What the wife is looking at buying

So, I put this here rather than in the Craig's list and auctions piece because I'm not showing this to entice someone else to bid on it, I'm just showing what the dear wife is interested in. Last night she made it pretty clear that if she can't get this for a reasonable price she's been talking to a coworker who has a Subaru Legacy and has decided to then go after one of them (gasp) . I would prefer this wagon but if it does not come to pass then a 90's GM B-body would work just fine as far as I'm concerned. She says because several folks we know have Legacy wagons (the wifes car) and they love them and the lady she works with says the Sub is the best vehicle she's ever had, she is really interested in them.
I knew she had this Sub thing before and has talked about it often but until now it has been more of just a passing comment or ten. I wonder if it was the toothache she came home with that got her thinking about a Sub?

We can't go see the '82 until Friday so between now and then I suspect she's going to be spending time looking at Subs.

So here's the car she's been looking at - price seems right at the upper end plus a bit as far as I'm concerned. It had air but the seller pulled it and turfed it, didn't bother to put it in a box for the next owner. He's second owner of it, says it has 97,000 Kilometers (60,000 miles), and new carpet, brakes, exhaust, tires and the other stuff in the advert. He grenaded the 250 automatic and put in a built Turbo 350 in anticipation of putting in a high horse power 350. I may be forced to do the same thing if she buys it. Or a 383...........

1982 Malibu Wagon with Collector Plates - $4200




267 V8 stock, rebuilt turbo 350 with shift kit, New torque converter and fly wheel, New BF Goodrich TA's with 14x7 rally wheels, New dual exhaust, new shocks, stock interior mint with new carpet, and power windows. Original paint, glass and chrome, no rust, second owner, 97,000 original km, garaged since new, very clean car.





What do you think? I figure the price is a grand too high. Canadian dollars by the way. Would appreciate your thoughts. We had a '79 Lemans and she loved it but that was also 30 years ago and her desire for creature comforts has increased significantly over the years. But I think if she takes this one for a toot she'll feel right at home. The downside is no Air but I can pick that up and reinstall it if he hasn't torn the dash components out.

 

Looks pretty clean, Saf57, but did you see the 57 Safari KK put up today? It'd make a sweet match to yours and it's $600 less than the Bu!

 

That sure looks like its your wife's car. Subies are expensive to maintain. This one is common ground for you. I think its a fair price. 97,000 kms is barely 50 K miles. Its a lot of car for the money. Dicker a bit, and get all the manuals.

You might find she becomes a roadrunner though. Its too pretty to hide in the driveway.

 

I did see that wagon. If I were to buy another 50's wagon I'd probably pursue a '55 or '56 Safari 2 dr like I have now, just a year or two older. A close to stock one, maybe with a few upgrades, but since this purchase will be her kinda driver (she takes the truck to work just because where she parks if she has a car it tend to get beat up but they leave the truck alone) she is wanting something newer, smaller, etc. I sold her BMW 740i back in January because maintenance and insurance costs on it was killing me so I'm kind of in a spot where she gets what she decides she wants, although I'm coaching from the sidelines like crazy.

Thanks for the feedback on the Malibu. I like this '82, I'm just of the mind that it is priced on the high side. It sure is pretty though. It bugs me he tossed the A/C rather than just box it up. You wonder what else that has happened too. Mind you, it is not like I'll leave it stock for long. That 267 2bbl will feel like a slug after the 455 in the '57, and the 5.7L and 5.3 in the trucks not to mention the BMW which was surprisingly quick, as she proved by wearing out a set of very expensive rear tires in two and a half years.

But you guys are right, that '82 is pretty decent looking. I am struggling with the Sub thingy. I don't mind the looks, and the options like heated seats are bonus for me, but then it is "just a car" rather than something trick. We had American 200S coke bottle wheels on the '79 and they happen to still be in the attic . They really made that car look tough and I think they would here too. I also have a spare set of American torque thrust II's with almost brand new tires in stock so I could swap around between the three sets of wheels and change the character of the car from time to time just to keep things interesting. I can't do that with a Sub.

 

Go for the Bu, Saf. It's got so much more character than a Subie plus it looks like it's clean as a whistle. Wouldn't hurt to offer the guy a loball offer, you can always come up.

 

OK - some tough love here:

Saf - What does your wife want - to have a 'cool' car/wagon, or just to be safe and comfortable in her daily driving? The Malibu could fit the bill, but from the sound of it, it will need a few things.......

My wife has the same 'thing' for the Subbie Outback. She was talking about replacing her Explorer with one of them when the time came (still a long way off), and this started before we were even in Oregon.

The Malibu seems to be a good vehicle, but you and your wife need to get a meeting of the minds on your priorities......

Just don't get her one of these (don't let her even sit in one - you're done). If you think the BMW was expensive to maintain.........

 

I used to like Subies, but my neighbour has one that leaks oil like a sieve.

