Oppopinion: Classic car buying

"MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s" (mastermario) 04/05/2020 at 18:57 • Filed to: Craigslist, car shopping

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My dad sent me this CL ad.

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If the car is as clean as it looks and it’s still up next week he plans on taking a look at it. The price seems very reasonable.

This interior is fantastic

So, what say you oppo? Good deal? Anything specific to look for on these?

Sovande > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/05/2020 at 19:09

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My buddy in high school drove one. 6mpgs if I recall correctly. 

The Snowman > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/05/2020 at 19:10

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$4000 car. I'm sure it's nice and clean and all but low demand car and horrible time to be selling. Also I only buy cars I know I can get my money back out of.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Sovande 04/05/2020 at 19:13

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Yea, he knows it's going to drink A LOT

WilliamsSW > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/05/2020 at 19:13

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Nice price if everything works and it’s not full of bondo- the fact that the paint is a bit faded is a good thing imho.

What engine?  “400 turbo” refers to the transmission I think.  

fintail > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/05/2020 at 19:17

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Carrie Fisher’s car from Blues Brothers.  That’s all I know.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/05/2020 at 19:48

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What to Pay
Low: $3,500
Average: $6,000
High: $11,000

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/grand-finale-1977-pontiac-grand-prix/

I’m not familar with gran Prix pricing. If it is origiana l and rust free, thats always a bonus over anything “repaired”.

thatsmr > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/05/2020 at 19:50

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Other than being oddly attractive, malaise era domestics are horrible machines. Terrible mileage, terrible handling, no power... that said we should have interiors like that again, and if it runs, it will probably run forever! Cp at 6500, but agree w snowman $4k is fair. No rust please

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/05/2020 at 19:51

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I’m always curious how much the mile age would improve with a more modern 5 speed (or better 6)

WilliamsSW > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 04/05/2020 at 19:52

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That article is from 2008 - I do think it’s a fair asking price for that car.  Especially if the engine is a 400.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/05/2020 at 19:54

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https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/?adtypeFacet=Vehicles%20for%20Sale&makeFacet=Pontiac&modelFacet[]=Grand%20Prix&year_rangeFacet[]=1970%27s&year_rangeFacet[]=1980%27s

Other asking price

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > WilliamsSW 04/05/2020 at 19:55

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Doh

good catch. https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/?adtypeFacet=Vehicles%20for%20Sale&makeFacet=Pontiac&modelFacet[]=Grand%20Prix&year_rangeFacet[]=1970%27s&year_rangeFacet[]=1980%27s

Jim Spanfeller > Sovande 04/05/2020 at 19:58

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My T-bird got  something like 5 mpg. That said, it wasn’t quite running properly thanks to some compression loss. Once I get it put back together, it should hopefully get slightly better mileage...

WilliamsSW > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 04/05/2020 at 20:05

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Funny I read the same article, I was wondering what engines were available in 77.  I wouldn’t want the 301, the 350 would be okay, the 400 is what I would want. 

thatsmr > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 04/05/2020 at 20:34

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MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > thatsmr 04/05/2020 at 20:38

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I think my dad is past the point of having something that’s fast. I think he just wants something comfortable to take for a leisurely cruise on nice days. This fits the bill. Though it'll most likely get abysmal had mileage.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > thatsmr 04/05/2020 at 20:40

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Yeah prices are going to be interesting. I was thinking of selling last year but looks like I’m holding on for a few more.

thatsmr > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/05/2020 at 20:57

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Id totally hate paying that much for this, but would totally love to spend a day washing and waxing it!

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > thatsmr 04/05/2020 at 21:04

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Yea the consensus seems to be the price is a bit high. My dad is a patient buyer usually though. So if he likes it he'd be okay with giving him a lower offer and saying it's a standing offer if he says no initially.

Old-Busted-Hotness > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/05/2020 at 22:29

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Do it, but plan to spend more than you think. There’s always problems you don’t see going in. But dailying an old car can be quite rewarding, just prepare to have conversations with random people . Also, plan on tires. Those Wingfoots are more than 30 years old.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/05/2020 at 22:52

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It’s a malaise era machine. I’d say the price is a bit high. I think the max value on this is $5000.

It might be worth that if it was a 1973 model... which looked better to me and where that same Pontiac 400 made 50hp more.

GLiddy > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/05/2020 at 23:21

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Is something wrong with the trunk lid ? It’s not closed all the way in the pictures.  It might get better mileage than 5 or 7.  I had a 79 Trans Am with the TH350 transmission and I’d get a consistent 13 mpg.  Maybe a ‘big block’ 455 would get worse.  Too bad it’s not a console shift, but at least it has almost a full instrument package. (No tach)

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/06/2020 at 22:00

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One of the most popular selling cars of the time.

I wouldn’t buy it. Big heavy engine, only 180 hp. The emissions standards were kicking in hard and they hadn’t yet figured out how to deal with them. Even though it has reasonable miles the steering and suspension parts are going to be dried out and clunky, unless they fixed it up for you . If not i t’s going to show its age and you’ll need to rebuild it .