Would you take a '96 Grand Am for free?

[hufhouse]

I'd like some opinions.

We bought my oldest son an older vehicle with low mileage with the idea that it would take him through college. So far, that seems like it will happen. He's a Junior and his little Saturn SL2 is in great shape.

I have a son who will be driving soon. This is my middle son.

Tonight, we got a phone call from my father-in-law offering us a 1996 Grand Am SE 4dr with 139,000 miles for free. However, it's got a few problems.

1. Sometimes, when you stop, it doesn't want to start moving again unless you put the car in park, then back into drive. This could be repairable. Or, this could mean installing a used transmission, which I've had done locally for around $1,000. I can't fix automatic transmissions unless it's something very simple.

2. I'm pretty sure the driver's seat needs replaced. The last time I saw the car, the outside front corner of the driver's seat sat about 4" lower than the rest of the seat. I know a few body shop owners, and I imagine I could find a used seat in black velour someplace. I could do this myself.

3. The air conditioning doesn't work. Could be low on freon, or it could be an expensive repair. I can do freon. I'd have to have someone else do a repair.

4. The passenger side front power window doesn't open or close. Probably a regulator, and I can do this.

5. The radio doesn't work. (No biggy, my son would probably want to put in his own unit anyway.)

6. Needs tires.

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law have had possession of this car for the past few years. They probably didn't do the best job of maintaining it. I doubt it got regular oil changes. My in-laws paid for any serious repairs. (My brother-in-law is disabled.)

Here's my gut feel. It's a free car, and I could probably get it in good enough running order that I wouldn't have to worry about my son for around $1,500 max. I would fix/replace the transmission, fix the a/c, fix the power window, and then put on new tires, belts, brakes, hoses, plugs, wires, fluids, etc. All the maintenance stuff up to snuff with brand new.

However, I don't know if the engine is in good shape or not. I would hate to throw $1,500 into fixing it, only to have a serious engine problem like a head gasket or something crop up.

I don't want my son to drive it as a "junker." It's not a pride thing. At least once a week, he goes to our church's second campus about twenty-five miles away by highway at night. I want him to be able to drive it without any serious worries.

I figure we could think about getting him a "nicer" car after his freshman year of college.

I told my father-in-law that I would come down and get it tomorrow so that I can look it over really good and start putting together some information so I can decide whether we want it.

What should I be thinking about? What do I need to know? What would you do?

[J-Ri]

I'd take the car, you can't beat free. The transmission is all I'd really be worried about, but if you don't mind replacing that, everything else is an easy fix. If you think you can get it in good shape for $1,500, look at what else you can get for $1,500. Around here, there's not much that cheap, and the ones that are need thousands of dollars in repairs.

[NOVAZ27]

Hello. These are pretty good vehicles. My daughter's gets 28-30 mpg with the 3.1 v6. Just keep an eye on the coolant level. As well as all the other levels.

[xeroinfinity]

yeah free is good!!!
I know people who pay $2000 for something like that, and still need $2000+ in repairs.

Great first cars for kids and good gas mileage!