Caprice engine swap?

[kevm14]

I should do a review of the car, though dwelling too much on individual problems is really only necessary to document the NJ terribleness.

Exterior
It was parked backed in when we got there. Looked nice.

WP_20170424_17_55_13_Pro.jpg

Looks are deceiving. I will just make bullets for my thoughts and comments rather than trying to create a narrative:
- I do like the white diamond tricoat
- The car was filthy and yet in the picture above, it looks perfectly clean. Now that is a daily driver color.
- After we pulled in, we noticed the first issue. Body damage on the driver's front fender. This was foreshadowing.

WP_20170424_17_55_21_Pro.jpg

- At least two tires had serious gashes in the sidewalls due to terrible NJ potholes. How you can sell a car with tires like this I have no idea. The wheels were alright.
- Trunk struts were dead.
- Lights worked fine

Interior
- Opening the door revealed the terrible driver's seat and steering wheel as expected. Something was peeling from the seat and I have no idea what. The steering wheel didn't bother me as much and really both were exactly as I expected.
- Worse though, the weather stripping on the B pillar and along the sill was totally trashed from some large ass dude stuffing his body in the car and rubbing against the weather stripping
- I don't think the heated steering wheel worked. The light did not turn on either.
- The nav menus were a mess and it took me an honest 10 minutes of looking while driving before realizing you have to be stopped and find the right menu to switch between Performance and Touring MR shock modes. It was in Performance the whole time. That is for later.
- My head seemed to hit the ceiling though I could have reclined a bit more but it still would have been close. My CTS-V is like this with the sunroof. Alpha inherited tight interiors from Sigma I think...
- Back seat space was also disappointing for the size/kind of car this is. I would love to compare back to back with my CTS-V because it did not really seem substantially more roomy. It is supposed to be but I'm saying I just couldn't really tell a huge difference. A little yes. Big difference, no. I will have to see how I feel about the interior size when I find a nicer one and evaluate it in that context. I don't think it is off the table and it makes me wonder what I'd say about a Lacrosse Super.
- Knee panel was partially falling off the driver's seat back
- Rear heated seats worked allegedly (I think Adam tested)
- Ventilated seats worked. First time for me. Made my butt cold. It was kind of weird but on a hot day it seems like it would prevent swap ass/back.
- None of the TPMS sensors read. I think they had a bad sensor and tried to reset the system to wake it up. Since they could not complete the procedure, it kicks out with no sensors learned. He gave me a story that you have to drive 100 miles which he says his mechanic told him. I wish people would learn how things work because that is not correct. I am sure it was just a sensor but it really adds insult to injury on this car.
- Power seats seemed to work and the other seats were in nice shape. Driver's seat area was not in nice shape. I am no longer going to accept damage like this because it is indicative of underlying condition. If an owner is willing to let one thing deteriorate/degrade, they are willing to let other things. That's a fact.

WP_20170424_18_26_29_Pro.jpg

- I tried the adaptive cruise. I didn't really have enough time to experiment with it. I am not sure the gap button did anything. I also could not make the HUD work but I am not sure I was doing it right. The dash showed no indication at all about cruise being engaged which is not right.
- We tried FM on the stereo very briefly and for the 4 seconds I heard some hip-hop, the bass sounded strong.
- The temp control knob sensor seemed flaky. I would turn it and the optical encoder (or whatever method it uses) was not registering all turns. This is minor and not a deal breaker. I don't know if they would all be like this.

The drive

Powertrain
- I started it with the keyless button which was sweet. It started normally and settled into an incredibly smooth idle. Couldn't feel it or hear it. Luxury grade for sure. You are not going to get this kind of refinement from a small block. Whether you want or need the refinement is a different conversation. I think we can all agree trading some refinement for SBC simplicity would be just fine.
- We pull out and I basically wind out 1st and 2nd. It begins to misfire and flash the check engine light. Because of course it did. The check engine light stayed on after that.
- I think the power would be acceptable in daily driving but I also could see how the 6L50 would drive better with the AWD. RWD would be even better.
- The transmission felt pretty good to me. This 5L50 was one of GMs best of the 2000s I think. Which I guess is why BMW bought them for various vehicles. For what it's worth, the 5L50 felt significantly less torque managed than the 6L50. I noted this when driving my brother in law's 04 SRX which also uses the 5L50. I actually prefer the feel but I'd trade that for the wider ratios of the 6L50.
- At lower rpms, the engine seemed to be missing. I scanned it when we got back. Cyl 5 misfire. Probably a coil but I would never take the gamble given the rest of the car. It clearly had a hard life, though I can't figure out which owner was the moron. Must have been the CPO owner at 40k but they would have paid a lot of money to trash a car.
- V03 mechanical fan. Like the SRX. Not like the engine bay needs more stuff in it.

