Learn me: Late Model J-Cars

I had a 2004 Cavalier that I picked up cheap in 2015 because it was an ex daily rental. My job had changed and I needed something that was reliable, decent on gas and that I could pile miles on. I thought I'd keep it for a year or two. I ended up driving it to 400k with minimal repairs and infrequent oil changes. It kept on running and I couldn't justify replacing it. It died because a guy blew through a stop sign in his truck and killed it. Once I figured out that my kid and I were ok I stood there with a dumb smile on my face. IIRC insurance paid it out at $3,000. I think it was really worth $250 at the wrecking yard.

There is a UPS Corporate Centre in the Buffalo area that accepts shipments on behalf of Canadians and stores them for $5 a day.

Lots of guys from Toronto use that service.

Man my one experience with a J-Body was really different then everyone elses. My roommate had one and had the fan die twice, all the gauges go out and all kinds of other random electrical problems.

G_Body_Man wrote: In reply to Klayfish: It's better than having no airbags, so that's at least something.

Uhhh, not much. They fold like soda cans...airbags are awesome, but they can only do so much.

In reply to Klayfish:

I know they fold like aluminum foil, but it's still better than having you chin hit the steering wheel and your forehead hit the windshield in a crash. Besides. Rear-mounted fuel fillers are a bit of a fire hazard.

G-Body Man - get an early 2000's Focus - WAY better car.

My dad was a GM man and he would probably roll-over in his grave if he saw my driveway (2 VW's, 2 Subaru's and a Ford), but the GM's of that era are just not great vehicles.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/city-of-toronto/2007-ford-focus-hatchback/1083914670?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/city-of-toronto/2000-ford-focus-zx3/1079358041?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/london/2004-ford-focus-5speed/1083593391?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

In reply to NGTD:

I don't want a great vehicle, I want a vehicle that is a cockroach. Early Foci are fragile, whereas everyone I know with a Cavalier has been happy.

Early Foci rust like they get paid for it too.

Corolla is always the answer for hammer reliable FWD beater.

G_Body_Man wrote: In reply to NGTD: I don't want a great vehicle, I want a vehicle that is a cockroach. Early Foci are fragile, whereas everyone I know with a Cavalier has been happy.

Happy is a relative term. The driving experience left a lot to be desired. The gauges on my car died one by one. The odometer kept working so I just reset it at each fill up. I had a GPS for a speedometer. You can buy replacement gauge clusters cheap on eBay but I couldn't be bothered. I replaced the Cavalier with a ZX3 Focus. The SVT suspension kit really brought that car to life but it left me stranded three times in two years. It was a much better driving experience than the Cavalier but if you're looking at it from an A to B perspective the Cavalier won hands down. I have a couple of fun weekend cars and bikes. They satisfy my motoring side. My daily driver just needs to get me from site to site with a minimum of upkeep and drama. I'm currently driving a 5spd Saturn Ion Coupe. Nothing special but the AC is good and the cruise works.

G_Body_Man wrote:

pres589 wrote: In reply to Junkyard_Dog: I priced this out somewhat over-estimating what he needs and came to $885 shipped to a postal code in his city. Some of the stuff on that list doesn't make sense; transmission pan needs replacement? Not sure what all is really required in the braking system either. I think a trip to a good junkyard would help a lot, like Blazer Bilstein shocks, whatever bulbs he needs, etc.

Trans pan is bent, PO bottomed it out at some point.

The pan is pretty thick steel. A hammer should get it back into shape but with everything else wrong in the end you still have a rotted four door Cutlass. You may be better sinking the money into something you like more.

Frame rail and body rust for inspection? I'm with wally, find a better money pit.

Those body mounts are going to be hard to find.

In reply to iceracer:

The only way I can get them is if I buy a polyurethane set.

G_Body_Man wrote: In reply to iceracer: The only way I can get them is if I buy a polyurethane set.

I'm not 100% sure but I think the body bushings are all the same, so two junk yard donors should get you a set. What makes yours "bad"? Some surface cracking is normal, you just don't want any split through.

In reply to Junkyard_Dog:

All of them are split and dry-rotted.

In reply to NGTD:

try Amazon.ca... might work better for folks north of the border :)

turboswede wrote: In reply to NGTD: try Amazon.ca... might work better for folks north of the border :)

Yes it does but up until recently they had no automotive stuff. They have added automotive items in the last 4-6 months.

I thought the Cavalier was unit body.

So what do the body mounts attach to ?

In reply to iceracer:

The body mounts are for my G-body, the one I listed on the open classifieds.

If you're looking for cheap wheels, Saturn SC2 97-2002. Run for ever and nicer to drive than a J-body. Plastic panels for fending off rust and dents!