the Saturn dealer. They couldn't figure out what happened, so we immediately traded it in on the '08 VUE we currently have.

And, I'm sure most of you know, my daughter's '06 ION has quit twice on her for no apparent reason - the second time while driving home from college on I-25 in downtown Denver during Thursday rush hour.

The daughter is now driving a new '10 MINI, while I'm living with the ION. 2 1/2 months, and not one problem with the ION.

:sick:

But, who of us here wouldn't want to do everything in our power to keep the women in our lives safe?

xwesx

But, who of us here wouldn't want to do everything in our power to keep the women in our lives safe?

True enough! That's why I maintain my vehicles well and fix them if something goes wrong! The problem really comes in when, as stickguy stated, one quits on her, "then it's personal." (and expensive!)

Mr_Shiftright

But, who of us here wouldn't want to do everything in our power to keep the women in our lives safe?

Henry VIII th?

oh, he's not here....okay..... :P

qbrozen

Benz sold last night.

At the rate of interest, I really thought it was going to sell on Thursday, so I was 1 day off.

Gee... think of it... I'm down to just 4 cars for 2 drivers. I feel... vulnerable.

fintail

Thinking of project cars...I was doing some cleaning the other day, and I found the receipts from when I had to do engine work on the fintail 13 years ago. I don't want to repeat that again! I wonder if prices have risen on the parts over the years. I ended up spending about 2K in parts alone for that episode. According to the papers it was 34K miles ago. Words I never want to see on a receipt again: " balance and polish crankshaft and components", "new rocker arms", "set piston rings", "set rod and main bearings", "top end gasket set" - all of that is a nightmare. I am lucky that I knew someone to help me with it, and the shop where it ended up was ran by someone I knew, so labor was very cheap.

lemmer

Does this look like a nice Miata? Well it isn't. I went to see it and was back in my car before the salesman could run me down. The hood and front fender look like they were painted by a small child with rattle cans. The same child apparently attempted to fix the front bumper with some playdough and a hammer.

Mr_Shiftright

Well the price was a little cheap, it has a roll bar, and the price was "reduced"--all of this gives us hints.

lemmer

Yeah, it was the cheapest 2001 on Autotrader country wide when I found it. The dealer had it at $5995 for a long while. Not much sense buying a needy one for $4K when a super nice one can be had for a couple thousand more.

Mr_Shiftright

Miatas are a dime a dozen. It's always a buyers' market for these neat little cars.

I never owned one because I can't fit in them. An MGB or Alfa is a limo compared to a Miata's driver's seat.

lemmer

You are right, but I've decided to just cram myself into one. Miatas are all I can find in decent condition at a decent price around here.

xwesx

...and all the photos are from 40 feet away! :surprise:

lemmer

From the guy that runs the 928 registry website - possibly a tad biased? This seems insane to me.

In recent years, several low mileage (94/95 MY) 5-speeds have sold for more than $100,000. Others have sold for numbers very close to six figures (I have personal experience with one of them - my 1995 928 GTS 5M; I sold it and bought it back.....). Within the past couple days, the dealer selling the car in question here sold the 94 model and the silver 95 model for right at $79k.

His website classifieds seems to be the place to go if you want to blow that much on a 928.

fintail

I know the GTS is the one to have, but that price seems a little insane indeed. I had thought they go for about half of 79K.

Interesting faux French houses in the background too...an ostentatious design that is less common here.

Mr_Shiftright

The GTS is the 928 you want, that's true, and they bring a vast premium over "common", older 928s, in the same way that a big block '69 Z-28 is going to bring a lot more money than a stripped '67 coupe automatic with a 327 or a 6 cylinder. One has to focus on the "GTS" part, not the 928 part.

That being said, the actual market for a GTS would struggle over $50K. I have no idea where this fellow gets his humbers from, but even if they are real and confirmed sales and not the typical car club chest-beating (I call these the "Tarzan Moment" of car appraising), they don't constitute the "market".

For example, if we had a number...say.... 98.... GTSs selling for $40K-$50K, but 1 selling for $1500 and one selling for $150,000, the market is $40K-$50K, not either extreme from the minority results.

So one could be correct is saying A single GTS sold for $XXXXXXXX, but incorrect to say that's what "GTSs are now worth".