Seattle09GT
09-24-2009, 06:38 PM
Well I did it, I got a set of snow tires...
...they happen to be attached to a 1998 Pontiac Transport.
When I saw the van on Tuesday I was happy to notice that it really was described. Black exterior (with a ton of silver flake in it, very nice color) with a gray interior. Short wheel base van with remote entry, alarm, power driver seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, trip computer, front and rear interior map lights, automatic headlights, front and side airbags, AM/FM Stereo cassette with rear seat audio system and equalizer, fog lamps, rear wiper/washer, rear defroster, single zone air conditioning, privacy glass, roof rack, alloy wheels, and six passenger seating.
The body is in great shape for an 11 year old two owner van.
http://forum.grrrr8.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3522&d=1253846310
And I couldn't believe how clean the interior was.
http://forum.grrrr8.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3519&stc=1&d=1253846392
Not only clean, but the more I looked around the more I was shocked to find that after 140K miles and two owners still had all the original floor mats, still had all the original cargo nets, and they weren't stretched out to crap, the lower cubby still had the removable tray, the dashboard still had the sticky pad in the top tray, and everything was outright - clean.
http://forum.grrrr8.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3518&stc=1&d=1253846392
At the time I looked at the van the only issues I could find was the ABS idiot light was on, the brake pedal was soft, the passenger side front fog light wasn't operating, and the interior door trim on the driver door has a broken top clip (or two). So I had the van inspected this morning by my mechanic. When I drove it my reverse commute this morning I noticed a fair amount of noise coming from the rear, and guessed that a rear wheel bearing was failing and that would probably cause the ABS light to be on.
But the thing that I was so shocked with is that everything - works. On Tuesday when it was 87 the air conditioning blew cold. This morning the defroster did away with the morning dew, the rear wiper did it's job, the cruise control worked, the stereo operated, no buttons worn out. I mean don't get me wrong, it squeaks and groans like an 11 year old Pontiac, but this is shockingly tight.
So my mechanic went through it. Here is the sum total of what it needs:
1) Rear wheel bearing and antilock brake speed sensor assembly (oh snap, damn I'm good).
2) Power steering, power brakes, and transmission fluid flushed
3) Recommends new plug wires as they are the OEM plug wires that came with the van, 11 years old with 140K miles on them.
4) While they were inspecting the van I had them adjust the rear brakes, as they were so badly out of adjustment they wouldn't even engage when you hit the brake pedal. That firmed up the brake pedal big time and greatly improved stopping power (d'uh).
They told me the engine is very strong (compression check) across all six cylinders, tranny is in excellent condition (sans the near black fluid in it), tie rod ends, struts, CV boots and joints, steering all in excellent condition. New serpentine belt, new water pump, new coolant, engine looks brand new. Front brakes have 50% to 60% on them, rear brakes have 60% to 70%.
So basically I need to drop about $500 between a hardcore tune up and the bearing assembly to have a perfect van. WOOT!
But then it gets better. I go to close the deal and what do I find in the glove box? The freakin' owner's manual, how well cared for can you get?
http://forum.grrrr8.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3520&stc=1&d=1253846392
Then I notice a thick white envelope under the owner's manual. Are you ready. ALL THE SERVICE RECEIPTS!!! Holy ass crackers, this thing is a cream puff. Then they hand me both keys, with both key fobs for the alarm/door locks, and they work, and one of the fobs still has the metal tag on it for cutting new keys if lost, or for dropping the keys in the mail to have them sent back to me via GM. How on earth in 11 years this never got lost is beyond me.
So my winter beater car cost me $1935.50 with the title/license transfer fees, $186.20 for the sales tax, and $129.90 for the inspection this morning. I figure $500 into it in the next few weeks and then if I get two to three fall/winters out of it, plus yeoman duty to Home Depot and the grocery store, not to mention not pounding commuting miles into the G8, it totally pays off for itself. I suspect if I can keep up its condition, and it doesn't have some major failure, I can at the end of the day get what I paid for it when I grow tired of the Pontiac Beater, err, van, err Transport, err G8 snow tires!
http://forum.grrrr8.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3521&stc=1&d=1253846392
...they happen to be attached to a 1998 Pontiac Transport.
