Ok, went to a dealer recently and looked at a 89 Coupe Deville. Only 115K miles, drives really quiet, nice, except for a busted right front fender which I can replace for cheap at the auto yard, I noticed the thing is really running funky.

Idles nice, quiet, but when you step on the gas, its really sluggish, and rough running... not totally gutless but very lacking in power. Seems to be alot of carbon around the tailpipe and when revving it up.. smelly exhaust, but not the egg smell like the cat would be failed. I am trying to decide.... buy it for 600 bucks or just walk away. Its been on the dealer lot and it was part of a larger auction purchase... so he got it for free, but won't sell it for less due to a wrecker offering him some amount, blah blah blah.

Anyways.. I have heard anything from a basic tune-up to a cat replacement or injector issue. I want to get a lower mileage car, and the price seems right, but don't wanna get into something over my head. Some help in making my decision would really help me out...

89 Coupe Deville
4.5 Engine

Thanks.

Just check the codes and take it for a good test drive. I just went through a similar incident of getting a decent decent deal on a 93. Did a full tuneup and had it good for a month or so, now my breaks are sticky and drag constantly killing my gas mileage. Just be careful and take precautions like good test drives before hand.

If its a 2ndd car, or you have another car that runs reliable and free time $600 is hard to beat for a little project

if you want it as a project, then i say go for it. but remember why they call it a project car....

Probably just lots of carbon build-up

That was the case with my '89. I ran in on the interstate at wide open throttle for about 40 miles, and it ran like new. No more smoke, better gas mileage, easier starting, and much quieter running.

Just be careful...you want to make sure that it isn't a flat cam. My 85 Deville had 6 flat lobes, and it still idled nicely, it just was gutless. If the intake gasket blew, it may have fried the cam, and the valves may be sticking.

I personally would put it toward a nicer 85-87 with low miles as these don't go for much--I just picked up another 85 Deville with 48k miles for $900+$450 shipping. Runs like new and drives like a dream.

Thanks all for the reply.

I went out there yesterday and did some more checking. I noticed all the paper work for it for the past 7-8 years atleast was in the glove... and lots of work has been done to it - maint. and replacements, etc. Probably owned by an older gentlemen. I spoke with the dealer and WITH title xfer only am going to actually pay 555. So, while it WAS 600 + would have had to pay an additional 105 for title xfer - I am still saving some cash.

I am going to get it tomorrow night and will probably be on in the next few weeks once I learn more. The bright side is I have currently my 88 Deville with the same motor just higher mileage so I think I have something for potential "test" parts, etc.

Thanks for the input!:D

Good luck with it!