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Buick hands down. Heck I'd love to have it!
I need to find a cheap car.
- Thread starter ls1mike
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Chevy Prizm???
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The 1986+ GM Series I (metal plenum version) 3800 powered cars in my experience were som of the best cars ever made. Blew most imports away imo.
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Pretty much all the Taurus had weak transmissions.
Probably early 2nd and 3rd gen, but 4th gen which was 2000-2007 had better transmissions. The one on the Duratec, the AX4N was better than the Vulcan one, but later Vulcan ones got the same transmission as the Duratec. The key was probably good maintenance and changing the fluid every 30k.
Pretty much all the Taurus had weak transmissions.
Probably early 2nd and 3rd gen, but 4th gen which was 2000-2007 had better transmissions. The one on the Duratec, the AX4N was better than the Vulcan one, but later Vulcan ones got the same transmission as the Duratec. The key was probably good maintenance and changing the fluid every 30k.
My 99 Vulcan made it to 146k with the original transmission and i used WOT a lot cuz it didn't have that much power, but it shifted very well all of its life. I never dropped the pan, but used suck and fills through the dipstick tube with MerconV/M1 ATF... I was very surprised the transmission never died like many warned me about.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Chevy Prizm???
Looked at those too. Not many around here.
Don't get me wrong I know Toyota and Honda make good stuff, but the Toyotas and Hondas in the price range I am looking at were HIGH miles, beat up or had lots of issues.
I drove the Buick for about half an hour and let it idle ahwile, same with the Chevy and they didn't do anything funky and were clean.
Chevy Prizm???
Looked at those too. Not many around here.
Don't get me wrong I know Toyota and Honda make good stuff, but the Toyotas and Hondas in the price range I am looking at were HIGH miles, beat up or had lots of issues.
I drove the Buick for about half an hour and let it idle ahwile, same with the Chevy and they didn't do anything funky and were clean.
So which one are you getting? I wouldn't think they would last long at that price point.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
I am going to call the guy back with the Buick tonight offer 900 and hope he says like 1050. I would pay full price, but I have to try.
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I just re-looked at the Buick ad. I didn't realize it only had 80k miles. If I were you I'd jump on it.
If you have lots of GM specific tool, then old GM seems to be the right choice over high mile Toyota / Honda.
For only $900 I'd say it is a no brainer if it is functional and easy to fix.
For only $900 I'd say it is a no brainer if it is functional and easy to fix.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
If you don't get it, look in the local newspapers. I was having trouble finding a decent car the past couple weeks on Craigslist and then found the Camry I bought in the newspaper. Usually older people who post in the newspaper, and they're decently taken care of.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
Done deal, Went back tonight, drove it some more.
Here is the whole story. Old couple in there 80s. They have two other Buicks, wife stopped driving in 2013. Was her car for, get this 17 years. They bought it with 26,000 miles on it. They have the whole history.
Has newer brakes, radiator, alternator.
Past two years it has been driven around their property. Needs a MAF sensor, fluids changed, maybe plugs and wires and valve cover gasket.
A/C works, power door looks work, power windows work, power mirrors work. Read pleather is still good. Took it out it on the highway (with expired tabs) Smooth. I couldn't believe it the dang cruise control works.
Something to be said about an older 4 speed GM with a TV cable that does the downshifting for you. Smooth like butta.
Pictures when I get it home tomorrow.
1000 bucks.
I will put 300 bucks into to and give it to the Girl. She should get a few good years out of it.
Here is the whole story. Old couple in there 80s. They have two other Buicks, wife stopped driving in 2013. Was her car for, get this 17 years. They bought it with 26,000 miles on it. They have the whole history.
Has newer brakes, radiator, alternator.
Past two years it has been driven around their property. Needs a MAF sensor, fluids changed, maybe plugs and wires and valve cover gasket.
A/C works, power door looks work, power windows work, power mirrors work. Read pleather is still good. Took it out it on the highway (with expired tabs) Smooth. I couldn't believe it the dang cruise control works.
Something to be said about an older 4 speed GM with a TV cable that does the downshifting for you. Smooth like butta.
Pictures when I get it home tomorrow.
1000 bucks.
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Originally Posted By: ls1mike
Done deal, Went back tonight, drove it some more.
Here is the whole story. Old couple in there 80s. They have two other Buicks, wife stopped driving in 2013. Was her car for, get this 17 years. They bought it with 26,000 miles on it. They have the whole history.
Has newer brakes, radiator, alternator.
Past two years it has been driven around there property. Needs a MAF sensor, fluids changed, maybe plugs and wires and valve cover gasket.
A/C works, power door looks work, power windows work, power mirrors work. Read pleather is still good. Took it out it on the highway (with expired tabs) Smooth. I couldn't believe it the dang cruise control works.
Something to be said about an older 4 speed GM with a TV cable that does the downshifting for you. Smooth like butta.
Pictures when I get it home tomorrow.
1000 bucks.
I will put 300 bucks into to and give it to the Girl. She should get a few good years out of it.
Man GOOD score!! I'd have a hard time giving it to her,I'd wanna keep it for myself! :^D
Done deal, Went back tonight, drove it some more.
Here is the whole story. Old couple in there 80s. They have two other Buicks, wife stopped driving in 2013. Was her car for, get this 17 years. They bought it with 26,000 miles on it. They have the whole history.
Has newer brakes, radiator, alternator.
Past two years it has been driven around there property. Needs a MAF sensor, fluids changed, maybe plugs and wires and valve cover gasket.
A/C works, power door looks work, power windows work, power mirrors work. Read pleather is still good. Took it out it on the highway (with expired tabs) Smooth. I couldn't believe it the dang cruise control works.
Something to be said about an older 4 speed GM with a TV cable that does the downshifting for you. Smooth like butta.
Pictures when I get it home tomorrow.
1000 bucks.
Man GOOD score!! I'd have a hard time giving it to her,I'd wanna keep it for myself! :^D
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
So much access because the hood opens away from the car!
My kids dirt bike cost me more.
I know as I was driving the thing I was like "Why the [censored] couldn't I have found something like this for the daily driver"
My kids dirt bike cost me more.
I know as I was driving the thing I was like "Why the [censored] couldn't I have found something like this for the daily driver"
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
Just priced out everything I want to do to it before I hand it off.
MAF 129.99
Valve cover Gasket 16.99
EGR Valve (good measure) 88.99
Water Pump (nothing wrong, but it has been sitting) 35.99
Wire set 19.99
6 plugs 24.99
All of it is in stock at my local Autozone. With my Military/Veterans discount. It comes out to 309.00 Nice!
MAF 129.99
Valve cover Gasket 16.99
EGR Valve (good measure) 88.99
Water Pump (nothing wrong, but it has been sitting) 35.99
Wire set 19.99
6 plugs 24.99
All of it is in stock at my local Autozone. With my Military/Veterans discount. It comes out to 309.00 Nice!
Originally Posted By: Vikas
why not clean the MAF first before replacing it? EGR valve too can be cleaned. Save that couple of hundred dollars before deciding you really need to replace.
+1, I'd hold off on those as well. I'd spend the money on replacing filters and fluids.
Maybe even offer her bi-annual oil changes. If those get overlooked, well you know the rest of the story...
why not clean the MAF first before replacing it? EGR valve too can be cleaned. Save that couple of hundred dollars before deciding you really need to replace.
+1, I'd hold off on those as well. I'd spend the money on replacing filters and fluids.
Maybe even offer her bi-annual oil changes. If those get overlooked, well you know the rest of the story...
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