Buying a new Cutlass

[David Williamson]

As most of you all know I am having major problems with my Cutlass and I have been having these problems from day one.
So I decided to take all of your opinions and just get a new one.
I found this one and it looks very good and runs great, He want's 3000 for it but will take 2600 I will have to borrow some money from my sisters and mother but I am going to try and get it.
He will also take 1500 without bags, which seems like a good deal as well.

But what I was wondering is would this be a good car, It does run he rebuilt the olds 350 and runs tip top.
No rust and painted (primered) But still nice looking.

So I was wondering if you all thought this would be a good deal, without or without the bags there both great deals on this car.

http://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/2817084999.html

That's the car and I just wanted honest opinions, Thank you all.

p.s I found a few others and I will post them on here for more opinions.

 

[67rstbkt]

Personally, I would stay away from that car and take the advice that others have given you. Almost any g-body is going to need some sort of work just due to age. I would'nt mess with this one because it's been molested and IMO you are asking for trouble. Get yourself a decent economy car (newer) and forget about the project for awhile. There will be time for that later on in life. I can almost guarantee that if you do this, you will be back on here with a huge list of problems. I'm not trying to be discouraging here, I just think you need to be realistic about dealing with cars that are 25-30 years old.

 

[86-blk442]

I agree with 67. Try to find something newer as a DD and save up to get an older vehicle later on that you can work on at your own pace and it will be done when its done. But, if you're dead set on another G-Body try to find a fairly stock and unmolested one. Even though my 442 was rough and needed a lot of work, it was basically all there and unmolested. So I was fixing problems related to the cars age, not problems someone else had created....

 

[David Williamson]

Personally, I would stay away from that car and take the advice that others have given you. Almost any g-body is going to need some sort of work just due to age. I would'nt mess with this one because it's been molested and IMO you are asking for trouble. Get yourself a decent economy car (newer) and forget about the project for awhile. There will be time for that later on in life. I can almost guarantee that if you do this, you will be back on here with a huge list of problems. I'm not trying to be discouraging here, I just think you need to be realistic about dealing with cars that are 25-30 years old.

Yeah I understand, I completely do.
But I just love Olds Cutlass's and I really want to find one without any major problems and reliable.
But I guess I need to stop dreaming and move one.

Thank you for this.

 

[David Williamson]

I agree with 67. Try to find something newer as a DD and save up to get an older vehicle later on that you can work on at your own pace and it will be done when its done. But, if you're dead set on another G-Body try to find a fairly stock and unmolested one. Even though my 442 was rough and needed a lot of work, it was basically all there and unmolested. So I was fixing problems related to the cars age, not problems someone else had created....

I thought this was pretty close, i mean i know he has the bags but its still the rocket and all stock other than the rims and bags.
I Guess I don't know what I am really looking for.
I do love g bodies and that's all I really want even my wife loves them, I just really want to find one that isn't so problematic.
I just want one that doesn't have to have major work and just reliable.

 

[86-blk442]

An Olds 350 isn't a stock engine choice. Yes its an olds motor and a direct swap but who knows what was done to it. Just because someone says its tip top doesn't mean anything. If you want more reliability find one that is completely bone stock. I ran the 307 in my car for a few months when I first put it on the road and it really wasn't bad just not what I was looking for. I must say it was one tough little motor though. It had barely any oil pressure (like 5 psi), leaked out of every spot it could, I over heated it to the point that it seized let it cool down and started right up with no funny noises. And the day I pulled it to put the 350 in, it was still running and refused to die.

The whole suspension has been altered on that car, and unless you know exactly whats done to it, I would stay away. Bone stock G-bodies are still plentiful enough and fairly cheap. Especially outside of the rust belt where I live.

 

[David Williamson]

An Olds 350 isn't a stock engine choice. Yes its an olds motor and a direct swap but who knows what was done to it. Just because someone says its tip top doesn't mean anything. If you want more reliability find one that is completely bone stock. I ran the 307 in my car for a few months when I first put it on the road and it really wasn't bad just not what I was looking for. I must say it was one tough little motor though. It had barely any oil pressure (like 5 psi), leaked out of every spot it could, I over heated it to the point that it seized let it cool down and started right up with no funny noises. And the day I pulled it to put the 350 in, it was still running and refused to die.

The whole suspension has been altered on that car, and unless you know exactly whats done to it, I would stay away. Bone stock G-bodies are still plentiful enough and fairly cheap. Especially outside of the rust belt where I live.

That's what I meant I am sorry, All olds.
But I completely understand and I guess my search continues.
That was my main thing though was the bags, and all that goes into installing them and taking them out.

 

[Bonnewagon]

I would look for a small daily driver, a Cavalier, Cobalt or something similar. My advice- stay away from anything not totally stock. That way when stuff happens, and it will happen, the guy fixing it doesn't have to undo or figure out a bunch of crap. No mechanic wants to deal with a "hot rod", and a stock car can be fixed anywhere.

 

[David Williamson]

I would look for a small daily driver, a Cavalier, Cobalt or something similar. My advice- stay away from anything not totally stock. That way when stuff happens, and it will happen, the guy fixing it doesn't have to undo or figure out a bunch of crap. No mechanic wants to deal with a "hot rod", and a stock car can be fixed anywhere.

Okay that I didn't know, cause I know I cant repair everything and I will have to take something to a shop.

 

[CHRIS.O]

If you find a well kept stockish g body you shouldn't have to do any serious repairs. You just have to find one that hasn't been all rigged up. They are some of the most easy and simple cars to work on. The problem starts when they have had 10 owners and all of them have left their lovely mark on the car. You just need to find a good runner, no knocks, noise, smoke, stock g body. Or if you prefer a more modern care have at it.