Steering, chassis, brakes
- I am going to say that I think the NV7 ZF steering rack is worth pursuing on these cars. The highway feel on this car was just top notch. It was precise and actually responded pretty quick off center even though it wasn't a quick ratio. So it just felt super precise and nice. Going to need 1SG for that.
- I don't know if the shocks were operating optimally but it seemed to ride and handle fine. I suspect the ride gets pretty creamy in Tour but still firms up well when you need it.
- Driving down the road this thing felt pretty premium and nice. I like the FE3 - I wish the SRX were FE3 even though I know it is not my car and FE3 just means more expensive shocks....it drives better though. I'm just not into FE1 stuff, even on a daily driver.
- The brakes felt significantly better than the SRX and they are the same brakes as far as I can tell. I think I screwed up getting the Napa Adaptive One pads for the SRX. I was upsold. Anyway, these brakes should work just fine for daily driving. This was a relief.
- I think I heard the air ride come on to level the car after we pulled out.

TL;DR type thoughts
- A little concerned about interior size but willing to look at a clean car and reevaluate. I may be fine with it when the rest of the car doesn't have so many issues.
- I need to stop going to NJ. It is going to be pretty hard to find the options I want. 1SG is not hard to find - any car with 18s is likely to have it at least on the 05s and 06s. But adaptive cruise is rare. I don't know that I have to have this. For daily driving, I don't use cruise at all. But for long drives, being able to pace traffic is huge. Using cruise sucks because you end up doing the 75mph pass of someone going 74. It's dumb. Adaptive cruise solves that. It is a luxury and not a necessity but I would look at local cars without it. I can assess how much I care about it after I have more data points about what local cars are available. From a requirements and use case standpoint, what I actually need is adaptive cruise on the SRX. I would absolutely use it on our drives to CT. I don't need it on my daily driver.
- I need to start trusting my gut again. I went outside my comfort zone and was not rewarded at all. If it doesn't feel right, it isn't right.
- I like this color. I would prefer a black interior. I would have to check Compnine if they even made that combo. EDIT: I just checked. They made 55 2005 STS V8s in white diamond with 1SG and a black interior. But they made 1,465 cars with 1SG and a black interior across all exterior colors.
- If that white one in NC is as nice as it looks, I'd pay $6k for that. I probably need to take a break on long distance crap but it's cool that the exact same car exists. I can't say exactly what condition it is in, but I would bet money it is far nicer than the one we looked at.
- I would like to drive a Lacrosse Super and see what I think about the total package.
- G8 GTs are still too expensive. So are PPVs.
- Mopar LX Hemi cars are in my price range. I don't really like them.
- Ford has nothing. The LS is weak.

[kevm14]

- If that white one in NC is as nice as it looks, I'd pay $6k for that. I probably need to take a break on long distance crap but it's cool that the exact same car exists. I can't say exactly what condition it is in, but I would bet money it is far nicer than the one we looked at.

So this.
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/6096779319.html

2.5 hours to Charlotte. Trying to figure out if there is any reasonable way to know I want to purchase this car without help from Bob. I have heard of like middlemen for this kind of thing but for a car in this price range I don't think that really makes sense.

Let's look at the book value at least.

KBB private in Very Good is $6,126.

Dealer retail is $8,400.

Checking Edmunds.

Edmunds makes more sense. I used Clean condition.

Dealer retail: $7,067. What a coincidence.
Private party: $4,960. I wouldn't feel too bad about asking for $6k if I believe these numbers. Why? Because trade-in is $3,704.

Even in Outstanding condition Edmunds says private party value is $5,429. So...$6k still seems like a reasonable price to me.

[kevm14]

Pics so I have them.

Pass side rear seat belt looks dirty or stained. I guess this is another reason to get a black interior?

If you click on the pics they open in full res if you zoom to 100%. You can look pretty closely at stuff. It doesn't look brand new inside but it does look pretty decent to me.

