Suggestions on buying?

General topics relative to the Caprice and associated vehicles. For items not fitting into other sub-sections in addition to general chat.
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colias18
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:21 pm

Suggestions on buying?

Post by colias18 »

Been eyeballing a couple of 9c1s, one of them that seems the safest 2012 has about 93k on it and 7250 running hours 4300 idle (over half)
From what i've been told the engine doesn't have a ticking noise nor any lights on I haven't made it up there to look at it yet but probably will tuesday or so.
Just wondering if anyone has suggestions on what to look out for on used caprices? mostly worried about AFM DOD. Would plan on delete eventually but not anytime soon.
Prospective owner :)
cerbomark
Posts: 316
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2018 5:37 pm
Location: upstate NY

Re: Suggestions on buying?

Post by cerbomark »

Hi, When I bought mine I went a different route. I spent a lot more money but got one with 250 idle hours (32K). Then I bought the Ranger plug in that deletes the DOD. My thought s are once you stop the system I don t think it can die on you. Good luck.
2016 C1
Sanford
Posts: 356
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2016 9:38 pm
Location: Texas Gulf Coast

Re: Suggestions on buying?

Post by Sanford »

I would look for one with the least amount of hours that you can afford. I have picked up two cars that were not used as patrol cars and they are more solid feeling than the ones that have seen everyday patrol usage. They both have around 100,000 miles on them. One has ~3500 and the other has ~4500 total hours.
Get the serial number and take it to the dealer and let them pull up the service history to see if it had any major warranty work performed. I picked up 2011 with 118,000 miles on it and I found out that the engine had a cam/lifter failure at around 83,000 miles, that was repaired under warranty.
I have been watching Caprice auctions for about 4 years now and some of the most reasonable hour cars have been Washington State cars. The problem for me is the cost to get them shipped to Texas.
Good luck in your search for a Caprice.

David
colias18
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:21 pm

Re: Suggestions on buying?

Post by colias18 »

Thank you both for the suggestions, I've been looking and reading on the cars for a while now and the AFM disabler was what I was thinking.
At least less of a chance of failure as long as the valve train seems to be running fine, or until I can do a DOD delete for a piece of mind.
Prospective owner :)
Nate68c10
Posts: 70
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 1:23 pm

Re: Suggestions on buying?

Post by Nate68c10 »

I bought my 2014 sight unseen off the IL state police auction it had 119,000 miles with 2500 hours of idle and 4400 driving. I paid $6000 my buddy bought a 2013 from them with 150,000 and way more hours for $4400 and my neighbor across the street just bought a 2013 them last week with 106,000 for $3600 and it was advertised with possible lifter damage. It had a bad motor mount not a failed lifter. I bought mine last year and I felt like I had to do the dod delete as soon as possible but after driving it for a few months it doesn't worry me anymore. I think I'm finally going to get around to it this weekend though. Just buy one you like, 2014's have much nicer interior but they also have electric power steering that is bound to fail and cost a bunch to fix but I wouldn't be able to deal with the earlier interior after having my 2014. Whatever you choose won't disappoint you, they are literally the best car ever made.
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IMG_20200317_130423.jpg (8.51 MiB) Viewed 5271 times
2014 Caprice
Tsp LS3 stage 1 cam
3400 circle D converter
3.27 Camaro diff
Jba long tubes solo 2.5 exhaust
Nitrous express proton system with standalone fuel system
Hoosier dr2 drag radials.

11.86 at 117mph
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