I'll be receiving my student loan at the end of Febuary, and I'll be using it to purchase a car. I've been looking for a Blazer, Jeep CJ8 Scrambler, or a 4x4 Willys pickup but I know full well I'd enjoy an older Buick much more, so I thought I'd post this and see what I can find. For those of you who dont know, Student Loans are guaranteed, so the funds will be available at the end of Febuary. Unfortunately, I wont be able to afford to go over my budget. I'm looking to spend around $5,000 for a good running driver. If the vehicle is close to me I can spend more on it, just keep in mind that I've got registration and transport expenses to cover (not included in that $5,000 price range.) I'm a big fan of the 69-69 Stepchildren, especially the 69 GS 400. :Brow: But I'm open to pretty much everything from 1940-87 so long as the following conditions are met: 1.) Has to be a driver. I dont mind doing general maintenance such as brakes, exhaust, water pumps and etc but I dont want to have to rebuild a motor or transmission to get it going. In other words, drivable projects are fine. 2.) Minor rust or in need of a paint job is fine. But I cant afford to repair a rust bucket.. Small holes or in need of minor patches are fine, I just cant afford to replace a whole quarter panel, fender, and etc. 3.) Must be fairly complete. Missing a trim piece or two is fine, but I dont want to be looking for new seats so I can have a complete set. Skylark, GS, full size rivera, Grand Nationals.. Pretty much anything goes. On the 80-87 cars I'd prefer a turbo v6 car. I'll consider newer cars as well, just depends on what it is, how many miles are on it and etc.. I know, I'm picky. So anyways.. show me what you got and lets talk. :TU:
I'm going to be selling an 89 K5 blazer, one of the last year of the old square style, and fuel injected. fairly solid truck, needs paint and some rust repair. Its in those years where the paint fell off as the years went by. 76k, I'm the second owner. I'll be asking a grand, needs a shortblock. a bit of a project, but a motor swap is really easy, and finding a good 350 chevy is even easier. PM me if you are interested.
I have a 1977 2 dr.Buick Regal, Red with white landeau top, red valour interior. Car has 80,000+ original miles. Has a rebuilt 350 2 brl with about 5000 miles on it. Have orignial window sticker when purchased new. Bought new here in Hastings Nebraska and i am the second owner. Main issue with car right now is it needs rear bumper fillers. Original paint still looks good and drives great.If your interested let me now your email and i will send some pictures. I'm thinking of trading this in on another vehicle $5100.00 would take it. I have been asking more but i have my eye on something else. Thanks John Nichols 402 469 8544
436'd Skylark: I have to pass on the blazer, I just dont have a place to put a motor in it at. John Nichols: Will keep it in mind but for now I'm going to continue looking. I've never been much of a fan for the 74-80 cars.. Not quite sure why, I know the 80's cars are more cookie cutter than the 70s.. must be the body stylings.
I've got a 65 skylark for sale on ebay right in your price range item#290519352505, ac heater work only problum is inside trunk floor, not bad but needs some repair (thanks to the factory rubber mat), let me know, thanks Johnny:laugh:
They are, but fortunately the books and other implements (notepads, pens, etc.) are allready covered. To help justify getting a "toy" it'll be used as a daily driver. Currently I am without a car of my own, with a full time job and am sharing my girlfriends 2010 Cobalt / hitching a ride to work and home when needed. I need transportation, and I'd rather have something I enjoy than pay for a clunker time and time again as it needs parts, etc.. The one major thing I am worried about is road salt. When I do eventually get a car winter will be ending, and there will be plenty of salt on the road as I drive back and forth.. Will have to do my best to keep it clean. Fortunately there's an automatic car wash a couple blocks from home with underspray. The summer and fall time will be fine, and I've allready arranged to borrow a car next winter once we get the motor rebuilt. (83 Diesel Cadillac)
You are really gonna kick yourself in the ass later. Buying a car this way actually means you cant afford it! But wisdom isn't always cheap so with that in mind... Earlier someone posted a link to a GS455 that fits close to your budget. For creature comforts given your postings I think a turbo t gets it done best with better economy. NA Regals are CHEAPER and very reliable. I say screw "fun" if you REALLY need a car. Get the most car for your money and finish school. Better yet, just get some crap car for a few hundred and send that loan back or let it earn interest. Ive had cars that cost hundreds run reliably - but looked like ass. Good thing is nobody asks for rides and nobody steals anything. Long after schooling is over you will wish those loans didnt exist. If your parents fronted the money pay them back instead. Dang I'm gettin' old.
