25732 messages,
Last post on Jun 17, 2013 at 11:51 AM
You are in the
Classic Cars Forum.
What is this discussion about?
Classic Cars
#24814 of 25732 Re: It's been cold... [michaell]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Nov 09, 2012 (9:05 am)
Battery life varies. I got 7 years out of mine---but if you have a battery over 6-7 years old, you're pushing your luck, and it will die quite suddenly. Batteries wear out just like everything else.
Climate matters, too. Very hot climates eat batteries. Also the car matters--some automakers put the battery close to the turbo---well, that's not too cool.
#24815 of 25732 Re: It's been cold... [Mr_Shiftright]
by hpmctorque
Nov 09, 2012 (10:09 am)
"...not too cool." Intentional pun?
#24816 of 25732 Re: It's been cold... [hpmctorque]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Nov 09, 2012 (11:04 am)
*very* intentional!
As an old Saab 900 turbo owner, I know from cooked batteries!
I was actually in the process of engineering a battery box in the trunk (kinda tight with the convertible top in the down position) when multiple other issues emerged and distracted me.
I really liked that Saab but it was merciless in throwing problems at me. Maybe I just got a bad one---well, 3 of them actually. Maybe they were "too used-used cars"?
#24817 of 25732 Re: It's been cold... [michaell]
by explorerx4
Nov 09, 2012 (6:53 pm)
My Explorer lives outside too, that's why it's referred to as my 'Government Mule'.
Lowest temp I have seen on the display is -10 and the highest 105.
It also has to turn over a 4.6 liter V8 and support a lot of other memory features that were not available on a Saturn.
I'm ok with 74 months of battery life, but would be happier with 77.
I have to point out that the battery had not failed, it just seemed weak and I did not want to get caught out with it not being able to start.
#24819 of 25732 Re: It's been cold... [Mr_Shiftright]
by srs_49
Nov 14, 2012 (4:48 am)
Battery life varies
Yep, that says it all.
Had to replace the battery in my wife's 2007 Grand Caravan after 4 years, but the one on my 2005 Dakota truck still seems to be going strong after almost 8 years.
In my '92 Sentra SE-R (which I got rid of a couple of months ago), I only put one battery in it over the course of 20 years!
All these vehicles were kept in Maryland, so hot summers and cold winters (at times). Not like So Cal
.
#24820 of 25732 Re: Citroen SM [xwesx]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Nov 14, 2012 (9:52 am)
He's asking Pebble Beach money for the SM but it's really only perhaps a #3 car from the photos. I thinking $9000 to $12000 is all the money here---and being in Alaska sure doesn't help the sale. If it ran beautifully and if I'm correct as to condition, and if I were a Citroen lover that had to have one, I'd offer about $8500 for it.
#24821 of 25732 Re: Citroen SM [Mr_Shiftright]
by xwesx
Nov 14, 2012 (10:38 am)
That's about what I was thinking. The first thing that doesn't inspire confidence is the location of the photos. I'm not seeing anything there that makes me thing this car is garage-kept. As far as wear and tear, that makes a big difference in the frozen north. From the location the seller indicated on his post, I'd say that car cannot be more than a mile from my house as the crow (raven) flies, and I don't know many cabins with garages!
That said, it does have historical plates on it, which means he can't drive it much, so maybe that's irrelevant in terms of winter use.
Second, I wouldn't be surprised if that is the only running SM in the entire state, but that doesn't mean there is more than one person interested in owning one, either. I doubt he's going to have much of an audience for that car locally. He might get 8 (or 9, if folks are feeling spunky) if he sells it to an outside buyer through eBay. $16,500 means he really wants to keep it, but his wife is pressuring him.
#24822 of 25732 Re: Citroen SM [xwesx]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Nov 14, 2012 (10:39 am)
shipping from Alaska to the lower 48 is pricey as well. And really who buys an SM on the blind?