Car Buying Deals or Steals!?! The CAR WIZARD shares hidden dangers in buying a vintage dream car!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ส.ค. 2024
- Is that car you're eyeing online a deal or a steal? The CAR WIZARD 🧙♂️ shares his knowledge in getting an older, cheap dream car and the financial disaster they can wreck in your life. Featuring many cars in his shop: '91 Bentley Turbo R, '73 C30 Chevrolet Truck, '93 Cadillac Allante and '79 928 Porsche,
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Middle age crisis + project car + an unethical mechanic= is all it takes to bankrupt or lose a lot of money. I really appreciate Wizard for his honesty and ethics, always with facts
A lot of guys get a car and esp their dream car thinking they will learn and do and it will be done easy, few days later they realise they need a mechanic and then due to sentimental or emotional value the mechanic takes them for a ride
This all comes down to a simple project becoming a money pit
My dad had a saying, "If you can't afford a new Jag, you certainly can't afford a used one."
My Granddad had a good saying also, "The more gadgets you have on a car, the more there is that can go wrong."
Or, a cheap British/German/Italian car is the most expensive car you can buy.
@@joelness It depends. Hoovie's Phantom, for example, is not bad. Also his DB7, come to think of it....
@@mattevans4377 That Phantom wasn't quite the bottom of the barrel at the time and he did put some money into it. $85k isn't the same as a $10K Bentley. Also, with his fleet, a broken one isn't as obvious because he always has backup. It'll be interesting to see how long the Ferrari will last around him.
American v8 swapped jags are decent.
As a former shop owner who has been involved in a number of these types of projects, Wizard is spot on. The other part he did not mention is the owner if said ‘diamond in the rough’, convinced his new car only needs $500 to be ‘good as new’, decides you are ripping him off because he won’t admit to himself or his friends he made a bad call.
I bought a 1986 Ferrari....it did not have any problems but I have my own car wizard. When I told him i wanted to buy one but I was worried about maintenance, he said, just go out and get it, its just another bucket of bolts and I can fix it. So I bought it and its running great thanks to my car wizard.
1:38 Hoovie ABSOLUTELY knows what he's doing and what he's buying 9/10 times...
Anyone who believes otherwise is simply ignorant...!!!
He just "plays stupid" for his TH-cam channel...
Trust me guys, he's been buying a countless amount of cars for years... He knows what he's doing...
Yeah interesting that you noted this revealing part. I wonder if hoovie gets a little irritated that wizard speaks so honestly about his endeavours.
Naw, I’m sure Hoovie doesn’t care that most of us know he’s playing a character. It’s a fantastic character and we love it. My actual favourite part is where he forgets he’s supposed to be surprised and act like a dumb rich kid but has that empty pit in his stomach look on his face. It’s a character inside a character and it’s fun to look for. Fortunately or unfortunately it doesn’t happen very often because he is indeed very shrewd.
You mean like when he blew up the engine in his Porsche twice, or when he caught his Ferrari on fire? Hoover is a dumb rich kid living off daddy money. You can't change my mind.
how about the car he buried?
@@gregh7457 Probably paid off just from the videos of burying them (there were 2)
Its nice to have cosmetically imperfect cars though. You can drive them without worry
That's how I feel about my 4Runner. Beat the shit out of it and I don't have to worry about off-road pinstripes or whatever. Need suspension though cause I've been driving fast on FS roads and bottoming out a lot lol
Love them “hunk of junk” cars, always works
I use a Fiat Panda. Simple, cheap motoring thats (generally) easy to fix. Surprisingly cool in a quiet sort of way.
Yeah, you don't have to worry about getting pissed off because some asshole ran a shopping cart up against it or smacked it with their door in the grocery store parking lot.
A lot of people really need to hear this. Its good to have a mechanic honest enough to tell people what owning and maintaining these specialty vehicles really entails. Hope people listen
A good-running 928 stick might be one of the best GT cars ever made,,,, if he can live with the looks,, and pay to keep it going,,,, good luck to him! Sounds like a win-win for the owner and the Wizard.
Also the thing had a building falling on it and it still drives 😂
Almost every $500 car I've bought has needed $1000 in parts. It's still a good deal if you are doing the labor, but just expect it.
Well, that's a bit better than paying $7K and putting another $7 into it.
I consider how many years or miles of service I can expect after the mechanical work it needs.
A 500 dollar car which needs 1000 dollars of parts could be quite the bargain if driven for 5 years, or even 2 years.
I bought a $1000 2005.5 Audi A4 that I ended up with about another $2000 to get it up to par. I love the car to death. I've out over 10k miles on it since then and it saves me money in the long run in gas.
I bought the ugliest, shit brown colored 1997 Chevy cavalier 2 years ago for $500 and this is pretty much true. I've spent about $600 fixing the alternator, radiator fan, starter, new battery, brake pads, and a few other things. But it's not bad as a cheap car and only had 98k on it when I bought it.
I bought many 500 cars in my time and drove them for 2 years without spending a penny on them when i was younger.
As long as you are not picky and aren't anal about stuff not working properly it can be done.
