 |
10/11/11, 12:24 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MS
Posts: 24,572
|
|
|
Update on car search
Found them one...a 1998 Pontiac Grand AM with 199,000 miles. Paid over the budgeted price ($1,500) but it's a good car with no issues. They are thrilled and my DIL will be seeing an obstetrician before the week is out.
Thank you all for your help in this search!
|
10/11/11, 01:23 PM
|
 |
sheep & antenna farming
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: far SW Wisconsin USA
Posts: 2,847
|
|
|
I'll be praying that this nice car holds up for several years for them. Paying more up front can mean fewer repair bills in the future. At least they don't have to deal with winter road salt!
Peg
|
10/11/11, 08:23 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MS
Posts: 24,572
|
|
|
Thanks. I'm also hoping it lasts them a long time! They are thrilled with it.
|
10/11/11, 09:10 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 7,692
|
|
|
Seems a bit high priced for that kind of miles. But assume you were impressed with how it drove and that it showed signs of excellent maintenance.
So wish your son and his wife good luck with it.
__________________
"What would you do with a brain if you had one?" -Dorothy
"Well, then ignore what I have to say and go with what works for you." -Eliot Coleman
|
10/11/11, 09:21 PM
|
 |
Moderator
|
|
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Ontario
Posts: 12,685
|
|
|
Ditto hermit, Grand Ams are OK. Glad they are happy with it. Hard to buy anything decent under $1500.
__________________
Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup........
|
10/11/11, 10:58 PM
|
|
Rat Racer
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 680
|
|
|
I'm glad you found one you're happy with. Used car prices have sucked for years now, I'm in touch with that. The first step is to get all the fluids changed and have an inspection done (sorry, I don't know what your registration process requires). Second, make sure your son doesn't drive a promising car into the ground by ignoring future maintenance.
I wish you all the best with the new baby, and hope the car does its job quietly in the background. Take care.
__________________
The garden's getting bigger this year. Again.
|
10/12/11, 11:12 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MS
Posts: 24,572
|
|
|
I also thought the price was to high. The seller had it listed for $1950 and came down to $1500. I tried to talk him down more, but he held firm and my son was ready to buy.
Fortunately, it had good tires on it and the seller put a new battery on it. He even told us to take it to our mechanic while test driving, but we were in Decatur and the mechanic we trust was in Huntsville. I told my son to take it straight to the mechanic and have it checked out, etc. I hope he's done that.
The car started right up and there were no odd sounds...no grinding brakes, squealing belts, rattles, etc. I even checked for leaks on the ground when my son took it out for a test drive and there weren't any.
LOL...I filled their tank for them when we left the lot and my son nearly had a heart attack. I have a feeling he won't be doing any excess driving since gas costs so much!
Again, thank you all for the good wishes. I am hoping that this car will help them get their lives in order (jobs, etc.) before the baby arrives.
Last edited by Ravenlost; 10/12/11 at 11:14 AM.
|
10/12/11, 12:58 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: central south dakota
Posts: 4,096
|
|
|
i had a grand am, that was a terrific car. looked like heck when i got rid of it, but still ran like a top. had 189,000. i was very careful to have oil/fluids changed often, and with those smaller cars, i highly suggest it.
i think used car prices are up cuz so many now cannot go new anymore. i drive an 87 regency 98, love that car. no payment! my kids use our merc. mystic, but its newer, a 98! wow! (haha!) i look for a 'gramma' car, one who's seen light use, good care and maybe even a garage. get em for cheap, the recency was $2000 with 100,000 on it, and drive em til they die. then fix them a bit and drive em a little more!
|
10/12/11, 01:01 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Missouri Ozarks
Posts: 5,069
|
|
|
Sometimes bumping your price point a little higher saves you in the long run. We were trying to buy a stock trailer for around $1200 earlier this year and all we found was rusted out junk but when we finally looked at the $1500 range we found an almost new one for that price.
Sounds like they got a good vehicle.
|
10/12/11, 03:48 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Northeastern Oklahoma
Posts: 5,021
|
|
Grand Ams are really popular, that's why they can ask more for them. I've had two and loved them both, only got rid of the last one when I moved out here and had to have a tall 4WD to get over my road, lol.
Maintenance is important, but with regular maintenance it should hold up well. Good luck! 
|
10/13/11, 02:11 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MS
Posts: 24,572
|
|
|
Thanks!
|
10/13/11, 12:10 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Northeastern Oklahoma
Posts: 5,021
|
|
Forgot to say before, but regarding filling the tank...as I recall I could get 300-350 miles on a tank of gas in my Grand Ams, and they have a pretty small tank. I can't remember what the miles per gallon were, but I thought it was pretty good, maybe 26-27? I remember being surprised how well it did when I got the first one. Hope this helps.
|
10/13/11, 01:36 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MS
Posts: 24,572
|
|
|
I hope he gets good gas mileage with it too. He hasn't put gas in a car for two years so the sticker shock really got him good! LOL...
|
10/14/11, 10:51 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MS
Posts: 24,572
|
|
|
Just checked the KBB value and the car is listed (good condition) for $1870.00 so I'm happy we got it for $1500.00.
|
10/15/11, 12:48 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Northeastern Oklahoma
Posts: 5,021
|
|
Yay! That should make you feel good.
|
10/15/11, 04:07 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MS
Posts: 24,572
|
|
|
It does!
|
| Thread Tools |
|
|
| Rate This Thread |
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:40 AM.
|
|
