does this sound like a good deal? (Quantum Syncro in Maine)

[Larry C Leung]

This thing sounds like a $300 beater. There is no way there is no oil
loss if the valve cover is leaking (ask me how I know) so I don't know if
I trust the seller. The sticking diff locks (lights are indicators of
function, NOT switch position) are indications of sticking mechanisms or
a poor vacuum system for the locks. This sounds like a car to buy, beat
into the ground and junk it. 

LL - NY

On Tue, 16 Oct 2001 17:02:38 -0400 BenediktRochow at oaktech.com writes:
>
>[Quantum Syncro for sale by owner at $1850]
>
>Thanks for all the responses.
>I drove it today; it feels like a new car engine-
>and suspension-wise (i.e. sounds good,
>pulls strongly, rides securely,
>no rattles), though it did have the 1/2"-low-oil
>clatter same as my '84 5000 - but
>doesn't this engine have hydraulic lifters, which
>aren't supposed to make this noise?
>
>There's an oil leak from the valve cover (or is
>that the head gasket?), that goes down to the exhaust
>manifold and smokes away; I noticed the front
>bumper is pushed in 1/4"-1/2" back to match
>the broken-loose-mount headlight and 1/4" recessed
>turn signal, "was like that when we bought it",
>I'd say it slightly rear-ended another car.
>I suspect the A/C really does nothing at all.
>After locking and unlocking the diffs, I got the
>impression that it wasn't all unlocked in the next
>curve (bumpy, tire-scrubbing-pavement feeling) -
>are the lock lights real indicators of the
>locked condition (they do come on with a delay), or
>just indicators of the button position
>independent of actual function? The seller says that
>he thinks it takes one curve (or slippery
>patch) to really unlock a diff (i.e. that's normal). How's
>that really? How does the speed-unlock work?
>Rather a small car inside - it does make me
>appreciate it being a wagon. I have to say
>that I really liked the way it felt driving it, but I'm
>afraid that I'd be buying more future headaches
>than it's worth--
>I have to balance the snow advantages (for all
>the tales of plowing through snow with a quattro -
>the only real snow problems I've ever had with my
>4000+ lbs. RWD Caprices with Blizzaks were
>in my slanted badly-shoveled frozen-over gravel... - no
>longer a problem due to purchase of a house
>with a paved, slanted-gently-towards-the-road driveway,
>and purchase of a snowthrower) with the
>cost of maintaining yet another
>car - does it even use Pento$in? It has a not-so-tall
>fluid reservoir hooked with a thick
>hose to a ZF pump that's about half the size of the
>5k's pump. Or is that a regular
>power-steering-fluid-based power steering system?
>Anyway, it's got the oil leaking on the exhaust - a sign
>of doom or something to drive the price
>down with that's really easy to fix or ignore? the potentially
>funny diff; slight body damage;
>non-perfect interior (peeling door panels), probably no
>AC at all (it does matter to me, despite
>being in Maine).
>I think that maybe this would be a good buy (leaving
>some room for repairs) at perhaps $1200
>rather than $1850 (I don't know how low one can push this seller);
>On the other hand, between "uses no oil between changes"
>(upon seeing the smoking leak)
>and the explaining away of the locked-diff feel, the seller
>may just be a used-car dealer
>at heart (you can tell he's lying by watching for his lips
>moving...:), and this is a nickel-and-
>dime (to death) car that just had a financially-totalling
>repair need diagnosed and hidden.
>So I'm afraid I'm letting a great opportunity at a nifty car
>pass by, and I'm more afraid
>that it'd be a big money sink with few redeeming qualities
>over the cars I've got (neat engine sound,
>and a few minutes per year of otherwise impossible snow
>driving? Would it be worth it just for accessing snowy
>western/northern parts of Maine in the winter?)
>Of course the risk of more repars needed than it's worth
>diminishes with the purchase price -
>how low can I reasonably expect
>to pay given the description?
>When asked if anybody was about to buy it, the seller
>said that a few people had looked at it, but nobody
>expressed any intention to buy yet. One would guess
>they were scared away by the smoke signals. Maybe I should
>offer $800 if it's still for sale by next week?
>
>thanks for any advice in advance.
>-gbr
>
>