Home and Auto Which car would you choose? - Page 7

**007** · 03-10-2013, 02:10 PM

1996 Chevy Camaro RS Coupe with 88k miles for $3000 Manual 5-speed but will need all new tires, the ABS light is on, and the rear blinkers don't work, however the hazards all work. Ceiling is mega sagging.

or

2002 Chevy Cavalier Sport Automatic 4-speed with 104k miles for $3500 but will eventually need a catalytic converter and the rear driver side window motor is faulty. Owner also mentioned that the ABS light will pop on occasionally but goes away after a few seconds. Happens every few weeks.

Having driven both I feel more comfortable in the Cavalier but that might be because I am not used to being so low to the ground in the Camaro. Also, the Camaro is a rear wheel drive car. Something else I am not fond of.

Those are the asking prices so I will obviously offer less.

**007** · 03-11-2013, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty

If I were in your area, I would be interested in this:

http://topeka.craigslist.org/cto/3665611017.html

Other than that, it looks like a lousy market (based on CL).

Just test drove it. Rode really nice. Other than some under paint rust at the gas door I didn't notice any questionable issues. Will definitely need a wheel balance and alignment though.

Frosty · 03-11-2013, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exoter175

To be specific realistically, depending on the cars, he's going to be looking at about 23/29 for most of them, which can be huge at his age.

Well realistically, it's a sixteen year old boy who has already wrecked one car. More than likely, he's going to get shitty mileage no matter what he drives.

Frosty · 03-11-2013, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

Just test drove it. Rode really nice. Other than some under paint rust at the gas door I didn't notice any questionable issues. Will definitely need a wheel balance and alignment though.

The one thing about the 3.8L is make sure the coolant looks ok and isn't low. They had some problems with the intake manifold gaskets. By this age, most of them have been replaced but it worth looking for.

Exoter175 · 03-11-2013, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty

Well realistically, it's a sixteen year old boy who has already wrecked one car. More than likely, he's going to get shitty mileage no matter what he drives.

Pretty much, but getting him something that gets even somewhat decent mileage will help considerably.

When I first started driving, gas was 99 cents a gallon. So I never dealt with the "shock" of the pump that this guy is going to feel now when he realizes how expensive it is to drive nowadays. Especially if he's working for near minimum wage.

I nearly have a heart attack when I'm at the pump, then again, I drive a Modded Mustang GT and a 4x4 4.0 Ranger

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty

The one thing about the 3.8L is make sure the coolant looks ok and isn't low. They had some problems with the intake manifold gaskets. By this age, most of them have been replaced but it worth looking for.

True story, I had to do quite a few of those a few years back, it seemed everyone and their mother had a 3800 of some flair and almost all of them needed an upper gasket set. Good lord do they get shitty gas mileage when things start to go bad lol.

Frosty · 03-11-2013, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exoter175

Pretty much, but getting him something that gets even somewhat decent mileage will help considerably.

True, if he was to get something like a Civic or Corolla. My son gets almost 40 mpg in his (my) '01 Prizm. That said, I doubt there would be much difference between the Intrigue and the Camaro.

**007** · 03-11-2013, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty

True, if he was to get something like a Civic or Corolla. My son gets almost 40 mpg in his (my) '01 Prizm. That said, I doubt there would be much difference between the Intrigue and the Camaro.

Mileage wise there is barely any difference at all.

still waiting for him to get back to me on the Olds. Personally, I thought it drove better than the camaro.

Frosty · 03-11-2013, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

Mileage wise there is barely any difference at all.

still waiting for him to get back to me on the Olds. Personally, I thought it drove better than the camaro.

FWD too, so better if snow. I had an '82 Camaro that was a death trap with any snow at all.

I would much prefer the Intrigue but I'm not 16 anymore.

Exoter175 · 03-11-2013, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty

True, if he was to get something like a Civic or Corolla. My son gets almost 40 mpg in his (my) '01 Prizm. That said, I doubt there would be much difference between the Intrigue and the Camaro.

I got nothing but Hondas when I was younger so I always had money to blow from my part time job because it cost me like 10 dollars to fill up the tank every other week. The fun started when I started modifying them to go faster

, that's how I learned to work on cars and later became a mechanic.

Once I got out of hondas and into real cars with v8's and rwd, I learned to appreciate the econobox hondas even more when I was at the pump lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

Mileage wise there is barely any difference at all.

still waiting for him to get back to me on the Olds. Personally, I thought it drove better than the camaro.

Early 4th gen Camaros are complete piles, Yes I am a mustang owner, but having had worked on many of them, I'd never want one. Even if the right was somewhat good in them, just WAIT until that hatch starts to rattle lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty

FWD too, so better if snow. I had an '82 Camaro that was a death trap with any snow at all.

I would much prefer the Intrigue but I'm not 16 anymore.

I have a 2002 Mustang GT now, it is a death trap in the Snow, that's why I have a 4x4 ranger to go with it lol.

Frosty · 03-11-2013, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exoter175

Early 4th gen Camaros are complete piles, Yes I am a mustang owner, but having had worked on many of them, I'd never want one. Even if the right was somewhat good in them, just WAIT until that hatch starts to rattle lol.

