I made a couple of threads earlier asking for input on a 91 Brougham I was kinda sorta thinking I might buy. I figure I may as well post the link to the ad and get some more impressions, and I'll tell you why I haven't bought it already.
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/ctd/3517562222.html
So, most of what he says about the car is true. It is actually a two owner vehicle. He bought it from the original owner in 2011, and hasn't driven it much. The car starts right up, runs and drives like a dream. The paint is gorgeous, the chrome is immaculate, the interior is essentially like new (minus the old people smell).
The reason(s) I haven't jumped on it are the few "imperfections" in the paint that he mentioned are actually body damage. One is a small ding on the driver door. Another is a dent in the surface of the trunk where it was slammed shut on grandpa's wheelchair. There's also a pretty big dent in the rear passenger side door where it was opened up into a pole or something. I'm not an autobody guy, but I'd say about 500-700 dollars in bodywork. The real reason I went to see the car, but walked away without a purchase... there is a significant amount of rust underneath. Sure the car was only driven 48,000 miles, but some of those were clearly New England Winter miles, and the underside of the car was never coated or cared for, from the looks of it. In most places, it's surface rust, but in others, it's starting to really build up, especially on the rear suspension and body mounts. Even the fenders over the rear wheels have the beginning of rust under the paint. No bubbling yet, but you can see where the paint will start to flake as soon as it is given the chance. This particularly bothers me, because the fenders on my 89 didn't show any rust bubbling until it was at 180,000 miles.
I'm losing my Caddy to frame rot as we speak, so I am extremely wary of rust, no matter what stage it is in. The seller does not want to come down on the price. I tried to get him down, and he's apparently turned away other buyers who have low-balled him as well. The bodywork doesn't bother me, honestly, it's all the rust. I just hate to turn my back on such a beautiful, low-mile car, otherwise.
Opinions?
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/ctd/3517562222.html
So, most of what he says about the car is true. It is actually a two owner vehicle. He bought it from the original owner in 2011, and hasn't driven it much. The car starts right up, runs and drives like a dream. The paint is gorgeous, the chrome is immaculate, the interior is essentially like new (minus the old people smell).
The reason(s) I haven't jumped on it are the few "imperfections" in the paint that he mentioned are actually body damage. One is a small ding on the driver door. Another is a dent in the surface of the trunk where it was slammed shut on grandpa's wheelchair. There's also a pretty big dent in the rear passenger side door where it was opened up into a pole or something. I'm not an autobody guy, but I'd say about 500-700 dollars in bodywork. The real reason I went to see the car, but walked away without a purchase... there is a significant amount of rust underneath. Sure the car was only driven 48,000 miles, but some of those were clearly New England Winter miles, and the underside of the car was never coated or cared for, from the looks of it. In most places, it's surface rust, but in others, it's starting to really build up, especially on the rear suspension and body mounts. Even the fenders over the rear wheels have the beginning of rust under the paint. No bubbling yet, but you can see where the paint will start to flake as soon as it is given the chance. This particularly bothers me, because the fenders on my 89 didn't show any rust bubbling until it was at 180,000 miles.
I'm losing my Caddy to frame rot as we speak, so I am extremely wary of rust, no matter what stage it is in. The seller does not want to come down on the price. I tried to get him down, and he's apparently turned away other buyers who have low-balled him as well. The bodywork doesn't bother me, honestly, it's all the rust. I just hate to turn my back on such a beautiful, low-mile car, otherwise.
Opinions?