Like he said, as long as it goes and brakes and that is enough for you, driving can be cheap.
Not gonna drive your dream car like that though.
It’s like therapy to listen to the Car Wizard
Gayy
Electroshock Therapy
LOL
He's the Iraqveteran8888 of cars.
Also. He's much more articulate and eloquent than Scotty Kilmer.
I wish there were more mechanics around like Wizard! Well done brother.
Hoovie is a genius in that, when he brings a car to the Wizard, he's EXPECTING to be hosed. So the only outcomes are 1) He's correct and it's going to cost a lot of money. or 2) He's pleasantly surprised that it's not as broken as expected. So his expectations are already low, he can only be spot on, or pleasantly surprised at the outcome!
Hoovie is running a business of sorts so he probably has tax savings that a normal person wouldn’t normally have.
There’s truth to the saying that “the most expensive Mercedes is a cheap Mercedes”
laughs in scottykilmer
My grandfather used to say "I'm not rich enough to be buying cheap things". :)
You better have 2X the price of the car if you buy an old German car cuz stuff WILL break
Not if you have a parts car-
kent bergsma
nvkulk True, Love Kent and watch his videos a lot. Wish I had the space to have a parts car.
Buyer: "I've always wanted a Porsche 928. Any problems with it?"
Seller: "A building fell on it."
Buyer: "SOLD!"
Hoovie would buy it!
LOL!
@@Fozzymaple ...Hoovie, and me...sigh. Love it, though. PS. I have a left front signal marker to fix the one that's missing :) Finding a hood and fender would be easier than you might think. The roof would be a bit tougher, granted. The ride height looks right - a big plus. The dashes all cracked on these cars. Easier than expected to remove it. A local plastic-fix guy can sort that out. The seats being leather, yes, not cheap. Silicone aftermarket fuel lines are not only readily available and cheap, they're a MUST - ethanol fuel will soften the rubber compound (that wasn't made to tolerate ethanol) and leak. Take care of a few common problems, and regular maintenance on 928's isn't much more than any other car. They were engineered very well, and will last a very long time - when brought up to date. Of course, none of this is to take away from The Car Wizards advice...for me, it's a labour of love. I wouldn't say 'money no object', but ...there's an old saying - if it has tires or b--bs, it's going to cost $. So, you have to go in knowing that.
Might be cheaper to repair the building!
@@sunbeam8866 HAHAHA :) ..probably
Great points. I have a 91 Ford F250 that I've put about 10k just to keep it somewhat reliable. At some point fixing old cars isn't about sense, it's just a nostalgia thing. As long as you maintain that expectation then you are fine - but as the wizard says, that's not the majority of customers.
same, i got a 97 chevy 2500 for 2k, dropped another 8k in it but now i know what's not gonna break down, new engine, rebuilt trans, another 2 grand and the whole damn truck will be new and will beat the cost of todays new trucks easily, if you can do most all the work yourself it's worth it, not too mention mine actually does work, so it get's beat up, i aint buying a pretty new truck just to make it as worthless as my current
Wizard is spot on! Always wanted a German car. I once got a non-running 2003 Mercedes C240 for free from a relative. After shipping it, doing some repairs myself and working with a local German car specialist who treated me very fairly I had over $13K in the car. I couldn't stop chasing the "rabbit down the hole". When I finally pulled the plug on the car I ended up getting only $1500 on a trade. To quote Hoovie: "I am an idiot!" Free cars never are free!
Sound advice. We've all done it - fallen in love with a car, bought it without doing our homework and ended up losing money - especially when we're young. The thing it pays to remember is that people generally are not fools. If they are selling something cheaply, there's always a reason. Given that your customer with the 928 has another, he'd probably be sensible to keep the damaged one as a parts donor, as long as he has somewhere to store it.
We've ALL done it and people are not fools kind of cancel each other out.. I've done foolish things, but buying cars with expensive hidden problems isn't one of them
Speak for yourself. I never did it. Not when I was young...not any time. I bought nothing but good dependable cars that I looked over carefully before purchasing. Only an idiot ever does otherwise.
@@waynes.2983 Well, who's a clever boy?
I fully agree with you Laurie... Back in 2006 I bought my first car used at the age of 22 and it was one of the worst decisions I had made in my life as it caused me many embarassing situations. I wish we had info like this back then. Two mistakes and a Mitsubishi Lancer later I've now owned a 1998 Toyota Corolla for 6 years and life has been so much simpler. Some of us have no choice but have experience flog us into making better choices.
Nobody should expect to "make money" on a car.
My dad used to say "A car has to do two things - steer and stop.. everything else is gravy..." those have been words to live by.
And not catch fire.
@ju kiwithe old VW beetles and minivans catch fire too
Yeah dont worry about the airbags and esp
Stop and steer is nice, but what about "go?"
And not catch fire lol...After Hoovie and others I've lost all interest in Ferraris
I really appreciate you brother. Your no-nonsense information is so valuable.
