Went to look at a car last night.
I like to think about my appearance and what I drive when I aim to buy a cheap car. Car in question is 03 Regal Abboud 183K needs work specifically brakes. I flip a coin on Regal or Silverado... it's Regal. Pulling up there is a spot in the driveway on a busy road. Don't mind if I do, I back right up to the trunk of another white Regal. Two guys come out to talk to me and they double take at the second white Regal. :th_laugh-lol3: That's right guys, Regal is here to help me drive your price lower. And she looks great compared to the long lost cousin they are hoping to sell.
Start looking it over, scrapes/dings etc on all sides. Bumper paint has stress cracks, interior looks in good shape, it's not the multicolor super special Abboud option I hoped for when I saw the badges. Lift the hood and wow, it's wearing the 2003 black plastic UIM, valve covers have coated the engine with oil, squirrels have left many nuts atop the LIM in the muck. My not so keen vision spot the trans dipstick is not in the tube, it's on the cowl an rusty. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Fire it up, resonator must be totally blown out, SES light is on, general review it's running good. Trans fluid gets a quick check. Going on a little sidebar here, I've done a lot of trans swaps. Most are towed in and the fluid is nasty, burnt smelling, black, I thought I had seen it all. This car's fluid was watery brown. Watery as in mostly clear with a ting of brown. Smelled cooked. WTF happened there and how long is that trans going to survive? In reviewing the exhaust, there's an aftermarket downpipe on it. Walk over to my car and pull out the laptop and HPT cable. These two guys


gave me a puzzled look then seemed to get the idea that I might know a little something about a car. Owner says, "this here's a good car". I asked how long the trans had been shifting harshly (P1811, was old and history). Never did any odd shifting for him. Other code was for a cat (P0420) probably because the DP cat wasn't compliant with 01+ standards. Few minutes later as I'm looking it over further.. he says "whatchoo think?".
Well you are asking $1150, might need a trans $700, cat $300, brakes $350, heated seat isn't working $?, UIM/LIM gaskets and work plus VC's $600. I offered $800
Did I leave with that Regal?