Doesn't look good for my VX future...

[RickOKC]

Hey Vette,

A few thoughts I have as a fellow shopper:

* I fully expect the owner of ANY vehicle would never consider that the engine compartment shouldn't be greasy & dirty (multiply by 10 if the owner is a professional mechanic.)

* A leather 10-year-old driver's seat & steering wheel will need to be recovered and should be in the budget if that's important to you.

* MANY people don't even wash their cars. Only .00000001 percent who have vehicles with lower plastic cladding have a clue that it can easily be "restored" from light gray to factory awesome. YOU will have to do that yourself.

* Everybody thinks their crappy vehicle is worth it's weight in gold.

Don't give up, buddy!

[89Vette]

* Everybody thinks their crappy vehicle is worth it's weight in gold.

Yeah, I get that. People want to get the most back out of their (expensive) vehicles -- but VERY few understand how to accomplish that. As KBB notes, less than 5% of vehicles can be considered in Excellent condition. I think that's because fewer than 5% of the population is willing to service, restore, and/or keep up a vehicle as required/recommended.

How many SUV owners NEVER consider changing diff/transfer case fluid? How many never change antifreeze? Or brake fluid, power steering, or transmission fluid. How many never apply leather conditioner to leather seats? Or weatherstripping conditioner? Or even wash underneath to remove corrosive salts/dirt that traps moisture?

Hardly any is the problem. Take that percentage and apply it to the number of VX's remaining in the U.S. People, it would be rare to find a well taken care of VX. (Though the percentage of good caregivers is bound to be somewhat higher on $30k automobiles. It's probably those multiple-owner-vehicles who let them go to crap -- thinking depreciation will escape their special world.

Granted, the best specimens (like I'm describing) have to warrant a good price. But, when it NOT there, it gripes me that people don't admit they're cheap-*** abusers!

I sold a 97 Limited Grand Cherokee one year ago for $4k. It had 140k miles but I done every service described above. I advertised and sold it for $4k because I felt it right for (still higher) gas prices back then, the environment, the next owner, etc.... I thought it was a fair price. (Actually, I sold it at "FAIR" price -- even though it was in "Excellent" condition. I was TOO "fair".) Compared to what I'm seeing in the used SUV market now, I should have asked retail. I was a slep by being fair.

FWIW, the VX seller (who's subject of this thread) said he wanted to sell to someone who'd better appreciate the VX mystique -- and take good care of it. Considering what it looked like, they knew NOTHING of that themselves. And, they expected someone else to pay for their neglect. According to them, they could give it to the kids, but knew they wouldnt' appreciate it. Pretty darn ironic IMO.

I also traded a 91 Cherokee in on CARS last summer. Though it only had 105k miles on it, the faded paint and age made me think it couldn't be worth more than $1500. It's engine -- as with the 97 JGC was clean and well-serviced. It did have rust underneath -- but it had to stay outdoors (for the vette). Still, it's rust wasn't more than the '99 VX that SHOULD have spent most (if not all) of it's life in a garage.

Every vehicle I've owned since 1985 has been in my possesion for at least 10yrs. I'm one of those few people who understand how to take care of them. That's the problem. I expect others to be as "smart". Since vehicles represent the biggest depreciation people incur, they assume neglect is the answer to minimizing that expense. In reality, it's the opposite.

Spend the time necessary to find THE vehicle you like, take good care of it, and it can last well beyond what you think. In that regard the VX seemed perfect for me. With regard to mpg, performance, utility capabilities, etc... it's not the best choice. I think most VX owners realize that -- and buy one anyway.

[89Vette]

* A leather 10-year-old driver's seat & steering wheel will need to be recovered and should be in the budget if that's important to you.

I disagree. My 140k 10yr-old JGC and 20yr old vette have near perfect leather seats and steering wheels. Plus, I've seen plenty of VX's on this forum with better than average leather. As mentioned in my post above, it's a matter of knowing how to take car of what you have. If you don't and aren't willing to accept the monetary loss, you're robbing enjoyment from yourself and/or the next owner. Spend $20 and treat your interiors! Or, be willing to lower the value at sale so the next owner can replace/recover their seats at $1000. That's what I mean by cheap!

People willing to pay for this cheap-*** neglect (without demanding concessions) are the ones who propagate higher prices for crap. READ those description on car values VERY carefully. Otherwise, you too will be "taken to the bank".

As someone passing into his 50's, I no longer refuse to be ignorant. I'm too old for that now! LOL

[WormGod]

Mine is garage kept too and doesn't look THAT rough, but that's also because I try to keep it clean as much as possible before it gets rest in it's cage.

Those seats don't look like they have EVER seen conditioner. Nothing a little elbow work won't remedy though. There are some great products out that will bring them right back.

I'll bet after a good, solid, day long detail, it could look brand new. In all, it's got 60k which makes it a baby in the VX world. Still a good buy IMHO. You can have mine for $20k.... cash. 50k miles and S/C'd.

[89Vette]

Detailing still doesn't address the issue of road vibration, whether is might have been rolled back, the damaged paint and bumper.

I've also used/restored some distressed leather myself. I'm not convinced these would look "great" after treatment.

FWIW, here's what I think a well-kept 60k mile VehiCross SHOULD look like!
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...r_id=277471778

[circmand]

all around the country. Before taking a long trip ask for a member to check it out and see if they think it is worth checking out.

[MSHardeman]

DITTO!!

When I was hunting for my VX I found a Foxfire in Ohio that I wanted very badly, but when I had a couple of local members go check it out their reports turned me off. Nothing major, just didn't feel right from what they where saying. Continued my search and found a nice Ebony in Chicago. Had a couple of members there go check it out for me and they told me to "GET IT NOW!!" It was in great shape with low miles. So, their reports coupled with the pictures from the dealer convinced me to fly out to Chicago from Colorado, buy her and drive her back across the country. Haven't regretted it a minute since.

[RickOKC]

I disagree. My 140k 10yr-old JGC and 20yr old vette have near perfect leather seats and steering wheels. Plus, I've seen plenty of VX's on this forum with better than average leather. As mentioned in my post above, it's a matter of knowing how to take car of what you have.

DOH! Of course I should have made it clear that I was talking about "typical" people - not those of us who enjoy driving "new" vehicles no matter how old they are!

[circmand]

My driver seat after 10 years had started to crack. I checked on reupholstry (too expensive) a used seat (why are all available red/black) seat covers (Wet Okole never has a sale) finally found a guy on craigslist who repairs interiors. For $100 he repaired the cracks and recolored the entire drivers seat. The seat still has wear creases but the cracks are no longer visible.