Car question

[KatJ]

You just paid $300 for a 1984 Chevrolet Cavalier convertible to become your commuter car. You know the bearings are shot, but you're taking a calculated risk that the engine is all right, knowing that even if it isn't, you can get a new engine and have for all intents and purposes a new car.

 

The engine should be replaced. You figure that along with refurbishings (seats need help) and such, you'll put $2,000 into the car.

 

Is this a good purchase?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

$2300 can still get you a much nicer car to begin with, and even though you replace the engine, there's no guarantee on the tranny, suspension, etc.

[EricG]

what color? how many miles? what is the shape of the car? I wouldn't want to put $2300 into a 1984 Cavalier. I had a light blue 1984 Cavalier back in college and the engine died at 125000 miles. I think GM engineered them to blow head gasket or something at 125 K miles. If you want to restore it as a classic car to be used in movies then it might be worth it.

[KatJ]

what color? how many miles? what is the shape of the car? I wouldn't want to put $2300 into a 1984 Cavalier. I had a light blue 1984 Cavalier back in college and the engine died at 125000 miles. I think GM engineered them to blow head gasket or something at 125 K miles. If you want to restore it as a classic car to be used in movies then it might be worth it.

 

This Cavalier is also light blue - convertible. My b/f bought this thing - needs new upholstery also. Frankly, I haven't gotten a good look at it, as it was in a dark, dank, damp garage when he decided that he had to have it.

 

Last night I let him have it about the car, mainly because I was pissed at him for lying to me about something else. I figure if you want a commuter car, you look for something 3-5 years old with 80,000 miles on it or so - at least, far less than 100,000.

 

He's telling me he can't find anything. He saw a Sunbird - '93, 80,xxx, $2300 - but the roof is a bust. Personally, I think it's kind of stupid to be looking at any Pontiac (besides a Bonneville or maybe Grand Prix) anywhere near 100,000 miles. But he doesn't like Ford sedans and he doesn't trust imports. Never mind that my '90 Nissan served me well as second owner for 7 years (great mechanically, but the body wasn't all that), or that my '97 Corolla is doing well after almost 6 years with me as second owner. He'd rather base his opinions on half a dozen or so cars that were made in the early to mid 80s that crapped out on him.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Words escape me ... WOW!

[Careless]

pay $2000 and get a car that's fully functional.

[Yeti]

$2300 can still get you a much nicer car to begin with, and even though you replace the engine, there's no guarantee on the tranny, suspension, etc.

what he said

[Mizzou]

So essentially 2300 bucks for an '84 Cavalier?

 

 

 

Are you serious?

 

Edit: Looks like one person voted yes... I bet that one person is the guy who's selling the car. :lol:

[KatJ]

Words escape me ... WOW!

 

I know, I'm a brow-beating witch. So now he's done a 180 on the car and wants me to help him find something that I would like.

 

It's his car; all I really care about is that it's automatic in the off chance that I would need to drive it for some reason, like if my Corolla were in the shop. I didn't mean to whip him - I just figured that a 47 YO grown man who has also refurbished autos (but hasn't done so in years - too time-consuming) should display a little more common sense in purchasing a vehicle.

Edited February 9, 2006 by KatJ

[KatJ]

one person voted yes... I bet that one person is the guy who's selling the car. :lol:

 

I wonder if my b/f has registered here? :)

[hardcorecubfan]

Kat unless you know how to drop an engine in or change the barings don't.

 

You can get a nice used Honda CRX that will last forever for about 2300.

 

It is important to know if the owner of the previous car was religious about changing the oil.

 

 

Good luck

[J.R.]

The J-car convertibles are prized by a few, but as a diehard GM man, I'm telling you to run the hell away from that.

[rjchapma]

I'd do it