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

au1994 · April 2010

LOL! The best (worst) one I have ever seen, was on another forum I frequent. Somebody asked if anyone knew when the hybread version of a particular model was coming out.

ghulet · April 2010

......youse guys came up with some good ones. My skin is crawling.

hpmctorque · April 2010

Interesting story and, like explorer, glad your daughter was unharmed. What year was that Camry?

fezo · April 2010

It was a 99 with maybe 140K on it. It was certainly a learning experience for her!

andre1969 · April 2010

and my guess is that it just needs a little TLC to get it running again, any rust is just cosmetic and an easy fix, blah blah blah...

fintail · April 2010

It's 99% rust free, just needs floors, rockers, and some frame work. The transmission slips a little and doesn't go into reverse, but a fluid change should cure that. A tune-up should take care of the knocking noise and smoke that it had when parked. The paint will look a lot better after a wax. Low real miles, all highway. Driven by a little old lady to church, garaged until just last month. Clean Carfax, no known damage. Really, it is in excellent condition. :shades:

qbrozen · April 2010

Actually, it is even higher. I think the minimum agreed upon value is $5k.

I'll point out ... agreed upon value.

Neither (soon to be 3) of the cars I have with Hagerty are worth $5k in the real world. But when adding a car, they ask you for an agreed upon value. You can enter $2k and it just stops you right then and there and says "Hagerty does not insure for less than $5k." So you change the number to $5k. Approved!

andre1969 · April 2010

I just went to Hagerty's website and got a quote for adding my '79 5th Ave. They actually accepted it, with a $5,000 agreed-value. Only thing I thought was a bit odd was the quote came in at $67.00. Still a lot cheaper than the $300 I'm paying right now for liability-only, but something just seemed off.

So then, for kicks, I got a quote for a 1962 Cadillac Sedan DeVille, with a $6K value, and the quote came in cheaper, at $37! So whatever algorithm they're using takes more into account than just the agreed-upon value of the car.

Mr_Shiftright · April 2010

Probably that someone is less likely to ever drive a 62 Cadillac for fear of bankruptcy?

lemko · April 2010

...and my (censored) brother bought her back in 1957. That's when your new cars came out in September.

andre1969 · April 2010

...and she had the smell...of a brand-new car. And that's just about the finest smell in the world!

tjc78 · April 2010

Really, it is in excellent condition.

Almost forgot the A/C works, it just needs a charge!

fintail · April 2010

Everybody can relax, I found the car. Needs some suspension work and shocks. Brakes, brake pads, lining, steering box, transmission, rear-end.

How much?

Only $4800.

Also new rings, mufflers, a little wiring.

tjc78 · April 2010

If I was in the market for a toy I think I would actually go look at this. I am not a huge fan of red on these cars, but this one looks decent for the price.

75 Mark IV

lemmer · April 2010

They want $163 to insure my old 944 for $5K. I think I pay maybe a little less than twice that now.

Mr_Shiftright · April 2010

Well you could take clients to and from the bordello. They'd like that :P

My friend had one of those in San Francisco of all places---if he wanted to park, he'd just squeeze as much of the car as could get in, and then just PUSH. We lived in a junky neighborhood, so no harm done.

andre1969 · April 2010

One thing I noticed too, is there's a pull-down option list to pick from as to how your car is stored. It used to be required that the car was stored in a locked, private garage. But now they have options such as carport, driveway, etc. So I wonder if Hagerty is loosening up on some of their rules?

explorerx4 · April 2010

as i have said before, one of my russian friends liked his blazer because it was good for 'making parking spaces'.

hpmctorque · April 2010

Oh, I thought it was 87.44%.

hpmctorque · April 2010

Learning experience, for sure. Something similar happened to my nephew about three years ago. He tried to drive through a "puddle" that turned out to be a small pond during a very heavy rain storm. His '96 Mystique was wiped out, and he got out through the passenger side window. It was the only power window that opened. He was very lucky he only lost his car.

Mr_Shiftright · April 2010

Remember when JEEP got sued for their TV commercials, in which Wranglers were pictured plowing full speed into stream beds----yeah, looks great, but when the Jeep's air cleaner sucks up a mouthful of water, that goes into the combustion chamber---and guess what? Water is very difficult for a piston to compress.

Crunch!

This is probably why all these commercials, with cars racing, spinning, swimming, etc., have disclaimers plastered on the bottom.

lemmer · April 2010

I noticed that too. All my cars are garaged at this point, but I don't have room for any more.

You can also save $24 by skipping the tow coverage.

lemmer · April 2010

Not my area of expertise.

What would you guys pay for this one?

Mr_Shiftright · April 2010

Personally I wouldn't take it if you gave it to me, (cost of restoration declares a parts car), but I'd expect in an eBay auction it would be bid up to perhaps $5000 tops.

