Bramz ever changing fleet merry go round.

[bramz7]

Fuck that.

 

As I always do, I've been looking and found other things. Suitable yanks are thin on the ground, and I'm impatient.

 

So, AS hivemind, what are the late 80s 760s like?

I've also seen an E34 525tds...

[Steve79]

A good call regarding the Cherokee. I kind of want something with a hideous interior with button velour or something, but I've got an open mind.

 

Budget will be around £2k, but that's when I've saved up a dash more.

Early Cherokee (XJ) and Cherokee (ZJ) are great fun and extremely capable off and on road. Had an early 1993 RHD (USA not Graz built) cherokee xj 4-litre Ltd and it was massive fun. Be warned though, interior space is pretty cramped considering the size.

 

174 bhp through the rear wheels in 2wd was grin inducing.

 

Don't buy the 2.5 manual petrol though - disappointing!

 

Would definitely buy again.

[wuvvum]

The Northstar V8 is another of those engines which is fine if it's looked after properly, which it often isn't.  I think the fact that GM made a big thing about it being able to drive 40 miles with no coolant or whatever made people think that it was indestructible and they didn't have to service it or check the levels.

 

I never had any issues with mine, and I wasn't gentle with it.

[bramz7]

So....I had a thought about buying some kind of yank.

I had come across some sort of Buick Electra for cheap on FB the other day, it had done 197k and the seller was slow to respond to messages. It was worth the blind buy, I even asked FJ how much it would cost to insure (not much) and tried to arrange collection. No dice. Next notification then told me it was sold.

 

Anyway, something else then appeared. Another Buick, but the replacement, a Park Avenue. I'd seen a fair few of them in Europe in my travels, and they fit the land yacht remit.

 

I picked it up last night.

 

Don't get me wrong, it isn't mint by any stretch. It didn't even cost four figures, so has a few little* issues.

No service history, paint that's a bit rough, engine fan stuck on, moody lock syndrome, iffy fuel gauge, no headlining...

But otherwise, goal achieved. Really gruff sounding 3.8 V6, FWD, huge interior with electric seats, column change, all the bits inside seem to work.

It drives well, or as well as they can. The dynaride is very soft and it absorbs bumps very well. The handling is...well it turns corners at least.

 

Oh also the bumper stickers have been thrown in the bin now.

[davehedgehog31]

Well bought chief. 

 

That interior is fantastic, a monolithic cliff face of 90's plastic.

[egg]

Ha, Hoovies garage will love you!

 

Nice one.

[dean36014]

Has the dumped car gone yet? Well bought on the yank, i'll get one one day when i'm feeling brave.

[wuvvum]

Superb!  I bloody love those.  Assume that's a Yank import rather than a Eurospec car?

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Who or what the fuck is that in the second pic? Looks like a Womble.

[bramz7]

Superb! I bloody love those. Assume that's a Yank import rather than a Eurospec car?

Indeed, I think it was a Florida car as I've got a Schumacher Buick and Oldsmobile keyring with the keys.

[barrett]

That's kind of weirdly quite appealing in a 'recreating scenes from the X-Files' sort of way. Would quite like to have a go if you don't sell it too soon. 

 

Did you get Katie out in her pyjamas to come and have a look or is this a new fashion trend I'm missing?

[bramz7]

I don't plan on shifting it on, so you're welcome to come try it.

 

Yeah she was dragged outside in a dressing gown and my shoes to have a look at it. I'm well nice* to her.

[Ohdearme]

Tremendous purchase.

 

I like how it has the model badge on the rear quarter in case you forget what you’re driving in the four hours it takes to walk to the back of it.

[lanciamatt]

It's absolutely ghastly, I love it. I really do like how the yanks can make a car look dated when I was brand new and have less BHP than a CVH on 3 cylinders. Get driving round like a pimp

[bramz7]

To be fair I think it has 170hp? Obviously that's still pretty terrible....

 

I fully expect to be shafted come MOT time as it has now got an ABS light on, but there's a few Yank specialist garages round this way, so it'll probably be off to one. I really CBA buying any more old crud for a long time now.

[Shep Shepherd]

I love that incarnation of the Buick Park Avenue. So quiet and comfortable, and a decent stereo to boot

[Ohdearme]

I really CBA buying any more old crud for a long time now.

At least not until next year?

[Fabergé Greggs]

Yas! That ticks loads of the right boxes!

[lanciamatt]

Might sound a bodge, but take bulb out for abs

[wuvvum]

I don't plan on shifting it on

If I had £1, &c.

[loserone]

At least not until next year?

Prace bets now!

[andy18s]

Ha, Hoovies garage will love you!

 

Nice one.

He's great isn't he?

Who considers a fucked McLaren Mp3 a good buy 'cos the seller put an extended factory warranty on it?

Obviously 1 of us...

[Amishtat]

Awaits roffle with interest..

[bramz7]

Just found out that 'that American garage' in Farnborough is also a highly regarded MOT place. Sweet!

 

For anyone wondering, this slice of nice is 205 inches long.

[Lacquer Peel]

More than a foot longer than a Rover 800! Do you still have the 820 by the way?

[bramz7]

More than a foot longer than a Rover 800! Do you still have the 820 by the way?

 

Yes I do, but have plans to gift it to my other halfs dad as he is obsessed with it. It'll have a space on a driveway then too.

[Fabergé Greggs]

Yes I do, but have plans to gift it to my other halfs dad as he is obsessed with it. It'll have a space on a driveway then too.

He and therefore she is a keeper

[wuvvum]

Indeed, I think it was a Florida car as I've got a Schumacher Buick and Oldsmobile keyring with the keys.

Probably for the best - I always thought the Eurolights on these made them look a bit bland from the back.

[bramz7]

Another thing about this, it has the best cup holder arrangement I've ever seen. Open centre console (massive arm rest), flip out cup holder and shut console.

It also has one of those awful all in one stalks for wipers and indicators. Headlights are controlled by a button on the door.

 

 

In other car news, the E46 is fine. Oil smell has gone I think.

It's well dull though. I'd love a six cylinder one but can't stomach any more car purchases now. Unless anyone wants a swap? Thought not.

[oldcars]

That's class. Please say you have held onto the Benidorm sticker.