The only thing needing to be done to this car previously owned by a little old church lady is new shocks & struts.
I really appreciate all your positive comments concerning this vehicle. I live here in Chicago and normally drive a '99 Suburban K2500 (454 big block.) Gas prices are through the roof and are only getting worse Anyway, I get 7 MPG with the truck so I decided to find a decent vehicle for commuting to and from work every day. I was almost ready to buy a motorcycle for gas saving purposes when on a whim I decided to check out the used car trade-ins at the local (3 blocks away) Chevy dealer. Well, there it was, an '87 Buick Skyhawk that the dealership decided not to wholesale out. They put it on the lot retailing it for $3995.The dealership wouldn't even sell it to 3 salesmen who wanted to buy and resell it for a profit on their own. It was on the lot for 2 days when I found it last Saturday April 2nd, 2005. It belonged to a little old church lady who passed away recently and the husband traded it and his old (model year???) car for a new Malibu. Well, this used Buick has only 24,450 certified miles on it (THAT'S RIGHT!!!) by these original owners (verified by Car-fax). I test drove it, looked it over with a fine-toothed comb, and bought it for $4500. I feel I will be enjoying this commuter car for at least the next 5 years thanks to your positive comments on the car I'm convinced. Although mine is not a turbo, I think it has more than enough gusto to get me through this Chicago traffic quickly. I'm a bit spoiled from my truck with Super-chip giving me 330 hp. I am very pleased and feel it was fate that I found this car. Thanks again. Bobby D.
So, let's see, you paid $500 MORE than the $3995 asking price. For a 1987 Skyhawk.
Why did you pay more than they were asking?
Did they give you the old line, "oh, somebody who saw the car yesterday just called and they are on their way here now with the full price in cash"?
Or maybe somebody just "happened" to call the salesman while you were in his office: "The Skyhawk? Yes, sir, we still have it!" Got to love those little performances!
The fact is, Bobby dude, you paid $4500 for a car whose book value has been in three figures for quite a few years now. Low mileage does not add more than a few hundred dollars to the value of the car.
Look on the bright side, though: you can expect to get a Christmas card from this dealer for at least the next several years, as they hope you will come back and buy something else! In fact, they probably have your picture on their wall!
I agree with the comment... even with the low miles it is worth about 800.00 (Look it up in Kelly Blue Book). By the way... I have a Yugo I'd sell you for three grand!!!
Hahaha this is too rich!
So, the "little old church lady" only drove it to church on Sundays eh? Wonder what the dealer gave her husband for it as a trade? $250?
That Chevy dealer's used car dept will probably celebrate every April 2 from now on. Too bad you did not buy a day earlier, April Fools' Day would have been an appropriate date for the deal you got!
Really, that low mileage does not necessarily mean the car is in great mechanical condition... chances are the old lady never adhered to a maintenance schedule, since she drove it so little (did you get any maintenance records?)
It is all too likely that a car that is rarely driven would be in no better shape mechanically (and may be even in worse shape) than one that has been used regularly and properly maintained.
The worst thing that could happen in that case, would be the oil, which changing it would be alright. I have a 86 skyawk custom, and I really haven't had much trouble, mine has about 144000 on it. Not saying you didn't get ripped off, but I am saying it is a good car.
I'm a college student and I purchased my 1986 Skyhawk, 80,000 miles on it for $500. I too bought it from a little old lady who lived down the road from me and was friends with my family.
It did have some problems: new tires, windshield wipers, A/C doesn't work (heat does), new brakes and hoses. All cost about 1000 to fix everything, so for me it was a good deal.
However I'm driving it up to school in the next two weeks, and I am praying my little 2 door beast will make the four hour voyage.
Any one have any suggestions please email me nelsonj574@cobleskill.edu
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