Feedback on Wagon Choices <$8K for the Wife

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:13 am

Looks good Chris. Why don't you update this thread as you dig into the car more? It would be interesting to hear about. When I saw that link before I had the thought of "why don't I sell the 850R to Chris and buy this?" It's good to see that the rear subframe bushings have been done. I'd start with a total fluid flush: coolant, brakes, oil, tranny, diff, etc, along with stuff like cabin filters, fuel filter, etc.

Chris Halweg · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:22 am

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

Looks good Chris. Why don't you update this thread as you dig into the car more? It would be interesting to hear about. When I saw that link before I had the thought of "why don't I sell the 850R to Chris and buy this?" It's good to see that the rear subframe bushings have been done. I'd start with a total fluid flush: coolant, brakes, oil, tranny, diff, etc, along with stuff like cabin filters, fuel filter, etc.

Well now our 850 will be in about the same situation as yours. I'll keep it as a backup vehicle for hauling etc. and wintry conditions driving. The water pump and radiator have also been replaced. I need to go through the maintenance records and make a timeline of what was done when. Looks like the previous owner spent a lot getting it repaired at a high end performance shop. I'll probably wait on getting the traction control fixed for awhile until I get to know the car better and see what else is lurking. The clutch has never been replaced, so that is one thing in the back of my mind that could be on the horizon.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 1:06 pm

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

Chris Halweg wrote:

clinehall wrote:

So it's not a car issue, it is a "Mom isn't happy issue". Not condeming just clarifing, we all have those situations. Try buying her a new had bag, my wife is a sucker for Dooney & Bourke-kept me from having to get her a z4 last year. $100 and some dollars at belk and never have had to have it serviced! :evil:

Bingo and she is driving the 'worst' of our three cars for which she does most of errands etc, so it does not make a lot of sense.

Watching this thread intently as this is my exact situation as well.... also wagon shopping.

Apparently you made the decision. You were driving a BIG station wagon Sunday

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Les Davis wrote:

clinehall wrote:

Ok, at the risk of having rocks thrown at me, everytime I see a Dodge Magnum go by I wonder about it. I think it is from being 8 years old and my dad taking me to a Dodge dealer to see some drag racer. They are big and cheap I would think. Anybody know about them.

I've had one for about a year now, its a fun car for what it is as long as you can live with the slushbox which is pretty good for a slushbox. It, like the other Chrysler LX platform cars are basically a poor mans MB E-Class under the skin with a cheaper Chrysler interior and Chrysler engines. The chassis, suspension, transmission, rear-end all are shared with the Mercedes. The transmissions in the V6 models are from Chrysler, and not surprisingly, they have some issues. However, the MB units seem to be pretty solid. Mercedes too has had some reliability issues, but those seem to be coming mostly from the multitude of electronics systems that the Dodge doesn't have. The HEMI engines also seem to be pretty solid reliability wise and are pretty sweet IMO, though the fuel mileage is nothing too spectacular. It does okay on a highway trip but around town it sucks. The car has a good suspension design that handles the 2+ ton car much better than one my expect. I've put the SRT model suspension bits on mine to sharpen it up a bit, you do lose a fair amount of ride quality. The interior is plain, but comfortable and doesn't appear to be cheaply made. The rear cargo space is downright cavernous with the seats folded, and pretty darn decent with the seats up.

Mine hasn't given me any trouble so far, of course I've only put 8 of the 43K miles on the odo so my experience is limited.

Heaven help me, I think Les has a pretty cool car in the Magnum. Not one of the other cars mentioned here would look as dignified as his when covered in cheap woodgrain contact paper.... Of course, I hate the wrap-over-the-top headlights that blighted so many cars in the last decade, so I'd hold out for the 2008 model where they fixed that. (I would have bought a first-gen SHO wagon, if Ford had built more than one. It might have been cool enough to hang onto despite the inevitable descent into the limited-production=orphaned Ford money-pit.)