My Uncle Don gave me some good car buying tips - 1) Buy a car from someone who can afford to maintain it and keep it on the road 2) Buy the best model/condition you can afford to buy because you will pay less in the long run 3) Maintenance over mileage 4) It's not what it costs, it what it costs to get it like you want, as The Car Wizard is saying here 5) Never buy cars sight unseen, with major rust or not running.
That's why you buy a 94 Accord that's been a daily for 26 years with 400K miles and needs $200-300 a year to keep it running.
I have a 1996 Nissan Maxima with 220k and a 1992 Nissan pickup with 130k miles.
I do my own repairs. If I spend 500 a year on parts and maintenance, that's an expensive year.
The initial purchase price and first year repair costs amortize to less and less money the longer iv owned the vehicles.
Bet you're strict on oil changes! Most people believe the manufacturers on their wildly optimistic service intervals! It can be done but you need some knowledge and the discipline to do the necessary stuff on time (or better before time).
@@garymills6702 I usually change the oil at about 70% of the recommended interval but I also always check the level in between.
I have a 1995 accord 5 speed with 431k on it as of this morning. Runs like new. Have had to replace alternator and couple small things. Always gets me around
I daily a 1989 Ford Laser Ghia here in Australia with 180,000km (112,000 miles). I got it in 2010 with 112,000km one owner country car in immaculate condition. It's exactly the same as a Mazda 323 underneath.
I've experienced that. An old truck sat for 15 years, and the whole fuel system needed replaced. Tank, pump, carb, and all rubber lines. Carb was worn out, and I wasn't going to waste time putting bushings in on a 2barrel.
This owner should have had this car checked out by a mechanic before he bought it. I hope you have 1000 great customers for every 1 like this guy. Keep doing great work. Love the channel. Thank you.
Thanks for real world advice about cars that sit. Most of us do not see first hand what happens like you do. The on going escalating repair list that you describe can easily bury many a person. The cost to fix really does not matter-- as you say-- if the owner has the money and is happy. HOWEVER once the money in and money left after repair and sale is applied, then the harsh reality becomes real. As you say, it can be heart wrenching. It is especially true if one desires something they can not afford but badly wants to believe in the magic of cheap repair to make it possible.
There's been hidden dangers in every car I bought. Worst was when my brake pedal fell off while driving on freeway!
DUDE
@@jmoney7289 Dude...
My classic mini steering wheel came off going around a roundabout, it turns out there is only a single nut holding them in place.
As my trade school teacher once said: "brakes aren't necessary, if they were we wouldn't have trees or guard rails"
LMFAOOO WHAT
Listening to the Wizard talk is like getting a massage inside of your ears
I hear a lot of people say that but I don't agree at all. Example, I could listen to Ed Bolian read a phone book and feel relaxed. But I feel like i'm being talked down to or lectured by The Wizard.
ASMR lol
@@MrWoodyBalto I'm the other way around, I think Mr. Bolean often comes off as someone on a real high horse. Like in one of the Car Trek videos where he said "I've got people for that", I really dislike people who say stuff like that.
Woody Balto Mr.Eds manner of speaking is so phony and forced,tries to sound so eloquent but misses badly.
@@FoRmaTiTo To each his own... As far as Car Trek. I really don't like it. I have watched all the episodes buy they get low priority. It would be better if we didn't already know Ed, Hoovie and Tavaish from their channels. They are all trying to hard. It's all forced and uncomfortable for me to watch.
These honest mechanics like Car Wizard are telling you the truth and being fair that repairs like these are expensive and sometimes not worth on vehicles like this.
The 928 scars give it character, like it survived a run in with Wolverine!
928 with a coyote engine sounds like a good investment lol
Porsche managed to market an aluminum V8 that outweighs a SBC and call it “technology” If you ever want to see wiring insulation turn to dust when you touch it outside the marine world; find your nearest 928. Tough to imagine the same company that builds a near perfect car like the 911 series. I LOVE this channel btw. I also miss my 928 but not the headaches , haha
@@phendrix9476 In the eighties a friend had 928S and his brother a 733i. He invited a few buddies to a visit to a town an hour away. On the way out everybody fought for a seat in the 928S, and on the way back everybody fought for a seat in the 733i. He had to replace the cast aluminium exhaust, which cost as much as a small apartment and it used more fuel than a Cessna, all in all a fun car compared to what was around at the time. No other car since has matched the side rear aspect of the 928.
More like a serious Dogman run in!!??
@@phendrix9476 Same here, I owned a 1981 928 back in the 80s/90s. Loved the look, hated the repair costs. It didn't even say 928 anywhere on the vehicle. A "German" repair shop in Austin didn't know what model t was. Probably the first time they saw a 928.
One of the best moves I made was parting ways with my project car 89 Mustang. I learned a lot wrenching on it (v8 swapping, axles, transmissions, wiring, cams etc). After 15 years, didn't have time or money for that next level. A guy came tire kicking who had one in high school, I let it go, it meant more to him.
Thanks for sharing the story of the 928 and all of your wisdom. One of my all time favorite Porsches.
With all that said, the wizard didn't wake up one day and know everything about cars. He learned it, and every year at car shows I run into people who knew nothing and rebuilt unbelievable cars by watching, reading, and basically learning. Anyone can do it! BUT, it does take time and money.