The wise man would bid no more than $2500, which he could recoup in parts (perhaps).

Rust? Bondo? Amateur repaint? Yikes!

PS: Actually I would take it if you gave it to me, but I wouldn't do anything to it. I'd just flip it. I don't much like to drive around in rusted cars. It depresses me.

lemmer · April 2010

Come on! It would be fun to tool around in every once in a while with no fear of getting a ding in the door. I bet Andre likes it.

Mr_Shiftright · April 2010

Well fair enough, to each his own---but driving a rust bucket like that has an air...dare I say...of being a bit depressing for all concerned...it's like owning a 3-legged dog or something....I guess if you want sympathy.... :P

I have always had a sense of stewardship about old cars. I feel that what I drive reflects upon my respect for what it is.

lemmer · April 2010

Do you ever look at the feature Hemmings Sports and Exotics has for daily driver older cars? Most of those are just plain old beaters. To me it seems like torture to drive a ragged out Triumph Herald or something similar for 40 years.

andre1969 · April 2010

Come on! It would be fun to tool around in every once in a while with no fear of getting a ding in the door. I bet Andre likes it.

I'd have to see how it looks in person, to really make a decision. It actually looks okay in that one picture that was posted, but that could be an old pic. And I'd have to see how big the dent is on the other side. If I could just pound it out with my fist or a big mallet and a block of wood, it might not be too bad. Just drive it, have fun with it, and if something major breaks on it, try to sell it for parts.

gsemike · April 2010

Hanks Helper

The UI is a little clunky but it let's you perform searches on Craigs over multiple cities within 250 miles of your location

Mr_Shiftright · April 2010

It's pretty clunky and *very* BETA. Nice idea but needs a lot of work IMO.

Craigslist Pro Reader works a lot better.

omarman · April 2010

Craigslist Pro Reader works a lot better.

Well that settles that! Quick download and set up. Now this CL Reader does everything better than my old search tempest utility.

Searching around for 1970 Boss Mustang:

Colorado Boss with replacement motor. Hmmm.

Texas 1970 clone wearing 1969 stripes.

I'd choose this one in Toledo but seller listed just the one pic.

explorerx4 · April 2010

not quite a car but a classic.
last saturday, i brought my 25 years old lawn-boy mower in to get freshened.
same place i bought it from in 1985 and always got it serviced.
when i asked the guy, same one i had talked to every time i brought it in, when can i expect to get it back he said, 'things are a little slow, so tomorrow or monday'.
on thursday i called and the phone just rang and rang.
this morning, same thing.
this afternoon, i drove over there and someone else got there just before me.
they were tugging on the door, surprised that it wouldn't open.
the place was dark and the lower part of the glass front front door had been kicked in and covered over with duct tape.
it looks like they are out of business and i am out a lawn mower.
when i got home, i went through my paperwork and don't have anything with a serial number on it, so i can't prove it is mine even if i could get access to the place.
here is my little tribute to my 8125

ghulet · April 2010

Oh, man. Stuff like that really pisses me off (not that the thing was worth big bucks, it's just the point). In the guy's defense (unless he IS the owner), generally nobody other than principles are informed of a pending closure of a business. Still, usually it's obvious (dwindling inventory, credit being cut-off, etc.). Sorry, and I hope maybe you can get it back.

Mr_Shiftright · April 2010

Are they supposed to idle at 7200 rpm? :P

Maybe the guy is sick or something.

explorerx4 · April 2010

i didn't listen to the video or even watch the whole thing.
you better hope the 'maximum overdrive' scenario doesn't happen, or it may be coming after you.

btw the engine had 2 speeds, turtle or rabbit. i am not kidding!
those high rpm's usually happened just before it ran out of fuel.

explorerx4 · April 2010

big bucks is relative, but i bought it for $369 in 1985 and they had a used one for sale about 10 years ago for $739. :surprise:

boomchek · April 2010

Price sems fair for this Saab I wonder if it needs more work or if he gave up after sinking a few thousand into it recently. Looks half decent for a toy if it runs.

fintail · April 2010

Heck, it could be worth it for parts at that price, there has to be some rare bits there. I wonder if that is also an SPG car.

Mr_Shiftright · April 2010

"Endless amount of mechanical work done ..."

That says everything you need to know. You'll never be done with this car. It'll be like painting the Golden Gate Bridge. When you get to the end, you'll start all over on the other side.

ghulet · April 2010

yes. What Shiftright said. My brother and I have owned four SAABs of that era; fun to drive but otherwise totally nightmarish. There's so much crap on those cars I've never even heard of, most of which fail on a regular basis (they're those every-time-you-take-it-in-expect-to-spend-at-least-a-grand types). Still, for $1500 and it's a turbo convertible stick, I'd probably forgive quite a few gripes, as long as you don't expect it to be primary transportation.

