Vandal

Hi There,

My name is Mike and I live in Chicago. I don't have a 3rd gen yet, but I used to own a white 87' formula. Here's the skinny on why I joined up.
The wife and I need to buy a car, but I can't stand the typical grocery getter and she wants a Beetle. I was surfing around checking out cheap used cars getting an Idea of what was available in my price range, but we are still about 90 days out from making a purchase.
Like most guys, that search ends up turning into the " I wonder what a -Blank- goes for these days". So I find a 15th anni T/A for 1,500. Not what I have in cash or even what I had in mind, but you get the idea. The wife looks at me on the way to the kitchen, sees the car I'm hawking and says, " I could live with that". Stunned, I send the guy an email. He won't take less than the stated price and I'm just not ready yet. So, I figure that the next best thing would be to join up with a group that are passionate about these cars and get as much info as I can from like minded folks and hopefully pick up one that I can drive around while I work on it and build up what I want. Hehe, kind of a long hello huh? Thanks for looking,

MIke

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

HOLD ON TO THAT GIRL!

Welcome to TGO. It's a great place, and third gens are great cars -- affordable, easy to find parts for, and fun to drive.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

$1500 for a 84 Anniversary car is not that unreasonable, unless it has big problems with it.

If you want, post info on it & pics. We can give some advice as to whether or not it might be overpriced or not.

Welcome to TGO!

Vandal

OH, don't get me wrong. $1,500 for that car isn't my complaint. The guy put it on the Chicago criagslist so it won't last and I was just doing the leg work to see what was out there so when we are redy I have an idea on what I was going to be looking at. That will be the price we are looking to spend on a decent car after we complete our move. But it did inspire me to join up here so that I could get as much info as I can on these cars. I'm hoping to score one when we're ready. Besides, I can never leave a car stock, and since there is only 1,500 of these cars out there, I don't think I could live with modding it.

Vandal

Here is the ad from Criagslist, it obviously needs paint and he claims all it needs are breaks. Just in-case someone is interested in it.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/cto/1703025030.html

Mudskunk

if your gonna use a thirdgen as a daily driver in the winter and buying one that lived most of its life in the north check the underbody for huge rust. getting that repaired correctly can cost more than a new engine and tranny at times.

Vandal

No worries there Skunk, I am no stranger to the cancer that living North causes. I have rebuilt / semi-restored several older cars. Starting with a 1970 Barracuda, a 72' Z28, and several Fieros. My Formula didn't need any work to speak of, but I still tinkered around under the hood. If I can find a beater that has a solid drive train, I can tool around in it and teach the wife how to handle a V8 that pushes instead of pulls you, I can always transplant the power plant to a solid body / frame. I just love the look of that 15th Anni, and I didn't even know such a thing existed.

Mudskunk

np, you sounded totally new to older cars good luck

DJ_91RS

Welcome Mike! Plenty of work to do to my 91, but am always ready to help out. I am about an hour of so south west of Chicago so give me a shout if you need anything.

Dave

Vandal

Thanks Dave, and all the rest for the warm greetings.
I'm trying to sell my Buick and then pick up a Bird on the cheap real soon. I'll keep you posted.

Mike