Blunt, simple, yet kind honesty. We love you Wizard
The wizard’s shop is not “a” car restoration company, but it is Hoovie’s car restoration company
He will restore a car as long as you pay him an amount upfront so he is not working on car not worth less then the repair.
As long ad he confident and knows you're paying the bill i sure anything possible.
Because he knows Hoovie will pay the bill.
actually the common misconception is people think they could fix the car for $2000-4000 but don't realize it's going to end up costing closer to 10,000 even if it is a cheap car or not a supercar.
doesn't matter what it is if it's really cheap it's usually going to cost close to 7,000 to get it working right
And if it's super car or something very special you could easily double it.
Perfectly stated, and it mirrors my experience restoring old cars.
Depends if one does his own labor or pays a mechanic.
Agreed if one pays a mechanic.
It's the things a guy will do for a woman for love! Same principle with guys and cars! As S&G sang "...a man sees what he wants to see and disregards the rest". I rest my case.
Yeah you could only manage these crazy low crackhead prices if you are working on a 90s Honda or a Toyota Camry. Because you could get engines for like three hundred bucks and stuff like that. And obviously it helps to do the work yourself. I had a 93 Camry over 250k and all I had to do was the water pump has would creep up sometimes randomly after I use it for about a year. $250 parts and laborand I paid someone to do it very happy with the job. It was a fantastic car but the fuel economy wasn't there so I sold it and got a 92 w124 300D turbo diesel. Now I am in the low 30s mpg.
Spot on, depending on which car it is, parts alone can be a small fortune.
You are so absolutely on point, what never seems to change is that guy who has this car wants to do all this work and has no money, but he’s willing to have a mechanic work on it obligate himself, and you only to find out he can’t pay.
As a business owner it is your responsibility to put systems in place that make your life easier. For example, ask customers to send you pictures of the car from numerous angles, pictures of the engine etc. This will give you a lot more insight into whether or not a customer should for example ship their car to you or not. Have a qualification process! Put systems like that in place, it will boost your business and make your life easier. Love the vids!
Thanks for the excellent advice. Some folks might have a good distant memory of days gone by, and that’s what they’re imagining when purchasing their “dream car”. My advice: just let it go and buy a Toyota instead, unless it’s that 1984 Supra you’ve always wanted..
I learned this lesson the hard way. I love classic jeeps? CJ's, Wagoneer's, J-series pickups, ect. Found a "good deal" on a 1981 CJ7. Found out later the floor rotted and decide to do a YJ Tub conversion. Found a tub got it sand blasted then had a body shop make the changes to the cowl for the heater. Then had it powered coated. I was preparing the frame for the new tub when I noticed the driver side frame rail had rust holes. So I got a another frame and that one is rusting from inside out. So now its sitting in my backyard in pieces, waiting on a new frame. Been sitting for 5 years. Will continue to sit, till I find a good frame, or get a new one.
TLDR: Jeep stands for:
JUST
EMPTY
EVERY
POCKET
928 values are starting to climb pretty good, not sure about early versions like this but I don’t think he’s wasting his money by any means
Very good advice from a master mechanic. When I trailered my 1988 Porsche 944 turbo project home, I drove it from the trailer into the garage where I began to dismantle the engine for rebuild. Three years later the engine rebuild by Lindsey Racing is complete, and now it on to getting the body ready for the body shop. For me, the fun is taking my time working on this car, but like the wizard says,it wil cost thousands of dollars to thoroughly go through every system on the car, so be prepared!
Legend has it: When the Car Wizard plays tic-tac-toe, he wins in just one move.
I heard the Car Wizard has never lost an auction, because the other bidders are too intimidated by his immense knowledge to bid higher than him.
I heard when wizard visits a feminist rally he comes back with his shirt ironed.
@Adam Fears yup. I heard he visited the virgin islands, they're known locally as "the islands" now.
@@getchasome6230 my wife tells me that this joke isn't funny, then why am I laughing?!!
@@jochenstacker7448 Legend has it: The Car Wizard once had a staring contest with the sun, and he won.
Hoovie should just wrap that Merci in a giant Raid: Shadow Legends ad and everything will get paid for. Weeezard would get his yacht!
i heard raid shadow legends doesn't pay well. It's a scheme for free advertising.
A yacht! Keeping one of those going will make you thing the worst 4 wheel money pit is a bargain.
With vintage cars, you dedicate yourself to a very real project. It's a commitment. I knew that full well when I bought my '93 Prelude. Then again, this particular car was already in good condition when I got it. I'm also doing restoration and modifications on my car.
Great internet deals are out there. One trick I use when you are pressed to make a rapid buying decision (i.e. no time for a PPI) is to call local dealers/shops and investigate whether they’re knowledgeable about the vehicle in question. Many times they are, and asking just a handful of questions gives you ample background on the vehicle in question. 10 years ago I found a mint Porsche Carrera (993) for $27k, which was comfortably under market at that price. Today it is worth $80k.
I thought it was a known fact. - The faster you put miles on a car, the more miles you can get on her. Without heat cycles, stuff leaks and deteriorates. My 68 Plymouth convert leaks trans fluid like crazy, but heat her up everything expands and she is dry and happy.
