Another granny car followed me home

[Dave H]

Grandma bought a new Taurus and gave me her old one. It's a 94 GL sedan with 46k. It is mint......except................

The 3.8L head gasket problem jumped up and bit her. She took it to her "friend" who pulled the heads, put in new gaskets, a full tuneup and oil change etc. and gave her a bill for $1300+. She's been taking her cars to his shop for years.

Unfortunately 2 days after getting it back, the oil light started coming on at idle and it developed quite an audible knock. She took it back and he said she has a lemon and should just get rid of it. Why didn't he tell her this before he charged her $1300+?

Enter the son-in-law Dave, the family "car guy". First we bought her a new Taurus SE (had to be just like the old one), and got some unbelievable rebates ($22k sticker price, out the door for $14.8k). She wasn't too happy about the console shift and the spoiler, (thought it was a hot rod). but it was white with a grey interior and most things were where they were on the old one. The adjustable pedals sold her (4'10" and shrinking).

So.......... anyhow, I now have a mint 94 Taurus with a bad engine. Would love to donate it to charity and take the tax deduction, but now being retired, I don't need any tax deductions since I don't have the big income any more.

Anybody want to buy a great transportation car that needs a short block, or a crank and bearings? I really don't need another project. Nice car.

[50buick]

How much do you want for it i may be interested I live in Toledo OH so i'm not that far away also have any pics?

[GTX Joel]

HaHa Dave, It's nice that you help your mother in law. That story reminds me of car shopping with my Grandma.

She had been driving a Rambler for many. many years that my Grampa bought new when he was still with us. When she was 86 the 258 straight six bit the dust. She wanted another car like it, she couln't see why all the new cars had so much un-nescessary stuff on them, and she was scared to death of airbags since she was so tiny. I drove her all over looking for something that she would like. Well, we ended up getting her a 90 something Buick, the last year without air bags.

It didn't take long before she was raving about that Buick - how smooth & quiet it rode and how nice the velour seats were and how you could open the windows just by pressing a button. She read the owners manual over and over untill she actually figured out how to run the air conditioner and the sterio!
Then she kept on saying she wished she would have replaced the Rambler sooner.
Ahh the fun adventures with Grandma.:TU:

[MikeM]

Joel, it's good to see you bought her a Buick. Now, my mother bought a new Oldsmobile on her own when she was 88 years old and they talked her into the extended warranty. My brother and I had a good laugh about that at the time. She only drove for one more year.

[Dave H]

Last Olds I bought for my father-in-law was a loaded 72 Regency the year before I left GM. You couldn't get anything else on it and got it off the fleet for a steal ($4100 out the door).

He came up to Lansing and I was showing him how to operate the automatic air conditioner, power everything, etc. (he had a stripped 63 Bel Air wagon before) and I told him to be careful driving the car while playing with all the toys. His comment was: "No problem with me, I'm worried about Grandma, though"

He made it home OK and was backing out of the driveway showing Grandma all the bells and whistles and T-boned the neighbor's Dodge. Grandma never drove that car. Must have been his plan.

50 Buick:

I have the car here, will take some pics and send to you by email.

[Dave H]

Here's one

[Dave H]

Look in the background. What's this doing in here?

$1500 as is.

[BlackGold]

Man, Dave, I heard the W-31s were undervalued, but just $1500?! I'll take it!!! :laugh:

[Dave H]

Good point, here's its new home until it sells or we call Mother Waddles.