Caprice engine swap?

[kevm14]

I thought that's what that was.

It is more in my price range than the red one. Leaves room for a daily driver STS later on, which I will need to get because, again, winter driving kills these cars. But you do have to appreciate something. Say this car has 200k. I mean this is a 20+ year old car with a bunch of miles on it and it looks like this. It is possible.

Which begs the question....just how clean is this? It probably is not immaculate. Though, it just needs to be all there so I can theoretically treat the surfaces to last longer. Or something.

I should have asked for a closeup pic of the dent in the hood. No more disappointments.

[bill25]

Yeah, I thought the other one was kind of high.

Also, I think I have one that never ended up on either the 3 or Volvo, can't remember...

[kevm14]

A little more playing with options and rarity on the STS.

This is not comprehensive but I honed in on some key options.

2005 STS V8s with FE3, K59 (adaptive cruise), 3.42 axle (RWD) and the 1SG package: 567
2006 STS V8s with same: 349
2007 STS V8s with FE3, K59, RWD and 1SG package: 628 (these have 3.23)

Adds up to 1,544. I did not do 2008 or newer yet. The V8 just becomes less and less common with the introduction of the DI V6.

They seem to go no higher than a 3.23 axle with RWD and a 6-speed auto. The end result with 3.23s and the 6L50 is a steeper first and taller top gear (6th) than 3.42 and the 5L50. I guess this is what I said before. According to EPA testing, this was only worth 1 mpg in the highway rating and no change in city.

I found one unicorn and it is AWD.

https://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/6085618447.html

2005 CADILLAC STS4 V8 NORTHSTAR - $5995 (south amboy)
Clean Carfax No Accidents 28 service Records Low Miles Very well maintained looks and run Like new Fully Loaded
Financing Available Plz call

I believe this has everything I want, including the adaptive cruise. FE3. 1SG.

RPO E2C ORDER TO DELIVERY - EXPEDITE TO CUSTOMER

Does that mean this was a special order? That's cool.

Miles are reasonable. Price is reasonable. Looks pretty clean except for a weird darker paint line or something on the rear bumper. Pass side headlight has some crap in it. I should look at another white one to see if they all have that.

I am fine with the color combo. It is hard enough to find what I want. Black interior would have been nice but I am fine with the white exterior. I believe this is white diamond tricoat which is a really nice color, but famously impossible to color match when doing body work.

I need a pic of the driver's seat. It is suspiciously missing. One common thing is this plastic trim that goes around the seat bottom cracks or otherwise comes off. The only other thing I guess I'd be suspicious of is just a worn seat.

[kevm14]

1,933 2005 STSs have:
1SG, FE3, K59

Of those, 567 are RWD (29%) and 1,366 are AWD (71%).

So this is one of the 1,366. I could further narrow it down based on options but these are the key ones. I don't think it is missing anything. They did not do limited slip on AWD sadly.

[kevm14]

So this place is 1 hour closer than the Lakewood place where the 78 was. That's good. It appears to be at some kind of dealer. It appears to be called Marvelous Motors. I can't find a website. I did find this:
http://listings.findthecompany.com/l/63 ... h-Amboy-NJ

Anyway, Edmunds says in clean condition, the car is worth [see next post] for private sale. Since it doesn't come with a warranty I don't see why I'd pay a premium for the dealer retail price.

So is this potential hole in the wall dealer a turn off? And I don't know how negotiable they would be. I think 5 grand would be a good price.

[kevm14]

Whoops. Browser issue. The Edmunds private sale value is actually $6300.

The breakdown goes like this:
Base price $3700
Add $1150 in optional equipment
Add $1500 for low miles (93k on an 05 is low miles)

I am going to see what changing this to an 07 but with identical miles does to the price to get an idea what my tax might be to get the 6L50. I'd still prefer RWD and if it has to be AWD, I'd prefer the 6L50 for some torque multiplication off the line when I punch it and lower revs in cruise to help offset the AWD penalty.

[kevm14]

Ok Edmunds says if I found the same car as an 07, the private sale value is $7200 or only $900 higher. Without driving both it is hard to say but I feel like the car I want is already scratching at my budget cap as an 05, in clean condition without a million miles on it.

Of course it doesn't work like that. Finding one is hard, and finding a price that is right in the right condition is even harder. If I really wanted an STS tomorrow, I'd probably at least pursue that white one in NJ. I could run Carfax on it though I thought dealers typically have that information for free.

[kevm14]

Anyway, I think I would pay $5500 for that 05. I sent a message asking about Carfax but I don't know if I should expect them to get back to me.

Oh I just thought of something - let me do a street view and see what is there.

[kevm14]

Here we are.

https://binged.it/2omALsA

This must be it.

Another shot with the sign and their phone number:
https://binged.it/2omuXzs

Different number than the ad. And doesn't say Marvelous Motors. Then again the ad didn't say Marvelous Motors, either. Wouldn't be surprised if this lot went through a number of small business owners over the years.

Another shot from the other side:
https://binged.it/2o2VpCg

These are from almost 3 years ago so I would not be surprised if it was different owners now. But look at these signs. One says rentals! Man.

[kevm14]

Ok it is the same people as the pictures.

Here is the car:
http://www.valuedepotautosales.com/2005 ... 458999.veh

Same price as CL. Same pics. Same description.