What the hell is an AWD car doing in NC anyway?

[kevm14]

So this.
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/6096779319.html

2.5 hours to Charlotte. Trying to figure out if there is any reasonable way to know I want to purchase this car without help from Bob. I have heard of like middlemen for this kind of thing but for a car in this price range I don't think that really makes sense.

http://homepage.aiminspections.com/serv ... spections/

I would have to read more but I got the referral from an Edmunds article and they said a test drive is not part of the inspection service. But noting damage and other cosmetic issues would still be highly valuable. Granted the driveability is a big part of the risk buying remotely so I don't yet know how to bridge that gap. I could also look into the dealer and see if it is another value/low end type dealer. I'm not scared away from all independent dealers because they are not all the same, but there is due diligence here.

I'm not entirely sure they deal with consumers actually:

For independent and franchise dealers needing to sell vehicles remotely or at auction, AiM inspections and condition reports provide confidence in the transaction. Now, both parties know the condition of a vehicle at a given point in time. The fact is that cars with independent inspections are more likely to sell, more quickly, and for more money.

Ah, this is better. I guess I was on the wrong section.

http://homepage.aiminspections.com/serv ... spections/

For $129, I get this:

150 Point Car Inspections
Bumper-to-bumper, Interior and Exterior Inspection
Vehicle Inspection Test Drive
Friendly Employee-based Professional Inspector
15 + Photos Documenting Condition
Quick Online Report Access
Nationwide Coverage
Visual Inspection of all Fluids
Inspection for Damages, Repairs & Collision Damages
Photo Documentation of VIN & Mileage
Inspection of Tire Condition and Wear
Title, Problem, Odometer & Accident Check

It DOES include a test drive. This might be the solution.

One thing that's not clear is whether this service is really offered remotely. I don't see why not.

Doing a little reading here:
https://www.yelp.com/biz/aim-mobile-ins ... long-beach

Sounds like they can be hit or miss and probably depends highly on the proximity and quality of the individual inspector. Which isn't all that surprising. But without knowing whether I'll get a good one or a bad one, that might not really help me. There must be other services.

[kevm14]

Options to investigate later:
remotemechanic.com/services/vehicle-inspection/
http://www.automobileinspections.com/
http://lemonsquad.com/ (dug in a little below)
http://autoinspectionservices.net/ (site looks great but the content is total garbage)

[kevm14]

http://lemonsquad.com/used-car-inspections/expert

$140

Features
Cars Newer than 1997
Most Popular Inspection
OBD2 Scan Tool (1996 & newer)
Comprehensive: Inside & Out
Excellent Value
Over 25 Pictures
Road Test
Expert Inspection Includes

Condition of the body and paint
Presence of scratches, cracks, dents, or rust
Underbody check for any signs of rust or damage
Condition of tires and wheels
Glass exam for cracks or other flaws
Previous accident damage and previous flood damage
Check lights, A/C, gauges, and operation of all other electrical items
Thorough check of interior--including upholstery, mats, headliner, and seat belts
Comprehensive inspection of the motor and transmission
All drive-line components including 4-Wheel and All-Wheel systems
Steering, suspension, Braking components, and Exhaust system
Visual inspection of engine and all other items under the hood
Notation of fluid level, oil leaks, and any missing parts
Review of all available mechanical and ownership records (if available)
We'll address any additional areas of concern that you identify
If possible, assuming the vehicle is street legal and safe weather conditions exist, the entire drive train performance is evaluated with a 5-mile road test

Sample report:
http://lemonsquad.com/sample/expert

With a competent inspector, I think this would work fine for me. I would also need them to try all features and functions which might take a while on an STS...or just roll the dice if everything else is good.

[kevm14]

http://www.automobileinspections.com/se ... report.asp

Pricey ($349) but seems thorough. Not sure if it is twice as good as what is advertised for the Lemon Squad guys.

http://www.automobileinspections.com/whats-included.asp

They have a large amount of sample reports available which I do like.

http://www.automobileinspections.com/services/samples/

2005 Roush Mustang convertible: http://www.automobileinspections.com/se ... ple-01.asp

2009 Audi S5: http://www.automobileinspections.com/se ... ple-02.asp

[kevm14]

I should probably write down some key things for buying a car remotely, if it happens:
- I would do it for a price advantage or really a value advantage
- I would do it if it was the only way to find exactly what I wanted but I still think I need a price advantage. Basically I will pay somewhere between private and dealer retail from a dealer (depends on condition). I would pay something lower from a private party.
- I will need to be satisfied with the inspection report. As to how I will know I trust it enough to pull the trigger, that is not something I can really define right now. But I think it is possible.

