[ladioffaith]

So after 3 relatively trouble-free years, Ye Olde Intrepid (a 97 with a 3.5) is beginning to nickel and dime me to death. Since October I've done water pump, timing belt, brakes, more brakes, tie rods, subframe bushings, rack bushings, struts, a radiator, more rack bushings, and an output speed sensor. So far, so good on the sensors, but it was an intermittent problem. Meaning, it definitely needed the sensor, but was that ALL it needed? Not sure.

In addition, the Check Engine light has cheerfully glowed for three years. Last time I took it for emissions testing, the guy did a "tailpipe test" that it passed. I'm not sure he'll go for that this time, even if Helpful Mechanic does clear the code history.

Tranny guy did say he noticed signs of "significant wear" on the transmission that was just rebuilt 70,000 miles ago.

I told him I was realistic and we were talking about a 15 year old car with 179,000 miles on it. He said, "Do you like Intrepids" and showed me a 95 model that somebody left on his lot after not paying for a tranny rebuild.

I knew I was hanging around you guys too much when my first thought was, "Oh, a First Gen."

It may be 2 years older than my car, but it has 60,000 fewer miles on it. Meaning it's kind of like my car if you turned the clock back 3 years. It clearly hasn't been garage kept like mine was before I got her, but it did seem to have less rocker panel rust than mine.

He did say he wants to do more minor repairs on it before letting it go, but did say he'll definitely sell by winter, for a song, just to recoup some of the parts he bought for it. Also, if I were to buy it, I should hang on to my 97 and use it for parts. Other than the tires, I'm not sure what is interchangable between those 2 models.

My questions are these:
Are a 95 and a 97 compatable for parts?
Am I asking for trouble for relying on a 95 for a Daily Driver?

I really need a car that will see me through a year or two while I save up for something better. But I am nervous. Help!

[95intrepid99kid]

My '95 ES 3.5 Is a PERFECT Daily Driver. Makes a nice noise, very reliable, love it!! A car w/ less miles is always good, a '97 is pretty much the same car, but for the wiring. You can use most parts (Radio, Climate Control Head, Instrument cluster, etc.) , but not the Engine in example. I forget what the interchange list was on these cars. but almost twins.


*EDIT* Someone correct any mistakes please.

[Adpros]

93 - 95 were OBD-1 and 96 + 97 were OBD-2, IIRC.

[95intrepid99kid]

^ What I meant.

[ladioffaith]

I don't know what you meant. I don't speak technical.

All I know is that they both have a 3.5 in them.

I don't know about parts being interchangable because most of the parts I've put in would be replaced anyway. Like a timing belt and water pump (most of the work is labor) the transmission sensors (only $40 each anyway) and starter and alternator. The suspension parts probably aren't interchangable either, like the struts, but they were used struts anyway. And the subframe bushings. I can get those cheap at Rock Auto.

I really won't have money until spring unless I juggle everything or make some sort of payment arrangement.

I'd have to find an independent mechanic to look it over since I'm not sure he'd let me drive it 20 miles one way just for a once over, even if I put gas in it.

I once had a 92 Cutlass and the mechanics complained that it had "rust places there shouldn't be rust." The fact that my 97 was garage kept until I got it has saved me a lot.

I'd just hate to buy it just to find I have a $600 repair on my hands.

[Adpros]

Nope! All interchangeable.

[95intrepid99kid]

Looks like someone is going to a local 1G graveyard to disturb the dead!!

[ladioffaith]

It would cost me so much labor to replace those parts again.

I'm mostly worried about the frame. That's what killed my Cutlass. It has barely over 100K when I got it and it was a 92, 4 years ago.