I loved this! This is a message that definitely needs to be said. All to often I see neat cars on craigslist where somebody bought it then tore it apart, then realized they don't have resources to repair everything, so they try to sell it as a torn apart car with all the various wiring and components in boxes unorganized and unlabeled. It's pretty sad.
And they have it priced like it's a show car.
I think it is highly dependent on what car it is, and where it sat.
I got my 1983 RX-7 for $2k, it had sat for around 15 years under a tree. The only things it needed were new fuel pump and to keep up with the maintenance. All I have left to fix the broken things are some electrical gremlins (non essential stuff, mind you) and re-upholster the seats. The motor and mechanicals are perfect. Hell of a deal.
Certainly a good idea to proceed with caution when buying any older car.
A couple years ago I bought a 1998 Toyota Avalon for a friend of mine who needed a car for $500. Sure it needed some exhaust system work, new knock sensors, new brakes, an alternator, and a few other small bits, but the body, interior, engine, and transmission were in overall great shape. I may have been even more inclined to offer more money for the car because I felt it was that good.
I love this down to earth attitude. Please David, never change. Kind regards from the Netherlands
Wizard!! And Mrs. Wizard!! Hope all is well with you and yours! I'm agreeing with MOST of what you say. It is a "buyer beware" situation. When my dad passed a few years ago, I inherited all his stuff, including two old cars. His last brand-new car and a '64 Chrysler New Yorker. I knew he took excellent care of the '73 Buick Limited, but the Chrysler would need work. Okay, I know my way around an engine bay, I can get it running and it would be a cool weekend car. I did the normal stuff, engine was still free. Oi boyo, was I wrong about that car!!! Got it started and running, trans worked okay, cool, right?? Nope! Brakes were a nightmare, but okay, that's an OLD car for ya. Gas tank cleaned out nice. New front tires [14's, $$$$!!], new acc. belts, reman A/C compressor, okay, now we're spending some bucks. But it had the 413 in it! I was still pumped! Then my girl made me sit down and do the math, that car was NOT worth what I'd already put in it!!! So, sadly, I put it up and sold it; made a whopping $200 profit!! WooHoo! Even the Buick cost me some, but that's a car that's A: worth a decent buck, and B: has great sentimental value to me, was with Dad when he bought it brand-new!! So I'm agreeing with you Wizard; be SMART about getting that car you may have dreamed of. Do your due diligence, INSPECT it or have that done for you, and ALWAYS check it's resale value before following your heart. It will save you heartbreak [and wallet failure!!!] in the long run!!! BTW= LOVE that 928!!! But that's not a car for me! Thanks again Mr. & Mrs. Wizard; please stay safe!!!
When I first started driving the typical shop labor rates were $27 an hour. Now most are over $100. There are so many things a modern shop owner must comply with- safety, environmental, etc, that the cost to run is much higher in our Dad's day. That's why I like 'patina'- it's cheaper! As long as the thing is safe to drive if you're happy, it's all good!
Good to see you are direct. You are absolutely right!! Unless you’re like Hoovie, that is blessed with the necessary funds to play...save your money and buy one that’s road ready, or suffer the consequences.
Wiz is the Bob Ross of mechanics!
He needs to get a squirrel. 😊
Dan F lmao
Ohhhh That's good!! LMAO 😂
Dan F without the hair!
Bought a new 2019 X7 in December and headlight had to be replaced because the DRL was out. Cost was $5000. I never keep them past the warranty.
a new 2019 x7 for $5000 is cheap dude!
greg h That was just for the headlight
Do you like to make money or lose money? A new bmw depreciates terribly.
@@ovibee4023 LOL!
htwhls19 lease only
Thank you for your videos. I watch yours more than Scotty kilmer now. Please inform the general public about carshield the warranty service that nobody takes. It's very important that you address this because people are suckered into buying carshield and most garages will not accept it. Thanks again for your service you're doing a great public service
The 928 as a family thing is a very cool car. Not a status symbol, but a real car. It also looks grateful for being alive. I like it.
When you said a building fell on the Porsche, I thought you meant it figuratively... I didn't expect it to be literal.
Reminds me of my old neighbour keeping a Bentley for a weekend car. Last time a fuel pump cost 1,700 Euros + shipping. Its cheaper to rent an exotic!!
He’s probably not using Audi or VW parts that would probably fit for a cheaper price, bentleys are just an Audi with a body kit
Also true I rented a brand new blacked out STI 6 speed with exhaust on Turo for 80 a day it was very fun highly recommend turo
there ARE a couple of procedures that have worked for me. Best advice: join the RROC or RR enthusiast club first... and then start looking. you can thank me later.
Thank you for the honest conversation car wizard. I learned the hardway myself on a 79 trans am and a few others but it’s the experience and the skills you pick up trying to cut costs that makes it worth the cost. After my first debacle I slowly made more and more profit when I did a flip for fun while learning to scratch and buff myself and refinish wheels. Also, made some connections at autobodys. Relationships are everything if you want to make a side hustle like this work but to start you have dig in and eat your mistakes and maintain a positive attitude until you develop your eye and process.