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 11:05 pm

wood grain rules............

so Art, with your eclectic taste in vehicles why haven't you fielded a LeMons team yet?

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

steve remchak wrote:

wood grain rules............

so Art, with your eclectic taste in vehicles why haven't you fielded a LeMons team yet?

For that, I would need a truly worthless car, like a Chevy. But I don't do Chevys

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:04 am

Arthur McDonald wrote:

steve remchak wrote:

wood grain rules............

so Art, with your eclectic taste in vehicles why haven't you fielded a LeMons team yet?

For that, I would need a truly worthless car, like a Chevy. But I don't do Chevys

How about a mustang II? Of course I think those are rear as hotrodders us the front ends out of them.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 6:55 pm

Arthur McDonald wrote:

steve remchak wrote:

wood grain rules............

so Art, with your eclectic taste in vehicles why haven't you fielded a LeMons team yet?

For that, I would need a truly worthless car, like a Chevy. But I don't do Chevys

Anyone else get the feeling that Art has been waiting for an opportunity to use that? :lol:

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:45 pm

Jason Mauldin wrote:

Arthur McDonald wrote:

steve remchak wrote:

wood grain rules............

so Art, with your eclectic taste in vehicles why haven't you fielded a LeMons team yet?

For that, I would need a truly worthless car, like a Chevy. But I don't do Chevys

Anyone else get the feeling that Art has been waiting for an opportunity to use that? :lol:

slack ass excuse if you ask me. LeMons isn't about worthless cars, it's about cars that don't so much meet the standard of the day but are still iconic. how about a late '70s Maverick? instant LeMons legend Art. if you build it.................. you will have a POS crapcan car.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

clinehall wrote:

Arthur McDonald wrote:

steve remchak wrote:

wood grain rules............

so Art, with your eclectic taste in vehicles why haven't you fielded a LeMons team yet?

For that, I would need a truly worthless car, like a Chevy. But I don't do Chevys

How about a mustang II? Of course I think those are rear as hotrodders us the front ends out of them.

At least something was popular about the Mustang II. The mid-1970s was the abyss for performance cars, and Ford poured a lot of Mustang IIs in that abyss -- about 1.1 million of them.

If they had only made a wagon version, there's no telling how many they could have sold

(At least I'm trying to get back to the subject)

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:56 pm

there is a dude on the ChumpCar forums that has a Pinto Country Squire Turbo Wagon. Art, that doesn't sound all that far off topic, especially given your proclivity for adventure. i'm thinking it is time for you to join in the fun.

KendtEklund · **Joined:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:29 pm **Posts:** 1204

Arthur McDonald wrote:

If they had only made a wagon version, there's no telling how many they could have sold

(At least I'm trying to get back to the subject)

Find a welder, make your own, become a LeMons star...

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

steve remchak wrote:

there is a dude on the ChumpCar forums that has a Pinto Country Squire Turbo Wagon. Art, that doesn't sound all that far off topic, especially given your proclivity for adventure. i'm thinking it is time for you to join in the fun.

Nice try, but I really don't enjoy working on cars.

There, I said it!

But speaking of late '70s Mavericks, check out this SWEET Maverick Stallion!

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:27 am

Arthur McDonald wrote:

At least something was popular about the Mustang II. The mid-1970s was the abyss for performance cars, and Ford poured a lot of Mustang IIs in that abyss -- about 1.1 million of them.

If they had only made a wagon version, there's no telling how many they could have sold

(At least I'm trying to get back to the subject)

Art,

We all know you still long for a 1978 King Cobra Mustang II. Just give it up and buy one already. Time is running out to experience the car of your teen year's dreams. Heck, you can probably find one in concours condition for $8k!

Chris Halweg · **Posted:** Sun May 01, 2011 10:14 pm

Finally got some new tires for the summer wheels. The wheels are not OEM, so the purists may cringe a bit.

The exhaust leak was as simple as a new gasket. As for the DSC, I'm going to wait on fixing that one for now. Just got our 323is sold this weekend as well, so the bank accounts have stabilized for the time being.

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