New here and need a car

WELCOME!! Since You asked here's My take on Your situation: At 'Mid 20K' say $25,000. Your only going to afford a 'Rust Bucket' anyway; so sitting it out in the rain won't matter anyhow!! And Don't You know that IT Never Rains in sunny California!!! NOW, Seriously... Yes! Get That Pantera!! The only thing more exciting in your Life will be the Birth of your first child! I suggest You keep a Keen Eye on Ebay MOTORS! You missed a 'Decent' Pantera 3-4 weeks ago that went for $24.000.!! And Don't You ever lay your money down without first seeing and driving Your Dream! AND Take Someone with You that really Knows Panteras! Like ME! Now get to searching! And good-Luck with it!!...

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I have around mid $20K budget to spend on the car. Is that a realistic budget for such a car?

More optimistic than reasonable. But not impossible. Late last year I saw a local car, sold on eBay, go for $29K. It had good interior, good repaint, and seemed (I did not drive it) mechanically sound.

If you want a total project car - complete but in need of full interior cleaning and new carpet; full repaint with some bodywork, and full mechanical cleaning/refurbishing...LOT of work, but I bet you could entice it from the widow owner south of Fresno for $12-15K.

As for a good driver for mid $20K, yes, but you would really have be there at the right time. Not a lot of those seem to pop up.

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Should I just wait until the remodel is done and have a nice dry place to park the Pantera before I even think about buying one?

No fun working on a car parked outside, but a Pantera, contrary to some urban myths, does not melt when exposed to water like the Wicked Witch of the West. I surely would not park it on dirt or gravel, though.

But you are going to have zero time to work on the car during remodeling. Unless you happen to come across THE bargain car you are seeking, it doesn't seem reasonable to buy something that is going to sit for another year or...?? until you get the time to start in on it. On the other hand, with the economy the way it is, this is a buyer's market right now, and it may not be when you are finished with the remodel.

Larry

...Forgot to add: Out in the rain... Take the wheels off, Put the car up on blocks, remove the battery, cover it up and bundle it like a christmas present, with a lot of 'Bungy' Cords! It should be alright! Anyone else want to add anything?...

As Marlin Jack said, a $25,000 Pantera will only buy you a rust bucket with a lot of other problems. A decent P-car will hit $45,000, and at that price you will still need to put time and money into it. A solid car is going to cost $55,000 plus and still require time and money. And you want to park it outside? Finish your house first; that's more important.

Chuck

As Marlin and Larry have said, mid 20K is possible but you will really need to do your homework and be lucky - at the right place and the right time.

Hey, I am aware of DeTomaso purchases for driveable cars that had solid bodies and in good to very good condition for that price range. However, the way they got the cars was not using the traditional "shopping" methods. In all cases, they were driveable but needed some additional mechanical improvement.

For a good solid drivable car, my opinion would be you need to be at least in the 30s. The higher you go in the price range, the greater the choice. It will also allow for a purchase of a car that is "right" for you.

FWIW, My advice would be:

1) Buy a car you can drive right away with mininal work. Enjoy the ownership at the start. Then, when you have the time and means, make improvements to the car "bit by bit" that were identified during ownership. "Add the salt and spice to the meal while you are eating it !".

2) Keep the wife happy! - Do the remodelling. With a driveable car, you will be enjoying that as well and not compromising the house work.

3) Personally, I have always kept my DeTomaso parked in the garage. (Even when it was drivable ). My other vehicles are outside on the driveway.

4) Yes, its a buyer's market for... well, just about everything. I would not let that make me rush and get a car. I would still be measured and search for a car that is "right" for me.

HTH

B.G.

Thank you all for your input. I sure don't want a rust bucket and work on the house and fix the car at the same time. I'll definitely be increasing my budget as soon as I sell my other weekend car (anyone wants a rare 5spd 928 S4?). I hope by the time the right car comes along, my remodel would already be finished and I don't need to worry about parking the Pantera outside. I guess I am looking but not seriously need to buy right away. Please let me know if you see one available around northern California, specially those widow owners in Fresno . Thanks again.