I just died and saw heaven!

I will be keeping this one in mind if the 86 falls through.

I will let the guy know that I have some body to come inspect it for me, so I can get the address and info for us. My wife and I really, really appreciate this. I will PM you with the info when I get it. I know that Fox had offered but since you are closer and that I have seen the pics I would definitely like to know more. Not to mention that Chicago isn't that far compared to some of the places I have been searching for wagons.

Thank You

 

82...that would be a carb car if that makes a difference.

 

Bummer. I wish he had sent you more detailed pictures, if not of the actual undercarriage, then the bottoms of both rear 1/4's directly behind the wheel wells, particularly the one on the right where the bottom of the spare tire well is. That's where the rust usually starts and is the worst. Next thing would be the rocker panels under all 4 drs, but that might be hard to see since it has those lower moldings on it that would hide any rust under them. I wonder why he has seat covers on the front seat. I have an '87 Colony Park with just about the same mileage on it and I've always been amazed how durable the vinyl interior is. My front seat looks brand new and the cushioning hasn't flattened out at all. (Granted, I'm a bit of a lightweight--165 lbs). That darned crack in the dashboard is a turn off, but I suppose you could probably find an undamaged one to replace it from it in a junkyard. I wonder if the sedans and wagons are interchangeable; I wouldn't be surprised at all if they were. Also, he hasn't forwarded any pics of the left side. Maybe it's just an oversight on his part but maybe not.
On the other hand, it is only $700 so if you get a year or two or three out of it, it might not be too bad. I'll bet it'd clean up real nice. Nothin' purtier than a shiny black steel sided long roof.

 

I just talked to him on the phone. First off it doesn't have a battery. His brother bought it from a dealership some odd years ago and the he bought it from his brother. He started to get his pontiac fixed and the wagon has sat in his mother's garage for the last year after he drove it for only a year. He openly admits to NOT knowing anything much about cars, and so didn't know really what to take a picture of. He said he will get more pics in a day or two of the rust and then some because I told him that the more pics the better. He has agreed to hold onto it till I sell my car which is about to have another price drop, and he is fine with having it inspected by an official Station Wagon Forum member. I have his number... I, My wife and I are very serious about knowing more about this wagon. He has no idea of it's value. He said it doesn't have much rust. So... Yep I am pursuing this wagon as of now. No absolute decisions have been made. Final decisions will be made after it has been inspected. I AM SO EXCITED... but still being realistic. Thank You!

 

Looks like it may be coming together for you Keys. Hope it works out for you and your wife. Maybe you can talk him down some with the rust issues.:confused:

Good luck.

 

Are we still talking about the Chicago car? If so...sorry, but, I don't think you are being realistic. Dash is shot and my bet the front seat is shot...and it takes a lot to ruin one of these seats. Well...at least we are going to see the rust.

 

SF, I hear you about the front seat, but maybe the original owner had it for a # of years and weighed in at 375lbs. Still, it does look like the back of it may be flattened out; it's hard to tell with the cover on it. I'd like to see a pic with it off. KK, you're right about most of the Mercs from back then were Colony Parks with the wood; if they didn't have the dinoc, they were called Grand Marquis Wagons.
X, you're wise to wait until you can find out the story on the rust. That could be the deal maker or breaker.

 

Well, no offense to any one but, a damaged dash board and a messed up seat do not bother my wife and me one bit... I have a steering wheel cover on the kia because it was literally crumbling in my fingers, while the rest of the interior looks great. What makes or breaks a deal for us is too much rust and mechanical security. My old 84 Merc's interior was in really bad shape with wires hanging out and half the windows didn't work and the lift gate had to held up with crutches while the lift gate window had a broken hinge. Window problems and interior damage are just simply not high on the deal breaker list. I am not trying to be rude or ungrateful and I'm sorry if I have come across that way. I do ALWAYS welcome and value your opinions and suggestions. Now, if the unseen rust is really bad and/or the mechanical issues aren't minor it is, sadly, a no deal on the wagon, despite how much we want it. He said that the power steering fluid leaked out during the year while it was sitting in the garage. So I don't know what that means. My mechanic specializes in cars from that era and can get the parts really cheap and he will show me what needs to be done...

