Need some car advice

**abe2010** · 06-15-2009, 11:11 AM

Alright, I'm trying to decide between two cars and I was wondering if anyone had any experience (good or bad) with either kind. Here they are:

Olds 98 Regency
162k miles, decent body/interior
$2000, willing to negociate (private seller)
~25 mpg
Olds Regency 98

Ford Crown Vic 2000
120k miles, excellent body/interior
$4500, haven't contacted dealer yet
~20 mpg
2000 Ford Crown Victoria - Wilson of Ames Ames, IA - 2FAFP73W3YX178485

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

**clones_jer** · 06-15-2009, 11:15 AM

You can get a 2003 Crown Vic with 80-100K at the DOT auction for ~ $1,800.

I wouldn't pay anywhere close to $4,500

EDIT: Now I see the dealer is in Ames, they probably bought it at the auction this spring for well under $2k. Remember that in your negotiations.

**Cyclonick182** · 06-15-2009, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by clones_jer

You can get a 2003 Crown Vic with 80-100K at the DOT auction for ~ $1,800.

I wouldn't pay anywhere close to $4,500

This. I'd keep looking since neither of those sound like that great of options.

**CyPride** · 06-15-2009, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by clones_jer

You can get a 2003 Crown Vic with 80-100K at the DOT auction for ~ $1,800.

I wouldn't pay anywhere close to $4,500

EDIT: Now I see the dealer is in Ames, they probably bought it at the auction this spring for well under $2k. Remember that in your negotiations.

DOT auction sounds good. Some people don't have $2k to spend at an auction. And if they do, some people don't have $2k to spend when they really don't know what they are getting. At least for this guy he knows the car has been looked over,etc.

You can still negotiate, but it is irrelevant as to what the dealer paid for it. How much has he put into the car since the purchase?

**clones_jer** · 06-15-2009, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by CyPride

DOT auction sounds good. Some people don't have $2k to spend at an auction. And if they do, some people don't have $2k to spend when they really don't know what they are getting. At least for this guy he knows the car has been looked over,etc.

You can still negotiate, but it is irrelevant as to what the dealer paid for it. How much has he put into the car since the purchase?

you sound like a car dealer

believe me, it's not high rollers at a DOT auction ... and if you have $4.5K to get swiddled out of I'm sure you could scrape together $2K.

The DOT cars have been good to me, I assume the state has a regularly scheduled maintenance program, better than most cars with $100k on them anyway.

If a dealer put $2k into a $2k Crown Vic with a 120k miles on it that's his own damn fault. Every one of those cars drives off the lot at the end of the auction.

**Cycofan1** · 06-15-2009, 11:42 AM

I would look for a cheap crown vic.

**bos** · 06-15-2009, 11:42 AM

Are you starting up your own real life Mob wars?

**woodie** · 06-15-2009, 11:45 AM

get a new honda insight.they predict a barrel of oil will be 200 dollars by the end of 2010.

**CyPride** · 06-15-2009, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by clones_jer

you sound like a car dealer

believe me, it's not high rollers at a DOT auction ... and if you have $4.5K to get swiddled out of I'm sure you could scrape together $2K.

The DOT cars have been good to me, I assume the state has a regularly scheduled maintenance program, better than most cars with $100k on them anyway.

If a dealer put $2k into a $2k Crown Vic with a 120k miles on it that's his own damn fault. Every one of those cars drives off the lot at the end of the auction.

I'm not advocating paying $4500. And I doubt the car dealership would put 2k into it. But the average Joe buying something at this auction can't do his own work, and then you are paying for a fixer to do it for you. I'm not a fan of a dealer, but buying a high-mileage car at an auction only says "buyer-beware" to me.

Does the DOT offer financing? You wouldn't believe the amount of people who don't have money beyond month-to-month.

If I were to buy a car with 100k+ mileage, it wouldn't be either of the cars he mentions, but he must be looking for something with a lot of room.

**abe2010** · 06-15-2009, 11:59 AM

the crown vic is not an old cop car, it is in amazing shape, perfect paint, interior, etc. also, the $4500 is high for me, especially knowing they probably didnt pay over $3000 for it. the milage is what is swaying me towards the regency, plus not having to mess around with a dealer

**abe2010** · 06-15-2009, 12:02 PM

If I were to buy a car with 100k+ mileage, it wouldn't be either of the cars he mentions, but he must be looking for something with a lot of room.[/QUOTE]

Yes I am, I'm 6'5" so that limits my selection somewhat.

**SeattleClone** · 06-15-2009, 12:08 PM

Well the ad for the Olds says the 3800 engine will run for another 100k miles, he's not lying. Although I'd be a little wary of a supercharged version... more wear and tear on everything, depending on how often the supercharger was utilized. For example, if I had owned and driven that car, you would not want it as it would probably be on its last breath...

P.S. Gotta love the people who just ignore the options you've given and suggest something COMPLETELY different. Thanks!

**Cyclonick182** · 06-15-2009, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by SeattleClone

Well the ad for the Olds says the 3800 engine will run for another 100k miles, he's not lying. Although I'd be a little wary of a supercharged version... more wear and tear on everything, depending on how often the supercharger was utilized. For example, if I had owned and driven that car, you would not want it as it would probably be on its last breath...

Same for turbos as well.

If you've got the toys under the hood you pretty much are obligated to drive it like it was stolen.

**Cyclonesrule91** · 06-15-2009, 12:24 PM

I would stay away from the Olds 98. Like said above, the 3800 by itself is a darn good motor but if it hasn't had major work done in it's 162,000 miles then it could be getting weak. If so, the last thing you want to do is put a new supercharger on it forcing all that air into a could be tired engine. The engine could also be in awesome shape but the odds say not so much. Sunroofs can also be problems on those cars.

The crown vic is overpriced and I agree with the auction route if you can come up with the money at the time. You always save when you pay wholesale vs retail if you can sniff out problems before it hits the line. I havea guy who has bought quite a few cars and trucks for family and friends and he goes to auctions quite often and really knows what to look at before he bids them. PM me if you want his name and number and I can get you hooked up.