Riddle me this. [Archive] - ForumsHQ

[ari]

Hey all, looking at buying a beater for the winter (longer if I'm lucky), and had someone at work offering me a late '80's Ford Explorer that's currently sitting in her backyard. She thinks it'd need a new muffler, and the wiring to enable the 4x4 has come loose, but other than that doesn't think anything is going to blow up. Said she'd have to talk to her husband, but thinks that when they had talked about selling it before, they thought $400-500 was reasonable to ask for. Even said she'd take payments (so I could get muffler fixed asap...town I'm living in atm is COMPLETELY anal when it comes to cops pulling people over).



Anyways, I was hoping for a few "you should buy it because..." or "don't buy it because..." comments from people who know anything about vehicles. I know squat, and it shows.



Thanks!

[Mwuhaha]

If it starts, Runs when you put it in drive and reverse, doesn't knock or smoke too bad, it is well worth 500. Texas has yearly vehicle inspections, if your state has such, that would be a good judge of how road worthy the car is.

[The Ghost]

HAHA the state inspections in Texas are a joke, last year when I needed my explorer inspected I took it to a car dealer, he just checked to see if the lights work and I payed my 12.50 and was off.. :)

[Ghaleon]

I say go for it. whats 500 bucks to a guy that doesnt have a wallet :)

[exmonkeypunk]

the 4.0 and 5.0 motors they put into those things are tanks. As long as you're not anal about oil leaks and noises, it'll be a good ox for winter driving. I'd say look it over really really good to make sure you're not gonna have to put any money into the 4x4 or suspension and as long as everything looks alright then go for it.

[Pantharen]

Go to http://Craigslist.org find your area, and find out what the general consensus for a 80's ford is worth.

Personally I prefer Dodge but I drive a POS 1991 Mazda B2200 pickup.

[ari]

Thanks for more info, but I told them today I'd have to pass. Came to find out (not a car guy, so pardon the layman terminology) that all the seals had been replaced except the "hard one", which I came to find out involved dropping the rear differential and all that jive...was told maybe could be fixed for $400, which I would have been willing to do, but also told it could have cost upwards of $1200.

So, I've got my ear to the curb and am looking for another winter beater. Local car dealership just called saying they found a place that'd allow a co-signer who didn't live at the same address as me, so I may go that route still.

[zan]

Thanks for more info, but I told them today I'd have to pass. Came to find out (not a car guy, so pardon the layman terminology) that all the seals had been replaced except the "hard one", which I came to find out involved dropping the rear differential and all that jive...was told maybe could be fixed for $400, which I would have been willing to do, but also told it could have cost upwards of $1200.



So, I've got my ear to the curb and am looking for another winter beater. Local car dealership just called saying they found a place that'd allow a co-signer who didn't live at the same address as me, so I may go that route still.





Any place should allow a co-signer that doesnt live with you. A co-signer is just there so they can hunt them down to make payments if your not. Also if they have good credit it helps with the % on the loan.

[ari]

Co-signer is my dad, score is 746 (he's mad because it's gone down recently). Two of the rejection letters I've received listed the reason as exactly that, not at same residence. I laughed, I had no clue. Dealership must have, though, because they mentioned on the voicemail they found a place that allows that.

[exmonkeypunk]

my bad....double click on a mac.