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

qbrozen

Ok, I’ll bite: what features distinguish a “high country” mustang? And is the missing side chrome one of those features?

texases

@qbrozen said:
Ok, I’ll bite: what features distinguish a “high country” mustang? And is the missing side chrome one of those features?

Here’s more than you might want to know about it. Only things special were the paint colors and badges, as far as I can tell.
https://highcountrymustang.com/

stickguy

same with most of those specials. Just trim packages.

xwesx

I thought the high country version was AWD with 8" of ground clearance and A/T tires....!

texases

@stickguy said:
same with most of those specials. Just trim packages.

The California Special was a bit more, I think it had the Shelby sequential rear turn signals.

qbrozen

So it SHOULD have the side chrome. Wonder why the seller wouldn’t address that. Odd.

explorerx4

It looks like that Mustang has been repainted, so who knows what it really is.
A Marti report would help.

fintail

The old dear is visiting a new shop today. The car hasn't had a service since before I moved here - the garage I intended to take it to sold, and the new owner has no interest in working on old cars. Fortunately, this metro area is large enough where another specialist wasn't hard to find (just a longer drive from home). Notice the signs above the door - on their site they show pics of old Land Rovers and even a Silver Cloud in the shop. On site were many odd cars - numerous high maintenance-looking VAG cars, an Opel GT, early TR-4, 240Z, numerous Jags. Everyone there loved the car:

xwesx

Great to find such a place! Given the annual nature of the visit, it wouldn't be so far-fetched to take it to your old shop for the maintenance (well-coordinated with in-area visiting, of course).

fintail

If it was a more modern car or I could take like a week off for the trip, maybe. But the 300 mile each way trip over a mountain pass and some steep hills is maybe an adventure the car might not enjoy too often (although it did handle the trip here just fine).

That was one thing about my prior shop, I never hurried them - the car could end up there for 2-3 weeks if there was a hiccup, and I didn't mind.

xwesx said:

Great to find such a place! Given the annual nature of the visit, it wouldn't be so far-fetched to take it to your old shop for the maintenance (well-coordinated with in-area visiting, of course).

fintail

Quick CL browse:

Exists in its own world of resale value

Of course my cursor went directly to this

Oddity

Trying to get that investment back

See above, one expects more details for the price

Hen's tooth

Digital dash

Still unloved, needs those little issues fixed for the price

stickguy

rx7 looks sweet.

qbrozen

If that RX was a coupe, I’d be sorely tempted

qbrozen

The isuzu is kinda cool

stickguy

171k on in I Mark. Might be a record.

texases

That Mustang's pricey, but a better deal than the Nova, to me. If I was to restomod a '65, that'd be close to it.

explorerx4

For that price the Mustang should have forged pistons.

fintail

Got a call about the fintail's service - guy said "that's such a nice old car" or something similar. No red flags, found a driveline part that might be causing a noise I hear, suggested the car gets a brake fluid change along with the service. Seems like an honest place, as it all comes to about half what I said I was willing to spend.

Popped into CL again:

Etcetera - I suspect there's more to the problem

I wonder if someone traded this in

Of all the things to restore, color appears correct anyway

Rare convertible model

Not a Syncro, not a low mileage preservation piece, not a low price

Surprised this survived without being modded to ruin 20 years ago

Getting rare, appears to be at least one stock photo, estate sale companies can be clueless about cars

stickguy

The white Eclipse is cheap, but man it looks tired. That has a lot of needs, and once you start it is going to get real expensive.

Green one could be nice if you spent some time cleaning it up, but slushbox ruins it.

tjc78

Eldo looks pretty clean. Water pump on a Northstar isn’t that bad (needs a $20 tool) compared to other repairs on it. The AC is also out too… so that could get super pricey

explorerx4

In description of that Vanagon:
.9-liter, water-cooled four-cylinder engine 2 Cyl

gsemike

Long Island First Car Round-up: I have a friend that is looking

Low mileage legacy Would this have been AWD in 04? What are the trouble spots to watch for? I'm thinking that this is a timing belt motor

Higher mileage CRV These things can not be killed apparently

This non-running Lexus These were such high-style when new. Could be worth a flyer

Unloved Malibu But clean enough. Kind of weird ad

This Altima should have some life left in it

texases

Pretty sure that Legacy was AWD, and had the head gasket problems, and a timing belt.

stickguy

Altima looks like good bet. I think that’s pre CVT.

