I know that the low end used car (beater) market has seen some real price increases lately but today was a shock even to me.
I stopped to get the particulars on a lawn sale car, a 1995 Chevy Baretta. I confess a fondness for the style of that model even though it had poor reliability reviews and was basicly obsolete even when new.
The seller was asking about $1000 "as is" (never a good sign). I asked him what was wrong with it "as is". He told me it needed a radiator ($250), an e-brake cable ($100), a fuel filler neck ($250 if the tank is OK) and it was only running on 3 cylinders (bad valve, head gasket, hole in piston, who knows). Oh, and did I mention it had 142,000 miles on it?
So we have a car that needs a minimum of $1000 in repairs and possibly a new engine for 1000 bucks.
I should jump at this, right? :lemon:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I bought a car yesterday! A car I've admired since they came out in 1988.
Way to go Isell...you don't say a word and then spring this on us. Congratulations, that should make an interesting ride. By the way they were only built for 3 years and the convertible didn't come out until 1990. Some really interesting reading on wikipedea: wikipedia Buick Regal
I stopped to get the particulars on a lawn sale car, a 1995 Chevy Baretta. I confess a fondness for the style of that model even though it had poor reliability reviews and was basicly obsolete even when new.
I had a 91 Corsica (the 4 door version of the Baretta) took it to about 150K miles with nothing other than replacing a gasket. The guy I sold it to (for 2 grand in 1998) put another 100K or so miles on it with nothing major going out.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
The Beretta. Ugh! What a horrible car. My 1st car was a 1992 Beretta GT. 3.1L V6 w/ 140 hp & 3 speed slushbox. I bought it new. Let's see what the old memory bank can drudge up - the power windows wouldn't work if I had the rear defroster on, the driver's side window was so heavy that it separated itself from the rear channel & got stuck (design flaw, never fixed), the AC that worked intermittently, and the 2nd loeb of the camshaft that wore off - with 60,000 miles.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
The Beretta. Ugh! What a horrible car. My 1st car was a 1992 Beretta GT
Is that when you switched to foreign cars?
I had an 86 Corsica V6 which was the 4 door version of the Beretta. That car pretty well fell apart at 80,000 miles, and I am very easy on cars. Something broke down every week, I traded it for a 92 Cavalier that was a little better.
I just figured out that when the old GM made a lemon they just drop that particular name of car and come out with a different model.
They must have made Corsicas and Berettas on Mondays and Fridays. :P I've often wondered if there is any truth to that old tale about not buying a car made on Mondays or Fridays. Logically, I suppose that it makes a certain amount of sense.
More later on the Reatta story and I will try Photobucket. But WHY would you post that horrible photo of that pimped out Reatta? Ugly wheels and those horrible chrome "wheel lips" I can't stand it!
To be absolutely honest Craig, I'd never even heard of the Reatta, so I had no idea that the one I posted a pic of wasn't a standard model.
Does this give a better representation?
If you'd like me to post your pics for you, just say so and I'll put up my email address (phonetically) so you can send them to me.
I've often wondered if there is any truth to that old tale about not buying a car made on Mondays or Fridays. Logically, I suppose that it makes a certain amount of sense.
I hope not Richard, as our new truck was built on a Friday, and at the moment it's waiting for us to collect it from the local Ford dealer because it needed a warranty repair to the moonroof. After the glass retracted into the roof it would come back out with bits of foam rubber stuck to it. Funny how it didn't do it at the dealer where we bought it, but only started when we got it home. :confuse:
Apparently it just needed an adjustment, and it gives us an excuse to visit the dealer to pick up a valet key to keep as a spare.
Thanks for the offer to post my pictures but I'll figure it out. It's about time I learned how to do a few things I've been fighting.
The bottom photo is exactly what I bought. Same color and everything.
Back in 1989, we bought a brand new Buick Le Sabre T type. Kind of an unusual car at the time. Kept it intil 1996 when I sold it to a friend only to buy it back from him ten years later. Kept it another year and sold it to a co worker who still owes me 800.00 that I'll probably never see.
At the time I bought the Le Sabre, they had a new Reatta on the showroo floor. It was too small for us and a lot more expensive than I thought it should have been.
The salesperson explained how they were practically built by hand by a special team etc. I said at the time that maybe someday I would own one.
Not to sound like a whiner...... buuuut, IMHO Edmunds really dropped the ball by taking away the "Carspace" pages. It was an easier way to get personal pictures into the forums. You were already logged in when you checked your "watched items" and the code to embed the images was already there at the bottom of your photo. It also resized pictures automatically.
