looking at buying a v6 manual

E

elminster79

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A guy locally has a v6 manual for 2350. It has about 167k and needs a couple things like a door panel and shifter. I drove it and its extremely comfortable but not real gutsy. You guys think its a good buy for an intown vehicle for a dad with 3 kids?
 
Depends on how the rest of the car is. Price is fair if most of the car works.

Typical first gen problems
Does the hydraulic fan work? - expensive repair or replace with electric
Air conditioning?
Rust? - my looks fine from the top from underneath the bottom of the rockers are going and all suspension bolts are nearly impossible to remove.
Coils?
Suspension?
Alternator? - they corrode from salt spray.

As fair as the MT goes Ford recommends 60,000 fluid changes. I changed mine (put in Pennzoil Sychromesh fluid which is not OEM approved) at 75,000 and will change again this month 163,000 miles. Shifts smooth, original clutch and driveline. I do have a vibration (more like a banging) coming from the back during fast clutch releases in first gear. I think its the center bearing on the drive shaft. I've had the part on the shelf for almost a year just haven't gotten a chance to change it.
 
if it will be your only mode of transportation, or wont be able to afford certain repairs (everyone's financials are different) I might pass. But if it's just to have another car around that you can afford to keep running if something were to come up, then sure. That is a lot of miles and a 10+ year old car... your are rolling the dice anytime you have either of those two factors.

Being able to do repairs yourself also a big factor.
 
pragmatic said:
Also what G-Rell said.
Click to expand...

It would not be the only vehicle and here in Kansas most vehicles have high mileage. I do have a good mechanic in the family he is done a lot of work on our Grand Am. I was told this car has been driven hard but as a rare model it almost seems worth it.
 
Some perspective, since I just bought one of these.

Mine has 146,000 miles on it, was a garage queen with a perfect interior, and was always maintained at the same dealer. Even with complete service records I still had a ****-ton of repairs to do. Since buying this car on Aug. 16 I have done:

New transmission
Clutch disc
flywheel
pressure plate
slave cylinder/throwout bearing
Front upper & lower control arms
pads
rotors
all six coils and plugs.
Oil pan gasket

Now, even though I just dropped $3k on the car, and $5k in repairs, lemme say this; I would do it again in a heart beat.

Why? Because they only made 2,300 of these cars with a stick. And even though it lacks the power of the v8, a 5-speed is how these cars were always meant to be enjoyed.
 
I'd suggest skipping it and getting a minivan instead, unless you have the scratch to buy the LS as a toy. Minivans aren't cool but they are very convenient when raising kids and most models can take a pretty good hit without the occupants being injured. Eventually the kids will move on, and then you can buy the cool cars. I've had a couple of minivans, they definitely are not cool but they do their job as family haulers. At this point in your life, you need to be thinking about the needs of the young'uns before anything else.
 
not real gutsy? is it really expected that a two ton car with a small V6 be gutsy? i would lean towards not
 
elminster79 said:
It would not be the only vehicle and here in Kansas most vehicles have high mileage. I do have a good mechanic in the family he is done a lot of work on our Grand Am. I was told this car has been driven hard but as a rare model it almost seems worth it.
Click to expand...

also in Kansas.. you can find vehicles at all ranges of miles! 170K IS a lot for an LS.... not saying it'll have problems, but your getting into the mileage and age where LS's CAN start to develop some pretty expensive repairs...specially one thats been riden hard. Mine's at 150K and running as good as the day i bought it... with minimal repairs... others, havent been so lucky.

IMO, I wouldn't spend over 1,500 tops!

GL
 
I just bought one priced lower than yours, I'd say you really have to do a close inspection of the suspension and clockspring. If this is an extra car and could do repairs by yourself, go ahead but negotiate lower than that. Since most of the parts are available only at the dealership and they tend to bundle everything like bushing/ball joints on the control arms (lower/upper) the repairs could be more than the value of the car.
 
joegr said:
More and more of the parts aren't available (new) anywhere.
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+1

dont get me wrong... if your happy with it, can get it repaired and keep it running, Jump all over it... I've certainly wasted plenty of disposable (and a little non-disposable) income on my LS's!!!! Most come on here asking a similar question because its will be there only car, or aren't planning for the repairs... but if your comfortable with it. please get it and bring it back to her back to her old glory. I wouldn't put it past myself buying one just to play with!!

you'll find all the help you need on here!... HELL you could probably con Hite and myself to make a trip over to ya and give you a hand if you'd like (we work cheap)

GL
 
joegr said:
More and more of the parts aren't available (new) anywhere.
Click to expand...

You could still find some dealers online in ebay that sells some of the rare parts. I do agree the parts are really scarce and hunting parts in junk yards doesn't make me confident when it will last or if it's broken.

Some parts are interchangeable with the Thunderbird and Jaguar but they tend to impose premium prices on those.
 
Upstairs Chris said:
Minivan? Pffft, get a flex. It's like a minivan, in disguise.
Click to expand...

Yeah. Sure. In disguise. Just like Superman's glasses. Glasses off, Superman. Glasses on, Clark Kent. The Flex is just a minivan grown in a Japanese watermelon farm. I didn't want to buy one, hated driving one, and was glad to see it go, but I have to admit that the minivan is the best vehicle a family man can have. OF course, not that I'm no longer a family man but an empty nester, no more minivans for me! Still, would not hesitate to buy another one if I had small kids to transport.

Japanese Ford Flex factory:

square-watermellons_1.png
 
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