I needed to hear that man thank you
I recently picked up what looked like a very clean ‘97 M3 sedan (M3/4/5). Had some records of some of the maintenance I would expect at the mileage. Impulse buy off of eBay from a seller with 100% feedback. Said it needed nothing! Paid a premium then to get it. Took to my shop to inspect thinking maybe a couple grand needed at most. 2 months and a little over $6,000 I have it almost completely sorted. Can totally relate to what you are saying, Wizard!
928 is one of my all time favorite cars
why? its just a 924 with an underpowered v8
greg h
The later ones are quite powerful
Very well explained. I've revived quite a few barn cars and I know what you say is absolutely true.
I went through it recently with a mercedes 300d, paid $2500 and it has a lot of maintenance to catch up on. $1000 later and a complete brake, fuel system, and a bunch of suspension work and it's a good running and driving car. The previous owner said it was "tip top, needs nothing, runs great" but i knew better before i bought it. but in the long run it still cost and took more than i thought it would even doing 100% of the work myself
When I started my apprenticeship as a mechanic I picked up a 1983 Mercedes 280 SE which had been sitting for 3 months. I was really excited I could actually buy and own an actual S-Class! However things just started to go downhill from there. The engine ran rough, the transmission produced a severe stumble when engaging reverse gear and after 4 months I couldn't get it running. I then took it to someone who specialized in K-Jetronic and older injection systems such as these and after 900€ I picked it up ready to drive. This included a newly rebuilt fuel distributor, new injectors, a rebuilt ignition distributor, new plugs, new coil, new vaccum hoses, a new fuel pump and filter, countless hours of labor and various other little repairs to make it road legal. It was shortly after that I realized this was just the tip of the iceberg. The years of negleted maintenance showed up not only in general wear of everything (needless to say the steering play made the car uncontrollably above 100 km/h), the whole suspension front to back was shot and that hasn't started to scare me yet. One day I had a closer look at the chassis, deciding what to do first to bring it back in good condition. 5min later I put the car online for sale. It wasn't worth the money. In total I lost 3500€ on this car.
This is such a great reality check. Thanks, Wizard.
Hey I'm glad to see your channel coming along nicely, keep up the good work! One comment; I've been seeing a lot of doom and gloom videos lately about "don't buy this" and "don't buy that". But I think we'd agree that there are some older cars out there that enthusiasts CAN buy that aren't necessarily risk free BUT are much less scary. Cars that are simple, fun, and have cheap and abundant part supply chains. You should make a video about the cars in you've found to fall into this category! A little less depressing too :) some cars that come to mind: Mustang's, late 80's to mid 90's trucks, Mark VII's, Jeep Cherokee's, Jeep Wranglers, Subaru's, etc. Yes...any of these cars could be money pits, but car guys and gals are not going to stop buying projects so let's talk about a few that are less risky than Bentley Turbo R's and such haha.
I wish a competent and honest mechanic like the wizard lived closer to me! I’d feel great about paying him to work on my cars!
I bought a 1979 Porsche 928, wow just wow. Everything that could break literally broke. The transmission went out and that was the last straw for me. On the other hand it drove like a dream haha. My 1991 Jaguar xj6 lasted 52,000 miles of daily driving from 2019- 2021. The only thing that ever brown on it was fuel pump and then finally the head gasket. A fine car. Only cost 1,100! I think for classic daily I got my money’s worth!
If my AC quit on me and I'm living in Arizona, that's number 1 fix for all of us down here
I had an 85 928 - bought it cheap (I thought) tried to rescue it, never got it sorted, I lost about $9,000 +. Difficult car to repair and keep running, better to buy one at a higher price that's sorted.....
LS swap lol.
@@Heathertheheathenkitty LOL The engine is the only thing that worked!
Why put a cheap LS? Best to keep those for shit American muscle
Great advice. I’m not a good DIY mechanic, so I’d have to have a shop fix or replace most items, making even a cheap car expensive. I also lack free time, and have no desire to have a car sit in my garage for months at a time. So even if I had the tools and ability to fix it up myself, chances are it would still quite a while.
Another item on the list that would be mechanics forget: tools, and some cars (exotics, foreign) need specialized tools and diagnostic equipment. If you don't have a well equipped arsenal, it adds more money to the project upfront.
Good advice, wizard..I love that Chevy truck. I've been bored and searching the interwebs for stuff like that. With too much time on my hands and an itchy credit card, a guy could get in trouble!
Matt Scullin , it’s for sale.
Great video Wizard. And perfectly reasonable and well explained about old cars. You have to draw a line as you say.
car wizard . . . MASTER of MASTERS . . . top notch video ! ! ! . . . having an older car ( 10 , 15 , 20 years old ), which you like, or even love, and you service it properly with a trusted honest mechanic . . . comes out after a few years muuuch . . . muuuch cheaper to use . . . than buying a new car every 3 years.
