The quest for Bmillsskier's Pathfinder

[Conundrum]

https://boise.craigslist.org/cto/d/n...584574113.html

For $1,800 is a screwdriver for a key a big deal?

[heckacali]

https://ventura.craigslist.org/cto/d...585058618.html

[Core Shot]

https://ventura.craigslist.org/cto/d...585058618.html

Holy shit. I’d buy that car

[Garbowski]

Holy shit. I’d buy that car

Seriously... can't see how you are going to beat that. From the tone of the ad and the detail job I'm surprised this one does not have undercarriage photos. Recent major tuneups always make me suspicious.

[BmillsSkier]

I’d hold off on anything that isn’t properly priced or a unicorn. I think we’re going to start seeing a significant decline in the value of over inflated nostalgia vehicles that aren’t Porches, M3s, or rare muscle cars.

This is my thought as well. Hold out for the one. I kind of had an epiphany today that my allroad is basically my modern day Assfinder. And I’m ok with that until I can find a unicorn.

Is the unicorn only a pristine black one? The pristine, insanely priced one in champagne pearl is still available on the showroom floor.

The black pristine one is the unicorn. The champagne pearl one is fantastic but if I’m paying good money for the right car I’ve kept my search limited to 94-95.

https://ventura.craigslist.org/cto/d...585058618.html

That’s an incredible find that will make someone very happy.

[Ted Striker]

https://ventura.craigslist.org/cto/d...585058618.html

This is definitely worth investigating. Underside pics would be nice to see.

edit: nevermind

[BmillsSkier]

This is definitely worth investigating. Underside pics would be nice to see.

edit: nevermind

Went to bed thinking about this one. What's the nevermind, did you see undercarriage pics somewhere?

[heckacali]

This is definitely worth investigating. Underside pics would be nice to see.

edit: nevermind

I think the "nevermind" is he saw you were focusing the search on a newer one in black, perhaps?

[BmillsSkier]

I think the "nevermind" is he saw you were focusing the search on a newer one in black, perhaps?

Gotcha, that makes sense.

Yeah, that's where the aim is.

[Mazderati]

Don't compromise. Buy the nicest original example you can (eventually) find. It's going to cost more but it will be fewer headaches and a better experience. Your future self will thank you for it.

[Ted Striker]

Yeah, I hadn't scrolled to your last post.

If you're going to wait for the unicorn, focus on the frame & body. Something that's spent its life in the west-to-southwest. The goal is zero structural rust, original paint, zero frame & bodywork, and as little superficial rust as possible. Bolded because that cannot be overstated. Don't be swayed by the year+black combo unless it meets that criteria.

Before anyone says that isn't possible, I present old red. 33 years old, straight frame, no rust, original paint (except the FR fender that's been replaced). I'm the second owner, the first worked at the dealership.



It's not a garage queen. I don't baby it. It's hauled dirt, rocks, sod, bikes, motorcycles, you name it. During my ownership, it's never been mechanically perfect, but that doesn't matter. It's solid. I looked at and walked away from a lot of trucks.

So going back to the Pathfinder, I know there's a budget, but you're going to pay no matter what. (5k buy + 5k work vs 10k buy no work - or however the market math is) But what you're buying is the body & frame. All of the mechanical is on some level consumable. And none of the mechanical is beyond someone with average abilities. Bodywork is an art. And it almost never adds value beyond its cost. When I look at a car that's been painted I'm immediately suspicious and scrutinize it to a much finer point.

If you absolutely must have black, have it wrapped. It's money down the drain, but so is Earl Scheib.

edit: I write a bloody novel. Maz says the same thing succinctly.

[Timberridge]

Don't compromise. Buy the nicest original example you can (eventually) find. It's going to cost more but it will be fewer headaches and a better experience. Your future self will thank you for it.

Or just let the desire pass. We tend to forget how shitty older cars were. The Assfinder is no exception.

[Mazderati]

[Mazderati]

Before anyone says that isn't possible, I present old red. 33 years old, straight frame, no rust, original paint (except the FR fender that's been replaced). I'm the second owner, the first worked at the dealership.

Nice! First manual car/truck I drove was a '94 or '95 reg cab in that color.

[heckacali]

Or just let the desire pass. We tend to forget how shitty older cars were. The Assfinder is no exception.

Haha, I have had a longing for my entire adult life to relive my teenage years and my first car, a 1969 Camaro, which have obviously hit insane prices.

