learned a lesson; not quite sure what it is to be honest, but i suppose i wouldnt repeat if i could.
so the bimmer (528i, not 540i) burnt as i believe everyone knows; i think i posted it a little while back. i plan on fixing up the 540 (timing chain guides), so i needed a temporary method of transport.
i was looking at <$1000 cars and it was between a $600 late 90's chevy s10 5 speed, and my coworker recommended an $800 87 saab 900 5 speed, lowered with an aftermarket wastegate.
obviously interested i call the guy up, and he ends up putting a new hub on, clutch, brakes, and a few other small things. he raises the price to $1800; thinking about all the work he has done and how long the thing will last, i commit to buy.
so fast forward, and i buy the thing. so not alot of stuff works; half the gauges dont light up, headlights aimed at the ground with no adjustment, drivers window doesnt work, interior lights dont work, syncro's are weak (but not miserably weak), and its lowered to the point where its mudflaps bottom out over everything. nothing more than mudflaps though.
so at first i see how fun it is to drive; simply a blast. its a gokart with some tight suspension, pretty nimble, loud, and just enjoyable. then i look back at how ugly the damn thing is.
so now about 3 or 4 days into ownership, torn if i like the thing or not, leaning slightly towards no, i park the car at my house so i can grab gym clothes and head right back out. i shut the car off, and proceed to do what i need, i head back out and start it up, buckle up, look down and see the oil pressure light....i shut it off.
turn it back on, same story; rinse and repeat a few times. now i grow a pair (after i check the oil; brand new, slightly over filled), and i rev it up a few hundred rpm's to make sure its not rpm related, it wasnt so i shut it off and kicked myself for revving it with low oil pressure..
now i text the p.o. who says hes never dealt with that problem; he suggests checking all the wires. this is where i discovered that its a hacked up car...alot of wires are either barely hanging on, wire tied, and even alligator clipped onto their posts.
in the process i kick the door open by the way making it not want to shut once all the way open, and if you force it it makes that horrible forcing-a-door-shut noise old cars tend to get, REALLY bad.
so i negotiate with the previous owner and he agrees to buy it back simply cause he not only likes the car more, but is more versed in working on it.
remove the door, grind the hinge in a way the roller thing can roll again, and get it towed; toss him $100 back (i did negotiate down to $1650 at time of buying it), so it costed me $100 for 4 days of driving the car....not really bad per se, but i do feel bad he bought it back as he did seem upset.
wouldnt buy a car that old again unless its collectable such as an old muscle car or something cool at least. wont pay that much unless its mint. and i never want to screw over a buyer like i had to....well not screw over, but he definitely wasnt thrilled (which i cant blame him for)