My dad worked at a Mercedes shop for 40 years. 25% if not more of the customers bought the car used for under 10 grand, and came in and could not afford a brake job, or a radiator replacement, or other common maintenance/failures. The cars were usually previously owned them and never did any maintenance after warranty.
This is a reason to learn to work on your own car.
The only thing I really heard in this entire video is "Why you should never take your car to a mechanic."
@@ledzeppelin27 Only if you think your time is worth fixing a POS car ,because it was a 'Great Deal'.
@@deadmansfire Compared to the alternative of making car payments.for years? I absolutely do.
@@ledzeppelin27 I simply pointed out that just because you are able to work on your car, it doesn't mean it's always worth fixing it. Like you get a car for a grand, one that in good condition is worth 3K,for example. You see it as a good deal. Now you may need a 500-1000 for parts. It's still cheaper than the good condition one. But still,you don't factor your time (for which mechanics charge you + some profit). Depending on the job is it worth spending X amount of time and labor, and not having it available, for you to fix it yourself?
I'm all for buying a used car,that you can afford and not taking big loans, or taking the hit of depreciation for a new car. But this video is about buying used cars that seem cheap until you start fixing them. And yeah,if you can work on it yourself(many people can't), the threshold for it becoming not worth it is higher,but it's still there.
@@deadmansfire it can make cars that normally are out of reach for you, viable if you are willing to put some time into it.
If you are not dependend on a mechanic the number of viable cars you can own on a budget goes up exponentionally.
But you have to see it as a hobby and not a financial investment.
I can easilly afford a mechanic to do everything for me, but i still own my own lift and stuff.
I love to mess around on a car on a saturday afternoon, learn new stuff, try new things like restoring interiour bits myself. Take stuff apart and feel accomplishment when i get it working properly again and then go for a drive with a buddy and end with a couple of beers.
But if you just want to save money it is a fools errand usually.
928's are different as he implied because they have a HUGE following, the owners are fanatical about their cars! That being said, if a "cheap" 928 comes toward you and wiggles it's [fat] butt alluringly:
1. If you are not a 928 fanatic....RUN!
2. Buy the most expensive 928 you can afford. Unless you own a shop like Wizard does or are loaded with money, then you don't want to try to restore a 928. Despite cheap parts from 928 International, these are still expensive cars to restore.
3. MAKE SURE the timing belt has been done within the past 45,000 miles/6 years. A car that has been driven gently? That 6 year thing can be stretched a little bit, but since most 928's are interference engines, you really are playing Russian Roulette with your wallet; An M28 engine that skips a few teeth on an old timing belt can cost between $5000 and $8000 to rebuild! A timing belt/water pump service costs about $1500, or about $600 -IF- you can safely do it yourself. These big-block aluminum V8's in the 928 are very very tough engines, but that timing belt is a rubber cobra; Don't mess with it!
[YES these are big block V8 engines. The bore spacing is 122 mm, which is almost exactly the same as a big block Chevy or Mopar...]
4. You will never get all the accessories to work unless you are willing to spend thousands of dollars. If you are the type that cannot stand having a sunroof that won't work or cruise control that is dead, then move ON. These cars are literally bulletproof [see #3 above] but the accessories are NOT.
5. There is a flex plate in place of the clutch on the automatic cars. If the thrust bearing on the back of the engine develops play, then the thrust plate can apparently machine into the block, destroying it. Any reputable foreign car shop can look up how to check this and do it in a few minutes, since there is a panel that comes off allowing this to be inspected.
6. Good luck finding a manual transmission 928; Only 15% were built with the 5 speed. Look for a 1985 or later car in which the transmission was basically a US made Borg Warner in a Porsche case. These have far better synchros.
#4 reminded me of a couple of my old jeeps. Bulletproof but accessories are not lol
It's so tough to get the owner of a well maintained 928 to sell. They tend to be glassy eyed zealots. I'm a 911 guy but those 928 guys give me the creeps. 😁😁😁
I thought only the 32V engines were interference?
@@chesswizard31 The higher HP 16V Euro engines are also interference.
@@chesswizard31 As 19psi said, the ROW 16 valve engines were interference, along with all the 32 valve motors.
This is really good advice. I know so many people who’ve bought used European sports or luxury cars over the years thinking they’ve got a great deal - until they realize the car is already basically totaled out due to all the deferred maintenance, and extremely high cost of parts and labor.
Wizard ,
In regards to the Porsche
Body work is so much easier to me than mechanic work. As long as there’s no frame damage you’d be shocked how little work it would take to paint that car if you did it all your self. Metal can be worked , and a small coat of bondo and the outside would be mint. I know people are scared of Bondo , but if used only to correct small blemishes it’s perfectly fine.
Just remember.
You dream car,that you find......was also somebody else's dream car,but they sold it 😲
Have always loved the 928's, would be tough to get rid of that one for sure. Good video on spreading some common sense (that isn't too common these days!) :)
I bought a 1983 Porsche 944 for $1500. I put 2K into it, cleaned it thoroughly and polished it…best money I’ve ever spent. Fun/easy to work on too. I could have spent less but I wanted it as perfect as possible. Not bad if you can do the work yourself.
