Assess this Buick Regal for $800

[TechnoLoGs]

Just real quick: I just looked, and found, the Craigslist ad for the Regal. Here is that ad.

Please tell me your impressions, as I won't have to think about it when my truck starts, though this surely gets better gas mileage than my as-present possibly exhaust leaking (I cannot smell, and the JB weld *may* be holding) truck does.

Possible fix/sell, without "a bunch of minor issues" ? Yes yes, I know, $$$.. Might get help with that..

Just let's assess this car, I don't have my heart set on buying it, but I do have fires burning in my head. Smell the wood burning? (Would save money getting to work, if it does in fact run.)

Ad link: http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/4076280482.html

Ad header: '93 Buick Regal For Sale - $1000 (Linden, NJ) *Was pitched to me for $800

In-person info: 227,000 miles

Ad text: I have a '93 Buick Regal for sale. I'm asking $1000.
It runs good. Exterior and Interior are good.
Need an oil change and back breaks need to be fixed but it still runs without being fixed.
One of the locks on the door messes up sometimes but that's about it. Just minor things.
*Also, told in person: The radio is stuck on low volume and the transmission is ??
Has the 3800.* Trim level: Custom

Ad pic:

In-person pics:

Hunk of junk, overpriced at $800? Please educate me.

Have not test-drove but I see it drive in/out. It seems to run without squeaking.

?

In other news: Battery is charged and ready to go back in Blazer, also a 1993.

 

[yonyon]

Don't look at is an old beater that you can buy for $800. It's an old beater that you can buy for $800 plus the cost of a transmission replacement. That car is worth scrap value + $50.

Correction: It's worth scrap value. The $50 gets eaten up by the bad brakes.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: yonyon
Don't look at is an old beater that you can buy for $800. It's an old beater that you can buy for $800 plus the cost of a transmission replacement. That car is worth scrap value + $50.


When my car starts today, I can put all these sacrilegious thoughts of this Regal behind me!

I think people that drive it know it has a trans problem. That is what happened when I went to go sell the Taurus to a young professional guy in New York City.. He never got back to me..

 

[dishdude]

You said you saw the owner drive it and he drove it like it was stolen. Why would you consider it? It even looks like it was beat on.

 

[RF Overlord]

From your other thread:

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Your Blazer runs properly, yes? All it needs is the exhaust manifold repaired/replaced and the knocking sound properly diagnosed and you'd have a good car? Why then would you want to start at square one with a high-mileage car of unknown provenance?

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
You said you saw the owner drive it and he drove it like it was stolen. Why would you consider it? It even looks like it was beat on.


Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
From your other thread:

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Your Blazer runs properly, yes? All it needs is the exhaust manifold repaired/replaced and the knocking sound properly diagnosed and you'd have a good car? Why then would you want to start at square one with a high-mileage car of unknown provenance?


I hear the both of you, and having seen, I agree.

I will dismiss this car once the Blazer starts back up. Sometime later today. Until then, this beater with issues of the unknown type runs and mine scared me to death by doing what a seized engine would, though we feel it is the battery based on the alternator cable disconnecting.. Yes, as it has before.

Make no mistake: If my Blazer turns out to have seized, (90% chance it didnt, it is my paranoia talking) then I need to get another ride. And fast.

^^ And, even then.. I feel a $500 or $600 Golf with a stick or something would be better than this..

Not like I am 100% buying a new car, just preparing for a contingency.

My job rides on a car is where this comes from, and we all know how important it is for me to have a job.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Stop playing around with $1000 scrap cars and save up for a few months and buy something that's in decent shape.

 

[Eosyn]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Stop playing around with $1000 scrap cars and save up for a few months and buy something that's in decent shape.

+1

 

[Shannow]

Stick a fill of Toyota TGMO bulk 0W-20 in it, and sell it for $1000

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
Stick a fill of Toyota TGMO bulk 0W-20 in it, and sell it for $1000


Well.. IF I did buy it, it would be to clean up with motor oil, Auto-Rx, etc, assume the best/hope for the best, put on hubcaps or something and clean up (junkyard headlight? Had an old Olds I did that once) and put up for sale for higher, as a car with no "minor issues." Mileage is hardest selling point.

But everyone is telling me to stay away, and work on the Blazer's issues.

