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Comments
Seems like the fuel system was always going haywire on it.
My first car that wasn't a family "loaner" was a 1974 Jeep CJ-5.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/4759029473.html
For a coupe that is not factory correct, it seems a bit pricey to me. The decision would have to be made by carefully inspecting the underside to see if all the bushings have been done, condition of ball joints, control arms floor pan, etc. If it's all fresh and clean and painted, I'd say $25K to $27.5K is the selling point. '69 is everyone's favorite year for a Camaro.
Given this is a Long Island car, we'd have to fine-tooth it for rust issues.
Also pay attention to weatherstripping, under dash, interior and exterior trim condition.
With resto-mods, you often see superficial cosmetic restoration on top of big block crate engines and speed equipment.
So yeah it might be worth it, but there's not enough information to justify this strong price.
For comparison, a real SS/RS coupe big block in pristine shape could be in the high $40s.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I did notice he doesn't come out and say whether it's a real RS or not
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/30/automobiles/fixes-came-too-late.html?ribbon-ad-idx=4&rref=automobiles&module=Ribbon&version=origin®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Automobiles&pgtype=article
My niece is transferring to a local college. Since her parents are a little disappointed, her target budget is 2 grand
http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/4741243492.html What 19 year old girl wouldn't want this?
http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/4780527218.html Have definitely seen worse looking than this for the money. I think that the transmissions are the weak link
http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/4780606023.html Never thought that these were candidates to make it 200k
http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/4777073003.html Used to be ubiquitous around here. Not much anymore
http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/4780529250.html This was near lux when new. Have mostly disappeared. I would be that it was a V6
http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/4743821312.html Indestructible and looks clean
http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/4780558143.html 220k. She will notice the moonroof more than the mileage
Hey, this is tough----definitely NOT the Sebring.
I'd go for the lowest mileage Japanese car in the bunch. The Buick and GM are kinda large to park and maneuver. Early 90s was not a high point for American iron.
The Fiero's main competitor was the Toyota M-2-2, also mid-engine. The MT-2 was better engineered and, undoubtedly, more reliable (although the Fiero was reasonably reliable), but I think the Fiero beat the MR-2 in the looks department.
Chevy displayed a couple of small, sporty concept cars at some of the major 2012 auto shows, to gauge public reaction. Click on
http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2012/01/chevrolet-targeting-millennials-with-pair-of-auto-show-concepts/
I was hoping one of those would be go unto production, especially the RWD Code 130R, but with the styling of the Tru 140S. Apparently I was in the minority. Did either of these concept cars appeal to any other participants in this discussion? Anyone?
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Was a little cranky to start - maybe because of the new FI component and because the car was idle for months. But once started, it ran like nothing happened, drove fine. Got lots of looks and a few waves.
Makes me think of what might be up for next year. Aside from unforeseen issues, I am really thinking of having the (white) steering wheel refinished.
I finally sold my E30 because it would have required $2,700 of mechanical work (A/C, rear axle leak and more) to get it to where I wanted it, and that was about 150% of the value at the time. It had 127,000 on the odometer. Two dealers offered me $500 on a new car trade, after a nice discount on a new car, but I took a pass and bought the A4. I listed the E30 on Craigslist for $1,650 and sold it the next day to a private party. I knew I could have held out for something over $2,000, but I didn't want the hassle of a lot of strangers coming to test drive it.
The Nissan had an unexpected catastrophic transmission failure at 194,500 miles. A main seal or bearing gave out and the transmission fluid gushed out. It was not repairable, and would have had to be replaced. An excellent independent garage that specializes in restoring Nissan Z cars estimated that it would have required about $7,000 to get mine to the condition I wanted. The steering also rack needed replacement, plus other worn parts and a crack in the windshield. In addition, the plastic on the electric mirrors was cracked and chipped.
I was surprised about the transmission failure because it was a manual, but the shop owner said he's seen numerous similar failures on Zs over the years. He said the part that failed was a point of relative weakness on that model. His recommendation was that, since it wasn't driveable, I could put it on Craigslist. I sold it quickly and easily for $500, my asking price. The buyer already had a '87 300 ZX 2+2 with needs. He bought mine because the body was straight, without rust, and the interior was excellent. The parts my car needed were interchangeable with the good parts from his car. My car was the survivor.
Looking back, maybe I should have kept the E30, which also had a straight, rust-free body and an excellent interior. Since several people on Edmunds advised against investing the money for repairs, I chose objective advice over emotional attachment.
