And the Cutlass just isn't the one.
So, since I'm commuting about 30 miles every day, I need another car. And I really, REALLY want another Oldsmobile! I found this the other night. I'm interested, but my Dad isn't much. The car hasn't even hit 30k original miles on the odometer yet. I texted the owner about it, and he says it was an old man's car before him. It looks very well taken care of, and I really do like it myself. The Iron-Duke 4 cylinder isn't the greatest 4-banger ever made..but will it really give me much trouble?
My Dad thinks parts will be hard to find. I wouldn't think they'd be much harder than the car I've got... especially considering he's been a mechanic since high school. He also thinks the guy wants too much...which may or may not be the case, but I still think it's a great deal. I know the SX isn't really common. This isn't the kind of car I'm planning to beat on for the next 4 years and resell after school. This might as well be my permanent gas-saver. I want to keep this for the rest of my life and treat it just as well as the one I have now. (except less burnouts, etc.)
What do you all think? I really want it, any input is appreciated!
http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/4592221630.html

 

I think the Iron Duke is an excellent motor. Takes a lot of beating. Not a powerhouse. Why would it need calipers? I agree the price might be a little high.


Taking it easy with your current ride might be more economical than you might think. And you can buy a lot of gas with 2800 bucks. Years ago I was spending 20 a week on gas for my Cutlass to drive back and forth to work. I said, this is killing me. Well, maybe it was I don't remember how much I made. Under 4/hour I know that. So I bought a VW. With what it cost me to keep that thing running I would have done better keeping with the Cutlass. Although, it started me on the long road of owning multiple cars. I'm up to... oh hell, I need to count them I can't think of them all off the top of my head.

 

One of the reasons I need to get another car is to keep unneeded miles off the Cutlass! Maybe I'm wrong about the Iron Duke. If it's tough like you say, it's exactly what I need. I've got the Cutlass for power.

 

On my first job out of college I drove my Cutlass 60 miles each way to work and back. Even though I spent a lot on gas it was cheaper than a newer, more efficient car when all the expenses were added up.

 

when I was young laugh . many yrs ago I used to have a sticker in my window that said *** ,grass or cash no one rides for free ! if u give people rides tell them to give up the bucks or get a cab

 

Cool car, great motor, too much money.

 

A lot of the guys I know have the same dilemma you do.
They seem to be picking up cheap Hondas or Mazdas and using them as commuters.
IMO, i would grab a Mazda 3 that is a few years old ...cheap to fix and great on fuel . Stay away from older, less common cars that you will use for daily driving....

 

I agree with Sammy, get something that's cheap and reliable for a beater. If you get another project, it's just that and you will be working on it instead of studying.

 

Well I WALKED 100 miles to work and back!

Seriously, the best thing to do is pick up a cheap "beater" car. That's what I'm doing right now. I have an '02 Jetta that I use to commute to and from work. It was cheap and is great on gas. Wont win any beauty contests, but it does it's job, and then I have my cutlass to play with when I'm home.

 

Luxury.


I had to CRAWL 150 miles to work, uphill both ways, and the ground was littered with razor blades and broken glass..



I use the Nissan I paid £200 for three years ago for my trip to work. There are plenty of cheap small cars with reliable useful life left in them if you don't mind that they are looked down on by the ricers and aspirational drivers who will put themselves into hock to have a recognised "cool" set of wheels.


Roger.

 

Haha!
I walked, biked and my first car was a Datsun 710, that was full of bondo, a timing chain that liked to be loose and it leaked more oil than it burned
Lasted me 2 years at school, and I drove it to the wreckers...start cheap, but safe!

 

Id get it but i dont usually make the best decisions, sounds like a good idea though

 

I used to walk 200 miles down a railroad track in the snow to get to a one room school house. Top that one.

I think these guys are giving good advice on a cheap Honda, Mazda or even a Toyota. I think this guy is about twice what the price should be for this little Olds. It may be clean and sporty looking but no way it worth anywhere close to what he is asking. It is a 78 and even with the iron duke it won't be as good on gas as some of these newer imports.