I mostly agree with them.. though if I had a spare $1000 I would consider this one! (Cost of transfer of ownership, etc.)

 

[Chris142]

So your thinking of buying an $800 car then dumping a $2300 trans in it? You might as well be looking @ $3100 cars in better condition.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
So your thinking of buying an $800 car then dumping a $2300 trans in it? You might as well be looking @ $3100 cars in better condition.


It would be a gamble, the best outcome that trans wouldnt fail. But seeing as how he mentioned the trans.. It must have some kind of a problem.

You are right, I don't have the money to be gambling at this time, and when I do I can test-drive the cars, etc.

 

[TomYoung]

This car is done and is not worth $800. That didn't stop the owner from adding the "in loving memory" mobile tombstone tribute on back window. Those things are horrible.

 

[chad8]

I bought a 2000 monte with a bad trans for $800 last year. $900 for the trans from a friend of mine .Shop Quotes were 1400. Used from $600-1000 installed.
By the time it was ready for my daughter I have $2300 in it with me doing most of the other work and she has driven it 13000 miles so far.
Lets see. blower motor and resister, rear brakes, rear brake lines, window switch, sway bar links, tires, a/c recharge, pcv valve. It just started missing and we had a kid at her college put plug wires on it. Another $80.
I personally would not buy a 3800 motor with over 200000 miles. That is near their limit.
I had a 1997 bonneville with 120000 on it. Trans was replaced earlier. It was going again.
Motor was solid , but the intake gaskets are junk.
Stay clear of an $800 G.M. car unless you have a mechanic in your pocket .

 

[sasha]

Piece Of [censored]!

 

[JHZR2]

Looks like a jersey city hoopty. Smoked in. No thanks.

Here is what you need to understand - any used car is going to need work, and you need to move up in car to get out of time wasting iterations with junk. You don't have the know how or funds to make these vehicles improve enough to be worth it.

Drive what you have, stop buying stuff and junk cars, and take your budget up to a more valuable car that has receipts and known care. Doesn't matter the model - might be a 3 cyl geo or a k car or a pickup - no pride in vehicle type, look for one that has been maintained and kep up even recently. It means you'll pay a bit more but youll save in the end.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: TechnoLoGs
My job rides on a car is where this comes from, and we all know how important it is for me to have a job.

Last time I checked, Jersey City and the surrounding areas had decent enough public trans. Let's face it, you don't NEED a car, you WANT a car.

 

[thr_wedge]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Looks like a jersey city hoopty. Smoked in. No thanks.

Here is what you need to understand - any used car is going to need work, and you need to move up in car to get out of time wasting iterations with junk. You don't have the know how or funds to make these vehicles improve enough to be worth it.

Drive what you have, stop buying stuff and junk cars, and take your budget up to a more valuable car that has receipts and known care. Doesn't matter the model - might be a 3 cyl geo or a k car or a pickup - no pride in vehicle type, look for one that has been maintained and kep up even recently. It means you'll pay a bit more but youll save in the end.


I had written a bunch that ended up being similar to this post. I had included some tips to keeping a junker running, but feared that it would be used without any application of common sense or knowledge of what you are trying to fix for zero cost (how I kept all my pieces of junk running in HS and College). Instead, I will just reiterate that you need to keep your repair costs to an absolute minimum on your current vehicle, treat it gingerly, and buy a car that has been well maintained and in a decent state. No project vehicles, no needs work, nothing flashy.

 

[Trav]

Thats a nightmare waiting to happen. Its a wreck with 3 wheels in the bone yard already and the 4th one is sliding in. Run from this thing.

I don't know how well connected you are but i get some decent stuff from dealers i know that took in cars they cant retail because the car has issues or its age.
Ask around for wholesale cars at the dealers and check them out carefully, i find that small dealers are usually the best bet to get a wholesale piece from.

 

[rjundi]

There are so many more fish in the sea. There are unicorns out there like my wife's 87 Nissan Sentra purchased for $500 and run 50k/8yrs for her from high school - college. Myself got a $800 Subaru XT coupe(reminded me of Atari) for college + a few years. Both were just rot boxes but had a key thing of single first owner. Not the poor schelp who could only afford a cheap car and run into the ground to to dump to the next guy(you).

Look for a quality first or 2nd owner car not something owned/neglected by the 3rd-5th owner.