I bought her for $950 from a dealer in Platte, SD with 97,000 original miles. I tried to get him to drop to $800, but he wouldn't, and I don't blame him.
The find: I was looking for something to get me to and from work, and around to my favorite fishing spots. I found her on Craigslist almost a month before I went to see it. I was interested, but not enough to make the trip. I had found a 92 Chevy conversion van and was pretty set on buying it. My wife, however, didn't want a van, and talked me into going to see the Vic the day I was planning on pulling the trigger on the van.
Test drive/purchase: I drove to Platte in my 02 Buick Century (which I hate, by the way) to see the Vic after finding it on Craigslist. Pulling up I wasn't real impressed. Rusted fenders and shaped like a brick, but decided it wasn't too bad. At least it wasn't a Honda. The salesman (old school salesman, no bullshit, just sell the car) comes out yelling about the car. I'm guessing he's hard of hearing, and has no idea he's yelling. He's going on about how awesome the car is, and all that salesman crap. This isn't my first rodeo, so I assume it's mostly BS. He tells me it's been sitting for a few days, so it might need a little pedal work to start it. Nope. Fires right up and idles fine. Well alright then...
I get in and notice the incredible condition of the interior as he tells me it was bought locally new, and stayed there. He ushers us off to drive it. It rides nice, it steers fine, it responds well... Why is it so cheap? We drove it about 5 miles total, and it ran and drove great. Not fast at all, but gets the job done.
We pull back into the dealership and I'm sold on it. I try to haggle, but he won't budge. It's on consignment, and the guy HAS to get his money out of it, so he won't go lower. I signed the papers, paid the man, and took my new car off the lot.
Driving home: It's about a 45 minute trip home. Mostly highway, and the last 15 minutes or so interstate. The car does great. Cruise control works! Mileage isn't TOO bad... I'm still waiting for the catch.
We drove the car back home, and then left to go to Mitchell, an hour away to give her a real test. Again, does great. Later that night, I rummage through the glove box and look through the documentation for service and all that.
Engine was fully rebuilt in 89.
Oil change records show it was changed as it should be by the first owner, and almost as it should be by the second. ( A little old man. ) The third owner put new brakes and tires on it, as well as having a full tune up done in 99 at 94,000 miles. Since 99 it was driven very little. From 94k miles to 97k. It sat under a car port most of that time, and was driven weekly around town, and occasionally taken out on the highway.
Currently: I've been driving it every day and have discovered a few issues. Sometimes when I start it, it wants to die. It feels like it's in the wrong gear and trying to slow down when I let off the gas at speed, and my gas mileage is HORRIBLE currently.
The plan: Not much, really. I'm still undecided on if I'll keep it or not. I'll be doing a tune up when I get the funds for sure. I also bought a set of Sunpro triple gauges, and will hook those up as soon as I can find a drill to borrow.
If I keep it: I'll probably switch to carbed, and maybe put on an intake. I'll put on some aftermarket headers, and switch to duals with an H pipe. Probably not much else, really.
Pics:
The find: I was looking for something to get me to and from work, and around to my favorite fishing spots. I found her on Craigslist almost a month before I went to see it. I was interested, but not enough to make the trip. I had found a 92 Chevy conversion van and was pretty set on buying it. My wife, however, didn't want a van, and talked me into going to see the Vic the day I was planning on pulling the trigger on the van.
Test drive/purchase: I drove to Platte in my 02 Buick Century (which I hate, by the way) to see the Vic after finding it on Craigslist. Pulling up I wasn't real impressed. Rusted fenders and shaped like a brick, but decided it wasn't too bad. At least it wasn't a Honda. The salesman (old school salesman, no bullshit, just sell the car) comes out yelling about the car. I'm guessing he's hard of hearing, and has no idea he's yelling. He's going on about how awesome the car is, and all that salesman crap. This isn't my first rodeo, so I assume it's mostly BS. He tells me it's been sitting for a few days, so it might need a little pedal work to start it. Nope. Fires right up and idles fine. Well alright then...
I get in and notice the incredible condition of the interior as he tells me it was bought locally new, and stayed there. He ushers us off to drive it. It rides nice, it steers fine, it responds well... Why is it so cheap? We drove it about 5 miles total, and it ran and drove great. Not fast at all, but gets the job done.
We pull back into the dealership and I'm sold on it. I try to haggle, but he won't budge. It's on consignment, and the guy HAS to get his money out of it, so he won't go lower. I signed the papers, paid the man, and took my new car off the lot.
Driving home: It's about a 45 minute trip home. Mostly highway, and the last 15 minutes or so interstate. The car does great. Cruise control works! Mileage isn't TOO bad... I'm still waiting for the catch.
We drove the car back home, and then left to go to Mitchell, an hour away to give her a real test. Again, does great. Later that night, I rummage through the glove box and look through the documentation for service and all that.
Engine was fully rebuilt in 89.
Oil change records show it was changed as it should be by the first owner, and almost as it should be by the second. ( A little old man. ) The third owner put new brakes and tires on it, as well as having a full tune up done in 99 at 94,000 miles. Since 99 it was driven very little. From 94k miles to 97k. It sat under a car port most of that time, and was driven weekly around town, and occasionally taken out on the highway.
Currently: I've been driving it every day and have discovered a few issues. Sometimes when I start it, it wants to die. It feels like it's in the wrong gear and trying to slow down when I let off the gas at speed, and my gas mileage is HORRIBLE currently.
The plan: Not much, really. I'm still undecided on if I'll keep it or not. I'll be doing a tune up when I get the funds for sure. I also bought a set of Sunpro triple gauges, and will hook those up as soon as I can find a drill to borrow.
If I keep it: I'll probably switch to carbed, and maybe put on an intake. I'll put on some aftermarket headers, and switch to duals with an H pipe. Probably not much else, really.
Pics:
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