Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => General Fox T-Bird/Cougar Discussion => Topic started by: FirstBird on September 05, 2012, 12:18:21 AM

Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: FirstBird on September 05, 2012, 12:18:21 AM
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/3250633328.html Going to go check this out sometime this week, anything I should keep an eye out for. I own an 87' 3.8 but I acquired the car and didn't buy it. So any problems with the 5.0's? There should be no rust or anything so not really worried about that. Guys think I can pick it up for $600?
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: dragon574444 on September 05, 2012, 10:53:40 AM
I think it's well worth the 800 he's asking. Looks like it needs a few minor things, but it seems like a nice car.
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: Crazy88 on September 05, 2012, 11:01:56 AM
I'd offer $500 and move up from there.  If you offer the $800 right up front, even if it is worth it, the owner will feel that they priced the car too low and will feel that you cheated them, even though they are the ones that set the price.  Everyone expects some degree of negotiation and the lower your starting price, combined with the closer you get to their asking price, will make the seller "feel" that they are getting the better end of the deal.
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: FirstBird on September 05, 2012, 01:46:36 PM
Yeah thats what i will try to explain And that they wouldnt get much more for the car at a syard.
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: Crazy88 on September 05, 2012, 02:18:30 PM
Another thing you might be able to make use of, is that when you make each of your offers, only increment in small numbers like $10-20 at a time, saving the "meet me halfway" for the final bid.  Always look the seller directly in the eye, without blinking or looking away, until after they have responded to your number.  Also, never let the seller see you become attached to the car.  Take your time between increasing offers and kind of keep looking at the car, especially its weak spots, with a frown and maybe a slight shake of the head.  When you get to the highest offer you are willing to make, tell the seller so by saying "this is my final offer" and then you MUST be willing to walk away without looking back. If they refuse your final offer, wish them good luck with their sale and leave your name and contact information. In conjunction with walking away without looking back, the seller immediately will have second thoughts and doubts (a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush).  If and when they call you, you can continue with your negotiations, but start right back near the bottom of what you offered previously.  If they say something like "yesterday you were willing to offer $650, but today you're offering $500?", tell them that even though the car has , you were trying to help them out, but since they were unwilling, you wasted your time and gasoline. By continuing negotiations on the phone, you no longer have to worry as much about giving the seller an advantage.
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: FirstBird on September 05, 2012, 09:48:52 PM
Crazy88, have you worked as a salesman before? Haha I talked to the guy today and he says the transmission is slipping, but I'm thinking it might be just OD gear or lack of/too much tranny fluid. Told me most of the things that are wrong with the car, but i'll be going to check it out this Saturday and may have to make some space in the driveway for a second bird, I'll see how it goes and see what I can uncover under that 190k motor.
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: Crazy88 on September 05, 2012, 11:06:31 PM
Quote from: FirstBird;397496
Crazy88, have you worked as a salesman before? Haha I talked to the guy today and he says the transmission is slipping, but I'm thinking it might be just OD gear or lack of/too much tranny fluid. Told me most of the things that are wrong with the car, but i'll be going to check it out this Saturday and may have to make some space in the driveway for a second bird, I'll see how it goes and see what I can uncover under that 190k motor.


Nope, I have just bought and sold a lot of cars in the past 35 years. ;)
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: thunderjet302 on September 06, 2012, 12:01:57 AM
Rusty radiator= leaks and overheats.

Trans starting to slip= rebuild of AOD.

I've looked at enough of cars over the years to figure out that "little problems" are usually big problems, otherwise the seller would fix it themselves instead of selling it ;).
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: Crazy88 on September 06, 2012, 12:38:37 AM
Quote from: thunderjet302;397510
Rusty radiator= leaks and overheats.

Trans starting to slip= rebuild of AOD.

I've looked at enough of cars over the years to figure out that "little problems" are usually big problems, otherwise the seller would fix it themselves instead of selling it ;).

Yeah, that kinda goes without saying.  It is the potential of having to rebuild the AOD that I would be most concerned with.  Another possibility is that the radiator has gone so bad that the water/antifreeze is crossing over into the trans cooler and contaminating the trans fluid. I had a similar thing happen on my old '88 LX, except that it contaminated the power steering instead, burning up the pump and requiring a rebuilt rack in the process.  Check trans fluid and smell it.  If it smells burnt, run because the car has been beat on... HARD.  If it appears fresh, indicates being full and slips severely, plan on a rebuild.
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: FirstBird on September 06, 2012, 01:55:24 AM
Thanks for the insight, when I talked to the guy he said the car drives fine,(doesn't over heat, that was actually my first question lol) to some people visual things mean different things. To me rust would mean the whole radiator is falling apart,leaking,etc. The way he described it was that it was just an old radiator, but we will see what happens, the guy is in college I believe as I am meeting him on the campus, so I don't know maybe he's just not aware and listens to mechanics too much. I will also have to check the grommet for the tv cable as that may cause a slipping. We will see, I don't need another bird, but if it does turn out to be minor things. Two is always better than One. He says the suspension is brand new and it was repainted a few years ago, We shall see pictures don't show many imperfections.
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: cougarman on September 06, 2012, 08:30:52 AM
Man if that car was around here, I'd be all over it!!!
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: Chuck W on September 06, 2012, 09:05:29 AM
Go look it over and go for a drive.  That should answer all your questions.
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: jpc647 on September 06, 2012, 09:14:27 AM
Quote from: thunderjet302;397510
Rusty radiator= leaks and overheats.

Trans starting to slip= rebuild of AOD.

I've looked at enough of cars over the years to figure out that "little problems" are usually big problems, otherwise the seller would fix it themselves instead of selling it ;).

My thoughts exactly. I wouldn't offer more than $400-500 A rebuild of the trans is going to run 5-600, and a new radiator is $100 plus with fluids, new hoses, etc. Is the car really worth putting that much into it? How long does a 190,000 mile motor have left? You're call, but it'd get it cheap cheap or not at all, and start looking for a motor to put in it.
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: FirstBird on September 06, 2012, 12:29:24 PM
Thats what i am planning to do, as long as the car would make it to my house a HO swap can always occur though so i am not to worried about that.
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: Haystack on September 06, 2012, 10:31:09 PM
$500 is more then fair for a car with a bad transmission and bad radiator.
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: FirstBird on September 07, 2012, 12:29:39 AM
Yeah, can always go for a junkyard aod or t5 swap, if it's a complete  hole but i can pick it up for real cheap ill do that. He posted engine bay pictures and it doesnt look half bad on the outside.
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: FirstBird on September 09, 2012, 05:37:57 PM
Car was a complete  hole, Everything was broken, almost nothing worked, it started and drove but Felt like it was going to die. Offered the guy 200 bucks for it, told me a junker offered him 650, I don't think he saw the car. So the look continues.
Title: Bird Hunting
Post by: Quietleaf on September 09, 2012, 06:34:54 PM
A rebuild can be a little or a lot. Mine still had a lot of slop after a rebuild, and checking it again they found metal shavings inside. They gutted it *completely* and rebuilt it from scratch. Now it's perfect (the slightest touch on the pedal puts power to the wheels), but it ran me $1200.