Help me decide on a Hoopty replacement

[Tuesdak]

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

So you know "NorthStar" = "$Headgaskets$" regardless of GM's finally fixed/improved (2004+) after a decade of throwaway NorthStar engines. A HG job would cost book value on that car. Cadillac may have a rep for luxury, but, it also has a rep for high priced repair parts and a bad rep for unreliable engines. Oldsmobile, may they RIP, built more reliable engines and even the Olds 5.7 Diesel hand-grenade was almost on par with typical Caddy engine failures.

Whats the coolant service history on it? You have a test kit to see if there is combustion gas in the coolant? I bet the oil pan leaks on it. Don't NorthStars hold 7+ quarts to just "make it" between oil changes between high consumption and leaks?

Buick will get you down the road with less parts need and less expensive parts at that.

 

[HPSimpson]

My vote is for the Buick Regal good riding car, since you drive a lot of miles, retire not yet you need maybe few less toys, Mike you're not a spring chicken, after work ride in something good.

 

[JR]

What kind of condition is Hoopty in? Not worth putting a long block in? I understand looking at book value alone the math nowhere near adds up BUT you end up with a new engine in a car you are familiar with on past history. Promar does good quality remans and back them up with a substantial (75k?) Mile warranty. My cousin bought a long block 6.0 vortec for around $3k. Lot of money for a 10+ year old vehicle but then again you know what you have in your car. Buying used (especially 12 years old) is an educated gamble at best. The history of that Caddy sounds good but at the end of the day anything can fail just as did with yours.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Mike WORK FROM HOME IF YOUR ABLE or retire. I felt as though I had something to offer drivers in the way I did the same job their doing that could maybe save a life THEIRS!! and the fact that a company was willing to pay for my knowledge in doing it. That being said I told them I DONT want to have a normal 8 to 5 work hours 5 days a week. I work 4 days SOMETIMES and telecommute as often as I can, I do still go to the office. Today is one of those days that I DONT FEEL LIKE WORKING, SO IM NOT. I have some things that need tending to at the house. in the right situation it could be just the ticket.

Good Luck

BIG

 

[jhenderson]

Too many jobs at risk if Mike isn’t riding herd. If you’d ever been in the shop you’d see how many hats he wears.

 

[jgillott]

Too many jobs at risk if Mike isn’t riding herd. If you’d ever been in the shop you’d see how many hats he wears.

All the more reason for a good reliable ride for him to get to work. I'm not sure that a 12 year old Caddy fits that description.

 

[mwilson]

Buick off the table, after wasting a half hour of my time they had decided to keep it and sell a truck they owned instead. Craigslist sometimes provides a deal but you usually earn it...

The saga continues....

 

[Jim W]

Mike, the best job I have ever had is what I have right now, being retired. The big "CAT" is paying me to stay home and the SS system is also paying us. Right now I am my own boss (as long as my Domestic Supervisor says so) and I can go and do what ever I want to (if it is O.K. with her).

 

[SnoKing]

Buick off the table, after wasting a half hour of my time they had decided to keep it and sell a truck they owned instead. Craigslist sometimes provides a deal but you usually earn it...

The saga continues....

Something GM with that fuel miser 3.8 V6. Rented an Impala with one and could not believe the plus 30 MPG in a big conformable sedan. SnoKing

 

[Ozymandias]

Something GM with that fuel miser 3.8 V6. Rented an Impala with one and could not believe the plus 30 MPG in a big conformable sedan. SnoKing

Great Car - have rented it twice and love it. 2014+ Impala - Thumb up!

 

[brods]

I voted for the Hoopty 2.

I'm in your position with every one of our vehicles showing its age. Last weekend was spent welding in a rear inner fender/shock mount which rotted out on the wife's escape. I would love to do as jgilliot recommends but financially it is not possible at this time, so repairing junk and keeping an eye out for low rust southern cars is my second job. Since you have parts and knowledge for the Caddy and if the Caddy's body will give many years of use, go for it. I'm not a fan of the brown roof either (or the chrome wheel well trim), but hey its your beater so who cares? And it can be changed if it bugs you that much.

 

[Electro]

I stopped driving the big vehicles due to maintenance and fuel cost. I bought a 2005 Toyota Tacoma access cab beat up, dull paint 200k miles. It now has 425k. The only repairs have been the front universal joint and 2 alternators. Rides good and good power on grades with the 4 banger. I have back issues, am obese, and need leg room I get all of that and over 20 MPG. I loved every Caddy I ever owned (wish I still had that "76" Eldorado) but with the head issues on the late models I just stick with the yo yo's . I love my wife's 2007 Rav 4 all wheel drive 4 banger. (No issues yet at 190k) knock on wood. It is hard to go back to the little maintenance issues that plague most other manufacturers. I would never have bought one had I not been a fleet manager that uses Toyotas for route work with maintenance schedules that changed the conventional oil every 10k. Never changed the transmission fluid and never did "tune ups". I protested that approach when I took over and all of the people under me just said "trust us they won't break" . Front universal at 125 to 150k and alternators about 100 to 135k. Aftermarket replacement alternators lasted about 80k. All they really need are diodes. Owning less vehicles because of no need for multiple backups for downtime equals savings. I just wish they made a diesel dually for my hot shot gig.

 

[mwilson]

Well, I'm going to look at the DTS Saturday or Sunday....

If I buy it then it has to be named.......Wait for it.........

"Hoopty Deux!!"

 

[jgillott]

 

[TFucili]

Well, I'm going to look at the DTS Saturday or Sunday....

If I buy it then it has to be named.......Wait for it.........

"Hoopty Deux!!"

Don't let those Quebecois rub off on you, Mike, how about "Hoopty The Deuce"?

 

[fest3er]

Nah, that's too reminiscient of 'Il Duce', even though "Hoopty Il Duce" has a certain ring to it.

 

[jgillott]

How about Pimp Deuce? That guy from Counts Kustoms always refers to the Cadillacs they work on as Pimp.

 

[jgillott]

 

[mwilson]

Well the lady that owns the DTS is driving it to my house tomorrow so I can see it. Gonna' hang with us at the lake for a while as well....

She really wants me to have it, holding off two other buyers. That will be a 200 mile round trip for her and with no promise that I will buy it once seen...

Gotta' see where it goes, if nothing else we get to meet new people!!

 

[mwilson]

She sent the maintenance records yesterday, it has been overly taken care of from what I see. Had every issue addressed, excessive oil changes, transmission fluid changed twice, Dexcool changed twice as well.....

Figured out that it is the Luxury III version, Hoopty was a Luxury II. Will have all of Hoopty's stuff along with Massaging Seats, Power Tilt and Telescope Wheel, Bose Stereo w/Sub, and several other trinkets....