Winter car buying

"Tohru" (tohrurokuno) 10/28/2014 at 13:13 • Filed to: None

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So, I've got two vehicles right now on the list to be checked out for possible winter cars.

1. 2000 Grand Am 3.4L. $300. 204k miles, runs but dies - most likely has a bad oil pressure sender. Head gaskets were done last summer. Missing passenger's side mirror, windshield is cracked. Clear WI title.

2. 1989 Buick Reatta. $1695, willing to negotiate. Sitting at a used car lot in Baraboo, WI. 143k miles, 3800 V6 (pre-Series 1), 440T-4 automatic. The dash and touch screen both work (!!!). Clear coat is ~50% gone. Tires are dry-rotted (Google Street View shows it at the dealership in August 2013). Fog lights don't work at all, headlights are locked in the up position. Lower grille missing, replaced with chicken wire. Red with tan interior.

(Stock photo, not actual car described.)

I probably know the answer to this, but...

What do you think, Oppo? Super cheap, easy to fix, and boring? Or more expensive, complicated, but interesting?

Brian Silvestro > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:15

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Reatta is always the answer to this question

crowmolly > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:17

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Grand Am is scrap. JMO.

The Reatta? For $1000 even it's a maybe.

Coty > Brian Silvestro 10/28/2014 at 13:17

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The answer is always Riata.

deekster_caddy > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:18

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I feel bad for the Reatta, but... Reatta.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:18

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For one, the Grand Am broadly sucks in more ways, both condition and type. For another, REATTA REATTA DO IT YOU FOOL

mazda616 > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:22

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Reatta has the bulletproof 3800. I had a '99 Grand Am GT with the 3.4 and it was very reliable but I was beyond meticulous with maintenance.

Tohru > crowmolly 10/28/2014 at 13:22

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There is something appealing about buying a running/driving car for scrap price. It's liberating. You can do whatever you want to it, and it will never be worth less than what you paid for it.

I could ice race it. Still worth $300. Derby it. $300. Get it covered in graffiti. $300. Ghost ride it off a cliff into a ravine. $300.

The Reatta would probably be a decent buy at $1000-1200. I haven't checked it out, the roommate has.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:23

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Reatta. Especially with the working stock touch screen. Those are cool little cars. Also, it seems like mainly small issues. That Grand Am could be some trouble.

Chteelers > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:23

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Why not find some old Camry or similar bland but ubiquitous vehicle? There's a million of them, so prices are low. They run forever, and parts are easy to find and cheap.

That grandam is only 14 years old, and they just want $300? I think you'd easily pour 10 times that just to keep it running, plus your crumble zones are pre-crumpled should you crash.

I imagine that Reatta is a nightmare to maintain, as evidenced by the fact that the prev owner AND dealer have not fixed some relatively cheap fixes (fog light, lower grill, headlights). Usually those are sub-$100 fixes, which any seller would fix so the car would show well. The fact that they're still broke says a lot about how annoying they might be.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:23

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The Reatta looks like nothing but trouble.

Tohru > Coty 10/28/2014 at 13:25

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Gotta do a sleepy eyes mod bro. Mount some Hoosiers bro. Track day the Riata bro.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:28

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DO THE REATTA. PLASTIDIP IT. $500 PAINT JOB THAT WILL HOLD UP REASONABLY WELL DURING THE SUMMER AND MAKE IT LOOK SEXY.

DO IT FAGGOT

Tohru > Chteelers 10/28/2014 at 13:28

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The guy with the Grand Am thinks the fuel pump shit the bed. On GM's, the oil pressure sender is tied to the fuel system - if there's no oil pressure the fuel pump won't kick in. If the sender goes bad (more common than fuel pump failure) the car will start, but die. It starts because the pump always kicks in for 5-10sec. when you turn the key to on.

Brickman > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:29

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Get the Reatta. Gotta love that CRT color touch screen. It can even do diagnostics, super reliable 3800 engine, chicken wire grill is a big upgrade from plastic :P

Coty > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:30

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Please for the love of god do all of that.

CalzoneGolem > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:32

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Grand am because hand brake.

Sorry Reatta but foot actuated parking brakes are less fun in the snow.

Tohru > Coty 10/28/2014 at 13:36

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I asked the roommate if he thought a NA front bumper would fit a Reatta, and he just gave me a disappointed look.

