Doing it again?

[TollKeeper]

Going this afternoon to look at a 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada... My first venture into the Atlas motor!

Dont know much about it yet. Going to hopefully look at it today/tomorrow.
Miles 122k
GT4
G80

VIN 1GHDT13S932118577




Its not for me perse, its for my room mate, who I am trying to help dig out of debt. Getting rid of his 2 current car notes, and replacing it with one vehicle owned free and clear would be a good start.

He has a second vehicle of sorts, he has a company work van. His current car, a royal POS, a 2014 Ford Fusion 1.5 Ecoboost (AKA Ecobust). And his wifes car, another royal POS, a 2013 Jeep Patriot FWD. She thinks its a real Jeep, until I showed her its a real heap, being a Fiat, with a CVT. He only drives his Ford 2 times a week, for about 6 miles total. So no real need for 2 cars. He gets to bring home his company van, and take it to work.

If they get into a situation of needing a 2nd car for a day or two, I can loan him my Envoy. Its a spare for me anyways.

 

[Mooseman]

Those are nice and I like the styling. However, parts rarity are even worse than the Saab since they were produced for only 3 years so body parts availability may be practically nil. Mechanicals, of course, are the same as the rest of the GMT360 family. I see one once in a blue moon here.

When checking the motor, open the oil cap and look directly into it for varnish and gunk for lack of oil changes. Of course listen for a cracked exhaust manifold from a dead cold start. These years didn't have a MAF or SAIS so no worries there.

I didn't even know there was a push bar available for them. It looks to be in pretty good shape.

 

[TollKeeper]

Thats what I am hoping... The only down side, the seller appears to be a wanna be gang banger. So I am worried that its got amp wires running everywhere.. Which will be a deal killer for me.

It does have a clean carfax and a clean title.. so.. We shall see.

 

[TollKeeper]

So that deal was a no go...

Here is the listing...

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Listed as a non-runner, needing a fuel pump. I showed up with a 16volt jump pack, connected up to the very dead battery, and it fired up. But sounded not that great. Definitely could tell it had been a few months since it had been started.

Check engine light started flashing immediately. Only code showing was a p0300. Engine shaking badly, exhaust smelling of bad rotten eggs, clanging out of the dashboard from a bad blend/temp motor door. Rear hatch wouldnt open, door or glass. The front and rear push bumpers had been destroyed because they attached straps to them to pull it from the parking lot where the company was about to tow it, to tow it to their apartment.

Interior was full of crap, sunroof was broken, front seats were moderately ripped. But it didnt smell, and their wasnt speaker wires or amp wiring laying everywhere!

This poor Bravada started life in New York, so I imagine the under carriage looks rusty. But with all the other things I found wrong with it.... Just no.

I got him down to 1300. If he had gone down to 800, I likely would have bought it. But likely needing a cat, tires, sunroof, tune up/coils, battery, seat coveres, window regulator, and???... Who knows when the diff or transfer service was done, if ever.

The bodywork was good, and the engine bay was complete. But thats where the good ends.

Who knows, he may still come back and take that 800 offer.

 

[Mooseman]

That's too bad. There's a reason it's been there for 7 weeks. Definitely a run away at any price.

 

[Zaab]

I always like the Bravada front face. Seen a senior lady drove a nice one on my local Sam's Club parking lot, looks at least as elegant as the Saab. Too bad it's been trashed around.

 

[TollKeeper]

Thats the irony with Saab and Oldsmobile... Either they are cherished gems... Or beaten war lords.. Not much in-between.