Price of car good deal?
I know someone that has a 1978 Pontiac Parisienne for sale with 40,000 original miles on it. It has been garage kept and boy is it beautiful. It is green and the guy wants $4,000 for it. I almost forgot has new tires on it as well. Is that a good deal on this car?
About right. Parisienne's in good shape from the 60's are being listed in the $20,000 range, as classics but they are mint. If this '78 is mint condition that asking price is maybe a little steep, and it depends on how badly you want it. It's not for commuting to work an hour each way everyday...35 year old car is just coming in to the "Classic" category. It's purely personal now, if it is worth it TO YOU or not, but somebody will pay that much, the seller may have to sit on it for a few months but eventually somebody will snatch it
PS beware, some of those old 70's cars had an odometer that rolled over at 99,999 miles back to 0. Make sure it's not 140,000....or 240,000 because if it is all bets are off
Okay, thanks for the information. It is very useful and helpful. My Father-in-law bought it at an auction and paid $4,500. I was looking at it for my parents so it would not be drove much. How can you tell if the odometer was rolled back? My Father is a retired mechanic so he knows plenty about a car, but this is going to be a surprise for them assuming we decide to buy it. I know my Father-in-law wouldn't put the odometer back, but that doesn't mean it wasn't that way when he bought it.
I didn't mean somebody intentionally rolled it back, although those old mechanical ones could be, they were just numbers on a rod of wheels that could be taken apart and moved..easily. I meant it only had 5 digits and when it got to 99,999 it would go to 0 the next mile. And there is no way of knowing if it WAS moved back if the dashboard was put back together properly. No way at all to tell. Not even really a way to know if it rolled over on it's own from miles alone, except the condition of the car
oops, what I meant was THEY are going to LOVE it, you are a great guy to do this for them
Just one more thing.....it is HIGHLY illegal to move an odometer. It's not just a little fine, it is actually a jailing offense if somebody got caught selling at knowingly moved back.
We had a 79 Catalina, which was basically the same critter. The upholstery was terrible and would tear your pants. Every pair of pants I owned at the time had a tear. The so called "radial tuned suspension' was a joke. Radials would squeal in a tight turn.. the centrifugal advance on the distributor went to hell. it was from Wisconsin and left most of it's chassis as salt-rust on Milwaukee roads. Sold it with it's distributor problems for five hundred bucks. even PERFECT this bugger is not worth 4K.
I dunno Bob....granted it would have to be mint, and I mean never been on salt, never parked in the sun, I looked at listings and the ones listed at $5k have been there for months, when the seller is firm, but some sold for $4k, I guess to rich collectors with a 14 car garage and the dude wanted it because it was the first car he ever got in to the back seat with his girlfriend and wanted to re live his youth...and just looks at it and spends money he does not know what else to do with..even in this economy there are plenty of guys with dinero mucho
Yes, David let us not forget those who have more money than brains- hey, whatever slices your onions!~
You are a great guy for taking the time to answer my questions and for just giving me general information. Must be the name....my name is David also! There isn't anything in the world I would not do for my parents. My Mom spent the whole month of December in the hospital after them just celebrating their 50th anniversary in November. We are very lucky to have my Mom still. She was very sick, but improving every day at home now! This is something I need to do whether it be this car or another car. My Father loves classic cars and this is one he can still work on! Have a great day and again thanks for everything!
@neraka45. you've been quaint with your complements. be sure to mark me as helpful, up to 275 and soakin' all up the positive affirmation. New to this business of being a CarGuru, funny people who have been doing it for a while have numbers of like 90 or 95. They know things, but are unwilling to reach out! It feels good if you can impart some knowledge that can help people~
I had a 1978 Parisienne that I bought in '87. I paid $4000 at the time as I recall. Was in mint condition and I absolutely loved that car. I only wish that I've kept it. At the time, I wouild sometimes drive my Dad's Cadillac Fleetwood. The Fleetwood was a tiny bit quieter but essentially the same Boulevard ride. For my money, the late 70s were golden age for big Detroit cars. Best of luck with the purchase. Such fond memories
