Repair-It

Pictures courtesy of Bob's test drive today.

Rear bumper extremely sun damaged. Same with the front bumper. From straight on I guess it is not as bad...also I see a cracked cornering lamp. Yeah, this has cornering lamps. Fancy. And then the car completely redeems itself with how clean this rear quarter is. Paint looks nice, too. Extremely worn carpet, but only in this area. Bob said the carpet actually looked really good everywhere else. Driver's seat bolster area. The whole seat has issues. Frankly I would probably end up taking it to an upholstery shop and they can probably address the padding issue as well as this small tear, and the seam coming apart. Again, the rest of the seats actually look really good. And for the worst interior wear item, the arm rest. How in the world does that happen??? Upholstery shop, again. Pretty clean here, aside from actual dirt. Rear seat (seems mint) and window sticker. Zoom in to see the standard equipment. Close-up of the options and pricing. Another shot of annoying rust-free life-in-NC rear frame/quarter area. Classic GM early to mid-90s keyless entry fob. Take that, Adam and Ed! Comes w/ owner's manual, which you should consult after reading the sticker below the SPID about the towing package. I explained this earlier (re: the snapped ratchet strap). It's pretty bad. Looks like the mounting holes from the old push bars, which I guess he still has. Shown here [RPO nerd alert]: LT1 V08 C60 JA2 JM4 K34 KG9, and probably can't really see the lines for KC4 (follow the weeping oil most likely) Front tread not great Ridiculously clean to me, but normal by NC standards (for a 20 year old car) Rear tread not great

Passenger side frame rail. A little bit of black left on it, which I think is how Adam's Fleetwood was. Passenger side rear wheel well area. Once again, clean. I guess he took the steering wheel cover off for Bob. Not sure what the discoloration is. Possibly FROM the steering wheel cover?? I have actually always coveted a leather wrapped wheel in my own Caprice (and fanaticized about finding a Ruby Red LTZ that I could snag the wheel from, and that never materialized). The paint on this car, other than the bumpers, does seem decent. Speaking of the bumpers... The missing bowtie and lock cylinder? Failed break-in attempt in a sketchy part of Charlotte. Probably looking for "a system." No way into the interior from here. This is unsightly enough that it would make me want to track down a black trunk lid, if possible. Or use my Caprice's trunk and paint it black. More attempted break-in damage. You'll see why in the next one. Sucks, though, because weather stripping can be difficult to replace and expensive, too. Isn't that nice? FSM!

So my thoughts?

I am annoyed because there are things wrong with it that aren't wrong with my Caprice, mainly the attempted break-in damage. The front bumper seems worse than mine, and the rear is definitely worse than mine (my rear bumper was repainted during my ownership though).

Driver's seat and arm rest needs attention.

Tires are sketchy, but I have tires.

Brakes are probably due, but that's no big deal.

Steering linkage probably due. Again, no big deal.

The smashed windshield is not too good.

Overall though the interior is extremely clean and actually looks kind of nice in tan (gasp). The exterior paint on the actual body seems decent still.

So, paint is an upgrade overall, even if I would want to deal with the bumpers at some point (at least they won't rust). And the corrosion is a huge upgrade. Two big ones.

It's also a lot faster, though still a low 15 second car as it sits. Nothing amazing by today's standards.

But given some of the issues, this is not a $2500 car. Maybe a $1500 car?

By the way, I do place some weight on the fact that this is the final year of the B-bodies and this is the highest configured Caprice you could get. It even had the Sungate windshield (though that's moot since I'd probably not bother - but maybe that protected the dash all those years?).

I need to decode the VIN at some point. Need.

Maybe Bob can chime in a little on his own impressions.

