Expert: William Forster - 10/1/2006

Question
I am interested in buying a 1994 Park Avenue that has the super-charger on it.  The interior and exterior are in great shape.  The people that own it have kept it garaged the 5 years they've had it and obviously the other 2 owners had also. Well, they have had the car out in the yard with a for sale sign on it for about a month now.  But they noticed the roof started peeling and now not just the roof but the hood and the trunk as well. It looked just like the leaves that fall in the fall. There was paint falling off from everywhere.  My question is, what would cause this and what can be done about it?  Any information would help. I haven't decided to buy the car yet, they are offering 1750.00 for it,they replaced the motor and it has 94,000 on it.  It runs out really good, all the electrical parts work and it drives really well. Thanks for letting me bend your ear and answering my question.

Answer
The car is suffering from a condition called delamination. It was a very common factory defect from about 1988-1994. It requires the striping of the entire car from the side moldings up, a costly proposition. Even if you get a deal, you are looking at at least 1200.00 for a passable, used car paint job. I don't know how great a car this is, the supercharged 3800's were tempermental, and require premium gasoline. The 3800 is a fantastic engine, and if they had to have it replaced, I would point at total owner neglect, or more likely, the supercharger. I would value this car, in this condition, at about 700.00. You would have to fight to get that for trade in. My advice? Pass her by. Sometimes a good deal isn't so good. Ask to take her for a ride, and drop by any body shop for an estimate to repaint it. I promise you, your will be shocked by the cost of a modern paint job. Take the owner with you, and maybe after the visit to the body shop, you can pick this car up for a song. Hope this helps, and let me know what you find out. Bill