Car search again...

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Rotary Junkie

Rotary Junkie

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RJs_RX-7
Now trying to find a decent daily so I can cut insurance down a bit (2 drivers + 2 cars is less than 2 drivers and 1 car). The '98 F-150 we've had sitting motorless for 2 years will be running and for sale soon, budget is 1-2 grand and broken. (Or less if possible)

Current short list:
92-96 Grand Prix SE 2-door
95-98 Riviera
87-88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe

Leaning towards something with a GM V6 (3100, 3400, 3800 or the non-series versions of any of the above) but "indestructibles" are good as well. Other requirements are that it doesn't stand out much (no Mustang/Camaro) and parts are reasonably available.

Open to new ideas and suggestions to at least look at. Looking mostly in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania. I love the 6 and it's staying around but it's impossible for me to cover insurance AND payment on it so it'll stay my mom's for a while to come.
 
Get an old honda...

Or a lincoln town car. Hell, look for a `93 Buick Roadmaster wagon. LT1 motor, old man everything else. Cheap as insurance can be in common sense speak. In the insurance companies minds, I can make no garuntees though
 
A Civic would be a fair choice then. It's virtually a default when "cheap" and "economy" are mentioned.

That said, I do like the idea of a Riviera, for some reason.
 
97-03 Grand Prix, or any w-body with the 3800. Safe, reliable, good mpg, plenty of room, easily modded, cheap insurance.

If you want a GM V6 I would go with a 3800, series I, II, or III. The 3100 has the power of a 4 cylinder and the mpg of a v8. The 3400 wasn't much better. Both are less reliable than the 3800.
 
Adamgp
97-03 Grand Prix, or any w-body with the 3800. Safe, reliable, good mpg, plenty of room, easily modded, cheap insurance.

If you want a GM V6 I would go with a 3800, series I, II, or III. The 3100 has the power of a 4 cylinder and the mpg of a v8. The 3400 wasn't much better. Both are less reliable than the 3800.
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*cough* Got a pair of Series 1 SCs doing nothing, hence the preference.

I wouldn't mind a 97+ GP but they look naff unless they're 2-doors and they seem to rot quicker. Kinda like MN12 vs Fox T-birds.
 
homeforsummer
A Civic would be a fair choice then. It's virtually a default when "cheap" and "economy" are mentioned.

That said, I do like the idea of a Riviera, for some reason.
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Indeed, one wouldn't be too horrid... If decent ones existed for cheap. Which they don't really.

casey_2005
87-91 Toyota Camry. Cheap, reliable, and great gas mileage if you get a 4cyl 5sp, i'm talking like high 30's on the highway.

I mean look at this, http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/1562746363.html
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Ehh, not too keen on the looks. They don't stand out but then they don't stand out. Something to make you go "Oh hey that looks nice" but not ZOMG SPORTSCAR!!!!111one would be nice.

Jim Prower
Camry, or Corolla.

Or even...you know what I'm thinking...;3
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Nova. :lol: Actually I saw one a while back, was badly trashed though.
 
I'd stay away from a GM 3400 V6 from experience. At 100k you're replacing the intake gaskets, and then at 111k I had the replaced intake gaskets go out simultaneously with both head gaskets.

I'd keep a look out for a cheap Civic/Accord, Corolla, etc.
 
9882595367.256370738.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.562x421.jpg


Those can be had with 5spd manuals and less than $2,000 with reasonable mileage. Anything else is uncivilized. :D
 
Eric.
I'd stay away from a GM 3400 V6 from experience. At 100k you're replacing the intake gaskets, and then at 111k I had the replaced intake gaskets go out simultaneously with both head gaskets.

I'd keep a look out for a cheap Civic/Accord, Corolla, etc.
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Again I'd be looking for a dead car if it had a GM V6. 3800s kick ass and are basically a bolt-in and plug-in affair for most GM V6 cars.
 
If you are wed to the specs quoted in the first thread, This dyed in the wool Ford guy says "Stay away from the T-bird"!

It's RWD, so it'll be a hassle in the winter.
Of the GM cars you listed, I would lean toward the Pontiac. The less fancy the better.
The Riviera, while a nice car, is likely to have more complicated electrical do-dads in it to break and frustrate you. It they aren't already broken...

I might even check with your grandparents. (going morbid, please forgive me)
They may know someone who has recently lost a spouse, or who has gotten too old to drive, and has a well maintained very low mileage sedan of just about any manufacturer that they want/need to get rid of, and will sell cheap...
I know it's kinda morbid.
However, I got my truck about 2 grand under Blue book cause a lady I know lost her husband and wanted his truck to go to a good home.
 
Volvo 7xx or 9xx.. rwd, sedan/wagon, practical, good mileage, comes with and without turbo.. and V6's are available too.
 
Leo, those aren't bad, but I got quoted extremely high on insurance for a 740. I'd get a quote on it before buying one, just to make sure it was worth it, since the objective here is to lower insurance rates, anyway.
 
Gil
If you are wed to the specs quoted in the first thread, This dyed in the wool Ford guy says "Stay away from the T-bird"!

It's RWD, so it'll be a hassle in the winter.
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Is there anything else about it to scare me off, or just that? I reckon with proper snow shoes on it it wouldn't be too horrid and in the worst case scenario I could just borrow the 6.

Gil
Of the GM cars you listed, I would lean toward the Pontiac. The less fancy the better.
The Riviera, while a nice car, is likely to have more complicated electrical do-dads in it to break and frustrate you. It they aren't already broken...
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There's not horribly much extra to break, main thing would be the electronic HVAC controls but it seems they're reasonably reliable anyway and it's not like these cars don't exist in junkyards.

Gil
I might even check with your grandparents. (going morbid, please forgive me)
They may know someone who has recently lost a spouse, or who has gotten too old to drive, and has a well maintained very low mileage sedan of just about any manufacturer that they want/need to get rid of, and will sell cheap...
I know it's kinda morbid.
However, I got my truck about 2 grand under Blue book cause a lady I know lost her husband and wanted his truck to go to a good home.
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May just do that.

Leonidae@MFT
Volvo 7xx or 9xx.. rwd, sedan/wagon, practical, good mileage, comes with and without turbo.. and V6's are available too.
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Except they're all autoboxes. And after Diablo's issues with his, I dunno mang.
 
Import a 3.8L Commodore.:lol:

Oh right, the drive side conversion, if only everyone would switch to RHD like it should be.:lol:

Just try for the Thunderbird, Buick V6s have rather instant torque delivery which doesn't sound good in a FWD'er to me.
 
Rotary Junkie
Is there anything else about it to scare me off, or just that? I reckon with proper snow shoes on it it wouldn't be too horrid and in the worst case scenario I could just borrow the 6.



There's not horribly much extra to break, main thing would be the electronic HVAC controls but it seems they're reasonably reliable anyway and it's not like these cars don't exist in junkyards.



May just do that.



Except they're all autoboxes. And after Diablo's issues with his, I dunno mang.
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My friend has a 1995 or so T-bird with the 4.6, and its been in the shop about every third week since he bought it 4 months ago.
 
What about Merkur XR4ti ot whatever you guys called the corroding bucket of teenage doom ( comes with fuzzy dices, cut springs, led interior lights, zebra-seat covers and stereo system that is worth more than the car itself etc etc) You know, Sierra before facelift from ugly duckling to a vulture.
 
Thrown out for being identical to the Thunderbird in terms of drivetrain but having next to no parts availability.
 
Parts availability? Who needs extra parts when you can't even find the car itself?
 

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