Most every forum I frequent has a way to attach images (and host them).
Ok, end rant. Back to your normally scheduled programming (whatever that is :P )
The Cadillac mechanics just HATED Allantes! You were smart to get rid of yours.
They are beautiful cars but mechanical and electrical nightmares.
The junky 4100 engines didn't get improved until 1988 and the much touted Northstars would always develop a nasty oil leak that required pulling the engine and splitting it in half to replace a seal.
So for the past couple of month, I've been kinda looking for some kind of a "fun" car that I wouldn't have to spend much money on.
I would check Craigslist several times a day if I had the time and I called on a few BMW's, Saab Convertables etc. I learned that Craigslist attracts a LOT of flaky sellers and no doubt, buyers.
I went and looked at misrepresented cars and absolute junk.
So, on Friday afternoon, a new listing pops up. 1990 Buick Reatta, 137,000 miles good condition for 1550.00. I emailed hte guy at once thinking it HAD to be junk. He posted a photo so small I couldn 't see much.
He called me back shortly and I was impressed. He was a "normal" sort who gave me the history of the car and described it very well. Teh first owner was a woman hotel executive who found herself having to haul clients around. She sold it to a Buick Club man in his 80's who sold it to the current owner seven years ago.
He told me that the ABS light had been on for five years but other than that, it was in nice condition. We set up a meeting place and I was off to see the car.
So, we met in a parking lot and I was pleased to see that the Reatta was better than expected.
I drove it, literally around the block in bumper to bumper traffic and gave it a good looking over.
Now, after talking to him on the phone, I had researched it pretty well. It was hard to place a value on it but I knew that ABS light notwithstanding, it was an exceptional buy.
The body was razor straight, bought new in Seattle so no rust. Leather and other interior parts would rate an 8 out of ten and it seemed to run well. The seller was very nice and down to earth.
He didn't try to tell me that the ABS light was "probably a loose wire" and he was very straightforward.
Did I beat him up? Nope! It was more than fairly priced and better than expected.
I did ask him..." What is your bottom line?". He said 1250.00 and I shook his hand.
The good...Buick's wonderful and bulletproof 3800 engine that runs like a dream.
Silky smooth transmission, ice cold air conditioning. Everything works and the car handles like ti's on rails. No smells inside, no rattles or vibrations.
The bad...ABS light that I probably won't fix. Who really needs ABS?
Aftermarket Pioneer CD player that is confusing to operate and doesn't sound good. Wheels need to be refinshed but look good from 20 feet away.
He did include the original stereo/cassette unit that he said works.
It's a 1990 so it doesn't have that miserable, primitive, troublesome touch screen CRT system!
To sum things up..
It's really nothing special even though they only hand built around 21,000 of them in four years.
It is different and not another ho hum car that we see everyday.
And, it was cheap!
Now, I need room! Who want's to buy "Eddie" our much loved 1993 Ford Explorer?
Great story, and what a neat car to enjoy with very little investment. $1,250 is practically nothing in return for what you got. Enjoy yourself.
I just knew that you were going to sell that wonderful '93 Explorer. What do you think you'll ask, and what's the mileage on it? Knowing you, I bet it is in great shape. Naturally, you know that I want to know the color combination.
Was the major reason I switched to foreign cars. After the 1992 Beretta, I leased a 2 door 1998 Ford Explorer Sport for 2 years, then leased a 2000 Saab 9-3 for 3 years until I bought my 2001 Prelude.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
My wife wants to keep the Explorer but I hate having cars sitting in the driveway.
When our son went to work for Nintendo three years ago, it was the dead of winter and he had an S-2000. An s-2000 is worse than worthless in the snow and snow was predicted.
So, we found "Eddie" a 1993 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer version. Original owner, always garaged and babied.
As soon as we bought it, I took it to a trusted local garage for a look over. It needed about 1500.00 worht of work which we had done.
It has never failed us and after sitting for two months, it'll start immediatly without any lifter noise. At 162,000 miles it doesn't leak or burn oil. Original leather in great shape. Upgraded sound system with CD player. new tires and battery. Ready to go!
It's two tone green and beige and in typical Ford fashion, it has quite a bit of peeling paint on the roof and on the front fenders.
It's currently in the shop getting the blower motor replaced and possibly front brakes. A/C blows ice cold but not witout the fan working.
It got our son to work despite deep snow and ice.
Seriously, if we had an extra garage it wouldn't be for sale.