From what I remember:
- Trans is probably fine
- Engine seems normal
- Steering slop, and probably due for overhaul on that stuff (typical, I've done mine several times)
- Needs brakes (no biggie)
- Ride/handling reminiscent of a 9C1 and favorable, with the quick steering

SPID RPO's decoded, in the finest B-body tradition:

AA7 - WINDOW, POWER OPERATED, QUICK OPENING
AG1 - ADJUSTER, FRT ST, POWER, 6 WAY DRIVER, SPLIT BENCH
AG2 - ADJUSTER, PASS ST POWER, 6 WAY, SPLIT BENCH
AK5 - RESTRAINT SYSTEM, FRT SEAT, INFLATABLE, DRIVER
AM6 - SEAT, FRT SPLIT, 3 PASS, CTR ARM REST
AP9 - NET, CONVENIENCE
ARL - PLANT CODE, ARLINGTON, TX, USA
AU0 - LOCK CONTROL, REMOTE ENTRY – KEYLESS ENTRY (DOMESTIC)
A23 - WINDSHIELD, HEAT REFLECTIVE
A90 - LOCK CONTROL, RR COMPT LID, REM CONT ELEC RELEASE
B18 - ORNAMENTATION, INTR, DELUX
B4U - PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, SPORT
C4A - MERCHANDISED PKG SAVER 1
C49 - DEFOGGER, RR WINDOW, ELECTRIC
C60 - HVAC SYSTEM, AIR CONDITIONER FRT MAN CONTROLS
C71 - LAMP, INTR, FRT DR, COURTESY
C96 - LAMP, INTR, QTR, COURTESY AND SINGLE READING
DD2 - MIRROR I/S, SUNSHADE, COVERED
DE5 - MIRROR O/S LH & RH, REMOTE CONTROL, ELECTRIC, HEATED, FOLDING, COLOR
DF6 - MIRROR I/S, R/V, TILT, AUTO, DUAL READING LAMPS
DL5 - DECAL, ROADSIDE SERVICE INFORMATION
D64 - MIRROR I/S, RH, SUNSHADE, ILLUM
D90 - STRIPE, FRT END, BODY SIDE
FE3 - SUSPENSION SYSTEM, SPORT
FE9 - CERTIFICATION, EMISSION, FEDERAL
GW9 - AXLE REAR, 2.93 RATIO (DUP WITH GU3)
G80 - AXLE POSITRACTION, LIMITED SLIP
IQ2 - TRIM INTERIOR DESIGN (Q2)
JA2 - BRAKE, HEAVY WEIGHT DISC DRUM
JM4 - BRAKE, SYSTEM, PWR, FRT DISC, RR DRUM, CAST IRON
KC4 - COOLING SYSTEM, HEAVY DUTY ENGINE OIL
KD1 - COOLING SYSTEM, TRANS OIL
KG9 - GENERATOR, 140 AMP
K34 - CRUISE CONTROL, AUT0MATIC, ELECTRONIC
LT1 - ENGINE, GAS, 8 CYL, 5.7L, TPI, HO
MX0 - MERCHANDISED, TRANS, AUTO PROVISIONS, O/D
M30 - TRANSMISSION, AUTO 4 SPD, HMD, 4L60E, ELECTRONIC
NF2 - EMISSION SYSTEM, FEDERAL, TIER 1
NG5 - REGISTRATION EMISSION, CERTIFICATION, FIFTY STATE (50)
NK4 - STEERING WHEEL SPORT LEATHER
N10 - EXHAUST SYSTEM DUAL
N40 - STEERING, POWER, NON-VARIABLE RATIO
N81 - TIRES, SPARE FULLSIZE
PA5 - HUBCAPS, WHEEL
PB4 - LOCK CONTROL, WHEEL
PD4 - WHEEL, 15 X 7, LIGHT METAL ALLOY, 5 SPOKES
QMU - Tires, P235/60R17 all-season, blackwall
R6X - CONTROL SALES ITEM NO. 23
R7A - CONTROL SALES ITEM NO. 26
R8T - CONTROL SALES ITEM NO. 69
T82 - HEADLAMPS, AUTO ON-OFF CONT
T87 - LAMP, CORNERING
UN0 - RADIO AM/FM STEREO, SEEK/SCAN, CD, AUTO TONE, CLOCK, ETR
UQ1 - RADIO PROVISIONS, FOR STEREO
UQ5 - SPEAKER SYSTEM, 4, DUAL FRT DR MTD, DUAL EXTD RGE
U02 - CLUSTER, INST, KILO & MILES, DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER
U75 - ANTENNA, POWER, RADIO
VK3 - LICENSE PLATE, FRT MOUNTING PKG
VM3 - LABEL INFORMATION CONSUMER, CONTAINS BPR IMP STANDARD FOR FRT 5 MPH & RR 5 MPH
V08 - COOLING SYSTEM, HEAVY DUTY
V73 - VEHICLE STATEMENT, USA/CANADA
V92 - TRAILER PROVISIONS
1AY - STOCK ORDERS PROCESSING OPTION (DEALER ORDERED CAR)
1SC - OPTION PACKAGE 03
41Q - MOLDING COLOR, BLACK (91)
41U - PRIMARY COLOR, EXTERIOR, BLACK
6TS - COMPONENT FRT LH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (6TS)
64I - INTERIOR TRIM, LIGHT BEIGE (I) (92)
642 - TRIM COMBINATION, LEATHER, LT BEIGE (2) (92)
7TN - COMPONENT FRT RH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (7TN)
74A - STRIPE COLOR, ACCENT, TWO TONE, BLACK/RED (91)
8HH - COMPONENT RR LH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (8HH)
9HH - COMPONENT RR RH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (9HH)