Subaru is AWD. I’m guessing usual head gasket and timing issues. And other assorted stuff.

qbrozen

Malibu I assume has the 2.2 ecotec. Could be a wise buy.

explorerx4

Scrolled down on the Malibu ad and saw this one. Got a chuckle out of it.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2809639279307297/?ref=product_details&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks

gsemike

stickguy said:

Altima looks like good bet. I think that’s pre CVT.

Subaru is AWD. I’m guessing usual head gasket and timing issues. And other assorted stuff.

Yes, the altima would be a 4 sp AT

xwesx

stickguy said:

Altima looks like good bet. I think that’s pre CVT.

Subaru is AWD. I’m guessing usual head gasket and timing issues. And other assorted stuff.

Maybe on the Legacy, but it's gotta be one of the best ones out there! Looks great... especially for the year and location!

fintail

CL time:

Lumina coupe sport model

A little unusual even when new

Grandpa's truck

Not a "muscle car", just a nice enough old car

Oh baby

Trying to get that investment back, GLWS

Lower price, new pic

Ice Ice Baby, lite version

Brougham

And another, nice wheels

There has to be something very wrong with it

Maybe trying a little too hard with that look

tjc78

I’m feeling green today…. I’d take the Bonnie or the T-bird to knock around in. Curious about the Thunderbird, did he convert it to a V8 with the 5.0 or is just clueless and doesn’t realize it is a 4.6.

That 92 600 is a lot of car for 22K… but I can only imagine running costs in that will hurt.

stickguy

I like the design on that vintage bonneville too.

tjc78

I had a 98 Olds 88 same basic car. I got a lemon plagued with water leaks, but I did enjoy driving it.

You could do a lot worse for $1950

ab348

I've never seen a used vehicle advertised as "in good shape for the year" actually be in good shape.

gsemike

Interesting seeing the MonteLumina and the Acura CL side by side. I guess they would have sort of competed in the late 90s and the Acura looks so much more nicely put together. GM really could make a lousy interior at that time

andres3

I returned my Rotel Surround Receiver for a full refund. It'll help pay for the Audi 3.0 motor. Also, my HK 7550HD receiver in storage still works perfectly and is easily 99% of the Rotel even if manufactured 11 years ago. This HK is under-rated, and they don't make them like they used to.

xwesx

andres3 said:

I returned my Rotel Surround Receiver for a full refund. It'll help pay for the Audi 3.0 motor. Also, my HK 7550HD receiver in storage still works perfectly and is easily 99% of the Rotel even if manufactured 11 years ago. This HK is under-rated, and they don't make them like they used to.

Sounds like a smart decision.

My last receiver, purchased in 1998, lasted me for a couple decades before it finally said "no more!" I have yet to replace it because I just can't get such a unit to the top of my priority list. My son ended up installing a unit (not even sure what brand) that he came across as an old freebie reject, and it works just fine.

Problem solved!

andres3

xwesx said:

andres3 said:

I returned my Rotel Surround Receiver for a full refund. It'll help pay for the Audi 3.0 motor. Also, my HK 7550HD receiver in storage still works perfectly and is easily 99% of the Rotel even if manufactured 11 years ago. This HK is under-rated, and they don't make them like they used to.

Sounds like a smart decision.

My last receiver, purchased in 1998, lasted me for a couple decades before it finally said "no more!" I have yet to replace it because I just can't get such a unit to the top of my priority list. My son ended up installing a unit (not even sure what brand) that he came across as an old freebie reject, and it works just fine.

Problem solved!

It's funny, some of the tech is the problem these days; not directly car audio related, but home receivers like the Rotel had these issues:

Positives = excellent amp section, toroidal power sourcing, and sound quality.

Negatives = No DSD reader (Super Audio CD format) this one is a head scratcher for a high-end 2021 unit, HDMI compatibility issues with both my TV and Direct TV Sources, and a Center Channel switching issue where voices (center channel) completely disappeared about 5% of the time (could be a HDMI issue, or a defect). The user interface could be better too. For example, the first mic sound test my HK does is to verify which speakers are connected "on" or "off." This tells the receiver if your running 5.1, or 5.2, or 7.1 or 7.2 as the case may be. Instead, the Rotel is "dumb" and says "there's too much noise to get a good reading" and you can't optimize the sound. What happened was I had it in 7.2 mode and I'm running 5.1. It mistook the silence of certain speakers as (low signal to noise ratio on the mic) rather than the intelligent response of "that speaker doesn't exist."

