Caprice Classic for my Minivan?!

[AfroMan Skeeter]

Well, I have always been interested in a 90's American ''boat,'' so to say. It's a 6 seat-er, 5.7L V8, 1991 Caprice Classic. It has 75000 miles and my friend wants to trade for my 2002 Chevy Venture with 106,000 miles and a rebuilt motor.

I won't go into the specifics, but does that seems like a reasonable trade? We both want each others cars, neither one has anything seriously wrong with them, etc etc.

Are there any problems I might expect from a 1991 Caprice Classic?

Thanks.

[mrokern]

Originally Posted by AfroMan Skeeter

Well, I have always been interested in a 90's American ''boat,'' so to say. It's a 6 seat-er, 5.7L V8, 1991 Caprice Classic. It has 75000 miles and my friend wants to trade for my 2002 Chevy Venture with 106,000 miles and a rebuilt motor.

I won't go into the specifics, but does that seems like a reasonable trade? We both want each others cars, neither one has anything seriously wrong with them, etc etc.

Are there any problems I might expect from a 1991 Caprice Classic?

Thanks.

Having a tougher time at load-in and load-out?

Although, those trunks are really big...

[AfroMan Skeeter]

Originally Posted by mrokern

Having a tougher time at load-in and load-out?

Although, those trunks are really big...

Lol that may be true, but I haven't exactly had the chance to play at any shows yet :[

That may change as my friend started a band and wants me to be their bassist, they even have a small record label interested in them. So we'll see how that goes.

Oh, back to the original topic... I haven't found much looking through google yet, every site says TBA, are the tranny's good on these cars?

[MakiSupaStar]

I had a 79 Chevy Impala. Same thing. 5.7liter V-8. That car was a beast. Actually, my dad swapped out the original engine and put the Corvette equivalent in it and lowered the gearing ratio for towing our 34ft RV trailer. It's a great car. Huge trunk space. Pig on gas though.

[Big Joe]

As an added bonus, the Caprice is slightly less child-molester-ish than the van... That's good right?

[Phat Ham]

Even though the Caprice is a much cooler car IMO, the venture is still worth a lot more. You're getting the shaft if this is a straight up trade.

[Stumbo]

Venture: Price Range: $5,000 - $10,000
http://www.internetautoguide.com/use...ure/index.html
Caprice Classic Price Range: $1,900 - $7,000
http://www.internetautoguide.com/use...sic/index.html

I wouldn't do the deal based on sales prices.
I really wouldn't do the deal because you'll need the van to carry your equipment around w/o a hassle when you get in a band.

The Caprice is an old car...all the seals, suspension, shocks, etc will need to be replaced...probably sooner rather that later. The Venture is relatively new and has a lot of good years left in it.

[AfroMan Skeeter]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Venture: Price Range: $5,000 - $10,000
http://www.internetautoguide.com/use...ure/index.html
Caprice Classic Price Range: $1,900 - $7,000
http://www.internetautoguide.com/use...sic/index.html

I wouldn't do the deal based on sales prices.
I really wouldn't do the deal because you'll need the van to carry your equipment around w/o a hassle when you get in a band.

The Caprice is an old car...all the seals, suspension, shocks, etc will need to be replaced...probably sooner rather that later. The Venture is relatively new and has a lot of good years left in it.

I don't think I could get those prices for the Venture as there are minor problems such as a non-working emergency brake, fuel gauge, cracked windshield, no power besides the locks, etc.

I wouldn't do it if it was completely stupid.

But thanks, I'm doing a 3 day test drive to see how it works and all.

EDIT: I can't check that sites pricing because I am in school, but KBB gave me a private party value of about 3-5K AT MOST with all of the power features etc.
KBB said my van was worth 3475 and the Caprice Classic was worth about 2000. So yeah, I guess I am getting the bad end of the deal... but if it works and I'm happier with it why not do it.

My biggest question might've been what problems have you heard about with this car? Because I haven't found any, besides the gas (which is a given).

[JimB52]

I like the Caprice Classic, but you'll probably pay a lot more in liability insurance.

[fenderhutz]

Originally Posted by JimB52

I like the Caprice Classic, but you'll probably pay a lot more in liability insurance.

If you are going to get the Caprice Classic why not just get a Buick and a membership to AARP and call it a day.

[mrokern]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

If you are going to get the Caprice Classic why not just get a Buick and a membership to AARP and call it a day.

OUCH!

[nortonrider]

I would keep the van!

.....but then I'm all practical like that.

[Ericman197]

Originally Posted by AfroMan Skeeter

I don't think I could get those prices for the Venture as there are minor problems such as a non-working emergency brake, fuel gauge, cracked windshield, no power besides the locks, etc.

Your friend is taking you for a ride. Those are all relatively cheap problems to fix. You could probably get $3,000 as is for your van on craigslist, give or take. For that much money you could do better. Most of the Caprices in my area are selling for $1,000 to $2,000.

[RedemptionBass]

Trade.


The Caprice is just a badass automobile.


It's all about percieved value, my friend. What is the Caprice to van value ratio to you?

[AfroMan Skeeter]

Originally Posted by Ericman197

Your friend is taking you for a ride. Those are all relatively cheap problems to fix. You could probably get $3,000 as is for your van on craigslist, give or take. For that much money you could do better. Most of the Caprices in my area are selling for $1,000 to $2,000.

That's true, and after driving it for a few days I realized the problems it currently has and would prefer a different one. Probably the 1996.

Now you said those are relatively cheap problems to fix, but I don't think that they are. So I would have to go with the 'as is' condition.

Thanks for everyone's help, and I'll pop that bad boy up on CL.

[DudeistMonk]

All too often cars ruin friendships...my neighbor wouldn't even consider selling my father his 80's beamer.

What happens when the caprice or the venture breaks down in a week and one gets pissed off cause the other lied about the last oil change/*insert random car problem here*

[Ericman197]

Originally Posted by AfroMan Skeeter

That's true, and after driving it for a few days I realized the problems it currently has and would prefer a different one. Probably the 1996.

Now you said those are relatively cheap problems to fix, but I don't think that they are. So I would have to go with the 'as is' condition.

Thanks for everyone's help, and I'll pop that bad boy up on CL.

A new windshield is going to be roughly $300. Depending on your problem, the emergency brake may be around that much to fix as well (or a lot less). The fuel gauge probably wouldn't be too expensive to fix either. And if all of your power stuff is broken, then it's probably some electrical problem... it could be really cheap to fix (fuses). In fact on my car, one day the fuel gauge and a number of other things stopped working... I just needed a new fuse.

[AfroMan Skeeter]

Originally Posted by Ericman197

A new windshield is going to be roughly $300. Depending on your problem, the emergency brake may be around that much to fix as well (or a lot less). The fuel gauge probably wouldn't be too expensive to fix either. And if all of your power stuff is broken, then it's probably some electrical problem... it could be really cheap to fix (fuses). In fact on my car, one day the fuel gauge and a number of other things stopped working... I just needed a new fuse.

Well, the windshield isn't horrible so it doesn't bother me, and I don't need the emergency brake. My car doesn't have power features, it's not that they don't work lol. And the fuel gauge flips out and goes all over the place, so it "works," but has the mentality of a fuzzy little caterpillar