Hello! I need advice! I’m trying to purchase a 1987 Chevy caprice classic four door. The vehicle has 77,000 something miles, one owner, and he is selling it for $7,000. I test drove the car and it drove really smooth with no issues. I have not had the car checked out yet. Because we have had conflicting schedules. The car was put in pno 2022. So if I purchase I would be responsible for tags and smog. My worry is what if the vehicle does not pass smog. And I wasted $7,000 down the drain. The seller said the the vehicle came with a smog equipment. What should I do? My dad said I shouldn’t get it but meanwhile he has three Mercedes that he can’t even upkeep. He thinks that the car is to much. Please help!
Depending on where you live, a car may be grandfathered into modern pollution standards. They can't meet more rigorous standards than they were initially designed for.
I would seriously consider getting another car, or a once-in-a-blue-moon driver. That thing is almost 40 years old. You will pull your hair out trying to find causes of different things as they inevitably come up, not to mention very few mechanics will touch pre-OBDI technology. It's all analog, not to mention any rubber is dry rotted if it hasn't been maintained, including the rear main seal.
I have a 1979 Pontiac Catalina. I'll drive it 3 days a week sometimes, but I also have 2 newer cars. I like fixing stuff on a car that's 45 years old, because I can do most things on my own. It's a hobby of mine, and I love doing it. The only time I had to have a mechanic do the work was replacing my rear main seal. We both brainstormed how to get that seal out, and I was without that car for a month.
If you're just starting out, and this is your only car, pass.
@justin-shepherd Usually when someone uses the term "smog" or "smogged" when referring to vehicle inspections they are in the PRC (Peoples' Republic of California). Out there if someone wants an old car they're better off buying one old enough to not require "smogging", which as I recall would be no newer than early 1970s.
That's funny about California. We don't have emissions testing in Ohio, except for Cleveland.
@justin-shepherd Most of those states that do emissions testing are not as insane about it as California is.
- My first car was that same year, make, and model (purchased it in 2007) and it had more mileage but was in great shape considering it’s age. but 7 grand is a big number for such an old car. I got mine for 1,000 and if I hadn’t wrecked it months after purchasing it, I know I would’ve been spending A LOT of time working on it/attempting to maintain it. Unless you want it for a Sunday driver or a fun project to mess around with the big old engine in that boat of a car, I’d have to suggest passing on it for that price
Well it really depends what you want to do with the car. If you want an everyday driver you're insane to buy that thing. It is too old. Too many things will go wrong with it. If you want a toy and a mechanic says it's okay, go right ahead