 

Truthfully I don't think you can go wrong either way as long as teh Subie is a wagon. My wife uses one as a daily driver and loves it. The manuals are much better than the Autis. From our experience they are very dependable. They can also be tricked out too.

 

Well Saf, I thinkyou know those wagons from that era are good handeling cars..smooth ride yet handeling well on our BC windey roads.

Over priced by $2000 IMO, but thats just me.....I'm freegen cheap and expect alot,,,I also hate that colour butcould live with it but then I would have to say it's $3000 over priced

There is alot in the way of creature confrorts you could do to that malibu (it does look real nice:2_thumbs_up_-_anima) and make it all look like it belonged. I'm guessing the interiour is tan...there are so many options for seats (as an example) that are full power leather or cloth avalible in wreakers that are a simple bolt in...even heated ones and it's no big deal to do. I did it my 83 Crewzer and it all looks like it came that way, I have the console in there also...just hav'nt taken a pic of that yet.

This is that Malibu...just think tan....oh the comfort, and all that in a classy older ride, no monthy payments = more $$ even after you pay for a new built 350 in that baby....I ove the rear wrap around wood on that Malibu, wish mine was like that

Really talking to your honey is the main thing, I've been there done that and although I'm not in favor I am going along with "the plan", My honey does'nt like driving her Celicas any more because of....other drivers...small car getting cut off by bullys in big trucks so she just wants her van to drive and we are selling her cars, all 3 of them.

I bout her Van new in 99, the only new car/van I have ever bout and it's cost me the most in the long run after the warranty expired. My old beaters just keep going and going.

If you can afford new, go for it:2_thumbs_up_-_anima...but a fact is a fact..... you will never have a smooth ride like that Malibu and you know you will be stuck in the....it's been 3 years or "X" anount of millage....I better trade it in or WOW it's going to be toooo expensive to keep on the road.......mite have to sell the 57 just to keep the "new and improved (not) car" on the road for another....month!

 

Hey KK, I know of what you speak. We grenaded our 'vette to pursue the Chevelle dream.

The wife wants a cool car and likes the Malibu looks and remembers how nice a car the other one was. But she also really likes heated seats, power everything, A/C etc. The thing is, for that type of driving where those things are needed we have other vehicles. The wagon is just a kick around car instead of using the '57 when we want to beetle over to a restaurant or get groceries and don't want to use the truck or the '57 or Chevelle.

I'm pretty sure she's going to do the Malibu thing if it is what the seller says it is and if she can get it for a price she's comfortable with. I also realized that as I "coach" her I confuse her so I'm going to sit on the sidelines and watch her decide and when she's done if she doesn't buy the Malibu, and I don't get my 90's "B" body, I guess I'll have to bite my tongue and go along with what ever she does. She's the one forking over the jingle, even if my car account is part of it. She, of course, is the replenisher of the car account so I guess I shouldn't complain when she snags some of it.

Just wait till she sees the Visa bill this month after my last Chevelle parts order . Good thing she'll have made her wagon decision by then

 

Tedy, great suggestions regarding the interior. It is a darket beige colour from what i understand - I won't actually see/feel/touch the car till Friday.

Based on what she decides Friday once she has a chance to crawl around the car, drive it, and remember the old one, I'm suspecting it will be coming home with us.

She has four months to retire. Then having a new commute car is all of a sudden going to seem like a waste. The few new cars we've bought have been as you note - expensive and we've never kept any of them. But the old cars we keep for years and years because they just keep on going, look good, and cost almost nothing in comparison.

Another point that she's picked up on is that this car qualifies for the collector plates in BC. Since we have the truck as the primary driver we can insure the Malibu for under $200 a year. That is hugely attractive and when you compare to what a new Sub will cost to insure, close to $2,000, and no commute to deal with, I'm hoping sanity kicks in.

If she does this I may yet be able to swing my own personal B body, but that will have to wait until the dust settles. I do have a spare truck to sell off first if she gets the wagon. Geez, I blow the BMW away to cut down quantity of vehicles, then add 2, then sell the truck and I'm back to the same number. But elcheap to insure, maintain, and in my view neat cars. Darn I like the '82. The color is also not my favourite but she likes it. We had a 70 Malibu coupe that was Gobi Beige and she picked the color and loved it. Oh well........Friday seems so far away. And it is not even Friday morning, it is Friday evening before we can go look. I hate waiting. I'm not a "wait-er"

 

Saf, she is claimed to be a BC car, just atad more millage than my Crewzer BUT it should (hope fully) be in total RUST FREE shape....

Wishing you luck with this one....it looks like a dam nice car

 

You could worry more if she was an Aston Martin driver. She's just making you dance.

 

That was wierd.......I thought I was posting up a pic of one of these.........

 

The biggest thing to worry about on the 78-88 A/G body cars is rust in the rear frame rails. Reproduction rails are available (made in Canada, no less) but check before putting money down. Other than that, the cars are typical GM RWD full frame cars. Parts are readily available. The 267 can be swapped for just about any GM motor.