Why does this seem so cheap?

[amusingduck]

Browsing the classifieds, as you do, I spotted this

I don't know anything about old yank tanks like these, so what's the deal?

At first glance it looks like a bargain, interior looks decent enough, and a big american V8, whats not to like! Well, fuel consumption obviously. What else?

[nagsheadwarrior]

Haha,12 months ago I was barge shopping and that car was for sale at 1995,its never sold yet so must be borked.
Even if it wasnt they are a complicated,thirsty,300bhp American FWD!!!!!! Barge that few want.
I actually would like to try one.

[Darkslider]

That V8 engine looks to be fitted in the wrong way. Surely it's not front wheel drive?

[Lowtimer]

It most definitely is FWD.

[hornetrider]

They'd probably be better off weighing it in than retailing.

[Geekman]

That one has indeed been for sale for ages, but if I could find another for the same money that drove alright I'd have one. People love to hate cars like this but it'll be comfortable, well specced and relatively quick so surely you can't ask for much more at £795?

[Willy Nilly]

It's a 15 year old V8, so is never going be worth much. Parts might be hard to get because so few were sold, but it is probably quite durable.

[LuS1fer]

FWD.
They did suffer from lack of maintenance.
You have to drop the engine out from below to do a lot of the straightforward work.
Even at the time, it got a lukewarm reception and was akin to a Rover 800.
The engine is the North Star V8 so DOHC and unnecessarily complicated next to GM's lovely pushrod V8s like the LT1 and far better LS1.

[kambites]

I wonder how much that engine weighs. It would be an interesting thing to dump into a transverse mid-engined kit car if it was available with a manual gearbox.

[Krikkit]

kambites said:

I wonder how much that engine weighs. It would be an interesting thing to dump into a transverse mid-engined kit car if it was available with a manual gearbox.

Like your thinking.

[LuS1fer]

It wouldn't be any more reliable and a crate LS1 V8 would still do a better job.

[kambites]

LuS1fer said:

It wouldn't be any more reliable and a crate LS1 V8 would still do a better job.

Can you buy a crate LS1, complete with a transverse manual gearbox, for 800 quid?

[Lowtimer]

No, and you can't buy a Caddy STS Northstar V8 complete with a transverse manual transmission for £800 either, 'cause they're all slushmatic.

[g3org3y]

Short answer? It's a POS.

Although, if those are genuine BBS alloys (diff to see from the photos) they are probably worth £500+ on ebay.

[kambites]

Lowtimer said:

No, and you can't buy a Caddy STS Northstar V8 complete with a transverse manual transmission for £800 either, 'cause they're all slushmatic.

Doh.

[dbdb]

It's tempting at that money!

[Paulm4]

My mate had one of these, he bought it because he liked the high level 3rd brake light that ran the width of the rear window.
That was pretty much the cars highlight!

[steveo3002]

mil karz..thats enough to put me off lol