Yesterday a neighbourhood widow asked 65Camino and me to come over to her place and see if we could get her husband's car going. He died two years ago and the car has sat in the driveway.
Went by tonight and what greets me is a 1989 Buick Park Avenue. It is in good shape, 153,000 km, except the paint on the trunk and hood is badly faded, a dent in rear passenger door but otherwise pretty good, no rust on body and rockers were solid. Interior was very very good. Good rubber with classic Buick wire wheel covers.
I poped the hood and checked all the fluids, checked the belts had a good visual. Next I wheeled up the Suburban and connected the cables to the battery. Opened the door and the lights came on! Cycled the ignition key about six times without cranking, heard fuel pump all dash light glowed. Finally I give it a crank and the darn thing started without so much as a hesitation, ran smooth and strong.
ABS and Brake light stay on but someone has set the parking brake and it won't release. I do move it back and forth. Every button inside works except the radio. Oh no I smell gas and I see gas, looks like line has burst under the drivers seat area, may be filter rotted out, anyway I shut her down.
By this time 65Camino has arrived in time to help me spread the kitty litter. Now we have to tell this elderly lady what to do with this car. It is far too nice to crush but we have a fuel line problem and brake problem, not a get in and drive proposition.
Well, it's worth at least $350 for scrap. This one sounds better than that. Are these the Park Ave's that have the hood that opens forward? They were stone reliable cars.
Yes, it has the clam shell hood and a bullet proof 3.8 which ran smooth and felt strong. It has 153,000 on the clock and I know these motors can easily reach 300,000. I wouldn't mind patching up the fuel leak and getting out of her driveway to have a better look but you how how "funny" old folks get. Right now it's worth nothing to her but she expects something.
One cool feature was the underhood padding has the huge Buick logo and Buick script in white, looked neat especially the way the hood opens almost upright.
There are all kinds of people looking for these as winter beaters. You are right, this combo can regularly see over 300,000 km, I know several people who swear by these cars.
Do you want to bother to invest the time to fix it and certify it? Be honest with her and say as it sits its worth what a scrap dealer will give her for it, I mean lets face it, it is almost a 20 year old car with problems. Tell her you might be prepared to buy it but it will require your time and $ to get it to a state where it is saleable for more than scrap and you couldn't give her much more that what a scrap dealer would. Fix it up and flip it for a minimum of $1,500. Doesn't sound like a bad investment for a fuel filter and some penetrating oil to free up the brakes.
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Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
Usually these cars need full brake and fuel lines if they are leaking at one spot, the rest isn't far behind. Look for rust in the front strut towers also,(behind the washer fluid resevoir). 300,000 kms is nothing on the series I 3800. Even neglected ones can manage 400, to 500. Park Aves are great winter drivers. Oh yeah, broken door latches are common also.
I worked at a GM store in Stratford when these cars were fairly new. I had this terrible urge to run as fast I could, jump and body slam those hoods when they were up. Can I do that to this one if you buy it?
I worked at a GM store in Stratford when these cars were fairly new. I had this terrible urge to run as fast I could, jump and body slam those hoods when they were up. Can I do that to this one if you buy it?
Usually these cars need full brake and fuel lines if they are leaking at one spot, the rest isn't far behind. Look for rust in the front strut towers also,(behind the washer fluid resevoir). 300,000 kms is nothing on the series I 3800. Even neglected ones can manage 400, to 500. Park Aves are great winter drivers. Oh yeah, broken door latches are common also.
I owned a 92 Bonneville from new until it got killed in Nov. 2006 by a tanker. I am pretty familar with the pitfalls but overall these are reliable cars. I did replace some of the brake lines in the Bonneville, power steering pump and most AC parts but nothing in the engine or transmission other than a water pump and trans lines. My Bonneville had rust in the strut towers but this one is clean.
I told her $300 today and she didn't seem too put off, really wants rid of it. I am inclined to take it and as you say get it ready for the snow flying. It does have to pass an E Test but I am not too concerned about it passing. The 94 Regal my kids use has 248,000 km on the 3.8 so this one would be a good back up at 153,000. As you say I've seen these in the salvage yard with over 400,000 on the clock.
Old people! I went back to look under the car and see what needs repairing. Turns out the return fuel line is rusted open at the body mount just under the rear passenger door. There was a very nice professional repair on the main supply line BUT whoever did it neglected to put the fuel filter back in.
I told her I could have the car repaired enough to run in 10 minutes and out of her hair. That's when she said she was offered $2,000 for it so I said "you'd had better take that" and started to leave.
Then she says "would you give me $500 for it?" I said look, "it can't be moved with a broken fuel line, the ABS and Brake lights are on so right now it is worth nothing, let me know if you want me to fix it or not." "Well I can get $300 for it and they'll come and get it. You know it is a beautiuful car to drive on the highway, very comfortable." I just pointed to my Cadillac parked in front of her house and said "you don't have to tell me, but this is 2008 and this was built in 1988 so a lot has changed in 20 years. I'll probably give you $300 for it but I have to move the car to my place to assess it first."
She says "Well I'd better leave it for now then. I need to consult with my business advisor." WTF, business advisor, I just left. If she comes calling fine if not someone else can deal with her.
Please don't take this wrong but it may be best to take where you're at now as a blessing!!! I've been in positions similar to this and now may be the best chance to walk from this car and whole deal?.
Yes these were good reliable cars in their day...but those days are gone, these cars and others like them are a time and money pit waiting for those who fall into the trap.. With the 'Car Heaven' plan in effect here in Ontario, the boneyards are full of cars like this that anyone could spin the time and money wheel on trying to resurrect..
It may be worth looking into the 'Car Heaven' thing for the lady or if you end up w/ the car too.. The GM new car discount coupon if still available may be worth something to her, you or someone else?. Check on transferability of the coupon before sending the car to the boneyard as it may be best to donate in the name of the person who needs the coupon???
So take the good fortune she's turned down your generosity and feel Ok knowing the outcome will not be on your shoulders.. Spend your money and precious time on your family...and working on old Pontiacs!.
Good luck w/ whatever happens!
-- Edited by Ghost Post at 12:47, 2008-07-02
-- Edited by Ghost Post at 12:50, 2008-07-02
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I like real cars best...especially the REAL real ones! ----------------------------------------------------------------
Ah seniors. God bless'em. I've seen the situation you describe played out many times in the past. I'd just walk away from it and forget about it. Years ago my grandfather has a mid 80's Ciera. He was too old to drive so I bought it from him for something like $1200. It too looked great from the outside and drove great too. I took it in for safety and needed a TON of undercarriage work including full brake/fuel lines etc etc. I couldnt afford the work so I asked ol gramps if he'd take the car back and refund me my money. "YOUR PROBLEM NOW" he shouted. He had a bit of dementia so what could I do? I sold it for $450 and learned a good lesson.
