Those 3.4 DOHCs can be problematic. I'm worried why that Cutlass is only pictured on that angle too. Looks like it'* been sitting for a while. But it'* only $400. Go check it out!

those early 3.4 motors blew head gaskets a lot. My father wouldn't even let me consider one when I was looking for my first (and second) cars because of it and the cost to fix it (at dealer and sears)

In my opinion, with the price range you are looking in, you're buying a temporary solution or a really bad investment.

If it is a temporary solution, then buy the one running the best and hope it stays that way til you get money for another. Otherwise you are going to end up putting the cost of a better car into it in no time.

the $1000-2000 range has a lot of good cars if you watch diligently or know people.

Examples. I got a 98 GP GT last year with some minor issues (ran great) with 68K on it for $400 from a guy at work. He thought the minor issues were major and just didn't want to deal with them.

I got my integra for $2000 with 109k and all it needed was gas lines. Those were $200 plus labor (waiting to hear from mechanic) but shouldn't be more than a couple hundred and now I got a great car. It

And I missed a 97 suburban with 270k on it, some minor cosmetic things, and on it'* third tranny for $1200 2 days ago.


So there are better deals out there. You just need to figure out what you want out of it and then go from there

Forget the 3.4. Worse than your beemer.

This will just be a temp. solution, since I am suddenly getting calls for interviews and need a car. Plus from what I heard on 60degreeV6, the 3.4 is O-K if you buy the better head gaskets, and will last for quite a while on them. Also I can fix it up when I'm done with it and get at least 1500 out of it.

K I made a big descision. i decided on the Quad442, since the 3.4 is very problematic and stuffed in there. I was thinking since BOTH have their fair share of problems, the Quad4 is by far easier to work on.

I used to live in NH and I used to buy $400-$500 cars all the time that at most, only lasted me a year or so before something major went wrong with them, and I was forced to junk them.

IMO - Save some money and buy a better car. Your looking at almost a grand to do a timing belt at a dealership which will put the cost of the car at about $1400

If you can come up with at least that, I say save some more money and buy a newerish better car.

Yeah like I said in my new post, I would rather have the Quad442. Plus I am in need for a car asap possibly.

I hear ya. Its unfortunate that your in a position to hurry with the purchase. Ive had to do that many times which is why I went through so many cars.

The only two cars that I bought that lasted me a while was my 90 Eclipse and the Bonne so far. I shopped arround for a while before making the purchases and tried not to jump into anything.


My worst purchase was an 84 Mercury Capri with the Ford 5.0 that I just HAD to have. Come to find out, there was tons of electrical problems with it and the more I poked around the more I knew that it had been in an accident but never tottaled, just fixed half assed

I lost allot of money on that car since I gave it back to the dealer that ripped me off, and traded it for the same year Caprice which was faster than the 5.0 believe it or not.

remember, you get what you pay for...

Well I sat here and did some research for an hour and the decision is..........















The Quad442. It'* too good of a deal and hard to pass by, it may need little work but from what I hear, it is well worth it. I am aware of the common problems, and they will be fixed. Plus the Quad4 is a unbelivably powerful engine for its time and I happen to know a Quad4 pro.