So after having to give up the Equinox because of the nearly 300 dollar lease payment and 270 insurance payment dad was making, I was given a work van to drive home. But that option had a time limit on it.
I had recalled a friend that was selling her 97 grand prix gt for 1000. Called her up and went to look at it. Initially she said that it probably had a blown head gasket and needed a battery. It's a junky car. Headlight casing is broken, faded paint, crappy plastic interior that's falling apart. Most of the cosmetic crap I don't care about. She jumped it off her car and when I finally got it started the thing was smoking from coolant all over the engine. No where near as bad as a bad head gasket, and I couldn't see white smoke billowing out of the tailpipe. After it warmed up a bit, the coolant started flowing, right up and out of the radiator cap, directly onto the battery. I think it just needs the battery and a new radiator cap to keep it from gushing out.
Is there anything else I should look out for? I know these things were notorious for some sort of gasket failure, but it seemed to run fine except overheating due to low coolant levels. She told me she'd let it go for 300, so I figure 120 for a battery, 5 for the cap and I'd replace the belt and waterpump for shits and grins anyway, I'd have a semi-okay 21 year old car with 125k miles for 480, plus insurance and plates.
Two days after looking at it my brother text me about my moms' old 99 Trailblazer. Needs at least one tire and an alternator/belt. With the battery dead I can't see the mileage on the Blazer, but I do know my mom had a whole host of issues with it. 4wd is out, cosmetic stuff, etc.
I mean honestly, I don't have to pay a dime to get the blazer, just jump it, fill up the tire and get it home until I can work on it. But I think the Prix would be easier and quicker to fix up at the moment.
So my question really is which one of these would be a better fit to drive and which one to fix and get rid of? I could use an suv, but at the same time I'm not doing insurance on 3 vehicles.
I had recalled a friend that was selling her 97 grand prix gt for 1000. Called her up and went to look at it. Initially she said that it probably had a blown head gasket and needed a battery. It's a junky car. Headlight casing is broken, faded paint, crappy plastic interior that's falling apart. Most of the cosmetic crap I don't care about. She jumped it off her car and when I finally got it started the thing was smoking from coolant all over the engine. No where near as bad as a bad head gasket, and I couldn't see white smoke billowing out of the tailpipe. After it warmed up a bit, the coolant started flowing, right up and out of the radiator cap, directly onto the battery. I think it just needs the battery and a new radiator cap to keep it from gushing out.
Is there anything else I should look out for? I know these things were notorious for some sort of gasket failure, but it seemed to run fine except overheating due to low coolant levels. She told me she'd let it go for 300, so I figure 120 for a battery, 5 for the cap and I'd replace the belt and waterpump for shits and grins anyway, I'd have a semi-okay 21 year old car with 125k miles for 480, plus insurance and plates.
Two days after looking at it my brother text me about my moms' old 99 Trailblazer. Needs at least one tire and an alternator/belt. With the battery dead I can't see the mileage on the Blazer, but I do know my mom had a whole host of issues with it. 4wd is out, cosmetic stuff, etc.
I mean honestly, I don't have to pay a dime to get the blazer, just jump it, fill up the tire and get it home until I can work on it. But I think the Prix would be easier and quicker to fix up at the moment.
So my question really is which one of these would be a better fit to drive and which one to fix and get rid of? I could use an suv, but at the same time I'm not doing insurance on 3 vehicles.