As for what may be up next, the element of surprise always lurks with old cars and high mileage ones. In a way that's part of the fun. Beating the odds is also part of the challenge. In addition, there's a nostalgia and bonding element. If my perception that your MB is lower mileage than my E30, you may be able to keep it on the road for a long time without spending too much at any one time, like what you've been doing.
Yes, with this car, I take it one thing at a time. As an adequate restoration would cost 40K and not pay off, and it looks "good enough" as it is, I will just drive it and see how it ages. True mileage is technically unknown as I have a 13 year gap in records (1976-1989), but the brake pedal is worn down to the metal underneath, which makes me think it might have gone around the clock twice - MBs then only had 5 digit odometers, too. Right now, the car could technically use some valve work, but at maybe 3K or so, a quart of oil once a year is more attractive. I suppose some suspension components could be replaced. Body, paint, and chrome, are low priorities, as they are good enough for me - and the car looks so good from a small distance or on camera, that helps too. As the car might see 1500 miles in a busy year, it's not wearing out too fast. If I hit a lottery, I'll probably send it to the Classic Center to be new again, but until then, I'll just keep it roadworthy.
Oh, wow! That surprises me, as something like that seems like an obvious part to have available indefinitely. Plastic on the outside of the car? Yep, that's gonna need replacing....
I used my old cars for everyday transportation rather than occasionally. We've got three cars and two drivers now, the oldest car being the '99 TL. Each of our cars gets driven once a week, at a minimum.
It was my everyday car from the time I bought it, through college, and even a short time after. But by then the age was obvious, and I wanted to keep the car as dry as possible. I try to take it out every other week or so, depending on weather and running status.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/4775687853.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/4780229879.html
Tommy buys a damaged car for $3500
When all fixed up, this car will be worth $5500
Question: How much money has Tommy lost?
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/4786022293.html
$3,500 for that Sonata? maybe $500 for someone that needs an engine (assuming that it is actually OK). Haul it off to the boneyard and start stripping it.
The 2002, I kind of like it! Not the interior. And yeah, it sort of needs paint and an interior. But does not seem like a horrible price, if the mechanical work was done right, and it really does run as well as he claims. that "custom" panel attached to the dash, that makes my DIY handiwork look good!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
That's a new one. At least it is cheap, although maybe even sketchy as a parts car.
I suspect the Sonata owner owes $3500 on it.
Oh, and check out what the mechanic now has up on the lift, in its place...
I am jealous of that DeSoto, I'd love to do something like that to my fintail, but I just can't commit to the time and expense. It should be pretty stunning when it is detailed up and back on the road.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
That cowl rust and blown rear end are more than enough to total the car.
Ya THINK?
I've seen 1957 Chryslers with quad headlights but never a De Soto.
However, I'm not going to have him repaint the whole car. Labor rates in this area are just getting too expensive. Plus, I gotta admit I'm going a bit broke.
When it comes time to get the car painted, I'll probably have it shipped out somewhere. I hear that even going to certain parts of PA, West VA, etc, labor rates drop off tremendously.
If you would be interested in swapping your Mercedes for the NICEST 1998 BMW 328i
convertible you've ever seen, I seriously might be interested.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Oddly, around here, I tend to see more quad headlight '57 DeSotos than I do single headlight models. Not that I see them on a regular basis, that is...
That new driver's side fender on my car is off of a single headlight model, and my mechanic thinks that it might have been for a Chrysler, because he said the lower part of it, which is actually hidden behind the bumper/grille combo, was a bit different. So, he had to make some modifications to it. Also, it's not an easy swap to change out from single headlights to quads. I had thought the interchange would have just involved screws and bolts, but some of the stuff you have to swap is actually welded in place.
I had always presumed that the '57-58 Chrysler/DeSoto fenders were identical, but apparently not so. I guess that's good to remember, on the off chance I ever have to go through this again!
One reason quad headlight DeSotos might seem a bit rare is that the cheapest model, the Dodge-based Firesweep, only came with single headlights, and it accounted for about 1/3 of DeSoto's sales that year. The senior models, on the longer wheelbase shared with Chrysler, offered single or quad, depending on what state they were sold in. However, now that I think about it, while I've seen single headlight Firedomes and Fireflites, I don't think I've ever seen a single headlight Adventurer from '57.
Looking to get out of it already? CEL stuck on? Bad time of year to sell one - hold off til April, and the buyers will come.
If you want an old MB, no more than $7500 should be enough to buy a genuinely nice completely presentable and roadworthy W108 or W111, - a car nicer than mine, or maybe even less if you are lucky or want patina like I have.