Cross shopping.

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
06/13/2018 at 09:38 • Filed to: None

I’m weird. Where the normal person when wanting a nicer, newer car than their 2002 Mazda Miata would look to an ‘09ish Camry, I’m cross-shopping ‘08-’10 Chrysler 300s with ‘96 Buick Roadmaster Estates because I am bound and determined for my next car to be a 5.7 liter boat.

Chrysler 300

Price: $8000-10,000

Pros:

Lots of features (heated seats, decent sound system, touchscreen nav, remote start)

Handles like garbage but pretty good for what it is

Looks/is fairly modern

Hemi sounds amazeballs

Very easy to find one-owner cars in this price range

Quick

Super cheap insurance

Cons:

Front suspension issues (sway bar links and ball joints)

Interior looks dated as hell

Electrical issues?

Buick Roadmaster

Price: $5000-8000

Pros:

Cheaper, but not as cheap as I’d like

As reliable as a slab of granite

Parts available at every autozone ever

SBC sounds amazeballs

Third row seating

Cheaper insurance, but not that much cheaper

Cons:

Slow

Lacks some luxury features

Doesn’t stroke my ego as much as a newer car

Worse handling

Hard to find in good condition

Would require immediate modification to make it tolerable (exhaust, shift kit, sound system, remote start system/keyless entry if not equipped)

DISCUSSION (52)

nerd_racing > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 09:57

I’d go with a 300C personally. The hemi sounds amazing with an exhaust, plus they have great looks to them. I’d cross shop a Magnum too, if you want wagony goodness to go with that hemi and all the ball joint replacements.

E90M3 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:03

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Jake - Does Dumb Stuff so You Don’t Have To

Name checks out.

Ash78, voting early and often > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:04

Ready for this? Sitting down?

Durango RT or Citadel with Hemi.

You will have to look hard to get close to the $10k price point, but they’re getting there. I think 2011 was the first offering of the good, non-truck Durango.

Best of both worlds for the two cars above.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > nerd_racing
06/13/2018 at 10:07

I love the Magnum, but the pre-facelift is fugly and the facelift was only one year so the only thing left is a 2008 Dodge Magnum R/T. Good luck finding any.

Milky > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:13

Super disagree and cheap!

Kinja'd!!!

https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/d/2006-dodge-magnum-t-hemi-awd/6582930647.html

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Ash78, voting early and often
06/13/2018 at 10:13

That... that is a very interesting thought. Cheapest Citadel I can find on Autotempest is $11k with 182,000 miles, and I’m sure insurance is quite a bit for a newer car like that. I do absolutely love the interior though, and I always thought they were handsome.

Long-Voyager > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:15

The Roadmaster/Caprice/Custom cruiser wagons are amazing cars to drive.

They have decent power, they handle surprisingly well for their size, they ride like a dream, and they have no issue hitting mid-high 20s cruising.

They have more power options than most people will ever use, and in your $5-8k price range you should have no issue finding a clean one. I’ve found nice examples for around $3k.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Milky
06/13/2018 at 10:15

2006 had valve seat issues that would randomly total the engine. Try again. 2007 is the earliest model year Hemi car I’d ever consider because that’s when the “engine will randomly grenade” issue was fixed.

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:16

So buy a pre-facelift at a reasonable price and swap the bumper cover....

Ash78, voting early and often > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:17

But they’re new enough that you could put $10k down and opt to finance the remaining bit for a year or two (might be worth it for the newer car).

182k is simultaneously terrifying and comforting.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Long-Voyager
06/13/2018 at 10:18

I have actually never driven one before. Autotempest and Wichita and Dallas craigslists seem to show $6k being where nice-ish ones land. I’m not sure where the cheap ones turn up at.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Ash78, voting early and often
06/13/2018 at 10:19

put $10k down

Do you know me

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > random001
06/13/2018 at 10:19

Hm. Curious how much that would cost.

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:19

Suck it up and buy a Honda Odyssey, man.

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:20

I don’t think they changed the colors much, so find a bumper in a yard and swap it on. Are we sure it’s not just a grill replacement?

Long-Voyager > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:20

That’s up here in the rust belt.

Honestly, don’t knock the power or handling til you drive one, they are very respectable for a car their size.

Ash78, voting early and often > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:21

LOL, I figured your price ranges were based on paying cash (especially since no lender will touch a Hudson...er, Roadmaster)

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:22

My brother had an LT1 Caprice wagon. It’s staggering how little interior space that car had...I couldn’t get the driver’s seat back far enough to be comfortable, and if I sat in the back my knees were in my chest. The 300 is much better in that way, my dad has a 12 300C that replaces an 05 300C and there’s lots of room inside them. Also, the Hemi makes about 100 extra horsepower over that LT1, so there’s that. Both good cars though, can’t go wrong either way.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > random001
06/13/2018 at 10:22

Trans issues. Otherwise I’d be this guy.

Kinja'd!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > random001
06/13/2018 at 10:23

Kinja'd!!!

Entire front clip is different. Hood, fenders, bumper, and headlights.

Under_Score > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:23

You’re an engineer I’m pretty certain, so you’re gonna be better soon financially. A few grand over budget, but the best of your wants and new. https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/728613467/overview?aff=share_other

Also, another thought. Want all of this stuff but still need to take the car off road for work? The lack of a CARFAX worries me, but this otherwise seems perfect. https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/739301570/overview?aff=share_other

Milky > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:28

Well some of us don’t know that.