That's real fuckin' rich comin' from a guy with a '73 Celica ST LeMons car.

Takuro Spirit > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:40

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BUY THAT REATTA OR I WILL FIND YOU AND I WILL MONO GRILLE YOUR FACE

Tohru > Brickman 10/28/2014 at 13:41

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It's so Goddamn tempting

Tohru > Coty 10/28/2014 at 13:42

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The roommate *does* have a set of 15" Direzza StarSpecs in the basement he's not using. Hm.

Tohru > Takuro Spirit 10/28/2014 at 13:44

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You're all talk and no game, you impostor. You ain't got the balls to leave Milwaukee and venture out into the untamed wilderness that is central Wisconsin farm country.

:D

itschrome > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:45

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Oh honey, no..

I would try again. Neither of these are a good way to spend cash. That Grand am is straight junk. And a Reatta for a winter beater? No.. the main issues i have with the Reatta is its too low. I dont know where you live but 4 to 5 inches of snow on the road and yout not going any where. Also it basically only has one drive wheel, so forget about stop starts on ice. Also who knows how well those elecyrics will hold up in cold wet weather.

Do you self a favor and find a basic, bland, boring old car and ride out the weather. You want a "winter beater" not a beater for yhe winter. Why buy something you cant depend on for the harshest weather months?

Tohru > CalzoneGolem 10/28/2014 at 13:47

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I hate foot-actuated parking brakes. The Reatta has a center console! Put the parking brake there! It's not like there's any cupholders in it to get in the way. *grumble grumble*

Tohru > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/28/2014 at 13:48

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I'm not Plastidipping the car. Plastidip is not a mod.

Tohru > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/28/2014 at 13:49

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Takuro Spirit > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 13:56

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ARE YOU NEAR SCHOFIELD I BOUGHT MY P71 THERE

CalzoneGolem > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 14:02

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Poor Reatta ... it never stood a chance.

Dunnik > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 14:09

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I'd choose a 3800 over a 3.4 any day.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 14:20

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Looks better than rattlecan spray paint or peeling clearcoat, and it's reversible.

Tohru > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/28/2014 at 14:36

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Depends on the spray paint. It *is* a winter car, after all...

Tohru > CalzoneGolem 10/28/2014 at 14:36

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I want to like the Reatta, though.

Tohru > Takuro Spirit 10/28/2014 at 14:37

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Dude I'm like an hour and a half from Schofield.

P71, though? You have my attention

Tohru > itschrome 10/28/2014 at 14:40

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Well, I haven't bought either of these yet.

Takuro Spirit > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 14:41

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http://www.usedcopcars.com

They used to deal exclusively in real nice ex-police vehicles. At $5000, that 2001 was the cheapest highest mile car on their lot back in 2007.

Tohru > Takuro Spirit 10/28/2014 at 14:50

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Shit, man. The cheapest P71 they have now is a 2011 with 115k on it for $7500.

http://www.cheykamotors.net/2011_Ford_Crow…

CalzoneGolem > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 14:51

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You can. Like it so much that you don't winter it to death.

Tohru > CalzoneGolem 10/28/2014 at 14:53

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Something needs to be sacrificed to protect the TinyTohruTruck's frail Japanese sheetmetal.

Considering the Reatta's been at that dealer over a year, it'll probably be there this spring.

Takuro Spirit > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 15:12

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Yeah, but they're NICE.

Dogapult > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 15:24

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I will let you use the Direzzas in summer if some of the mods we talked about happen.

CalzoneGolem > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 15:33

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Grand Am. Fix it. Don't give a shit about it. Handbrake turns all winter.

Tohru > Dogapult 10/28/2014 at 15:39

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Miata bumper?

Tohru > Takuro Spirit 10/28/2014 at 15:46

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Dogapult > Tohru 10/28/2014 at 15:47

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except that one.

Tohru > Dogapult 10/28/2014 at 15:50

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STOP STIFLING MY CREATIVITY MOM

Dogapult > Chteelers 10/28/2014 at 16:43

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Honestly, I went and looked at the Reatta. the dealer didn't seem to give a single fuck about the car. I asked "does the radio work?" and got "I haven't had anyone tell me it didn't."