I think this does have every single option, although I think that's basically how the B4U came. Last year, loaded, and rare. That usually amounts to something. Ironically, these USED to be more sought after, with 9C1 performance (without the wear/tear) and SS creature comforts, but without the SS price tag.

Good RPO code links for future reference:
http://www.marshu.com/images-website/ca ... -codes.pdf
http://www.rpocodes.com/GM-RPO-codes/gm ... oughS.html
http://www.longroof.info/pdf/rpo.pdf

Brand new heated, power side mirror (Dorman) for $96 (maybe not cheapest):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dorman-955-173- ... tX&vxp=mtr

From a Roadmaster with old man convex mirror for $31.49:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1995-1996-Buick ... 66&vxp=mtr

Are the mirrors supposed to black glossy or matte?

I don't usually do this but... let's look at some costs quickly.

I don't remember if windshield replacement is free or not. All of my comprehensive deductibles are $250 so I could use that. I guess plan on $250-$300 for the windshield.

Side mirror, $35.

Seat and arm rest upholstery... I honestly have no idea. For the seat, maybe $100 to repair and fix the padding and for the arm rest maybe $75 to recover?

Trunk... I think I do need a new trunk lid. It may be too damaged to just put a new lock cylinder in there. $150 for a black one from a 93 Caprice at: Chase's Auto Salvage USA-NH(Enfield-Center) Request_Quote 603-632-5363 / 800-228-0268

Weather stripping... not sure. Maybe it doesn't leak.

The rest of the stuff is either incidental or I have a parts source.

So the total of the other stuff is $610. With all of that stuff fixed, is this a $2000 car? If it is, then the price should be about $1400. If it's not due to the bumpers, then even less.

Anyone want to weigh in?

The seller claimed the weather stripping didn't leak. He seemed to be fairly honest about other things so I believe him.

Overall, it's hard to put a value on this car. I think $2000 has become the new $1000, in the sense that it is the minimum price point at which it is possible to obtain a car that is in reasonably good running condition, regardless of other flaws.

I dunno if $2000 is the new $1000. Maybe $1500? But if we price this as a "running, driving car" then it gets no points for any of the special B-body stuff (or the LT1).

Anyway, I will say the color combo is actually desirable, unlike my white on blue Fleetwood (the conditions for that car's sale were different: 1) pre cash for clunkers, 2) White/blue, and 3) was not registered and had an issue with the serpentine belt that the owner didn't understand to be as simple as it was).

This car also probably has some bottom end price due to the semi-popularity of making these into urban status symbols, complete with 24s or even 26s, particularly in your part of the country. I don't know what that price is, but I will also say they usually would prefer a cherry example (and don't care if it's a 91 w/ 305).

How did you leave it? That I would specifically follow up? And who do I follow up with?