Not a bad idea. I could claim you as a dependent and save some bucks. You could cook, clean, do laundry, grocery shop, keep up my landscaping, maintain my cars, and do my computer repairs. In return, you would get room and board with a weekly allowance of say $10. I would make out like a bandit. I could surprise my niece and nephew by leaving you everything in my Will. Now, about your wife and children... :P
Now I know why you worked so many years in sales. That is the best sales pitch that I have ever read. You could sell ice water in Iceland!
I just thought of something. Your Explorer is the perfect buy for oldfarmer's nephew. The only real expense would be getting it across country---about $1,500. That's what I paid two years ago to ship my niece's Explorer from Arizona to North Carolina. She loved it and didn't want to sell it when she lost her job. She's still driving it.
$40K isn't at all out of the ordinary. I was looking at some Toyota Tacomas on our dealer's lot at spied a $45K Toyota Tacoma. It was jacked up with some kind of offroad package with enormous tires and a bunch of other add-ons like brush guards and the like. This is $45K and it's not even a full size pickup! Of course it has been languishing on the lot for sometime.
Meanwhile my neighbors bought their son a brand new full size decked out Chevy Silverado for his 21st birthday. I tried pricing it on Edmunds and based on my informal calculation it should have sold for around $35K minus whatever incentives GM was offering. As best I can tell the son doesn't work, picks up the occasional mid-day class at our vo-tech and lives rent and meal free with his folks. No wonder such a high percentage of young adults live with their folks.
When I do advertise it, I'll do as I always do. I'll tell everyone everything I know both good and bad. I will also tell them that if it breaks into two pieces the following day that they will own two pieces.
I'll also tell them that it got flipped on it's side when it was six months old when the first owner hit a patch of black ice coming around a mountain hill.
It did 12,000 in damages in 1993 dollars. Took the Ford Dealer two months to fix it. No ill effects after all of these years!
If that scares off a potential buyer, so be it! It didn't scare me or I would have passed on what has been a great Explorer!
Shoot, I live close to isell. I'll pick it up and drive it to oldfarmer's nephew for $1300. My guess is that's more than oldfarmer wants to spend for the whole vehicle.
Congrats on the new ride, Craig.
And FWIW, my old 95 Accord (that my son drives now) had the ABS light come on many, many miles ago. When my Honda dealer told me it would be $1600 to fix it, I made an executive decision to ignore it. I never had a problem. The ABS even kicked in the one time I needed it.
I did ask him..." What is your bottom line?". He said 1250.00 and I shook his hand.
Great story but where's the part about clubbing him like a baby seal. I thought that was what you were waiting for after all those years of it being done to you.
Actually a happy ending all around and that little car looks like it would be a blast to drive around.....and for $1250...people spend that on coffee in a year.
I didn't beat him up. I simply asked him what his bottom line was.
If he had told me he was firm on the price, I would have paid it.
I was unprepared since it was after banking hours. the best way to buy an old car like this is to pull out a roll of 100.00 bills. If I had done that I probably could have bought it for 1000.00 or 1100.00.
He was being more than fair and he was a nice guy. We parted friends.
>He was being more than fair and he was a nice guy. We parted friends
Sounds like a pair of fair people making a trade. If you feel you got a good deal, send him a gift card of some kind he might make use of for himself or family.
I wish as a Buick owner I could suggest what that SES light on the 3800 might be. But that car's older than I usually deal with and read about. My 2nd thought on it is it could just be a defective powertrain control module.
"...Your Explorer would be the perfect buy for oldfarmer's nephew..."
I've been trying to talk him into buying a larger "old man's" vehicle as they are usually better cared for and with the current gas prices people are giving them away. You'd be pleased at the number of Crown Vic and GM ads I've sent him that were absolute steals.
Alas, he has his mind set on a 4-cyl stick or a Jeep Wrangler and although he's polite about it I get the "drop dead old man" impression when I mention what a good deal he can get on these types of cars.
He might consider taking that Reatta off your hands Isell. Is $1250 your bottom price? :confuse:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Sounds like you bought a great conversation starter of a car. There is a medium blue metallic color coupe I still see once in a while. Why doesn't your son want the Explorer? It seem like he could use it.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
"...I wish as a Buick owner I could suggest what the SES light on the 3800 might be..."
I had an Oldsmobile and the service engine soon light came on. It turn out to be a tiny magnet inside the engine that had something to do with smoothing out the idle, some sort of emissions thing. The cost to fix was about $400. I asked the mechanic what I should do and he told me to just put a piece of black tape over the light so it wouldn't bother me.
