Help me decide on a Hoopty replacement

[mwilson]

I have to find a work beater, have very little free time to do so but have to begin the process...

Found (2) contenders fairly close by, this is Maine so within a 100 mile radius....

Many parts from Hoopty can be used on this one. Being sold by a recent widow, it's making her sad seeing it in the garage. They are second owners, had 28,000 miles on it when they bought it. Records with it, snow tires, etc...just not a fan of the brown top....but can't see it under a coating of snow

https://maine.craigslist.org/cto/d/2006-cadillac-dts-snowbird/6624262424.html


This one intrigues me, I think it's been for sale quite a while. Not many left that prefer a standard transmission. Based on an Opel body. Would be half again as good on gas as Hoopty but not sure how it would do in the snow but it is front wheel drive...

https://maine.craigslist.org/cto/d/2011-buick-regal-turbo/6610134481.html


Any advice is welcome and I won't be mad if I follow your recommendations and the car turns out to be a piece of crap.....

 

[TFucili]

I voted "Retire". Your welcome!

Otherwise, Hoopty II doesn't look too bad. If you're racking up miles do it in comfort.

 

[jgillott]

Mike , what are we going to do with you? Just last week you were talking about everything you own being broken. Take it from someone who has held on to too many vehicles for too long......thin the herd. Drive your Ram for the summer, sell off all of your extra vehicles, give your wife back the Yukon, and then buy 1 new or newer vehicle as your work ride after all your others are gone. If you have to think to yourself I could use one for parts for another , then the answer is no.

Trust me on this one. We are too old to be fixing old vehicles all the time.

 

[mwilson]

Mike , what are we going to do with you? Just last week you were talking about everything you own being broken. Take it from someone who has held on to too many vehicles for too long......thin the herd. Drive your Ram for the summer, sell off all of your extra vehicles, give your wife back the Yukon, and then buy 1 new or newer vehicle as your work ride after all your others are gone. If you have to think to yourself I could use one for parts for another , then the answer is no.

Trust me on this one. We are too old to be fixing old vehicles all the time.

What kills me is the mileage I put on, right around 700 miles per week. Lease is out of the question.

It is rare for me to have that many breakdowns at once, even the two year old tire on my big wheelbarrow blew. You name it, it broke....I take pretty good care of my stuff.

Took Friday off and got it all under control....

(1) Mounted a new tire on the wheelbarrow rim..
(2) Tore into Yukon Sunday, changed RF wheel bearing. It was bad but dash remained lit up...checked codes again and still said "RF" ABS signal loss"...
Did some research and discovered certain GM vehicles will throw that code for EITHER front sensor, L or R...Soooooo I ordered another wheel bearing for the LF and changed that along with the front brake pads Friday. Just like a brand new vehicle now. Handles better and the slight vibration it has had since I bought it is gone.......All Good!!
(3) Tore into the truck, found calipers slides frozen on RH side. Pistons are fine, brake shoes are fine..caught it early. Went and got slide pins and boots, found a decent grade of caliper grease and had at both sides. LH slides would have been stuck before long.
Changed oil and filters, greased and ready for action. Front and rear pinions seals weeping, on the list for next month. I despise leaks.......

So with the exception of Hoopty everything is turn key again...even serviced the wife's van.

And to be honest I still enjoy working on my own stuff. As I get older and stiffer I will have to stop but for right now I limber up and get to work. Take two Aleve's before bed and am good to go in the morning. I have less money in Hoopty, the Yukon and the Town & Country combined than I would have in one not too great new car that would lose value by the minute. I did some checking on new and used 1/2 ton truck stuff and it is just nuts what they want for a truck that is all ready to explode into a big ball of rust. I'll do it someday but not right now.....

I think you are on the right track, I'm just not there quite yet...

 

[jgillott]

I think you are on the right track, I'm just not there quite yet...

I understand everything you just said. And, my new approach will never be as cost effective as what you are doing. However, once you get here, I guarantee you that you will ask yourself why you didn't do it sooner.

 

[DavidC]

I don't see the RV repair listed. If your old enough and you can afford it Retire. Health Care is the biggest issue there if your under 65.

Dave

 

[mwilson]

I don't see the RV repair listed. If your old enough and you can afford it Retire. Health Care is the biggest issue there if your under 65.

Dave

I haven't tackled that yet....going over Friday night and I'll drop the belly Saturday. Taking tools (including pipe wrenches) so I can walk the dead side in by hand if needed.
I have a good customer about 5 miles away with a fully equipped truck shop, I'll go over there and beg (maybe even have a toddy) if I need bigger stuff. I may see if I can bum the welder for a few minutes on the way home if it is indeed that shaft that has broken free from the motor. May cost me a little more booze but hey it all works out in the end....

It's a huge insult for them if I need assistance and don't ask...plus an even bigger insult if I don't eat with them while there...great people!!

 

[Ozymandias]

as a work car I would choose the Opel.
also good in snow.

 

[mwilson]

My guys have decided that I need a boost pig if I purchase the Buick.....



Or even a boost cow!!

 

[mwilson]

as a work car I would choose the Opel.
also good in snow.

Thanks Ozy, I had planned to ask if you were familiar with the Opel it was based on.....

 

[mwilson]

I should add the following....Best mileage I can pull with the Yukon at 75 mph is 17 mpg.....a great ride and I'm helping in making the Permian Basin prosperous yet again....

Long term, it could get pricey....

 

[Ozymandias]

Opel had a downfall in the 90th, since then they improved a lot and from the mid Zeros on they are real good.
I hope they have the european rust protection from factory.
my boss has a 12 year old vectra without a spot of rust and 200000M on the counter. pretty impressive compared to the 90th when they rusted away totally within 5 years.

 

[mwilson]

Opel had a downfall in the 90th, since then they improved a lot and from the mid Zeros on they are real good.
I hope they have the european rust protection from factory.
my boss has a 12 year old vectra without a spot of rust and 200000M on the counter. pretty impressive compared to the 90th when they rusted away totally within 5 years.

Reading this morning that they have Galvanized steel fenders and such....

 

[GrantP]

I'm helping in making the Permian Basin prosperous yet again....

That's funny you mention that. I was just through there two weeks ago and could not believe how that place is booming. West Texas is not that sleepy anymore.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I wanna boost cow!

 

[mwilson]

That's funny you mention that. I was just through there two weeks ago and could not believe how that place is booming. West Texas is not that sleepy anymore.

My favorite cousin quit his job at a town in New Mexico and started operating a lowbed in the Basin. Making more money than he ever had before. Set his camper up and goes home every other week. Says it is just frigin’ nuts there right now......

 

[TFucili]

We just came through there, and it is almost impossible to find a motel room east of El Paso.

 

[jhenderson]

On the original topic; I vote Caddy. A 6 speed and a turbo is fun for a while. A good ride at the end of a long day is priceless.

 

[mwilson]

On the original topic; I vote Caddy. A 6 speed and a turbo is fun for a while. A good ride at the end of a long day is priceless.

Hard decision. I’ve got brand new Michelin’s, spare wheels and a lot of knowledge for a DTS....

 

[Michaelsloft]

Hard decision. I’ve got brand new Michelin’s, spare wheels and a lot of knowledge for a DTS....

One Vote for DTS.