I just posted up a 65 Skylark for sale today. Not ours but one we saw for sale yesterday. Looks nice and someone is driving it now as we spotted fresh McDonald's debris inside. LOL.
Truer words were never spoken. And these words of wisdom have been spoken or written over and over. Sadly they are to often ignored or laughed at. Bob H.
Buy a $1,000 beater car/jeep that runs if you need something function and now that the salt can attack somewhat. Use your job money to fund a "fun" car. You'll likely be making payments on this toy car for a decade or better financing it this way. Give the extra $4,000 back so you aren't having to pay for it later. After five years of college, living on my own for four of those years, parents providing only moral support (and occasional meal), working at dealerships washing cars or at Autozone selling parts I managed: -Driving my daily beater, a '77 Buick Skylark (I'm sure you can get one under $1,000). -Purchasing a '69 Firebird, installing a 700r4 and painting it, followed by it getting wrecked (another story). -Fixing a busted motorcycle to save on fuel when weather was good. -Completing my degree with only $17,000 in debt. Then the fun stuff really started, and plenty of time and less worry about it. I recommend reviewing your priorities and watching your costs and debts, of course, they are just recommendations. I know way too many people getting out of college owing $75k-$150k in loans because it looks like free money when in school. By the time I spend that, I'm going to own my house and education.
A $1,000 dollar beater is not going to make a 2800 mile round trip come may. I need something I can go cross country in, such as going from Michigan to Texas and back to visit my mother, or jump in and head 400 miles upstate this spring to visit my father. Dont get me wrong tho, I perfectly understand what you are saying about the loans. I'll be looking at about $10,000 or less in loans to pay back once I'm done with college, including the price of a car in that so long as I keep my grades up to maintain the grants I'm receiving. I'm looking at 2 years of college instead of the typical 4. Nobody is fronting any money for me, doing this all on my own. I imagine if my family could afford to assist me they would, but as it stands they cant, and I'm not going to ask them for help either. I'm the first one to graduate high school in the family, and the first to go to college. :grin: I understand full well about bills, debt, living expenses, and how things take a turn for the worst.. I'm 26, and have been working full time since 11th grade in high school. Will be 27 on the 22nd of this month. I do greatly appreciate your advice, and yes getting a classic buick is.. well, it's a want more than a need. My preference is older cars, they're simple, easy to maintain, and parts are fairly cheap. After working for my father's auto shop in high school I decided I dislike the new cars. So expensive to do anything with, have to jack up the motor to change out water pumps, etc.. I'd rather get a car thats been around forty years or more because I know if its properly maintained it'll be around another forty. I know I can do a motor swap when needed, even if it isnt replacing it with the same brand motor. It's hard for me to picture these newer cars lasting 40 years and being worth rebuilding, especially with how they are made. And yes, the first paragraph of this post contradicts everything else I just said, especially considering my budget. uzzled: I'm really liking that 65 Skylark toymobile has for sale on E-bay. Thinking a stock Buick 300 wouldnt be bad on gas either. If I could get something like that and in that good of a shape I'd be more than happy. Lucky even.
If not this car, others like it will serve you much better. As for beaters it depends on what you can live without... most beaters might have bad window regulators or A/C but CAN be mechanically sound. Good to see you gave it some thought and not too bent out of shape over the "old" guys questioning you. Best of luck in any case.
I agree - that Rivi would serve you well and prolly last you 5 years at least without needing anything major ... if you can keep your foot out of the supercharger whine
This isn't mine, but still a low mileage Regal! :TU: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/27-0...6610474?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2c59e3022a
