1st Gen Lunchtable Thread - General Discussion

Be careful this gen has very likely to break automatics

 

It also looks like it’s been wrecked. But maybe it’s dirt cheap and I could just bomb around in it for a while.

 

My ex's parents had an old diesel Merc just like this, and old older 80s Volvo sedan now that I think about it. The Mercedes sounded and smelled like a school bus, always gave me flashbacks to grade school when she would drive it.

 

So I guess y’all are saying cutting my losses for 2k or financing that Element would be better option that trading for this Volvo..

 

Yeah, it's probably not a bad vehicle. Easy to work on actually, but @Wulf is right, parts aren't widely avail anymore. Lots of waiting when something weird goes out. But just be aware there's no equity in this trade, you are losing more money by doing this and you'll still have to pay reggo/titling fees and insurance on it.

 

IMO none of these are good options, but the volvo is probably the worst

 

That element is crackhead pricing, there have to be better marketplace deals and you could get a private auto loan maybe

 

Dude needs my old corolla, just a complete and utter POS with every bit of everything pounded to death... but it fucking ran excellent and HVAC worked all the way around.

 

you mean the Volvo or the Honda?

 

Protip

If you buy a Hypertherm, buy it with the CPC kit already installed

It's an easy job from a wiring standpoint

It's just full of fucking suck when you have to keep 5 grounds together and keep everything aligned to put in a bolt at a hard angle



Especially when two grounds are a solid copper so it's stiff AF

 

The volvo, its probably not a bad vehicle... the Honda Element probably isn't bad either but its pricing is insane

 

That's how my 96 Camry was. Idk what Toyota did to their 90s econoboxes, but it's almost like they thrive on neglect.

 

I'd just be concerned about weird electrical issues, and no OBD2 to point me in the right direction. Some of the 80s models had bad wiring harnesses too.

Honestly the rust alone is probably enough to kill it for me. Why trade a rust free vehicle for a rusty one. Then again, they're built so solid it may not matter structurally for quite some time.

 

The 3.5 years I owned it I changed plenty of parts but always with junkyard parts, hardly spent a dime on it. Until it shredded the timing belt on the fwy, then I ordered all the parts from PartSouq cause I already needed a new lower timing gear. Still shotgunned that timing belt install in like 3hrs start to finish.

 

It's 2024, it either had one or it doesn't but I think that problem would have worked itself out in the last 40 years

 

It might be overpriced, but at least I wouldn't have to race to get it ahead of a bunch of scummy flippers and deal with Marketplace. I guess if I'm paying 14k for that, I might as well just get the cool 80 though. I had a good feeling about that Cruiser tbh, it started right up and ran strong. The PO was about to give it to his 16 year old, but the ungrateful brat wanting something newer.

 

Buying through a dealer you're going to eat like 2-4k between the premium of buying from a dealer, taxes, and title/other fees over private party. I wouldn't do it on a 10-15k car, you're just burning way too much money in comparison to how much its worth.
I'd lean towards a good like 18-22k car you finance from a dealer with under 60k mile, or a cheap asf 2-3k car you trade the taco for.

 

I only ever fed mine gas and oil, but I only had it like 8 months.

 

You do know the LC gets 12-13mpg, don't forget that... gas ain't cheaper up here.

 

Actually that Fit I posted was probably better value.

I saw a sweet orange AWD Element 5 speed with 240k come up for 4k a few months ago but it sold quick. With those hondas it's also not really worth paying a premium for low miles since the engines just run and run.