 

You could also go for some old Toyota Camry's or Corolla's from the 80's or 90's. They have a good reputation for reliability and there's still plenty of them on the road.

 

Barefoot and uphill...both ways

 

During a hurricane?

 

Hmmm hurricane and snowing...who'd a thunk it.

 

It could have been a Snowicane.

 

How about during a sharknado... top that one.

 

Thanks for all the input, guys. I think I may be going to look at it soon. I'm not looking for something that's awesome on gas, just another keeper that's better than what I've got now! I'll DEFINITELY be talking him down. I don't think he's really an Olds guy, at least by the way he wrote the ad.

 

Also if possible milk them highway miles and if it has it use cruise control

 

The drive to college is 85% highway, ~30 miles!

 

I agree with the others: Nothing wrong with the Iron Duke - It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

The car is definitely overpriced for the POS it is and was when it rolled off the assembly line, but that may change if the seller comes to his senses.

The only new thing I would add is that if you use that as a year-round 60-mile a day commuter for four years, you'll be watching the road go by under your feet like Fred Flintstone by the end of that time - the salt will eat it alive.

I had an '81 Scirocco as a commuter years ago - it was a high-mile car and beat to crap, but couldn't be killed, and it handled and ran nice, too. Parts are still very available for those.

- Eric

 

Well, I had it tough....
I had to get up at 10 o'clock at night, two hours before I went to bed, and lick the swamp clean before I could get to the railroad track, then I had to pull a locomotive 300 miles with my teeth through a war zone, swim through a shark infested iceberg littered sea, then build the schoolhouse from scratch, every day mind.
And when the teacher turned up she would hack me to death with a rusty ax, and dance on my grave singing halleluyah.


And try telling that to young people today, they just won't believe you.


M. Python.

 

The iron duke wasn't a bad engine back in the day,1980s but by todays standards old school.Alot better than the Firenza ohc engine.My daily commuter is a 97 2.0 spi Escort mt w 211k gets 30-34mpg

 

if its not fuel injected you could take the computer and fuel injection parts off a junkyard s10 and maybe pick up a few mpg. you could also make it a manual if you want to pull the maximum efficiency out of it

 

The H-body is heavy. It will work that Iron Duke hard and won't be that great on gas. Not to mention parts availability if something breaks. You also look like you're kinda tall. I can promise you the Starfire will not be a comfortable car for you.

Find a cheap POS Honda or Mazda. It will run circles around the turtle-car in both performance and gas mileage, and when it's worn out, junk it and don't look back.

 

Remember the first time I saw an image of an H body, it was on a billboard on the north side of town. What a snazzy looking car; remember, back then most of our American iron was still large by comparison and that thing was the first small car with the quad headlights and curvy sides. At least it did something for me. Never owned one but probably would have if one presented itself, probably not now though for it's weight and the fact that it was underpowered, still nice looking though....

 

Buy an 86-89 LeSabre T type or a 2 door Delta 88. Nice looking wedge design cars with the fuel efficient 3.8L engine. These cars are cheap, run forever & get 30 mpg. Their will also be room for your buddies & lots of gear in the big trunk.

 

I had it much better that a lot of you guys. Bought a 650 Kawasaki that got great gas mileage and was really quick too! Only held like 3.7 gallons. Did this so I could keep my 440 Charger R/t. Didn't seem like such a great idea riding in a drizzling rain in January though..

X 2 on the other comments about gas mileage on the Starfire. It still weighed a lot and power to weight ratio sucked. Meaning you will always have your foot to the floor.

 

~$10 - 20k mustang GT 05 and up

taking it easy you can get 24 MPG or better and the newer you buy the more power and better mileage they have theyre plentiful and the hardtop automatics are cheapest

~$2 - 10K pre 05 Mustang GT

plenty of good drivers in this range and still get better than 20mpg good reliability and common