Nice Price or Crack Pipe?

"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
07/25/2016 at 11:12 • Filed to: None

Gotta be honest here, I think this is a really nice price. 2004 Buick Park Ave Ultra, 107k miles, lots of recent work done, $1800.

My truck is currently for sale so I can buy an ‘87 Buick Grand National, which means I’ll need a new daily driver. I think it would be pretty cool having not one, but two boosted Buicks in my driveway.

The ask is $1800, but I'm thinking $1300. I feel like that's a ton of car (more like 2.5 tons, but whatever) for that money.

DISCUSSION (25)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 11:17

NP all day.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 11:18

Didn’t you just get that truck?

dogisbadob > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 11:18

Most likely NP. Any running car that can pass inspection is worth that. 2004 isn’t old at all, and the 3800 supercharged is FAST! And plenty of aftermarket support, too. Nice color combo.

If the spark plugs were done recently and used the OE iridium, you’re good to go :)

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 11:18

Aaron M - MasoFiST > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 11:20

I’d hit that. That was around the price range of my Bonneville, and this one is similar age (12 years old) and fewer miles. Just make sure the transmission isn’t slipping and you’re good to go.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 11:21

That is an extraordinary NP. $1800 is insanely cheap for one of these, even in bad condition. 27mpg highway, insanely comfy ride, lots of creature comforts (available HUD, heated seats, sunroof, heated steering wheel, air suspension, heated mirrors, auto-dimming mirrors, etc. etc.), pretty damn good stock sound system, and the 3800 Series II supercharged was a very underrated engine. Some were getting more power to the wheels then they were rated to get at the crank on a chassis dyno, though it’s largely luck of the draw. I’ve driven some SC 3800 cars that destroyed the factory 0-60 times, and others that squeaked along ever so much slower.

Also supercharged cars sound badass.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 11:22

That’s identical to my grandpa’s last car. Great highway cruisers, NP.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 11:23

Id guessing at that price it either needs a head gasket or two, or it needs a new supercharger.

crowmolly > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 11:25

Looks like a great NP, buuuuuut I’d check that it had intake gaskets done, and I’d pull the S/C belt to check the bearings/coupler before buying.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 11:26

Also at that mileage it likely needs a t belt service probably a labor intincive operation on this car.

Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 11:40

As an owner of a 2004 Park Ave Ultra with 145K on the clock, that one looks to be a good find. At that price, be prepared to open your wallet for new head gaskets, oil pan gaskets, ignition system, and a transmission rebuild. I’ve done all of those things (and a lot more) to mine, and it’s still only worth around 4K in today’s market.

Even if you do need to do all of that work, you’d have a solid DD for around 4-5K.

Any questions, lmk.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
07/25/2016 at 11:42

I think about 7 months ago, which is actually a long term ownership for me...I rarely get past 3 months.

Nibbles > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 11:45

Jesus H. Christ that’s a good price.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge
07/25/2016 at 11:49

This is basically what I come to Oppo for. If you have questions about a vehicle, we’ve got an expert for it, haha.

Hopefully I’ll get to check it out this weekend. I was going to wait until the truck was sold to buy something, but I don’t trust my wife’s MB as our only car for any length of time.

Nibbles > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
07/25/2016 at 11:52

Timing chain, not belt. Good for ages.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/25/2016 at 12:06

Fact. 3800 is literally one of the best engines ever built, and this is just a big ol American barge. This seems like a no brainier to me...but the great thing is even if it's not this one, they're everywhere for this money. But I do like this one a lot.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
07/25/2016 at 12:07

It claims to be a good driver, just passed MA state inspection, new battery, new valve cover gaskets. There's a ton of these things around at this price too, it's nuts.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > crowmolly
07/25/2016 at 12:08

Good call. It had valve cover gaskets, but nobody mentioned the head gaskets or intake manifold gaskets.

crowmolly > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 12:11

The valve cover gasket job is common since they were recalled.

The lower intake manifold gaskets in some of the cars (I don’t know what year they were improved) were plastic and would fail, leading to oil dripping down the engine *or* oil getting in to the intake runners.

The revised gaskets are not plastic, they are soft aluminum and work great from what I remember.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 12:17

The 3800 is great. It’s one Achilles heel is GM deciding they want to run coolant through ALL of the things. Lower intake manifold? Let’s run coolant through it (and use shitty gaskets that require replacement otherwise your car is gonna burn coolant)! Belt tensioner? Fuck yes! It’s a coolant passage now!

Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 12:38

Indeed, sir! As long as you give it a thorough inspection, you should be good to go. These cars don’t hide their issues very well.

Oh, one more thing... My catalytic converter failed completely at around 96K, so that’s something else to watch out for.

Unfortunately, I bought mine back in 2013 when the going rate was around 9-10 grand, so I got the short end of the stick as far as repairs and depreciation. But at a sub-$1500 buy-in, I’d absolutely recommend one.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/25/2016 at 12:53

Wait, are you being facetious or did they for real run coolant through a belt tensioner? Because that would be hilarious and awful, haha.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/25/2016 at 14:02

I’m not joking. Wanna replace the belt tensioner on a 3800? Go buy some coolant, friendo.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Nibbles
07/26/2016 at 00:20

Dang.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/26/2016 at 00:21

thst is weird, the last time I shopped for them they were all 4-5 k with 100-120,000.