Buying a new Cutlass

[David Williamson]

IDK why everyone is so against you getting this car offbat, but you have to go see it first. I flip cars for a living, and trust me, when somebody claims that everything is rebuilt and there is zero issues, there usually is sh*t wrong. If, and only IF, the car is just as you describe (highway ready, no leaks/smoke/odd sounds, motor rebuilt, no frame damage, etc) 1500 without the bags is a good deal all day, as is 2500 with the bags. Good luck, I'd at least check this ride out before you 86 it just because everyone wants to assume there's something wrong with it. You might have to turn around and walk in the end, but who knows, somebody just might need money BAD and you might get a deal of a lifetime! Happens to me all the time.

I mean yeah does make sense.
I got lucky with a caprice wagon I traded for it was only a 400$ trade.
To date that was the most dependable car I have had, absolutely no problems after a while it finally gave in and blew a gasket.
I mean I might give it a try and look at it a little closer, but again I most likely wont buy it because I don't want another money pit.
But if everything checks out I could post a video and a couple more pictures to really settle on the car and see how "good" it really runs and looks.

Thanks for this comment.

 

[David Williamson]

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.

Yeah I will keep my eyes open for sure, I will certainly inspect the cars very very very carefully.

 

[David Williamson]

Hows this one sound/look?
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/2729106396.html

This seems way to good to be true.

 

[oldiejams]

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.

this^

 

[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.

this^

this ^ x 3

Again, these cars are now in the 25-30 year old range. I don't care how nice you think the car is, age takes it's toll on any car. David, you've said again and again that you have no money, that you need reliable transportation to get your wife and kid(s) to the doctor, and that you are not the greatest at mechanical stuff. You said all those things. Over and over again, you've been ripped off or spent a ton of cash on something, only to have it backfire. At this point, I really think you're on track to repeat the process you're finishing up with your current Cutlass. Get the newer, economy car and worry about the Cutlass later on. If possible, why not try to keep your current Cutlass and get something newer and potentially more reliable for your family? If you can just keep the Cutlass stored, you can go back to working on it in a year or two.
Family first, then worry about the car. That's all I'm saying

 

[jmt455]

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.

this^

this ^ x 3

Again, these cars are now in the 25-30 year old range. I don't care how nice you think the car is, age takes it's toll on any car. David, you've said again and again that you have no money, that you need reliable transportation to get your wife and kid(s) to the doctor, and that you are not the greatest at mechanical stuff. You said all those things. Over and over again, you've been ripped off or spent a ton of cash on something, only to have it backfire. At this point, I really thing you're on track to repeat the process you're finishing up with your current Cutlass. Get the newer, economy car and worry about the Cutlass later on. If possible, why not try to keep your current Cutlass and get something newer and potentially more reliable for your family? If you can just keep the Cutlass stored, you can go back to working on it in a year or two.
Family first, then worry about the car. That's all I'm saying

^X4
In my opinion, after reading of your recent experiences and trying to understand your situation, I believe this is VERY good advice. Take car of the important things now. Don't try to count on a 25 year old car for daily transportation requirements at this point in your life. Don't put yourself, your wife and your kid(s) in a vehicle that lacks current safety equipment, gets poor fuel economy and requires much of your scarce money to maintain. If you can afford to keep the Cutlass until you get time/room/money to continue working on it, great. But don't depend on it for your daily transportation needs. Get a 4 door economy car with air bags, ABS and an efficient 4 cylinder.

 

[Black Sheep]

At this point, I really think you're on track to repeat the process you're finishing up with your current Cutlass.

Ding, ding, ding!!! We have a winner!

 

[Evan11]

Not bad..I know that '86 in eckerty...dont buy that one lol.

anyways, a couple yrs back it was on craigslist by a different owner in bloomington,in..the dude advertised it as a 410 hp 307 with high pro cam, high compression, lots of engine work, 4.10 gear, etc..I always thought, 307 with over 400 hp? ya right lol

well a week later, a guy here in bedford,IN bought it and a saw him @ the local walmart and got behind him in mine.
I wanted to see what it had. needless to say my car beat it off the line with 2.41 gears and a stock 350 rocket and left him in the dust down highway 37. the guy that was tryin to sell it then was a conartist, saying it had all that hp on a 307.

after we raced dwn the highway, i followed him into a parking lot and checked out the car, it had stock 7a heads, stock everything...lol. I think the guy was so upset with the car, because the nxt week it was back on the market...this guy must of been the one who purchased it off of him..lol, just had to throw that out there.

dnt get it, the fender wells, floor pan and all r rusted out bad

Wow what being on here can tell you, I appreciate that Evan so much.
It looks very nice in the pictures, I guess the power of a computer fooled me once again!
Thanks for saving me.

yep, no problem. you'd be worse off than you are now. it did look good in pics

 

[Pearl86]

Take your time and look. My last two purchases were on craigslist the first was an 86 regal with what I was told was a rebuilt 350 needless to say I bought it without thoroughly checking it out and started having all kinds of problems. My current car my 83 cutlass I found on craigslist for 3000 and talked the guy down to 1800, its all original with currently only 44000 miles on it and I couldn't be happier.

 

[David Williamson]

this ^ x 3

Again, these cars are now in the 25-30 year old range. I don't care how nice you think the car is, age takes it's toll on any car. David, you've said again and again that you have no money, that you need reliable transportation to get your wife and kid(s) to the doctor, and that you are not the greatest at mechanical stuff. You said all those things. Over and over again, you've been ripped off or spent a ton of cash on something, only to have it backfire. At this point, I really think you're on track to repeat the process you're finishing up with your current Cutlass. Get the newer, economy car and worry about the Cutlass later on. If possible, why not try to keep your current Cutlass and get something newer and potentially more reliable for your family? If you can just keep the Cutlass stored, you can go back to working on it in a year or two.
Family first, then worry about the car. That's all I'm saying

That's what I think We'll do because no one is wanting my car and I will not junk it.
So I guess I am stuck with this car as a (project) and or (cruise car) when I get finished.
But were looking at a 09 jetta for 1300 nothing wrong with it at all, only problem is I will have to learn to drive a clutch.
She is wanting to sell it cheap because she has to pay off on her trailor and knows the situation I am in with this car.
So I am going to work stuff out with her, learn to drive clutch and just get that.

Thank you so much for this.