That's why you put the big stereo in - so you don't have to hear the rattles.

Frosty · 03-11-2013, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exoter175

I got nothing but Hondas when I was younger so I always had money to blow from my part time job because it cost me like 10 dollars to fill up the tank every other week. The fun started when I started modifying them to go faster

, that's how I learned to work on cars and later became a mechanic.

Once I got out of hondas and into real cars with v8's and rwd, I learned to appreciate the econobox hondas even more when I was at the pump lol.

My first car was a '74 Gran Torino. I got 23 mpg with that despite driving like an idiot. My dad made me get rid of it after I put it up a hedge in someone's front lawn, so I next got a '66 Bug. I got about 23 mpg in that, too.

I remember filling up at $1.29, which until recently was the all time high gas price adjusted for today's dollar (it was somewhere around $3.69 adjusted). Sucked.

Jiu Jitsu Jon · 03-11-2013, 12:21 PM

I used to have a 2002 z24 cavalier, 5 speed. Besides the anemic 140 hp 4 cyl engine, the passenger side window motor crapped out on me, and the cd player stopped working. Oh, and there was something wrong with the door that made the interior lights not turn off like they were supposed to. When they fixed that issue, they screwed up the seal on the doors so I got lots of wind noise when driving on the highway.

What a poorly built piece of crap. I never had any problems with the engine or anything but still I would only buy it as a cheap car for a teenager to drive or a beater to drive in the snow.

**007** · 03-11-2013, 04:39 PM

took the Olds in for inspection and this is what they found.

Front struts rusty
intake gaskets leak
inner tie rod ends need replaced
trans pan gasket leaks
Oil pan gasket leaks
needs new intake air tube
all four tires are dry rotted.

altogether over $1300 worth of work if I had them do it al.

Showed the list to the dealer and they said hogwash, they trust their mechanic more than what mine found.

JFC

**SAUTO** · 03-11-2013, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

took the Olds in for inspection and this is what they found.

Front struts rusty
intake gaskets leak
inner tie rod ends need replaced
trans pan gasket leaks
Oil pan gasket leaks
needs new intake air tube
all four tires are dry rotted.

Showed the list to the dealer and they said hogwash, they trust their mechanic more than what mine found.

JFC

and then it will have tons of electrical gremlins too
Posted via Mobile Device

**007** · 03-11-2013, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

and then it will have tons of electrical gremlins too
Posted via Mobile Device

I've never had a dealer do that before. Just completely discount everything a mechanic found. Told me right there, even if I was still interested in it, they were not going to budge on the price at all.

**Bugeater** · 03-11-2013, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

took the Olds in for inspection and this is what they found.

Front struts rusty
intake gaskets leak
inner tie rod ends need replaced
trans pan gasket leaks
Oil pan gasket leaks
needs new intake air tube
all four tires are dry rotted.

altogether over $1300 worth of work if I had them do it al.

Showed the list to the dealer and they said hogwash, they trust their mechanic more than what mine found.

JFC

For the most part that all sounds like normal used car stuff.

03-10-2013, 02:10 PM
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $14060126 VARSITY	Which car would you choose? 1996 Chevy Camaro RS Coupe with 88k miles for $3000 Manual 5-speed but will need all new tires, the ABS light is on, and the rear blinkers don't work, however the hazards all work. Ceiling is mega sagging. or 2002 Chevy Cavalier Sport Automatic 4-speed with 104k miles for $3500 but will eventually need a catalytic converter and the rear driver side window motor is faulty. Owner also mentioned that the ABS light will pop on occasionally but goes away after a few seconds. Happens every few weeks. Having driven both I feel more comfortable in the Cavalier but that might be because I am not used to being so low to the ground in the Camaro. Also, the Camaro is a rear wheel drive car. Something else I am not fond of. Those are the asking prices so I will obviously offer less.
Posts: 65,554

03-11-2013, 12:21 PM	#101
Jiu Jitsu Jon Level 40 Wizard Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Misery Casino cash: $10013080	I used to have a 2002 z24 cavalier, 5 speed. Besides the anemic 140 hp 4 cyl engine, the passenger side window motor crapped out on me, and the cd player stopped working. Oh, and there was something wrong with the door that made the interior lights not turn off like they were supposed to. When they fixed that issue, they screwed up the seal on the doors so I got lots of wind noise when driving on the highway. What a poorly built piece of crap. I never had any problems with the engine or anything but still I would only buy it as a cheap car for a teenager to drive or a beater to drive in the snow. __________________ John Madden's three rules: 1. Be on time. 2. Pay attention. 3. Play like hell when I tell you to.
Posts: 1,484

03-11-2013, 04:39 PM	#102
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $14060126 VARSITY	took the Olds in for inspection and this is what they found. Front struts rusty intake gaskets leak inner tie rod ends need replaced trans pan gasket leaks Oil pan gasket leaks needs new intake air tube all four tires are dry rotted. altogether over $1300 worth of work if I had them do it al. Showed the list to the dealer and they said hogwash, they trust their mechanic more than what mine found. JFC __________________ My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
Posts: 65,554