Posted on 08/15/2005 9:46:21 AM PDT by TXBSAFH
Ok just for fun what is the absolutley worst POS you ever had to lower the property values of you house just by parking in front of it. For me it was my first truck, a 1974 toyota hilux truck. It leaked a quart of oil a week and had a average of $100 in repair cost a month until I sold it. It was blue, rust, primer, and bondo in color. Its nick names were Hirashima's revenge, and the toyota valdez.
Three days after I sold it to some poor unsuspecting fellow it caught fire and burne the the ground.
Nova. Circa roughly early 70s, bought around 83. Lasted a month or two.
No Va for sure. Hideous color too. That puke green.
Oh, and then there was the Plymouth Duster that kept stopping in the middle of intersections, and I had to add a quart of oil every time I put gas in it. Or oftener.
Trade you my oil gushing 76 Aspen for that Duster.
'82 Buick Le Sabre. I'd dump the codes, replace the parts, get a clean reading from the computer, and three days after I left on a job, the car would quit running for my wife. Come home, rinse, lather, repeat... I finally gave the d@mned thing away... Bought Mrs. Smokin' Joe a '78 Lincoln, and she has been happy ever since. (no more computerized cars for me)
Cool RV! (why turn the antenna to improve reception when you can just turn the truck?)
My first car and one of my favorites was a 65 (IIRC) Plymouth Valiant. Could have been a little older. I really like those vinyl bench seats in front.
The Duster was a bad one. Another puke green car.
When my current car dies, I want an old Cadillac. Or something of that ilk. With manual windows, and lots of metal, front and back.
You may have to go back a ways to get manual windows...I am amazed at how well the power units have held up in the lincolns (we have two)--a '78 and a '79.
I like them a lot, but if you are tempted to get one get the 460 engine. It is far superior to the 400, and mileage is about the same. (The 400 carbons up easily in cold weather, and is not supposed to be idled to warm up but is supposed to be driven. Not easy to do when the car is not in a heated garage and the temp out is -30.)
The weak point is the vent window. If the glass comes loose, the window will break when you close the door. Spendy if you can find one.
Regardless of Lincoln or Caddy, if you have the space, pick up a couple of parts cars if you can. If you intend to keep them for a while, it will be a worthwhile investment. Rebuildable engine cores are worth it alone. BTW, some years of Caddy (iirc, the front wheel drive ones) were not intended to be rebuilt, just replaced.
Thanks for the info. I'm more or less gearing up for another car (no pun intended!) and your info may come in handy. I also really like vent windows, have no clue why they don't make them any more. A little less profit, I guess.
My current driving car is an 85 Buick, can't even remember what "style" it is. I pretty much loathe it, but it cost one grand five years ago with around 80,000 miles on it. One of the things I really don't like about it is that the front seat doesn't recline. Esp. the passenger side, doesn't even move an inch.
Can't say I appreciate the dark red velour seats either. But payments are nil, insurance is low, and gets us where we need to go. Huge trunk. Sometimes the windows go up or down, and sometimes they don't.
Will save the info you posted.
The '78-9 Lincolns have fully adjustable electric (power) seats, rear window defrosters, retractable antennas, power locks and windows, reading lights (front and rear), 8 track standard, some had a CB radio as well. A luxury car is a luxury car.
Mileage is about 15 on the highway, 12 in town, but with a low buy-in, you can afford a lot of fuel.
Ours have proven to be sure-footed in snow (aggressive snow tires front and rear for good steering, braking, and traction), and have what I jokingly call 'a Mafia three-body trunk' which will hold a lot of stuff.
They are solid, heavy, old cars, but the insurance where I live (North Dakota) is under $20 per month (good driving record, under 10K annually, 100/300K liability, no comprehensive/collision).
Bet you can't tell I like them? (8^D)
Hmmm - I like the solid, heavy, old car part; the mpg is a little stiff. My wretched Buick (I think it's a Park Avenue) gets over 20 for some reason, but it is a POS to drive. It has gotten me across the country alive, which is something.
What kind of seat covers?
Gas here is 2.89. What is it in North Dakota?
Gas was 2.54 last time I filled up.
Some had leather, but the standard seat covering was a nice velour (not the cheap stuff) or velvet (not sure which), interior panels are a combination of mathching fabric, vinyl, and woodgrained metal trim panels.
I guess the velour/velvet doesn't appeal to me since the summers here are very hot, and sitting on that stuff is torture when the temp is hovering at 100.
Did I say the A/C doesn't work?
Hmm, just how cold does it get in ND? How are the real estate prices?
Well, it's cooled off enough to sleep - Thanks for the discussion.
Summer can be hot here, too, with occasional temps over 100.
Real estate prices are well below national norms in smaller towns, about the national average in the largest cities (approx 100,000 pop).
LJ -
As a former Caddy owner myself, this link may be of use to you. You can do a lot of research with it.
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/
I'm having a hard time deciding which of the Jeep Grand Wagoneers I've had would win the title of 'the worst.'
1985 Pontiac Sunbird.
I owned it for 12 hours before it died.
I then picketed the dealership to have them fix it.
They said the part was one backorder for three weeks - I said, "I've owned the car for 12 hours! and you are telling me I have to wait 3 weeks to drive it again?"
So, I forced them to take a part out of a car on the lot and put it in my brand new stupid piece of crap.
I ended up selling it less than a year later - basically for parts. It was a nightmare.
I then purchased my first BMW. I'm on #3 today.
The Ultimate Driving Machine.
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