Tips on buying a Full size american sedan from 80s or 90s

  • Thread starter Thread starter Celicaas
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@ tornado

Tell you what that regal really is beautiful but shame it isn't a v8


Plus I want a B body which have been took care of
 
If you could find a G-Body Monte Carlo, Cutlass Supreme or Grand Prix of that vintage you'd have a much better chance of finding a V8 one; but if you're after a B-Body anyway it's moot because they were almost exclusively V8s.
 
There were V8s offered in all of the G-Body cars at one point or another; and the wagon versions of the G-Bodies were exclusively V8s, I think.

But for the Regal, Buick focused on turbocharging the V6s for the performance models (which these days are usually fairly expensive); whereas the Cutlass, Monte Carlo and Grand Prix received more conventional V8s as the upper level engine options so they are more common. Plus it is a demographic thing. Pontiac and Chevrolet buyers at the time were more interested in the V8 option than the traditionally older Buick and Oldsmobile buyers, so it should be a lot easier to find a Grand Prix or (especially) Monte Carlo with V8s than it will be to find Regals.
 
Toronado
What is there to appreciate about a non-turbo V6 G-Body compared to a newer V8 B-Body for apparently less money? He wants a large American sedan on the cheap, so his best options basically start and end at the B-Bodies or the Panther cars. And for the former he has a better chance of finding one with more equipment.
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What is there to appreciate? It's a good looking classic ride! A relic of when cars where better. Nobody will know it's a V6 anyways..
 
I will tell you right now... look for a 1st Gen Taurus SHO. I had a 1990 with 125k and rode it to 280k miles and it was STILL running strong. The 3.0L Yamaha V6 is amazingly durable.



This video explains how the SHO engine works, which is pretty cool itself. It definitely doesn't look like any other engine I've seen before...

V6.jpg


Yeah, good luck finding headers for that! :sly:

Seriously though, this car was by far the best $2,000 I've ever spent and you can get them for much cheaper. 220hp, 5 speed manual, spacious interior and trunk, sunroof, full leather interior, fully loaded and all automatic... all the electrical luxuries worked on my car without fail, nice considering its age. These Taurus SHOs are clean, classic looking American sleepers.

Well known to hit 140mph+ and 0-60s in the 6.5 second range. Plenty of get up and go and passing power. Beats the hell out of a Crown Vic or LS1 Impala even, except lots of AM mods for the Imp. The AM market for the SHO is non existent but you can still get the basics.

They remind me a lot of the LS1 Impalas, how just a few subtle changes to the exterior would make them look intimidating and just outright brooding.

Its FWD which is great for adverse weather, control, and from what I remember it handles and drives perfectly. Hardly any body roll or under steer. I used to take it through the foothills with the window down and just enjoyed the winding roads, scenery, and fresh air.

It was a fun and quirky car to have. First its a Taurus sedan with a 5 speed shifter and then you open the hood and have an alien looking engine. When you hit the gas, after 4k RPMs the secondaries kick in and the car really comes alive... very exhilarating. Miss this car :(
 
One car you should take into consideration is the Lexus LS400. It's basically the same formula as the big 80s/90s American sedans, but more luxurious, more powerful, and just as comfortable. It also has more gadgets and because it's Japanese those gadgets will be faultless. It's faster, lighter and better on gas than the American sedans and is certainly more refined. I don't know how common LS400s are in Kuwait but here you can get a pretty decent early model for a few grand. Seeing as a good chunk of LS400s are still senior owned, low mileage "only driven to church on Sundays" examples aren't hard to find. Being over twenty inches shorter than the B-Bodies it's still no small car at 196.7 inches, how accurately you can park it is more of a question of how close do you want to come to scratching the paint trying to get into a spot, but it's certainly better than the more massive American cars. Big car enthusiasts will tell you that 220 inches of American metal is the only way to survive a crash, but the smaller Lexus is just a more advanced, safer design.
 
@Death stare.


I really. Like the SHO,s but I would buy the new one. Because the 3.0 Yamaha
is not that good


@doog. Lexus is a big a name over here and it's. Every where but LS400,s. And every LS in that matter is a bit pricy And for that the maintenance is too
 
Antonisbob
What is there to appreciate? It's a good looking classic ride! A relic of when cars where better. Nobody will know it's a V6 anyways..
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I think he would know it was a V6, actually. Especially when he could have had a better car (which a B-Body would be) that still fits what he's looking for with a V8 for less money.
 
@ tornado.

Just scratch the idea of the regal would you I'm.not gonna buy it. I was just asking if the price was overpriced I better stick with b bodies and panther platform. Anyway.
 
I prefer sedan but wagons they. Do. Have extra. Load but there heavy .



I have a question. About. B. Bodies are they really tend to overheat ?
 
Good luck finding a taken-care-of Marauder with low-ish miles for under $10,000. Sure, it can be done, but don't forget to factor in importing it if it needs to be done. I still don't know what Celicaas' budget is, I don't know if $10,000 is fine, too high, too low? Once we get that info it would be a lot easier.
 
Nevermind finding one in Kuwait.


Were Marauders actually faster than the LT1 Caprices and Roadmasters and etc?
 
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I don't really have any advice in regards to what to look for, but I think it's awesome to see someone who wants something that most people could care less about. Someone already mentioned the Mercury Marauder but you should also take a look at the 1994-1996 Chevy Impala SS.

l.jpg
 
Also, since neither the SS nor Marauder is actually that good at things related to speed and handling, you could just get a normal Crown Vic or Caprice Classic and then buy all the cosmetic parts to make a clone. All of the sinister looks, but without the price. The Marauder has basically the same engine as a base panther, but it's twin cam instead of single. Torque peak is about the same, but the twin cam revs higher. How useful that higher redline is in a 4 speed automatic, 4,000lbs+ car is debatable. Peak acceleration is probably a wash between them.
 
