free car?

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Dec 9, 2010 | 01:26 AM

ghave

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free car?

I was given a 1985 vanden plas. With no title and no record at the DMV. It has been sitting in a garage for a long time. There is slightly over 10,000 miles. Almost 100% original. It even has the original tires. My mechanic said the break calipers are frozen, possible head gasket is leaking, and he suspects that the rings are rusted because it takes a lot of effort to turn over. His advice is that it will cost as much to get it running as it is worth ($8,000-$10,000). He has offered $1,000 cash. Should I take it?

Dec 9, 2010 | 05:29 AM

steve11

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 1,595

Likes: 151

From: USA

It is hard to answer because the question has two components to it - Logical and emotional. I couldn't begin to gauge your passion for the car. Strictly on the logical side, the answer would be yes, take the $1,000.

If all of the tech's diagnosis is correct, there are going to be other mechanical issues once the car is running. Could be a transmission, differential, electrical gremlins, or numerous other engine issues etc, etc. The head gasket alone is a nightmare on an SIII that has been sitting for years. You could probably do better than $1,000 parting it out, which is probably what the tech is thinking, but then you have to have the room to do that.

Last edited by steve11; Dec 9, 2010 at 05:45 AM.