Op, if you're dead set on a Riviera see if you can find one you can inspect personally. I bet you could find one with an accident free history for not too much. If you're just looking for an older gm luxury brand the olds aurora is a pretty sweet car, especially with the v8.
Buick Rivera Salvage title on Ebay
- Thread starter clarkflower
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That's what you have to deal with when buying old cars, the mileage could be rolled back as well.
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A good way you can tell if a car is really a true low mileage car,inspect the pedals and driver's seat very closely for wear.
Originally Posted By: slowdime
Op, if you're dead set on a Riviera see if you can find one you can inspect personally. I bet you could find one with an accident free history for not too much. If you're just looking for an older gm luxury brand the olds aurora is a pretty sweet car, especially with the v8.
I loved them...but what about the Northstar headgasket issues?
I had to sell a 1996 130k BMW 525 that I paid 2000 for.....for $800 with coolant in the oil after an overheat (not complaining as I got 1 full year of driving for $1200 ) because I could not afford the 2500 headgasket/head work.
Some friends said what if the week after you get it back the tranny goes?
Now you have $5000 into a 2000 dollar car.
Op, if you're dead set on a Riviera see if you can find one you can inspect personally. I bet you could find one with an accident free history for not too much. If you're just looking for an older gm luxury brand the olds aurora is a pretty sweet car, especially with the v8.
I loved them...but what about the Northstar headgasket issues?
I had to sell a 1996 130k BMW 525 that I paid 2000 for.....for $800 with coolant in the oil after an overheat (not complaining as I got 1 full year of driving for $1200 ) because I could not afford the 2500 headgasket/head work.
Some friends said what if the week after you get it back the tranny goes?
Now you have $5000 into a 2000 dollar car.
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This is a $5,000+ car on the buy here/pay here lots in my area. Buying junk and polishing it up is a big business in this area. Their clientele never figures out why most buy here/pay here dives have a small auto body repair place attached to them. Most of the cars are salvage cars.
Most of those customers only care that someone will give them credit.
Originally Posted By: clarkflower
Originally Posted By: slowdime
Op, if you're dead set on a Riviera see if you can find one you can inspect personally. I bet you could find one with an accident free history for not too much. If you're just looking for an older gm luxury brand the olds aurora is a pretty sweet car, especially with the v8.
I loved them...but what about the Northstar headgasket issues?
I had to sell a 1996 130k BMW 525 that I paid 2000 for.....for $800 with coolant in the oil after an overheat (not complaining as I got 1 full year of driving for $1200 ) because I could not afford the 2500 headgasket/head work.
Some friends said what if the week after you get it back the tranny goes?
Now you have $5000 into a 2000 dollar car.
I can't speak to the HG issues. Keeping up on coolant changes and not letting it run hot would be your best bet I'd imagine.
The risk of something major occurring shortly after you buy a car can be minimized by doing an inspection. That's a huge downside of buying on ebay.
I passed over at least a dozen cars due to some mechanical malady or another when I was car shopping recently.
Originally Posted By: slowdime
Op, if you're dead set on a Riviera see if you can find one you can inspect personally. I bet you could find one with an accident free history for not too much. If you're just looking for an older gm luxury brand the olds aurora is a pretty sweet car, especially with the v8.
I loved them...but what about the Northstar headgasket issues?
I had to sell a 1996 130k BMW 525 that I paid 2000 for.....for $800 with coolant in the oil after an overheat (not complaining as I got 1 full year of driving for $1200 ) because I could not afford the 2500 headgasket/head work.
Some friends said what if the week after you get it back the tranny goes?
Now you have $5000 into a 2000 dollar car.
I can't speak to the HG issues. Keeping up on coolant changes and not letting it run hot would be your best bet I'd imagine.
The risk of something major occurring shortly after you buy a car can be minimized by doing an inspection. That's a huge downside of buying on ebay.
I passed over at least a dozen cars due to some mechanical malady or another when I was car shopping recently.
Originally Posted By: slowdime
clarkflower said:
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
A good way you can tell if a car is really a true low mileage car,inspect the pedals and driver's seat very closely for wear.
That's something to check for sure, but those are also replaceable parts. For example, we have a 2004 Silverado W/T with almost 400K miles at work, and you won't find much wear on the driver's seat anymore. It has brand new seat foam and a brand new GM Genuine seat cover on the driver's side. It also got a newer leather wrapped steering wheel because the old poly wheel was falling off the metal rim.
A good way you can tell if a car is really a true low mileage car,inspect the pedals and driver's seat very closely for wear.
That's something to check for sure, but those are also replaceable parts. For example, we have a 2004 Silverado W/T with almost 400K miles at work, and you won't find much wear on the driver's seat anymore. It has brand new seat foam and a brand new GM Genuine seat cover on the driver's side. It also got a newer leather wrapped steering wheel because the old poly wheel was falling off the metal rim.
Originally Posted By: Oldmoparguy1
That was a cosmetic repair. Chop out the airbag, glue the cover back, new sheet metal and other bits. There is underlying damage the the structure on the drivers side. Who knows how bad. Possible left front suspension damage. I wouldn't buy it at any price without a personal inspection.
"GARAGED KEPT CAR" Not true. That should be reported to E-bay..
I think you're right they did a "make it look good enough" job on it. I can see in the pictures that the gaps are off around the headlamps/hood/bumper cover. If it's noticeable in pictures, it will definitely be noticeable in person.
That was a cosmetic repair. Chop out the airbag, glue the cover back, new sheet metal and other bits. There is underlying damage the the structure on the drivers side. Who knows how bad. Possible left front suspension damage. I wouldn't buy it at any price without a personal inspection.
"GARAGED KEPT CAR" Not true. That should be reported to E-bay..
I think you're right they did a "make it look good enough" job on it. I can see in the pictures that the gaps are off around the headlamps/hood/bumper cover. If it's noticeable in pictures, it will definitely be noticeable in person.
Bid up to 3000 already...suckers 1G4GD2210V4705817
I did report it to ebay, talked to a guy showed him to the link of the car when it was for sale wrecked
https://www.bidndrive.com/salvage-cars-for-sale/1997-buick-riviera/56571692.html
See what happens
I did report it to ebay, talked to a guy showed him to the link of the car when it was for sale wrecked
https://www.bidndrive.com/salvage-cars-for-sale/1997-buick-riviera/56571692.html
See what happens
This car popped up on the local craigslist. They still haven't come clean about the wreck...
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/4963047827.html
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/4963047827.html
Originally Posted By: dhise
This car popped up on the local craigslist. They still haven't come clean about the wreck...
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/4963047827.html
Good catch...
I got an ebay guy on the phone days 5-6 ago.(that was like pulling teeth)
I directed him to and he saw the car wrecked for sale salvage online. He agreed it was salvage. Said he would direct it to "their specialist"
I see no changes.
This car popped up on the local craigslist. They still haven't come clean about the wreck...
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/4963047827.html
Good catch...
I got an ebay guy on the phone days 5-6 ago.(that was like pulling teeth)
I directed him to and he saw the car wrecked for sale salvage online. He agreed it was salvage. Said he would direct it to "their specialist"
I see no changes.
I wish people would Google the vin. 1G4GD2210V4705817
You can catch a lot.
You can catch a lot.
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