1994 Buick Century, 100k miles?

Well took it for a test drive. I think we'll pass. It is leaking freon, and AC isn't great (not horrible, but not very cold at all), and you can't see what gear you are in because the display that shows the gear, is blurred/scratched. And its 31 years old.

I still think it would be a very good deal for someone who is going to drive it locally, and especially if they are a mechanic. But I don't want to send this car several hundred miles away to a loved one in college.

Never know until you check it out.
 
We're looking for a college beater for loved one. Just heard about people we know offering this for sale (moving out of state). I'm told engine runs fine. I'll talk to owner about trans. Is this something to stay away from? Asking price is $1900.
As someone with a 1997 Chevrolet cavalier with only 155k I'd stay away just due to age
 
Yes, but because they'd be living off campus, I'd much prefer a car than a long bus trip with a connection downtown or something like that. The question is simply what car they will have to drive. Needs to definitely be reliable. I've looked at this and decided its a bit too much risk for me to swallow.

Does Uber and alternate transport exist easily in college area? This is not a car that easily get engine/electronics repaired is it.
 
Well took it for a test drive. I think we'll pass. It is leaking freon, and AC isn't great (not horrible, but not very cold at all), and you can't see what gear you are in because the display that shows the gear, is blurred/scratched. And its 31 years old.

I still think it would be a very good deal for someone who is going to drive it locally, and especially if they are a mechanic. But I don't want to send this car several hundred miles away to a loved one in college.
Understand your position as a parent, however I would have cut my arm off for a car in this good of shape when I was in college, given my father was not funding my wheels.
 
Easy to work on for older DIY guys. But how far is she from family? Every rubber bit has rotted and is going to be falling off. How many times do you want the phone call that something isn’t working? That may not be a bad thing depending on the student and the family - my daughter would have tolerated a certain amount of issues. Will AC be effective once recharged with the new stuff? Are wiring diagrams still available to newer shops on these? Wiper switches, turn signal stalks, etc all age.
 
I still think a used Chevy Bolt is the perfect cheap car for a younger driver. Yes the $4K used EV tax credit is gone, but they’re still pretty reasonable.

200-250mi range is enough to be convenient but they won’t be going on any wild adventures too far away as the Bolt’s DC fast charging maxes out at 50kw.

Modern safety technology. I think this is probably the most important thing for younger, inexperienced drivers.

Reliable and literally no maintenance. Tires and washer fluid. If you want to do things right, coolant and brake fluid every 5 years.

Enough usable space to be practical if you need to move stuff, but it is still a small car so easy to park anywhere.

Just watch out, DC fast charging was optional the first few model years. Open the charge door and look before you buy.

No way I’d send a young driver off to college hundreds of miles away in a car that isn’t even OBD2. Most shops won’t even touch it.
 
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