[Shotimes] Car Buying ?s - Long

[Scot Hewitt]

Zach,

Thats funny, I "play" an Engineer at work too.  I'm an ME by my degree, but I do control systems all day long (typically EE stuff).

It makes sense to go with the $3k option, but what about a 170k V8 motor?  Will it really last another 100k?  If I was asking about a V6, Jim White would tell me it's about half way through it's life span. :)

Scot

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Zach Leahy <leahyz@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Zach Leahy <leahyz@gmail.com>
Date:  Thu, 7 Jul 2005 07:11:02 -0500

>Generally speaking the words SHO and RELIABLE shoud have the words ARE
>NOT in between them.  There are exceptions I know....
>
>Sure, SHO's were relaible when they were bbilt, minimum of 5 years
>ago.  I am not a V8 sho expert, but I believe that they suffer similar
>fates to ATX V6's, they eat transmissions about every 60-80k.  Just
>keep that in mind.
>
>Maintnance can vary anywhere from simple maintnance to working on the
>thing every weekend.  In general though if you have one and play nice
>they will not kill you in maintnance and fixes.  If you like to play
>rough with the car, you may end up with some extra expenses.
>
>So, on your question would I buy the $3K 170,000 mile SHO that's been
>maintained well or the $6k 88,000 mile SHO that has not.
>
>No contest, save $3,000 bucks.  That gives to $3k in repair costs til
>they even are the same initial cost, and that will probably go a long
>way.  The $6k one sounds liek it will have another 1-2K in repairs to
>be done, so that makes it more expensive.  I ain't a mathmatician (but
>i play an engineer at work) but I know that I would not hesitate to
>get choice A.
>
>Z
>
>
>On 7/6/05, Scot Hewitt <shewitt@hypercon.net> wrote:
>> Here's my scenario, I am currently selling my daily driver 94 Sable w/ 3.8L, 107k, reliable car, functional A/C, good motor & tranny, and no rust.  Good car, served use well for 6 years, but I think it is time to upgrade.  I bought an Expedition a couple of years ago for my use, but my wife confiscated it immediately...  If I was a real man, I would put her back in the kitchen and take the truck, but I guess I'm just a sucker. :)
>> 
>> One option that I have been kicking around is a Gen III SHO for my daily driver.  I can go two directions, high mileage w/ welded cams, or a lower mileage SHO - but the cams generally have not been welded.  The one I've been looking at is approx. $3k, but it has 170k.  Welded cams, new tranny, functional A/C, and all of the typical maintenance items have been kept up.  Enthusiast owners, but maintenance history only goes back to 100k.  The lower mileage SHO's I've seen (98 @ 80k, 99 @ 65k) have actually been in worse condition, the interior's worn, door dings, A/C marginal, tranny due, etc.  Basically treated like a regular SLO.  Cost for the lower mileage typically doubles to $6k.
>> 
>> So I ask you, would a well maintained 170k SHO last for another 100k?  Would the motor last another 100k?  Or should I look at something more reliable?  I do my own maintenance, so little things won't bug me too bad.  But I do rely on my daily driver to get me to the airport for work once a month or so.
>> 
>> I want a Gen III SHO, but it seems they may have left the realm of "reliable".
>> 
>> I'm looking for opinions, so don't hold back!
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> Scot H
>> 95 Red MTX - 72k
>> 98 EB Expy
>> 94 Sable SLO
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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