Mr_Shiftright · April 2010

Since I've been through the Trail of Tears with Saab Turbos, I could probably take this car on, because I know what fails and how often, and I still have parts resources in my files. But really, the car will *never* stop breaking, so the best way to deal with a car like this is to be totally proactive with it. Some recurrent areas are:

1. Top rips from bolts in top bows---cure is to pad replacement top in critical areas with sewn-in barriers

2. A-arms crack if you back up too fast and jam on the brakes. Inspect every oil change

3. Transmissions are weak (goes without saying).

4. Numerous electrical failures such as dash lighting, power windows.

5. Eats front tires for breakfast. Figure 10,000 miles a set. Rotate often, buy very hard rubber compounds

6. Head gaskets can blow at any time.

hpmctorque · April 2010

Sounds like the polar opposite of a Camry.

steine13 · April 2010

i just like the way shifty sugarcoats it.
-mathias

Mr_Shiftright · April 2010

Well, look at it this way. If I'm RIGHT, you don't buy it, and you're happy because I saved you from the automotive equivalent of crawling on your belly through shards of broken glass.

If I'm WRONG (and we all know that happens) then you DO buy the car, and are delightfully surprised, relieved and can lord a sense of superiority over me.

So really , either way I've got you covered here. :shades:

Actually I was just thinking about Saab convertibles the other day, 'bout how I might like to have a "cheap convertible"----but then that night I had a dream about putting a plastic funnel in the oil cap hole of a car engine---only I was pouring quarters in, not oil.

What could that mean? :confuse:

jlflemmons · April 2010

"but then that night I had a dream about putting a plastic funnel in the oil cap hole of a car engine---only I was pouring quarters in, not oil. "

I have soooo owned that car. 1967 Austin Healy Sprite. I was trying to use it as a daily driver, and, instead, used it as a lesson well learned. That lesson being why the English drive their cars on the left hand side of the road. Because that's where most of the auto repair shops are located. :P

omarman · April 2010

I had a dream about putting a plastic funnel in the oil cap hole of a car engine---only I was pouring quarters in, not oil. What could that mean?

Depends. Was there a claw hanging over the car?

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qbrozen · April 2010

Spent Saturday at my dad's putting a new clutch in the MR2. Conveniently, he recently unearthed the pit in his garage, so the gave us good room to work. It was much tougher than I anticpated (ain't it always?). About 8 hours total for the 2 of us, with no breaks. But its done.

Let's see... I have tires and brakes on hand now. Struts, springs, exhaust, and all tune-up bits are in transit. I installed a homemade cold air intake yesterday. Only thing left to be ordered are the swaybars, which I will do today.

Tally:
$2k purchase price
$130 clutch kit
$90 exhaust
$200 springs
$140 struts
$110 tuneup
$110 brakes
$300 swaybars
$420 tires
$100 fluids and intake

Total: $3800

Not too bad for a prepped STS car, I don't think. If I was prepping for stock class, it would only be like $650 cheaper, anyway, but then I'd have to purchase R comp tires, which would have run me a couple hundred bucks more. So, all in all, STS over ES is only running me around $500 for starters.

If it works out and holds up, I'd probably be looking at dropping $800-$1k on wheels and tires next year.

texases · April 2010

So fill us in - what were the big steps/hurdles for the weekend's project? Was it like replacing a clutch in a fwd vehicle? Worse?

qbrozen · April 2010

Technically, it should be exactly like replacing it in a FWD vehicle. To be honest, though, I believe this was my first clutch job ever. I think. I'm pretty sure.

In the end, I feel like it may have been easier to pull the engine and trans at once and take them apart out of the car, but we didn't do it that way. It was the reassembly that proved difficult. Trying to muscle the darned thing back in place, while trying to delicately align the shaft, and all while "twisting" it in place past the various mounts (would you believe it has 3 trans mounts and 2 engine mounts!).

I did snap one of the pressure plate bolts, so that was like a 20-minute delay to drill it and extract it. But, other than that, the actual changing of the clutch was quite easy and trouble free.

I think it was around 2 hours to disconnect everything. Another half hour to wiggle the trans out. 1 hour replacement time (cleaning, resurfacing the flywheel, etc). Then like 4 hours to get it back together.

Alldata says it's a 5.5-hour job. Ah well.

Mr_Shiftright · April 2010

Usually with mid-engined cars it's really *tight* to work in there. Tedious rather than complex, right?

Saab Turbo Convertible -- having owned a couple of these, I'd say my biggest shock was not the lack of reliability, which, back in the late 80s/early 90s, was well known with Saab and defensible by keeping an eye on known problems----the real surprise was how shoddily built the car was. I believe the convertible bodies were assembled in Finland, probably by blind men in a rehab program, near as I could tell.

Not sure why Swedish cows had such lousy coats, either---must have shopped at Wal-Mart.

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

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