What does everyone think of a 1986 Chevy Celebrity 2.8 V6 with only 72000 miles?

Answer 1

I had an 84 Wgn with the 2.8 Carb. Sold it running at 265,000 mi
Starter went at 105,000mi , Wtr pump at 150,000mi
Muffler and straight pipe at 165,000mi
head gasket at 185,000mi
Rotted brake line to disc at 145,000mi
Starter switch at 175,000mi (on the steering column)
Got my money's worth but sold it in 1999
Remember that a twenty year old car is twenty years old and rubber parts rot and metal parts rust over twenty years. I would be real skeptical of the mileage and wouldn't pay over 900 USD for it.

Answer 2

It depends on the condition. '86 with only 72K miles? Not much miles of course, but I think of virtually all Eighties era common bread and butter GM cars as pure junk. I base that opinion on my very clear memories of seeing acres of these cars at the dealers when they were new...and falling apart then! The Eighties were a very unkind era for American automakers...common knowledge.

So, is it a granny special? One that has been sitting in a old persons garage for a few years and seldom used? They are the right age to begin surfacing, so a car like this is not rare at all.

One can think of a car like this as being back lot Hooptie fodder, you know places that let you pay by the week? 95% of these cars are probably gone from the roads by now and have been recycled into soft drink cans and your I-Pod. That leaves the 5% like this 72K mile example you cited.

However if you buy it, pay cheap for it, make sure it is fully operational including the air and it is not got loads of hidden rust and stupid electrical problems besides a non-working clock or something simple that can fail due to age. Still, I would not pay more than a grand even for a minty granny special because as soon as you start to really use it, no matter just how careful you are, that thing is gonna start to fall apart on you! Just watch...first the trim, the bumper extentions, the headliner and seats, electrical failures and then the mechanics.


...and I won't say "I told you so" either!

Answer 3

Its a craps shoot Celebritys were good cars but just like any other car from 1986 its a 50-50 shot if the one you are looking at is going to be dependable. They are a very safe autombile in an accedent my father rolled one 3 or 4 times and hit a tree at about 70mph and walked away with minor cuts and bruises. They also preform very well and in 86 top speed was not governed like on todays cars. In high school I would reather take out dads car than my own just because it was faster on the top end and it suprised alot of V8 cars of the day oops I am telling on myself dont look dad.

Answer 4

this is a good relabel car the TH125 trannys are very good and very cheep to rebuild they run about 900 dollars. the 2.8L V6 is not a power house but this engine will run for ever even if the body falls apart the engine will just keep ruining. and this engine is very easy to work on except for the intake manifold gasket that's a pain. I think that its worth it to get this car if its in good shape and has bean taken care of. 72000 miles is nothing. I have a 93 grand prix with the 3.1L V6 (same as 2.8L just bigger) and it has 160,200 miles on it and it still has plenty of passing power and still gets very good fuel economy.

Answer 5

The 2.8 V6 is a OK motor. Kind of a gutless wonder. Doesnt make enough power to blow itself up. The problem is the car build quality was poor, and the styling was dated. So basically they were a cheap car that fell apart quickly. Worked on a few, hated all of them.

Much better melted down for beer cans.

Answer 6

Guess there are some folks that love the Celebrity. Can't really figure why. It's not that great looking a car. But, to each their own. I love the Toyota Celica. :)

There's a couple websites out there devoted to the model. Still, under 100,000 miles for a 20 year old car? Not bad. Still wouldn't give you much for it though.

If you're interested:

http://www.chevycelebrity.com/

http://cgi.a-body.net/main/

Answer 7

I had a 86 Celebrity and it had 57,000 miles on it when I traded it. It was a piece of junk from the day I bought the stupid thing! I probably just had a lemon because there are still quite a few of these cars around.

Answer 8

My g/f has an 85 with 122,000 on it.......overall, not a bad car, but has it probs.......oil leaks, and likes to eat brakes! Not worth much on the market today as there are still quite a few out there. Try advertising in a local paper. If it's still reasonably presentable, you should be able to get around $500 for it.

Answer 9

I thought they were decent and reliable cars, although it has the same powertrain as the Chevrolet Citation the reliability was much better thank goodness, I would own it if I were you.

Answer 10

fantastic dream yet enable's be actual...it truly is in no way going to ensue. There are different strategies to stay away from sexually transmitted diseases. and also you look suggesting that surely "authentic" Christians wait till marriage - people of different religions do besides, you know.