Hey all,

I'm not a car enthusiast as much as I love the Monte Carlo. I can tell basics, but am nowhere near a mechanic. I forgot to check the engine on a car I was going to buy, so I do not know if it was the SS or LS Monte Carlo. I'm thinking the LS; It had a blown intake gasket and currently needs a head gasket, very stereotypical of the 3.4 engine, if i recall.

Now, the car with all it's flaws is only $800. I have a mechanic who will do the head gasket job for $600. Friend of mine, great, reliable mechanic, took care of my old 99 monte LS, the piece of crap that thing was!

The car KBB's for $3500, so economically i'm getting a steal. however, would the head be at risk of blowing again after i fix it?

 

What year Monte ??, Have any pic's ???

 

I'd kind of wonder what else might be wrong, even if it is a good deal. If you were to buy it i'd fix it and flip it before more problems show up.

 

http://utica.craigslist.org/cto/3957351038.html

Those are the pics. It's in immaculate condition in terms of the looks. From the test drive, it seems only the head gasket is gone. Blowing white smoke, stuttering engine, and overheating. I'm planning on driving it for my last semester at school then flipping it in december, and buying an SS when I have the money.

It's an 02 as the ad says.

 

Hi `Josh, yes it's a LS with a 3.4 L, but it sure looks like a clean Monte 4-Sure. Can you take your mechanic with you to check it out...

For that price, you could rebuild the engine `if it's bad...How many miles are on the Monte ? Make sure you check the transmission..
I think it's a Super Super price for it 4-Sure...Keep us updated..

Plus leather & a Sun Roof (WoW)

Good Luck

 

Looking at the pics, appears the front fender might have a dent in it. Pics hide a lot but it looks decent.

I looked at a few fixer-uppers when I was looking to replace my daily driver. I took the Snap-On scan tool I had access to with me. Found not just the current CEL code, but old codes the car threw.

When it comes to buying a fixer-upper, us on a forum can only give you so much info. Best advice, get someone you trust (like your mechanic friend) to give it a once over. Sometimes an experienced used car shopper or shade-tree mechanic can spot things or get a gut feeling.

I assume this car is around 150,000 miles? If truly all that is wrong is LIM and Head Gaskets, for $800 + $600 for repairs, I'd tack in a little extra for the "didn't see that coming), it sounds like a good deal.

This coming from a guy that bought his wife a '05 Impala in December of 2010, with a 150,000 miles on it, blown transmission, bad rear O2 sensor and in need of come TLC it should have gotten at 100K miles (plugs, wires, belt, coolant flush, etc). I paid $500 for the car, did all the work myself except the trans. I think I spent $300 in parts and the trans came to $1200, so $2000 great car valued at over $3000 (still runs great to this day and I have not had to do anything to it since we bought it, but I sense brakes coming up).

 

Yes, there is a dent on the left front (Annoyingly, in the SAME place as my '99), and the front fender is a little screwy on the right side, and the passenger door tends to stick because of it. No big, long as it's not the driver side. 123k on the engine/body of the car, so really, not bad. My mechanic said to just buy it regardless and not worry, since if worse comes to worse I can simply get a new engine. Buying the car today. Her name is Cherry Darling, as was her predecessor.

 

Be careful...the head gasket issue may be a distraction from more serious problems. It has obviously been in at least one accident and had the front driver fender replaced before it was dented again. That fender does not have a pinstripe like the quarter panel. With the passenger side fender also damaged and the door sticking I would be concerned about structural damage...

 

Id buy it. I think you could put about 1500 in it and have a really nice car.

 

check the car fax fast i think its been hit