My new used car. How did I do?

[ghostman1960]

I just bought a 97 Chevy Lumina for my wife today for $800.00. The guy wanted $1200.00 but I talked him down in price because he said that the AC needs to be recharged. I hope thats all there is anyway but I think the compressor needs to be replaced. Besides that, here does not seem to be anything wrong with the car. It is in excellent condition and has 86,000 miles on it. I test drove it and it runs and shifts smoothly. No smoke, shakes or shimmies. It belonged to his mom before she passed. I got it for my wife for her short commute to work as I was tired of driving her and picking her up all the time.   

[Hazcat]

Sounds like a winner to me.  I would have the trans serviced (fluid and filter) have the oil changed and 'let her rip'.

[tombogan03884]

Sounds like a deal to me

[Pathfinder]

Looks like a nice deal. I ran a lumina in Canada when my son and I went camping up there. I put it through hell - the car rental place in Winnipeg was stunned when I returned it - filthy dirty as I drove it places one smarter than I should never take a Lumina - back gravel roads, the kind with directional flow by time of day because they are so small, log bridges IN the stream, etc.

+1 on the complete fluid replacement, especially with winter coming. Maybe a battery check too.

Good luck and happy driving.

[Timothy]

For 800 bucks, ya can drive it for a year and be about 4000 bucks ahead of what a monthly car payment would be considering a 20K car cost about 400 bucks a month...

Fluids are a must, check the tires for cracking, do a brake function test and maybe a quick look at the exhaust if an older driver owned it before.  Short trips cause the exhaust to corrode from the inside out because the system never really gets hot enough to dry out all the condensation.

Be happy, it ain't pretty but it goes where you point it!

[Sponsor]

[Badgersmilk]

Probably fix the ac for $20 bucks!  I took mine in to a shop where I know a guy and he told me this.

Go to Walmart and get a little short arisol can that says Air Conditioning Sealant.  All the cans say they have sealant in them, but this little can is only that, it doesnt have gas in it to charge the system.  The tall cans are to charge the system, and you'll need one of those as well.  The instructions on the small can will say to add the tall can immediately after using it to prevent it from sealing the service port shut (IT WORKS THAT WELL!).  I did this about 2,000 miles ago this spring and havent had a single problem since!  AC works great!  Had nothing but noise before.  Whole thing takes about 10 minutes in your driveway.

GOOD LUCK!

Great find on the car!

[twyacht]

Sounds like good deal, get you to the range and back, and the money you save can get more ammo..

Insurance should be cheap, +1 on a good tune-up, and fluids.

[Auggie18]

Are you a BG?  Because that is a STEAL!!!!!!!!!