As to Isell's Reatta I think he said it was the ABS light. My son's 98 Lasabre had that happen and the estimate for repair was about $1600, not worth it for a $1250 car.
Having said that I seem to remember one of the regular posters (jmonroe?) telling a story once wherein he had the same problem and was able to fix it by just repairing a wheel sensor which had rusted off. Pretty cheaply if I recall correctly. Maybe this would work for the Reatta too.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
What is it with some of these parents? A new $35K truck plus room and board? No wonder he doesn't look for a job. If I had returned home at age 21, I would have found the door locked. In these hard economic times with so many layoffs, I can see moving back home temporarily. Still, some of these young people are not even attempting to look for work. Some parents need to set a check-out date or the child will be there forever.
Comments
No, I don't know how to post photos.
Meanwhile, here's a generic pic:
Now your talking. Although, in 15 years it might be used to haul my ashes instead of my veggies. Nevertheless, a deal's a deal.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I stopped to get the particulars on a lawn sale car, a 1995 Chevy Baretta. I confess a fondness for the style of that model even though it had poor reliability reviews and was basicly obsolete even when new.
The seller was asking about $1000 "as is" (never a good sign). I asked him what was wrong with it "as is". He told me it needed a radiator ($250), an e-brake cable ($100), a fuel filler neck ($250 if the tank is OK) and it was only running on 3 cylinders (bad valve, head gasket, hole in piston, who knows). Oh, and did I mention it had 142,000 miles on it?
So we have a car that needs a minimum of $1000 in repairs and possibly a new engine for 1000 bucks.
I should jump at this, right? :lemon:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
How about some details. Did you grind for every last penny? Did the salesman cry?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Just goes to show that the sellers of old beaters can be just as detatched from reality as the seller of any other class of vehicle.
A car I've admired since they came out in 1988.
Way to go Isell...you don't say a word and then spring this on us. Congratulations, that should make an interesting ride. By the way they were only built for 3 years and the convertible didn't come out until 1990.
Some really interesting reading on wikipedea:
wikipedia Buick Regal
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I had a 91 Corsica (the 4 door version of the Baretta) took it to about 150K miles with nothing other than replacing a gasket. The guy I sold it to (for 2 grand in 1998) put another 100K or so miles on it with nothing major going out.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
But WHY would you post that horrible photo of that pimped out Reatta?
Ugly wheels and those horrible chrome "wheel lips"
I can't stand it!
Unless you are left handed.
Richard
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Richard
Is that when you switched to foreign cars?
I had an 86 Corsica V6 which was the 4 door version of the Beretta. That car pretty well fell apart at 80,000 miles, and I am very easy on cars. Something broke down every week, I traded it for a 92 Cavalier that was a little better.
I just figured out that when the old GM made a lemon they just drop that particular name of car and come out with a different model.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Richard
But WHY would you post that horrible photo of that pimped out Reatta?
Ugly wheels and those horrible chrome "wheel lips"
I can't stand it!
To be absolutely honest Craig, I'd never even heard of the Reatta, so I had no idea that the one I posted a pic of wasn't a standard model.
Does this give a better representation?
If you'd like me to post your pics for you, just say so and I'll put up my email address (phonetically) so you can send them to me.
I hope not Richard, as our new truck was built on a Friday, and at the moment it's waiting for us to collect it from the local Ford dealer because it needed a warranty repair to the moonroof.
After the glass retracted into the roof it would come back out with bits of foam rubber stuck to it.
Funny how it didn't do it at the dealer where we bought it, but only started when we got it home. :confuse:
Apparently it just needed an adjustment, and it gives us an excuse to visit the dealer to pick up a valet key to keep as a spare.
The bottom photo is exactly what I bought. Same color and everything.
Back in 1989, we bought a brand new Buick Le Sabre T type. Kind of an unusual car at the time. Kept it intil 1996 when I sold it to a friend only to buy it back from him ten years later. Kept it another year and sold it to a co worker who still owes me 800.00 that I'll probably never see.
At the time I bought the Le Sabre, they had a new Reatta on the showroo floor. It was too small for us and a lot more expensive than I thought it should have been.
The salesperson explained how they were practically built by hand by a special team etc. I said at the time that maybe someday I would own one.
To be continued....really!
Unless you are left handed.
Richard
My 9 year old daughter is left handed.....
Boy, that burns me about the guy who took isell's car and has left him holding the bag for $800. He's horning into my territory.....