Whenever I find myself lusting after a first gen Camaro, I go out and drive my 1984 Land cruiser that I've spent tons of time and money fixing up, (and it's actually in great shape).
I go and drive it and feel what a clunky, ill handling POS driver it actually is compared to a modern car and tell myself that the Camaro is actually 15 years older than that, and it cures me of That nostalgic longing for an old car. But obviously the cool factor can't be matched.

PS: have a buyer flying in from Florida this weekend to buy the 84 cruiser.

[fatnslow]

Haha, I have had a longing for my entire adult life to relive my teenage years and my first car, a 1969 Camaro, which have obviously hit insane prices.

Whenever I find myself lusting after a first gen Camaro, I go out and drive my 1984 Land cruiser that I've spent tons of time and money fixing up, (and it's actually in great shape).
I go and drive it and feel what a clunky, ill handling POS driver it actually is compared to a modern car and tell myself that the Camaro is actually 15 years older than that, and it cures me of That nostalgic longing for an old car. But obviously the cool factor can't be matched.

PS: have a buyer flying in from Florida this weekend to buy the 84 cruiser.

Park the LC money and wait 2-3 years for the retro mod market to crash and by yourself that Camaro.

[Ted Striker]

that color.

Was the paint failing yet? Every red Japan built Toyota from the 80s+90s had varying degrees of bad paint. (Just like every 3VZE has varying degrees of head gasket failure! <- insert kidding on the square emoji here)

It is a nice color though.

[Mazderati]

New truck so the paint was still really nice. I did have an early '90s Celica in red that was an example of the era's paint issues. It was single stage. Polishing it to knock the chalk off would leave me with shiny faded paint.

[gravitylover]

Yup, whatever you do don't buy rust.

[Ted Striker]

single stage. Polishing it to knock the chalk off would leave me with shiny faded paint.

Yep. Had an All-Trac Wagon that went from Red to hazy, back to shinier lighter red, and eventually pink.

[BmillsSkier]

Don't compromise. Buy the nicest original example you can (eventually) find. It's going to cost more but it will be fewer headaches and a better experience. Your future self will thank you for it.

Yeah, I hadn't scrolled to your last post.

If you're going to wait for the unicorn, focus on the frame & body. Something that's spent its life in the west-to-southwest. The goal is zero structural rust, original paint, zero frame & bodywork, and as little superficial rust as possible. Bolded because that cannot be overstated. Don't be swayed by the year+black combo unless it meets that criteria.

Before anyone says that isn't possible, I present old red. 33 years old, straight frame, no rust, original paint (except the FR fender that's been replaced). I'm the second owner, the first worked at the dealership.



It's not a garage queen. I don't baby it. It's hauled dirt, rocks, sod, bikes, motorcycles, you name it. During my ownership, it's never been mechanically perfect, but that doesn't matter. It's solid. I looked at and walked away from a lot of trucks.

So going back to the Pathfinder, I know there's a budget, but you're going to pay no matter what. (5k buy + 5k work vs 10k buy no work - or however the market math is) But what you're buying is the body & frame. All of the mechanical is on some level consumable. And none of the mechanical is beyond someone with average abilities. Bodywork is an art. And it almost never adds value beyond its cost. When I look at a car that's been painted I'm immediately suspicious and scrutinize it to a much finer point.

If you absolutely must have black, have it wrapped. It's money down the drain, but so is Earl Scheib.

edit: I write a bloody novel. Maz says the same thing succinctly.

I absolutely agree with both of your points, and if/when I do find the right example, it's gonna be just like that sweet pickup of yours Ted. Used and loved, dents dings and all, but pretty sharp for the years and miles.

Or just let the desire pass. We tend to forget how shitty older cars were. The Assfinder is no exception.

You say this like I've got another fun timekiller just waiting at the ready.

[Timberridge]

I absolutely agree with both of your points, and if/when I do find the right example, it's gonna be just like that sweet pickup of yours Ted. Used and loved, dents dings and all, but pretty sharp for the years and miles.



You say this like I've got another fun timekiller just waiting at the ready.

There's nothing on BaT?

[BmillsSkier]

There's nothing on BaT?

Just tech bros and boomers with an insatiable urge to drive up the market.

[gravitylover]

If it's like the first gen 4Runners the really good examples are gonna be $20k so as long as you're good with that just hold out until the right one shows up.

[JimmyCarter]

Just tech bros and boomers with an insatiable urge to drive up the market.

Speaking of…

https://www.thedrive.com/news/doug-d...ion-investment