Another con is they made it hard wire ethernet instead of wi-fi for the audio room equalization efforts. I don't blame them too much for that since it is supposed to be a "no frills" unit.

Another plus is on the multi channel analog input you can still apply room equalization improvements/settings to that source (a Mistake Denon still makes in 2021).

My HK can do that too though. My HK is also missing DSD reading ability in digital, but it's 11 years older so that's understandable; just have to go analog.

My HK doesn't have a phono input but I already have a decent phono preamp box so no loss there.

sda

@andres3 Are you having the engine rebuilt or buying a replacement? When will it be completed?

andres3

sda said:

@andres3 Are you having the engine rebuilt or buying a replacement? When will it be completed?

New replacement out of Germany with 0 miles. Expected right around the Holiday so hoping they complete the work between the Holidays by 2022, or sooner if it arrives sooner.

Paid the State over $400 for registration for "planned operation" so I want my miles worth.

andres3

ab348 said:

I've never seen a used vehicle advertised as "in good shape for the year" actually be in good shape.

What about the AC "just needs a recharge?"

Some kid told me to advertise the S4 on "offer up" as "doesn't run" and that someone would be dumb enough to pay more since that apparently sounds better than "needs new engine."

fintail

Like "low mileage for year" on a 40 year old car with 250K on it, and the seller is basing it on an average of 15K/yr.

ab348 said:

I've never seen a used vehicle advertised as "in good shape for the year" actually be in good shape.

stickguy

just watched the latest Hoovies video. A new record for miles. He just picked up a 2004 Ram Cummings with 958,000 miles. And drove it 1,000 miles home, over the Rockies. With zero issues.

fintail

I bet it's a 4.6.

MB would be like maintaining a castle, but ones like that are getting hard to find. Also a car from the wiring harness years, although if it is still running, I'd wager the part has been replaced.

tjc78 said:

I’m feeling green today…. I’d take the Bonnie or the T-bird to knock around in. Curious about the Thunderbird, did he convert it to a V8 with the 5.0 or is just clueless and doesn’t realize it is a 4.6.

That 92 600 is a lot of car for 22K… but I can only imagine running costs in that will hurt.

tjc78

@stickguy said:
just watched the latest Hoovies video. A new record for miles. He just picked up a 2004 Ram Cummings with 958,000 miles. And drove it 1,000 miles home, over the Rockies. With zero issues.

Not sure if that is brave or stupid.

tjc78

@fintail said:
I bet it's a 4.6.

MB would be like maintaining a castle, but ones like that are getting hard to find. Also a car from the wiring harness years, although if it is still running, I'd wager the part has been replaced.

Only thing that made question the T-bird is no V8 badge on the fender. Most likely the car was repainted and they didn’t put it back.

explorerx4

Thunderbird 5.0.
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1991/879155/ford_thunderbird_5_0l_ho_efi_v-8_automatic.html

qbrozen

@tjc78 said:

@stickguy said:
just watched the latest Hoovies video. A new record for miles. He just picked up a 2004 Ram Cummings with 958,000 miles. And drove it 1,000 miles home, over the Rockies. With zero issues.

Not sure if that is brave or stupid.

Neither since he did it purely for video content.

tjc78

@explorerx4 said:
Thunderbird 5.0.
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1991/879155/ford_thunderbird_5_0l_ho_efi_v-8_automatic.html

Yeah it was always the 5.0 (both standard and HO in
later years) until 93.

My Mom had a 96 in Pacific Green over beige. It was very well equipped but had the 3.8. I enjoyed driving it, but was kinda slow.

sda

tjc78 said:

@explorerx4 said:

Thunderbird 5.0.
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1991/879155/ford_thunderbird_5_0l_ho_efi_v-8_automatic.html

Yeah it was always the 5.0 (both standard and HO in

later years) until 93.

My Mom had a 96 in Pacific Green over beige. It was very well equipped but had the 3.8. I enjoyed driving it, but was kinda slow.

Was it cursed with blown head gaskets like so many 3.8s?

tjc78

No that was reserved for my 93 Taurus! It was around late 95/96 when they finally made them better and less prone to fail.

Other than very problematic AC that car was flawless the ten years she had it (75,000 miles or so)