Yeah, but don't you change your oil like every 15 miles or something? :P
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
When new, they were both way out of range price-wise.
I bought an 11 year old Allante in mint condition and thought
it was the epitome of styling. Sold it when the ABS light came on,
but took many pics which I can't post either (no photo bucket).
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Most every forum I frequent has a way to attach images (and host them).
Ok, end rant. Back to your normally scheduled programming (whatever that is :P )
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
They are beautiful cars but mechanical and electrical nightmares.
The junky 4100 engines didn't get improved until 1988 and the much touted Northstars would always develop a nasty oil leak that required pulling the engine and splitting it in half to replace a seal.
This was a 4500.00 plus job and a nasty one!
I would check Craigslist several times a day if I had the time and I called on a few BMW's, Saab Convertables etc. I learned that Craigslist attracts a LOT of flaky sellers and no doubt, buyers.
I went and looked at misrepresented cars and absolute junk.
So, on Friday afternoon, a new listing pops up. 1990 Buick Reatta, 137,000 miles good condition for 1550.00. I emailed hte guy at once thinking it HAD to be junk. He posted a photo so small I couldn 't see much.
He called me back shortly and I was impressed. He was a "normal" sort who gave me the history of the car and described it very well. Teh first owner was a woman hotel executive who found herself having to haul clients around. She sold it to a Buick Club man in his 80's who sold it to the current owner seven years ago.
He told me that the ABS light had been on for five years but other than that, it was in nice condition. We set up a meeting place and I was off to see the car.
More later...
I drove it, literally around the block in bumper to bumper traffic and gave it a good looking over.
Now, after talking to him on the phone, I had researched it pretty well. It was hard to place a value on it but I knew that ABS light notwithstanding, it was an exceptional buy.
The body was razor straight, bought new in Seattle so no rust. Leather and other interior parts would rate an 8 out of ten and it seemed to run well. The seller was very nice and down to earth.
He didn't try to tell me that the ABS light was "probably a loose wire" and he was very straightforward.
Did I beat him up? Nope! It was more than fairly priced and better than expected.
I did ask him..." What is your bottom line?". He said 1250.00 and I shook his hand.
The good...Buick's wonderful and bulletproof 3800 engine that runs like a dream.
Silky smooth transmission, ice cold air conditioning. Everything works and the car handles like ti's on rails. No smells inside, no rattles or vibrations.
The bad...ABS light that I probably won't fix. Who really needs ABS?
Aftermarket Pioneer CD player that is confusing to operate and doesn't sound good.
Wheels need to be refinshed but look good from 20 feet away.
He did include the original stereo/cassette unit that he said works.
It's a 1990 so it doesn't have that miserable, primitive, troublesome touch screen CRT system!
To sum things up..
It's really nothing special even though they only hand built around 21,000 of them in four years.
It is different and not another ho hum car that we see everyday.
And, it was cheap!
Now, I need room! Who want's to buy "Eddie" our much loved 1993 Ford Explorer?
Actually it seems to kind of work in the cases they mention but, boy, is that a concept ripe for abuse!
Craig, I love that you did that! Fun, cheap, different - what's not to like. You new handle is ibuybuicks.....
I just knew that you were going to sell that wonderful '93 Explorer. What do you think you'll ask, and what's the mileage on it? Knowing you, I bet it is in great shape. Naturally, you know that I want to know the color combination.
Richard
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
When our son went to work for Nintendo three years ago, it was the dead of winter and he had an S-2000. An s-2000 is worse than worthless in the snow and snow was predicted.
So, we found "Eddie" a 1993 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer version. Original owner, always garaged and babied.
As soon as we bought it, I took it to a trusted local garage for a look over. It needed about 1500.00 worht of work which we had done.
It has never failed us and after sitting for two months, it'll start immediatly without any lifter noise. At 162,000 miles it doesn't leak or burn oil. Original leather in great shape. Upgraded sound system with CD player. new tires and battery. Ready to go!
It's two tone green and beige and in typical Ford fashion, it has quite a bit of peeling paint on the roof and on the front fenders.
It's currently in the shop getting the blower motor replaced and possibly front brakes. A/C blows ice cold but not witout the fan working.
It got our son to work despite deep snow and ice.
Seriously, if we had an extra garage it wouldn't be for sale.
Richard
I just thought of something. Your Explorer is the perfect buy for oldfarmer's nephew. The only real expense would be getting it across country---about $1,500. That's what I paid two years ago to ship my niece's Explorer from Arizona to North Carolina. She loved it and didn't want to sell it when she lost her job. She's still driving it.