Guys, he's looking for a large American sedan from the 80s or 90s, I don't think (although I could be wrong) speed and handling are his top priorities.
 
I too suggest the Impala SS. Or if you can manage to find a Caprice 9C1!
 
If I read the OP right, this is his or her first car.

Perhaps a big American town car is too ambitious?

Boardroom%20Suggestion%20Icon.png
 
^Why? They can be had cheap, they are easy to work on, cheap to maintain, etc. etc. Basically the only part keeping them from being bad first cars is the MPG, which according to what I've heard, shouldn't affect him much.

What are the roads/cities like in Kuwait? Are they small or large? That should affect his choices, as something like a Lincoln Town Car isn't the easiest thing to park, but here in 'Murica it's very easy to drive down the road because the roads are so wide.
 
Taxes, insurance and running costs? Decay of build quality?

Whether OP has cheap petrol prices or not, that doesn't mean that an oversized, underpowered engine (seriously, 135hp from a 4-5L V6?) which haemorrhages fuel is within his living costs. And as alluded to, United States town cars aren't famed for their build quality and are famed for their... cheapness.

Same goes for a lot of other first car threads. Way too ambitious. Did I want an Alfa Romeo 147 as my first car? Damn yes. Did I know it was way out of my means and settled for a EDM Honda Civic? Of course.
 
Celicaas
@Death stare.


I really. Like the SHO,s but I would buy the new one. Because the 3.0 Yamaha
is not that good


@doog. Lexus is a big a name over here and it's. Every where but LS400,s. And every LS in that matter is a bit pricy And for that the maintenance is too
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Oh trust me, the 1st gen SHOs were among the quickest sedans at the time. Another cool fact about the SHO is that its engine was originally designed for a supercar that Ford was planning but had to drop. They had already contracted Yamaha to build 30,000 V6 engines so they put them in the Taurus.

Ford actually had to detune the engine severely so it wouldn't out perform their flagship cars, the Thunderbird and 5.0 Mustang - which it still did anyway. The SHO engines originally made something like 300hp with a 8.5k RPM redline. Trust me, Ford was planning a monster to compete with the imports flooding the market then.

The Yamaha V6 is by far the most durable engine I've ever owned because it was designed to handle much more stress on a every day basis. When I bought the car, it had 125,000 miles and when I sold it, the odometer was nearly 280,000 miles and it still pulls like a bat out of hell. Find a first gen, test drive it, and you'll see its every bit as quick (if not faster) than any other American sedan and just as luxurious and comfortable. 👍



And its no joke, they seriously are quick cars.
 
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The weakness with the SHO was always the transmission rather than the engine. Same as with the Lumina Z34, I think that was part of why they detuned them.

Liquid
Taxes, insurance and running costs? Decay of build quality?
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I wouldn't imagine they would be any worse than any other typical first car, ie. a Taurus or Camry. I knew a couple people who had ex-police Crown Victorias and had no problem with them, and the only real issue was fuel costs.
 
Liquid
Taxes, insurance and running costs? Decay of build quality?
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While I'm not knowledgeable on the first three enough to input anything, the build quality (at least on the Fords, I'm not sure about the GM's) was really good. Sure, it's no *insert stereotypical gold mine car here* but it's a first car, not supposed to be a *insert stereotypical gold mine car here*. My Lincoln Town Car sits in the sun, snow, rain, etc. etc. 24/7 and has not been washed since 2010 (I think) and it has no rust on it, just lots of dirt in the corners that will probably turn to rust :scared:


(seriously, 135hp from a 4-5L V6?)
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I agree, it is pretty pathetic. I get 150hp from the 4.9L V8 in my Lincoln, which was when it was new.

And as alluded to, United States town cars aren't famed for their build quality and are famed for their... cheapness.
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Cheapness, that's what you want in a first car.

Same goes for a lot of other first car threads. Way too ambitious. Did I want an Alfa Romeo 147 as my first car? Damn yes. Did I know it was way out of my means and settled for a EDM Honda Civic? Of course.
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Yes :lol: I've noticed that. They'll start out with a sports car of some sort and then downgrade their choices to Pontiac Grand Prix's and what have you.
 
xXKingJoshXx
I agree, it is pretty pathetic. I get 150hp from the 4.9L V8 in my Lincoln, which was when it was new.
.
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What it lacks in horsepower it makes up in torque though.

Actually your motor was rated at about 200hp when it was new. The 4.9L I6 was rated 175hp and almost the same torque.
 
xXKingJoshXx
I agree, it is pretty pathetic. I get 150hp from the 4.9L V8 in my Lincoln, which was when it was new.
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My 14 year old 1.5L Civc still gets over 100hp. Your car should feel bad.

xXKingJoshXx
Cheapness, that's what you want in a first car.
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I was getting more at the tacky interiors not being nice places to be, more than the cost of the car.

xXKingJoshXx
Yes :lol: I've noticed that. They'll start out with a sports car of some sort and then downgrade their choices to Pontiac Grand Prix's and what have you.
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Some of the suggestions in this thread, and the "RWD for 10k" thread are ridiculous. Mustangs, Camaroes, Supras and such.
 
These cars were not built with finesse nor attention to detail (UAW) but they were engineered to a degree that it isn't necessary. Think about the soldier-proof AK47. It sure isn't pretty in terms of build quality, but it is extremely durable. That's what big V8 American cars are. Poorly built in a lot of cases, but very, very tough. Also parts are extremely cheap and should be available all over the world I would think.
 

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