Another note on age, mileage and price: I know I can buy cars well and there is no reason I can't buy an STS well. My CTS-V kind of fell into my lap but I was looking at paying $25k+. When I noticed that the car was at least as nice as the ones that cost $25k+, I realized that there was nothing wrong with buying at the bottom of the market even though the miles were twice as high as the ones that cost $10k more. That decision has worked out just fine. And by the way, $6k isn't the bottom of the market on STSs anyway. More like $4k, or even closer to $3k. Paying $10k for a used STS is probably NOT a better *VALUE* than paying $6k for one even if that $6k one has higher miles, as long as it was maintained and cared for. Like the CTS-V, mileage isn't a direct indicator of how many problems I will have or the cost to maintain. Cars like this often need random things below 100k or even below 50k. Therefore buying one with 75k is not going to ensure any kind of problem-free ownership. So paying extra for that is stupid. I do admit that unlike the CTS-V, this powertrain isn't as bulletproof but I still stand by what I said.

According to Fuelly I drove my Caprice about 10,000 miles in 2016.

[kevm14]

http://lemonsquad.com/used-car-inspections/expert

$140

Features
Cars Newer than 1997
Most Popular Inspection
OBD2 Scan Tool (1996 & newer)
Comprehensive: Inside & Out
Excellent Value
Over 25 Pictures
Road Test
Expert Inspection Includes

Condition of the body and paint
Presence of scratches, cracks, dents, or rust
Underbody check for any signs of rust or damage
Condition of tires and wheels
Glass exam for cracks or other flaws
Previous accident damage and previous flood damage
Check lights, A/C, gauges, and operation of all other electrical items
Thorough check of interior--including upholstery, mats, headliner, and seat belts
Comprehensive inspection of the motor and transmission
All drive-line components including 4-Wheel and All-Wheel systems
Steering, suspension, Braking components, and Exhaust system
Visual inspection of engine and all other items under the hood
Notation of fluid level, oil leaks, and any missing parts
Review of all available mechanical and ownership records (if available)
We'll address any additional areas of concern that you identify
If possible, assuming the vehicle is street legal and safe weather conditions exist, the entire drive train performance is evaluated with a 5-mile road test

Sample report:
http://lemonsquad.com/sample/expert

With a competent inspector, I think this would work fine for me. I would also need them to try all features and functions which might take a while on an STS...or just roll the dice if everything else is good.

From their FAQ. This isn't the best. These are the cheaper guys. I will check the more expensive guys.

Because we strive to get inspectors on site very quickly, we begin working on your order immediately. Once your order has been placed we cannot offer a refund. PLEASE BE SURE OF YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE PLACING YOUR ORDER. If your vehicle sells before we dispatch an inspector, we will put your order on hold and you can use the amount paid towards inspection of another vehicle.

[kevm14]

http://www.automobileinspections.com/se ... report.asp

Pricey ($349) but seems thorough. Not sure if it is twice as good as what is advertised for the Lemon Squad guys.

http://www.automobileinspections.com/whats-included.asp

They have a large amount of sample reports available which I do like.

http://www.automobileinspections.com/services/samples/

2005 Roush Mustang convertible: http://www.automobileinspections.com/se ... ple-01.asp

2009 Audi S5: http://www.automobileinspections.com/se ... ple-02.asp

FAQ quotes:

How does the process work?
We only need the name, address and phone number of the seller, the Make and Model of car along with your credit card details. We contact the seller to let him know that you have retained our services and that our nearest inspector will be calling him shortly to arrange a convenient time to inspect the car. Once the inspection is underway, we charge your card the agreed amount. When the completed report is ready, we send you an e-mail to let you know that you can view it on our web site. We also provide a phone number for you to call us if you have any questions. That's it! - The whole thing is usually accomplished in 72 hours. Our detailed reports cover an extensive amount of information, digital photos, optional opinions of value or full written appraisals and VIN checks can be made available at your request.

So unlike the Lemon Squad guys, they don't charge until an inspector goes out. I wish they were like....$200 instead of $350. It's a lot.