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This one has been listed for a year, probably still has it. Is about 10 miles from me and was kinda interested, I have a 1993 Dodge Caravan and is enough of a project for me though.
Like you said in your last post, it will need everything to bring the maintenance up to date .... If you were to buy right in the first place and then give it what it needs, then $$ you can come out ahead. ..... For the most part, normal wear parts like brakes, drums, gaskets, mounts etc ... are dirt cheap compared to a modern car.
And pretty simple to work on compared to a modern vehicle .... a guy can still do it at home in the driveway.
I emailed the person with the yellow Dodge 600, and it's got some issues. A/C, electric windows, and wipers don't work, and while I realize tone gets lost in emails, the last line of the guy's email is a perfect example of how not to keep someone interested in your car:
"starts and runs good
no rust
wipers and a/c don't work, windows work, no electric locks
no modifications
I've had the car 8 months ,just shocks were replaced
top works as it should, does not leak
plastic window on top
there are 2 parade boots
This is a rust free, no accident, clean interior, car that starts, runs, drives and stops for $3200.
My advice, keep looking for another car that is perfect for $3200."
Got to love how some sugar coat a turd! But depending on what the car is I may look past all the other issues IF it's as rust free as they say. Way easier to fix bolt on stuff than rust.
My advice, keep looking for another car that is perfect for $3200."
Guy sounds pretty legit to me .... look around and see what is available for a running driving car for $3K
I think he has read your email to him, he has pegged you as a lookie Lou not really interested unless it is perfect and free .... He's telling you to hit the bricks buddy.
I feel sorry for sellers and all the crap they have to put up with.
I have a mentally retarded brother in law and Dad will buy one or 2 cars a year to flip. Dad is almost 80 years old .... comfortably retired.
The car has to have perfect paint and body, glass and interior .... low miles and a mechanical issue he can fix. And dirt cheap.
So the mentally retarded brother inlaw sits on social media all day long shopping for cars and contacts almost every listing he finds .... If the car meets dads criteria, he buys one car out of the thousands of sellers the son has contacted.
The seller really gets tired of dealing with people like this who contact them and want a 30+ year old car to be perfect .... try Meechum auction, maybe you can find what you want there.
There are not many of these old K cars around .... nobody cared about them. I have a 1993 Caravan that I love.
Both front and rear bumpers are painted from a spray can, several spots on the body are touched up from a spray can ... and look good ... paint is 30 years old.
I prefer the van for the cargo capacity, has a 3.3 V6 and the next generation 4spd automatic transmissions. AC, cruise control, power mirrors, power windows.
Besides it was the wife mother car ... they are cheap and easy to maintain if you do the work yourself ... if not, then you should not be looking at a older car.
I'm just saying, if you offered me $3K for my old crap box Dodge mini van .... I would just laugh at you. The 1991 chebby truck out front I have more then $3K in the drive train .... lets not even talk about the 1949 Dodge truck you see in the photo ....
The seller saw through your facade, offered you a reasonable car for a reasonable price .... he then suggested you just go kick rocks because he does not find you serious.
I hear what you are saying, but is asking some basic questions about the car's condition a bridge too far? I'm not looking for perfect and free, just trying to get an idea of what I'm buying and trying to estimate how much money I'll need to invest to get it going so I feel like it won't break down on me.
I hear what you are saying, but is asking some basic questions about the car's condition a bridge too far? I'm not looking for perfect and free, just trying to get an idea of what I'm buying and trying to estimate how much money I'll need to invest to get it going so I feel like it won't break down on me.
Actually, that is a issue. .... I fully 100% expect it to break down on you.
You should anticipate that buying a 30+ year old car.
The key here is, to learn the car and anticipate future problems before they happen. Thus avoiding the break down and a flatbed truck ride home.
Depending what year you buy .... they have many different issues .... is the 1985 a carburetor? .... My 1949 is and it is very simple.
The older 1980's carburetors got so complicated, it was difficult for a professional mechanic to deal with them.
Honestly IMHO, it is better to get a slightly newer vehicle with TBI and a updated 4spd overdrive transmission. .... by 1993 we had full fuel injection.
What I'm saying, If you buy a 1985 carburetor Dodge 4 cylinder, nobody will know how to work on it.
This will be your job to learn about it and work on it and keep it running. ..... Anything under 1996 will be OBD1 and very few mechanics will even know how to work on it.
You will be paying $100 per hour for a mechanic to play and learn how old technology works. .... They were never taught or have experience to use OBD1
Almost a standing joke .... Best mechanic shop in town .... I bring my 1993 Dodge to them, the owner who is very nice ..... he just suggest a different shop and for me to bring it there ..... no way he has time or desire to work on a 30 year old car at $100 per hour.
Why I said earlier, if you are not interested in learning and keeping the car going with your own work ..... There is no sense in even looking for one.
Same time, rebuilt transmission is $2K, used engine with all the goodies is $1K .... New struts, shocks, brakes, tires, fuel pump is less then $1500 ....
A modern 2015 Toyota truck transmission cost $15K to replace .... You can rebuild your complete car for around $5K ..... just depends on what you want.
Remember, when you bring a car in this old to a mechanic, they will not have a clue what to do with it.
Remember, when you bring a car in this old to a mechanic, they will not have a clue what to do with it.
Well I happen to know a guy that owns the shop he works out of. He is a Cheby guy and if a 1967,8,9 Camaro pulled up he would know exactly what to do with it.
Anything under 1996 will be OBD1 and very few mechanics will even know how to work on it.
A guy that relies only on what the OBD says to fix things is not a "mechanic". I guess with both statements you need to be more than 50 years old. Know what to look for and have experience on working on pre OBD cars. A 20-30 year old mostly won't have a clue. Take one of these up to a possible mechanic, If he doesn't know what it is he is not your guy.
But depending on what the car is I may look past all the other issues IF it's as rust free as they say. Way easier to fix bolt on stuff than rust.
