a tree fell on that 850.

(yes, you can see the car under there)

when we dug it out 3 months later, this is what we found...



so I got my 740 wagon (pictured above) and gave this to my 22 year old college student son because the trashed-but-runs-OK 940T I'd given him guzzled too much gas.

 

That's some bad luck, I bed your kid didn't mind though

 

in spite of that 850T being fast, I never much did like the way it drove... it had a habit of scraping its front wheels on U turns, parking maneuvers, the ride was stiff and harsh. well, turned out after my son had it for a year or two, he took it to a mechanic who diagnosed that it had broken spring seats. so new spring seats, new shocks, and some other minor suspension bits and apparently it drives like a whole new car. but meanwhile, the interior is full of rattles and squeaks which drove me nuts. all in all, I prefer the RWD 740/940 to the FWD 850

 

UPDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE... and its a juicy one my friends. Took the car to my cousins shop an hour and a half down the road to get it inspected, long story short it didn't pass. not even close. The bottom of the car is absolutely rotten there are holes in the floor everywhere, the suspension is flaking away and there are structural beams rotted and rusted to dust. At first i was speechless, i could either scrap it or see if the guy who sold it to me would have some mercy and at least partially reimburse me. Then he told me something that changed my take on the whole situation. He offered to let me work on the car in his shop on weekends, he will show me what I need to do to the car and teach me how to weld. Not only will I come out of this with a vehicle i know inside and out but I can log the hours I work towards an apprenticeship if I ever wanted to become a mechanic. (here in nova scotia, after so many hours you can write an exam and repeat 4 times I believe rather than going to trade school), I'll end up spending a couple grand but I think it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and part of me is glad it didn't pass inspection today. Starting the work some time in September, might start a thread and take a couple pictures every day and keep it updated, thoughts?