Over the last week, I've looked at a number of cars as a potential "winter beater" or "winter beater/road warrior"...3 of those on Saturday, November 8. I tend to come across either FWD coupes or RWD sedans. I'd prefer a RWD coupe....


'78 Caprice Classic sedan
...asking $3500
...nice car, orange in color with tan vinyl top, but too good of condition to use as a winter beater, imo.
...not too keen on vinyl tops ... or the vinyl seats it had ... or it being a sedan.
...Possible name = Orange Flame


'89 Caprice Classic sedan
...asking $2500
...nice car on the outside; 2-tone blue.
...appeared to have some leaks into the interior and, when I drove it, the heater started making a very disturbing sound after a few minutes of being on. The sound was a mix between a fog horn and the buzzer on a morning alarm clock.
...Perfect winter beater, for sure ... but, a sedan? I don't have a family....
...Name = Too Blue Bandit


'87 El Camino
...asking $4000
...interesting choice; 2-tone silver/gray. Had some rust (doesn't bother me), but a flat tire and the current owner not having insurance or license plates rendered me not able to test drive.
...seemed to run OK, but he had it running before I got there. AND...as I left, I noticed the windows starting to fog up. Aye.
...Known right away needs ... 4 new tires, windshield washer pump, heater core?, etc.
...Possible name = Gray Ghost


'07 Dodge Charger
...Honda dealer asking ~$16,000 ... 35K miles; silver exterior with the gray/dark gray interior I prefer in these.
...Ironically, this had a flattening tire.... Didn't test drive, but did start the engine. Hmmm...ticking noise in the 3.5L V6. Plus, small stains on the seats. Ugh.
...I like the RWD, but not too keen on the sedan aspect.
...Name = Silver Streak


'06 mc LTZ, FWD, non-flex fuel
...Chevy dealer asking ~$16,000 ... 30K miles (3.9V6); blue exterior, black interior with leather seats (ugh).
...Since this is priced similarly to the newer Charger, that kinda blows Ch#$r%*et's claims that ANYTHING FWD will be cheaper than ANYTHING RWD....
...has the standup spoiler I like...and a sunroof. I know how much Mom and Dad love their sunroof in their Cobalt; I suspect I'd grow to like it, too.
...Yes, I TEST DROVE this one. Nice. Better handling than my former '00 mc LS "Green Hornet", but not as comfy as my '87 MC LS/CL. Speaking of which, the dealer I spoke with could NOT believe my '87 MC LS/CL had been driven in winter since 2003. Course, he also had the nerve to ask if I'd be trading it in....
...Could I go back to FWD? Aye. It is a coupe, though.
...Name = Bruised Bandit


'07 mc LT, FWD, flex fuel
...Hyundai dealer asking ~$13,000 ... 35K miles (3.5V6); white exterior, neutral (tan) interior with cloth seats.
...Haven't seen this one in person, but the pics look good. Standup spoiler I like, too!
...But, again, could I go back to FWD?
...Name = White Lie


Of course ... the cars I'd PREFER are at least a 3-hour drive away ... '77 Caprice coupe, '78 Caprice coupe, '79 Caprice coupe, '86 MC LS, '88 MC LS/CL, inferno red '07 Dodge Charger, red jewel tintcoat '06 mc LT, etc. And, yes, I've considered a used GTO (not really something I want) or even a new Pontiac G8, but that's a dangblasted sedan....


If I buy older ... the car would strictly be a "winter beater". If I buy newer, it would be a "winter beater / road warrior" (i.e. used in winter and for my road trips).
If I buy older, I stay well within my budget for extra insurance (and NO car payments). If I buy newer, I have higher insurance costs AND a monthly payment. Ugh.


Decisions decisions. I know the choice is ultimately mine ... but, what would you do? Choose one of the above ... or keep looking? I believe I have time before the first measurable snowfall, but you never know.... And, actually, I don't HAVE to get another car ... my '87 MC LS has ALWAYS started in the winter, so I'd hate to replace it for year round ... but, if I want it to stay nice (i.e. not much rust), I kinda need to keep it out of the winter....




Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ... & I approve this post
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"I'm dying inside" ... The Tony Rich Project ... 'Nobody Knows'

 

Heh ... that'd be my choice .


Space ... consider yourself lucky for not having to deal with snow!


And, God_Bot ... I thought the prices might be a little high, but wasn't sure. Thanks for confirming that for me .



Hmmm...it appears the '78 Caprice sedan i saw earlier is probably sold....


BUT, another option has entered the picture. I hope to go see it sometime next weekend (amid getting the older 4 MCs out, of course). In the meantime, the details....

'78 Buick Riviera
...asking $3400
...from the pics, great exterior and interior; 2 tone tan
...according to the owner, only one rust spot (not an issue for me)
...the owner had been using it as his daily driver
...the list of options seems wonderful to me, and from what he's shared, sounds like a perfect daily driver/winter car....
...RWD and a coupe ... but has a vinyl top
...Possible name = Golden Glory



Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"I'm testing my resistance & it's wearing mighty thin" ... Eddie Rabbitt ... 'Every Which Way But Loose'

 

Found out today (Tuesday, November 11) that the '06 mc LTZ and the '07 mc LT have been sold.....


BUT ... may've found something in this area to compete with the '78 Buick Riviera ... and I've been exchanging Emails with the owner....

'78 Caprice Classic sedan
...asking $1,400
...from the pics, exterior looks great; I'm told the interior has some issues; light blue with vinyl top
...in the family since new
...80% of 100K + miles were highway
...repainted and headliner replaced, 1995
...stock 305 V8 2bbl, well maintained
...RWD, but sedan
...Name = Blue Bandit


Oh...and for those concerned about an older car through a winter, consider this:
I paid around $5K for my '87 MC LS/CL in 2003. I have driven it in winter starting in 2003-2004. It has ALWAYS started in winter. My 2 brand new cars, for which I paid a combined total of over $40K easily and are LONG gone, can NOT claim the same thing.



Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"What can you do?" ... Mickey Gilley ... 'Full Grown Fool'