The world would be a better place if we had more Wizards. Love your heart for cars and people 🙏🏼♥️
Question one when you discover a 'barn find'. "How much is it gonna cost to replace all the seals and gaskets?"
gunit 010 my point being, it’s gonna cost way more than just the price of the car.
Depends on who is doing the labor. A mechanic would need to charge a lot to cover all the hours it takes to do the work.
A good diy hobby mechanic could buy the gaskets and install them himself.
He would work slower than the mechanic does. He would pay with his time he could have been doing something else, and with sore muscles.
No free lunch.
Pick your battles.
@@johanvangelderen289 That's usually just the start. If it's been setting for any long time it probably needs new tires, and who knows what else. To be fair someone who is willing to take the time and effort to DYI may be able to fix it up. Unfortunately most people don't have the time/skill to do it. If the DYI takes long enough the seals/gaskets may have gone bad again.
@@johanvangelderen289 yes I helped this lady who owns an import car repair biz sold to one of his technician for me to find out they have a computer software how to charge and each shop has their own 'shop rate' and also they mark up the parts also! As to a barn find, I know this old guy here has over 50 old cars in his barn some very exotic old cars!!!
If people don't know that, they probably dont know anything about what it needs, like engine and brakes seized if it's not been started in over a decade.
I appreciate these videos. Consistently great. Thanks.
.... from Canada.
Poor 928. It has lived a hard life but is good to know that someone cares about it.
I’m someone who’s been through exactly what Mr. Wizard is talking about. In 2006, my cousin’s wife said I could have her 1986 Audi 5000 Turbo, because it was taking up driveway space. I was thrilled! “It just has a hydraulic leak,” she told me. So, I immediately called a local mechanic and had the Audi towed in. One fix of a hydraulic leak and I’m hitting the fast lane in my German sports sedan! Nope. The starter was bad, too, and the part to fix the hydraulic leak was difficult to source. Once the hydraulic leak was fixed, two others appeared. I had them fix these as well. So, now the Audi is fixed, right? Yes, but it didn’t stay fixed for long. A week and a half later, the steering and clutch began to get stiff and hard to operate. A glance under the car revealed another hydraulic leak, so back to the shop it went. One more fix, one more week and another leak appears. At this point I’m all out of money and furious at this car, so I decided to get rid of it. I owed a storage facility owner about $150, and I asked him if he’d take an ‘86 Audi 5000 Turbo to settle the debt. “It just has a hydraulic leak,” I told him. Sold!
I love the rear of those 928’s!
Allways loved 928's. Great video Wizard! Thank you
Great advice from a Wizard. With all the restoration shows on TV today many are buying old cars in need of restoration. Many don’t realize just what it takes to bring an old classic back to life and how much it would really cost at a capable restorer shop. In my opinion it’s far better to purchase a restored auto at a well known auction like Mechum or Barrett Jackson. Many are sold at a fraction of what it would cost you to restore. But even then there might be something wrong with your dream auto......
Basically, if you buy a cheap old car, you better plan on spending a lot of money to do a restoration. So it needs to be financially worth it to do so. I recently watched a video of someone fully restoring a Fiero that sat abandoned for 20 years. It took a lot of money and *3 years* to complete the restoration.
I like the 928! I’d drive it the way it is! That being said I couldn’t afford to buy it or run it! So it’s very academic.
Thank you for all the extra videos these days!
A peculiar thing with a 928 is that the less is on it the more beautiful it is, I painted one a while ago and in its natural state no paint, as in blank metal, no windows, mirrors etc that thing is gorgeous, the lines, shapes, forms are perfect (just like a beautiful woman:) it looses something when it's all back together again. Less is definitely more with a 928 Porsche.
Dear Wizzard...your wisdom even holds up here in Porscheland. Your reality check in these trying times will help us with some very hard decisions to make as we ponder whether we want to go vintage... many thanks!
Wizard! You got a proper microphone! Good man, thanks.
That voice is soooo soothing tho🤤
I guess if you tell me my car need 10 grand in repairs , at least he has a calming voice ...
You should listen to 'Joe Pera Talks you to Sleep' - peak soothing voice there.
@@KingMooseThe3rd a few years ago, actually more than a few years ago, I watched a dude named Jeff Bridges on jimmy Kimmel show talking about his Sleeping Tapes...I use those once a while...best voice in the world
Those 928's are appreciating in value quite quickly. A new hood isnt that expensive luckily. The dash can be glued, the leather needs some deep cleaning. Sure this one needs a bit of hands-on love, but a 928 is a very special supercar. It has offset rear wheels for better turning at high speeds, it's the only naturally aspirated V8 by porsche and technologically it was very advanced for its day. Definately a keeper for the long run.
Great video. One of the hardest things to accept is good advice. But the Car Wizard does have it to offer for those who are willing to listen. This is the video that caused me to subscribe. I watched a few earlier and found the Car Wizard a bit long winded but I have now found if you are prepared to hear him out he makes a lot of sense. The handle "Car Wizard" initially pushed me the wrong way - reaction, how presumptuous I said to myself. Now I am thinking that this name is more justified than not. So, thank you for your videos and please keep up the good work.