 

No offense taken at all, X, not at all and don't think you're being rude or ungrateful. Everyone of us loves to talk about wagons and that's all we're doing in this instance. Plus, the bottom line is that after taking in everybody's opinion, most of us members wind up doing what we want to do anyway!!
Best of luck whatever you decide.

 

My comments were made because I would hate to see Xav get into a car that will nickel and dime him to death. He is emotionally attached to this car for his personal reasons. The car could turn out to be a deal, but, from what I have seen and heard so far, I am dubious. Anything can be fixed on most cars but Xav has repeatedly informed us of his financial state and lack of car knowledge. I am trying to give him the benefit of years of car experience. I guess we will see more of the car soon.
The bottom line is to be as objective as possible when buying a car. Our emotions often pass over problems as "that's not too bad". The thing to do is to start adding up all the money it will take to bring the car back to a presentable and reliable driver. Patience is a virtue. And, in the end, a money saver.

 

You are right, Fox. I feel about this wagon the same way I felt when I saw my old Mercury. It hasn't helped lately that there have been so many things in our life that have been pointing to Chicago. My wife just found a friend of her's that she hasn't seen in many years and, as it turns out, they live in Chicago, among some other things... Ross, from the forum, who lives in Chicago is acting as the inspector of not only the wagon but the seller as well. Fox, you are also right when it comes to emotions and "that's not too bad". The one thing we have going for us in this particular circumstance is, well, the wagon is only $700 and that means that we will have the money to fix certain things. When we got the 84 we didn't have money nor did I have the knowledge to work on it and even more so I didn't have any one to give me advice. My dad had died just a couple of years prior and my brother is a joke. My other family lives too far away and half of them won't have anything to do with me because of: the way I look, my wife, I smoke, enjoy the occasional drink, drink coffee, etc., etc. Now my financial situation is the end-all be-all of factors in our life... My car will sell one way or another and that will get us some more money to work with. I mentioned at one point about the stress in our lives... well I know that it is hard too understand and god knows no one here does, but between my skitzotypal personality disorder and my wife's anxiety/panic attacks we need something in our lives that tells us there is more to hope for than rotting away in a small room waiting for something that constantly seems just around the next corner... and when we turn that corner there is nothing there... but yet we still feel like there is and that is what we are working towards. If I could work I would. If I had anything besides this damn car to sell it would have been sold already... So yes I am going in at this with a lot of emotion, but I am not going totally hap hazardly. We need this and soon. My wife has been happier in the last couple of days than she has in weeks and so, too, have I... We are about to lose it because if she goes I lose it too. It is killing us to stay here and each day is just another reminder that we are not happy and not where we need to be in our lives. Please don't think me brash. We have been thinking about this for a long time and have a plan as to what we are going to do. Now, don't take all this to mean that we are going to buy this wagon regardless of what we find out, because that simply isn't so. Pictures alone cannot do what a personal inspection can and after it is looked over in person and the information on its real condition told we will then and only then make our final decision, despite whatever or however we feel about this wagon...

 

I didn't know Ross was inspecting it. I had made that offer way back in the thread but heard nothing from you one way or the other. I am glad that you have someone to inspect it. Good luck, Keys.

 

Fox, I'm sorry. I know I kinda lost it there. I didn't read all the posts at first. I tend to read in a back-assward way sometimes starting at the newest and going back. By the time I saw your offer Ross had already offered and since they live in Chicago I took them up, and besides it would save you the trouble of having to drive all that way. I really am grateful and had Ross not spoken up I would have taken you up on the offer... except there is no going to WI for us... I can't tell you why... No we aren't fugitives. We could meet you at the border...

 

Yeah....if Ross wants to do a hand off that would be OK. I can get it closer to you. IF the car is OK to buy. I may be able to fix the running problem, too.

 

I don't know what hand off means but... IF the car is OK to buy and you say that you can get it closer and you may be able to fix the running problem... then you and I may be seeing each other in person at some point... Thank you.