Kinja'd!!!

https://albuquerque.craigslist.org/ctd/d/2007-dodge-magnum-t/6602933749.html

Hard to find though :(

OPPOsaurus WRX > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:30

due to the way granite is formed, they are typically radioactive, some more than others.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Ash78, voting early and often
06/13/2018 at 10:30

Non-automotive loans are a thing.

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:31

Suck it up and buy a Toyota Sienna, man.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Milky
06/13/2018 at 10:31

Yeah. That’s almost as expensive as a nice Chrysler 300 for a less-luxurious car and I still really don’t like the prefacelift front end. Same wide-eyed look as the contemporary Dodge Ram and it just bothers me for some reason.

Kinja'd!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Under_Score
06/13/2018 at 10:33

you’re gonna be better soon financially

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHHAAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAH

Unfortunately I’m actually marketing for a small startup company making roughly 32k a year. My situation isn’t improving terribly rapidly. That is a screaming deal for a new body style 300c though.

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:33

Well, I don’t see it. Nothing on the 2005 is anywhere nearing offensive, and the difference is so minimal.

Just slap a 300 front clip on the magnum, then.

Under_Score > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:34

Oh yes, I’m sorry about that. Did you see the second link, though? That’s a much better choice of model, but like I said, no CARFAX for that specific car. :(

Vicente Esteve > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:42

I’d go for the 300 personally.

crowmolly > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:43

Roadmaster is certainly cool, but be aware you may run in to the typical Gen II SBC issues. Not that they are hard to solve, but they may not be cheap.

shop-teacher > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 10:56

Man I miss my Roadmaster. A couple things. They handle surprisingly well, and while they aren’t particularly fast, they have enough low end torque to put a huge smile on your face. Make sure you get one with the towing package. It comes with heavy duty cooling, limited slip diff, trans cooler, etc. With that, it’ll tow 7000 pounds. That $8-10k 300 will be worth several thousand less in a couple three years, when you’re bored with it. Whereas the Roadmaster, if you’ve kept it in nice shape and don’t ruin the thing, will be worth whatever you paid for it still.

If you do get one, you better make damn sure the AC works, because some of those parts are unobtainium these days.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > shop-teacher
06/13/2018 at 11:21

Huh, I figured parts would be ubiquitous for those. Does it not share truck parts for that system?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > crowmolly
06/13/2018 at 11:22

Are you referring to optispark?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Under_Score
06/13/2018 at 11:23

Hmmm. That grand cherokee is actually a really good idea. Not a huge fan of the looks but... I’ve driven the Chrysler SUV thing with the hemi (aspen?) and was shocked at how much gogo juice it had.

shop-teacher > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 11:30

It’s the controller behind the dash.

Maxima Speed > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 11:32

I’ve always wanted a Boxy Buick Estate wagon with a souped up Oldsmobile 455 Rocket swapped into. And then take it autocrossing.

crowmolly > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 11:42

Opti, water pump, steam lines. Rest of it is no big deal, but parts may be tough to find if it’s something that’s been out of production for a while. Forces you into the cheapass aftermarket (if possible) or performance aftermarket ($$).

Not sure the opti situation in 2018, but for a long while it was ACDelco or MSD. Full replacement, not just cap and rotor. Anything else would not last long. Something to do with the actual optical sensors.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > shop-teacher
06/13/2018 at 11:52

Gross

3point8isgreat > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 12:28

I find it concerning that this is the first time I’ve heard of this issue, given that I have an ‘05 R/T. And that’s even with looking up plenty of other random problems.

Under_Score > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 13:37

New enough to have decent stuff, old enough to drive off road for your current job and not worry too much. There may be others, but with the 5.7, that’s a good choice.

nerd_racing > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 14:20

300 front clips swap right on.

nerd_racing > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 14:24

https://www.allpar.com/cars/lx/magnum-2018.html

or do this:

Kinja'd!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > nerd_racing
06/13/2018 at 14:40

These are all incredibly expensive options.

And the Chrysler 300 front clip requires custom fenders for the body lines to match up.

nerd_racing > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 14:49

I don’t believe so. They were sold overseas as a 300 Wagon if you use Gen1 300 fenders.

Kinja'd!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > nerd_racing
06/13/2018 at 14:56

I was thinking of charger conversions. nevermind.

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > Long-Voyager
06/13/2018 at 16:22

I drive one and I’ll knock it all day. I’m honestly hard pressed to find a car that handles worse. These things have 600lb/inch springs which are soft for a miata, and no rear sway bar at all. To top it off, on 90% of these cars, the a arm bushings were worn out 40k miles ago, and don’t even get me started on ball joints.

shop-teacher > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
06/13/2018 at 16:30

Yep.

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > crowmolly
06/13/2018 at 16:47

As long as you find a reman unit with the Mitsubishi sensor, they’re good.

Long-Voyager > TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H!
06/13/2018 at 16:55

See there’s your problem, going into a 4000lb wagon expecting Miata handling.

You also can’t judge how they handle after driving one with worn ass suspension.

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > Long-Voyager
06/19/2018 at 21:27

Sedan, 4600lbs, and also have only driven a miata once. My expectations of handling include being better than my 86 ranger.

Long-Voyager > TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H!
06/20/2018 at 06:58

Again, judging a car with worn suspension and taking it as the rule.

It’s a heavy car with worn out suspension, I wonder why it handles like shit......