When I saw the van on Tuesday I was happy to notice that it really was described. Black exterior (with a ton of silver flake in it, very nice color) with a gray interior. Short wheel base van with remote entry, alarm, power driver seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, trip computer, front and rear interior map lights, automatic headlights, front and side airbags, AM/FM Stereo cassette with rear seat audio system and equalizer, fog lamps, rear wiper/washer, rear defroster, single zone air conditioning, privacy glass, roof rack, alloy wheels, and six passenger seating.
The body is in great shape for an 11 year old two owner van.
http://forum.grrrr8.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3522&d=1253846310
And I couldn't believe how clean the interior was.
http://forum.grrrr8.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3519&stc=1&d=1253846392
Not only clean, but the more I looked around the more I was shocked to find that after 140K miles and two owners still had all the original floor mats, still had all the original cargo nets, and they weren't stretched out to crap, the lower cubby still had the removable tray, the dashboard still had the sticky pad in the top tray, and everything was outright - clean.
http://forum.grrrr8.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3518&stc=1&d=1253846392
At the time I looked at the van the only issues I could find was the ABS idiot light was on, the brake pedal was soft, the passenger side front fog light wasn't operating, and the interior door trim on the driver door has a broken top clip (or two). So I had the van inspected this morning by my mechanic. When I drove it my reverse commute this morning I noticed a fair amount of noise coming from the rear, and guessed that a rear wheel bearing was failing and that would probably cause the ABS light to be on.
But the thing that I was so shocked with is that everything - works. On Tuesday when it was 87 the air conditioning blew cold. This morning the defroster did away with the morning dew, the rear wiper did it's job, the cruise control worked, the stereo operated, no buttons worn out. I mean don't get me wrong, it squeaks and groans like an 11 year old Pontiac, but this is shockingly tight.
So my mechanic went through it. Here is the sum total of what it needs:
1) Rear wheel bearing and antilock brake speed sensor assembly (oh snap, damn I'm good).
2) Power steering, power brakes, and transmission fluid flushed
3) Recommends new plug wires as they are the OEM plug wires that came with the van, 11 years old with 140K miles on them.
4) While they were inspecting the van I had them adjust the rear brakes, as they were so badly out of adjustment they wouldn't even engage when you hit the brake pedal. That firmed up the brake pedal big time and greatly improved stopping power (d'uh).
They told me the engine is very strong (compression check) across all six cylinders, tranny is in excellent condition (sans the near black fluid in it), tie rod ends, struts, CV boots and joints, steering all in excellent condition. New serpentine belt, new water pump, new coolant, engine looks brand new. Front brakes have 50% to 60% on them, rear brakes have 60% to 70%.
So basically I need to drop about $500 between a hardcore tune up and the bearing assembly to have a perfect van. WOOT!
But then it gets better. I go to close the deal and what do I find in the glove box? The freakin' owner's manual, how well cared for can you get?
http://forum.grrrr8.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3520&stc=1&d=1253846392
Then I notice a thick white envelope under the owner's manual. Are you ready. ALL THE SERVICE RECEIPTS!!! Holy ass crackers, this thing is a cream puff. Then they hand me both keys, with both key fobs for the alarm/door locks, and they work, and one of the fobs still has the metal tag on it for cutting new keys if lost, or for dropping the keys in the mail to have them sent back to me via GM. How on earth in 11 years this never got lost is beyond me.
So my winter beater car cost me $1935.50 with the title/license transfer fees, $186.20 for the sales tax, and $129.90 for the inspection this morning. I figure $500 into it in the next few weeks and then if I get two to three fall/winters out of it, plus yeoman duty to Home Depot and the grocery store, not to mention not pounding commuting miles into the G8, it totally pays off for itself. I suspect if I can keep up its condition, and it doesn't have some major failure, I can at the end of the day get what I paid for it when I grow tired of the Pontiac Beater, err, van, err Transport, err G8 snow tires!
http://forum.grrrr8.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3521&stc=1&d=1253846392