Richard
Richard
$40K isn't at all out of the ordinary. I was looking at some Toyota Tacomas on our dealer's lot at spied a $45K Toyota Tacoma. It was jacked up with some kind of offroad package with enormous tires and a bunch of other add-ons like brush guards and the like. This is $45K and it's not even a full size pickup! Of course it has been languishing on the lot for sometime.
Meanwhile my neighbors bought their son a brand new full size decked out Chevy Silverado for his 21st birthday. I tried pricing it on Edmunds and based on my informal calculation it should have sold for around $35K minus whatever incentives GM was offering. As best I can tell the son doesn't work, picks up the occasional mid-day class at our vo-tech and lives rent and meal free with his folks. No wonder such a high percentage of young adults live with their folks.
Gogiboy
When I do advertise it, I'll do as I always do. I'll tell everyone everything I know both good and bad. I will also tell them that if it breaks into two pieces the following day that they will own two pieces.
I'll also tell them that it got flipped on it's side when it was six months old when the first owner hit a patch of black ice coming around a mountain hill.
It did 12,000 in damages in 1993 dollars. Took the Ford Dealer two months to fix it. No ill effects after all of these years!
If that scares off a potential buyer, so be it! It didn't scare me or I would have passed on what has been a great Explorer!
I did ask him..." What is your bottom line?". He said 1250.00 and I shook his hand.
I couldn't help laughing when I read this. You always said it drove you nuts when people would see a great sale price and STILL ask for more off.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Enjoy.
In any event you would be much closer to Richard so you can visit your inheritance. He's only about an hour south of here.
Congrats on the new ride, Craig.
And FWIW, my old 95 Accord (that my son drives now) had the ABS light come on many, many miles ago. When my Honda dealer told me it would be $1600 to fix it, I made an executive decision to ignore it. I never had a problem. The ABS even kicked in the one time I needed it.
Great story but where's the part about clubbing him like a baby seal. I thought that was what you were waiting for after all those years of it being done to you.
Actually a happy ending all around and that little car looks like it would be a blast to drive around.....and for $1250...people spend that on coffee in a year.
Have fun!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
If he had told me he was firm on the price, I would have paid it.
I was unprepared since it was after banking hours. the best way to buy an old car like this is to pull out a roll of 100.00 bills. If I had done that I probably could have bought it for 1000.00 or 1100.00.
He was being more than fair and he was a nice guy. We parted friends.
For 1600.00 I would live with it especially since yours seems to be working.
I think I would get a second opinion.
Sounds like a pair of fair people making a trade. If you feel you got a good deal, send him a gift card of some kind he might make use of for himself or family.
I wish as a Buick owner I could suggest what that SES light on the 3800 might be. But that car's older than I usually deal with and read about. My 2nd thought on it is it could just be a defective powertrain control module.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
That has to be some kind of joke article. I did notice that it was a "left" coast thing though. Something just seems wrong with that concept.
On the other hand, if I could just get one of you rich guys to adopt me I wouldn't have to go around looking for cheap beater bargains any more.
Any of you "dads" looking for a new oldest son?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I've been trying to talk him into buying a larger "old man's" vehicle as they are usually better cared for and with the current gas prices people are giving them away. You'd be pleased at the number of Crown Vic and GM ads I've sent him that were absolute steals.
Alas, he has his mind set on a 4-cyl stick or a Jeep Wrangler and although he's polite about it I get the "drop dead old man" impression when I mention what a good deal he can get on these types of cars.
He might consider taking that Reatta off your hands Isell. Is $1250 your bottom price? :confuse:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
There is a medium blue metallic color coupe I still see once in a while.
Why doesn't your son want the Explorer? It seem like he could use it.
I had an Oldsmobile and the service engine soon light came on. It turn out to be a tiny magnet inside the engine that had something to do with smoothing out the idle, some sort of emissions thing. The cost to fix was about $400. I asked the mechanic what I should do and he told me to just put a piece of black tape over the light so it wouldn't bother me.
As to Isell's Reatta I think he said it was the ABS light. My son's 98 Lasabre had that happen and the estimate for repair was about $1600, not worth it for a $1250 car.
Having said that I seem to remember one of the regular posters (jmonroe?) telling a story once wherein he had the same problem and was able to fix it by just repairing a wheel sensor which had rusted off. Pretty cheaply if I recall correctly. Maybe this would work for the Reatta too.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Richard
Richard
Don't encourage him. He may want to come and live with "dad"!
Richard