General Comments:
I received the car from my grandfather when I was 13 years old, it being my first car. Shortly and quickly went from a childhood happiness, into a bittersweet hatred towards the car.
We drove the car from N.C. to Georgia, and once we got it home it was mine to do with what I wished, except of course drive it on the road.
Everyday I would go outside to tinker with the car, and when I first got it, it was a rather ugly/nice car. It was a two door, half vinyl top, straight six, automatic, supposed classic. I always jokingly said it was classic because no one ever bought them when they were new.
The first real problem we had out of the car was a fiddly old carb. Understandable on a car pushing a rather decent age. But the little jokes didn't stop there.
After a rebuilt carb., it started lagging on trying to start, and one day, poof, so we traced it down to the starter solenoid, only a cheap $10 fix. But it kept on its downward spiral.
The car started gaining a mind of its own, and decided that it didn't have to start up for me, that it would start when it felt good and ready. And this went on until the day it was sold.
After the car quit being reliable, another vehicle was purchased in its place, and the car was sold to some backyard mechanics who thought they could make a quick dollar or two off it.
From age 14-16, I had plenty other vehicles, but a special place always stayed in my heart for that ugly little car. When I was 16, I was on an old man's property and I saw it! There it was, my first car, I ran over to it as if it was going to embrace me, but when I saw it up close I was shocked.
The seats were hacked up, the vinyl top had been removed, the engine was barely hanging onto the frame, transmission was gone, windows busted out, dashboard was in three separate pieces, My first car, that had been a blessing, and a curse, had been battered and abused, I felt like crying and demanded that the old man sell the car to me, I bought my first car back for $200.
When I got the car home, I overlooked the damage, and it was too far gone, the frame had been split, and there were only two body mounts still able to even attempt to hold the car onto the mangled metal that used to cradle it as a frame. The next week, sick and sad, I had the car hauled to a junkyard, and watched my first car being crushed into no more than a flat piece of steel. I won't lie, I did cry, but I understood then, if I would have kept the car it would have never had to end up like that. But it also never had to be beat up anymore.
As for the car in general, with any classic car you're going to expect problems, you're going to gain a lot of headaches, although that is the joys and experiences that come along with an older car, I would highly recommend an older car for younger teens or teens learning to drive, it introduces them into the situations you gain from owning a car. Also it will prepare them for future experiences.
21st May 2011, 15:17
My father had an AMC Concord, and it was complete garbage. There was nothing but problems. I was too young, so I can't list the problems the car had. All I know is that he was always frustrated, and the car was constantly in the shop. He swore off domestics after that. His 86 Volkswagen Jetta lasted to 340 000 Kms. Good luck with yours.