1995 LeBaron

[ZionsWrath]

My friend's friend is selling a 1995 lebaron with 14k miles (yes, 14, not 114) for $500. My friend doesn't want it because they already have a hooptie VW with 160k and doesn't want to spend money maintaining an old car, waiting for the VW to shit the bed and buy a new or newish car.

What caught me about it was when I was in highschool I was going to buy a lebaron but my parents didnt want me to and helped me into a used accord.

So what think? Being low miles I would be worried it wasn't properly maintained and could be a ticking time bomb. But at the same time a 14k mile 20 year old car that runs for $500 seems like a steal.

[ecdhunt]

OK - I'm one of the older guys here, but my thoughts are if it's a coupe do it. Convertible - why did you even think about it? That's a classic piece of Americana. 4-door - only if it has enough sentimental value or you have a specific plan for it. But hey, it's $500. Get a part time job and you could recover that in a month.


How's the paint? The mid-90's had all kinds of paint issues, and not just Mopar.

[f0rge]

For $500 do it.

[Dave-ROR]

I hated my lebaron but for $500 I'd drive that damn thing every day and let it get destroyed by door dings at work.

[tahdizzle]

Are there two Lebarons Freddy?

[gramicci101]

I would examine all the rubber parts (belts, hoses, bushings) to see if they're dry rotted or cracked. Those will break down regardless of the miles.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by ecdhunt

OK - I'm one of the older guys here, but my thoughts are if it's a coupe do it. Convertible - why did you even think about it? That's a classic piece of Americana. 4-door - only if it has enough sentimental value or you have a specific plan for it. But hey, it's $500. Get a part time job and you could recover that in a month.


How's the paint? The mid-90's had all kinds of paint issues, and not just Mopar.

95 would have been a convertible only.. at that time, they didn't offer the 4 door version(95 was the last year for the lebaron name, i believe 94-95 was convertible only, 95 definitely was), and the coupe was only offered until '93-ish. most coupes have the flip-up headlight covers, it's rare to find one with the 93 facelift front end...

i had a '94.. sent it away to carmax because it liked to eat the front engine mount for no apparent reason, which lead to the motor sagging, which put stress on the output seals, and lead to it leaking trans fluid at a constant rate-- i believe this was an issue with just my car, not a general lebaron issue..


but for $500, i'd take that car back, leaks and all... it always started, was kinda fun, completely different then most cars on the road, MASSIVE trunk for a convertible, and it's old enough that you could leave it unlocked in any parking lot and no one would touch it.. problably because it makes them think of their grandma..


as far as wear items-- i remember that it was a mitsu-based motor, but i don't remember if that was a timing belt or timing chain-- if belt, it needs to be changed every 60k, but with the age, i'd do it anyways.
also check the top and window seals, as well as the overall convertible top condition-- after about 10 years, they like to start falling apart and leaking really bad..

a new top cost me $1200, so if the top is really bad from the age, that would put you up at the cost of a typical used lebaron with many more miles..

[userjack6880]

Had a buddy with a purple (from the factory) '95 LaBaron. Pretty neat little car. He bought it off an old lady who drove it once a week to go to church, then the grocery store, then back home. It was practically new when he bought it in the early '00s.

[effty_ac]

Originally Posted by tahdizzle

Are there two Lebarons Freddy?

I see what you did there.

[DarthNads]

Originally Posted by tahdizzle

Are there two Lebarons Freddy?

Where's your LeBaron, Freddy? I only see one. Are there...are there two LeBarons? I don't see two LeBarons.

[tahdizzle]

Haha

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by soundman98

95 would have been a convertible only.. at that time, they didn't offer the 4 door version(95 was the last year for the lebaron name, i believe 94-95 was convertible only, 95 definitely was), and the coupe was only offered until '93-ish. most coupes have the flip-up headlight covers, it's rare to find one with the 93 facelift front end...

i had a '94.. sent it away to carmax because it liked to eat the front engine mount for no apparent reason, which lead to the motor sagging, which put stress on the output seals, and lead to it leaking trans fluid at a constant rate-- i believe this was an issue with just my car, not a general lebaron issue..


but for $500, i'd take that car back, leaks and all... it always started, was kinda fun, completely different then most cars on the road, MASSIVE trunk for a convertible, and it's old enough that you could leave it unlocked in any parking lot and no one would touch it.. problably because it makes them think of their grandma..


as far as wear items-- i remember that it was a mitsu-based motor, but i don't remember if that was a timing belt or timing chain-- if belt, it needs to be changed every 60k, but with the age, i'd do it anyways.
also check the top and window seals, as well as the overall convertible top condition-- after about 10 years, they like to start falling apart and leaking really bad..

a new top cost me $1200, so if the top is really bad from the age, that would put you up at the cost of a typical used lebaron with many more miles..

+1 on the timing belt. Interference motor will wreck if the belt goes. Happened on a Spirit we had when I was a kid. Family went back to Hondas after that...