What should I look for on this car, it'* an '87 with a 3.8, manual everything, with some rough spots on the paint. This is my first car, and it'* about 7 houses away, so I'm pretty much jumping through hoops for it.
I want to know what rots out on these things, and what blows up, so please, lend your experience to a harmless 17 year old.

Thanks, KP.

check the corners of the passenger compartment. Right behind the front wheels and infront of the rear. Those are big areas that go. Look underneath for them.

Ahh thanks. What are the body panels made of?

Rear wheel wells. Look up there, and make sure you have all the rust, if any spotted out. The areas where the wheel well meets the trunk floor are also prone to rot.

Front wheel wells. The battery compartment areas, both sides. Also check the area where the front rocker panel/front fender bottom, and corner of the cabin meet. Its right under alongside the rocker panels. Those areas are extremely difficult to get right if they rot.

If its all solid. You are good to go basically. Make sure its checked out and you are ok by it. I bought my lesabre for 500 dollars, and thought I got a steal. Now its just rotting out. I'm trying to keep up with it!!

Well, the only reason it'* 400$ is because my buddies dad wants to get rid of it at this moment, but no one will buy it.. It was licenced 3 months ago, and already has the safety.. So even if it is rotting away before my eyes, I don't have to worry about big brother telling me it'* unsafe..

If its 400, and has its saftey inspection (recent or somewhat), you're good to go. Even if something goes wrong, you still don't lose much.

Look under the front...very carefully, mostly right behind the front wheels, look at the engine subframe mounts, look at the rear wheel wells, and do this all VERY carefully, don't just pass off minor things...they get worse...fast, unless you have the money to fix them right away, and I doubt you do.

Also, FYI, 87s have the LG3 engine, they are probably one of the SLOWEST W bodies on the face of the earth. It is a good price, is a bonne, but its old and its slow. But if you like it, hey no problem here. I mean I thought the LN3 is pretty quick, but if i drive something like an SSEi or something then it is no comparison, so I tell you, if you really want to feel good about your car...don't drive anything faster than it

Good luck with it

I was talking to my buddies dad about it, this car is loaded, it'* got pretty much everything a 1987 bonneville could have in 1987. He says that'* he'* never driven a car with such a smooth ride, like this thing.

Just remember this is not a new car your buying here, nor one coming off a 3 year lease. Like any other car it might need the plugs and filters replaced and possiby a brake job (don't forget to look at the front rubber brake lines going to the calipers). Also the battery might be on it'* last volt. And you have no idea if/when the fluids were ever changed on this car including crankcase oil, transission oil and coolant. But, hey, the car runs, it passes the local safety inspection so buy it and come back here for advice how to keep it running. Good Luck.