My Introduction Thread

[ratmonster]

Hello hearse hellhounds and keepers of all things creepy! I'm a bit premature to the hearse world - which is to say, I plan to purchase a used hearse in my near-immediate future. Tax return time should land a funeral coach in my possession (though, hopefully, not a possessed funeral coach.) I have been pondering purchasing a porter of the passed-on for a few years now. My younger brother introduced me to a website that all of you probably know, the CW Coach site out of Cincinatti. I'm originally from Louisville KY, so Cincinati was a close neighbor. I have no idea how to spell Cincinatti. Anyways, I had always admired hearses, having spent in inordinate amount of my youth in funeral homes and processions. After finding out that a low mileage, RWD, V8, American, completely customized, almost one-of-a-king car could be had for the price of any old run down sedan, I started weighing the pros and cons of buying a pro-car.

After looking at every side of the conversation I could think of, I decided that I am going to replace my little beater pick-up with a retired hearse early next year! My price range is likely to top out around $2000 - $2500. I've found a few decent examples at the CW site well within that budget. Also, a member of the PCS site knows of a few cars and seems willing to help me track one down closer to home (I live about 30 minutes north from Myrtle Beach, SC.) I'm currently a member of both sites. I found PCS first so I signed up there first. Everyone has been cool with me so far. I've read some of other people's opinions about that site and I'm sure they have their reasons for having them, but for now, I'm learning a lot from some posts over there. I'm just a junior member, not a paying supporter.

Anyways, I'm pretty laid back and I am just as into the customized hearses and ambulances as I am the factory original, so I think I might jive a little better with this site. As always though, I'm pretty much down with anybody as long as they're down with me.

ratmonster!!!!!!!!!!

[sgath92]

Do you do your own mechanical work & will this be your daily driver?

If the first answer is no, you may want to consider saving up so that you can get something newer & fresh out of service. You can get a decent 80s coach for the budget you're already planing on, but you should be prepared to occasionally have to work on it since we're still talking a 30 year old car.

[ratmonster]

I do my own maintenance. I'm capable of handling basic brake work, oil changes, things like belts, alternator, starter, sensors, etc. If it involves opening the engine or anything transmission, I turn to the pros. I've got a friend who does my mechanical work (for money, but fair prices) who is trained and experienced - in other words, not a shadetree guy. He has built more engines than I've owned. I work in auto parts, so I've got some decent connections for finding parts and getting things done.

I do plan on my hearse being my daily driver. I only drive about 25-30 miles a day tops. As far as the cars I've found, I've got my eyes on a handful that are from 1984 to 1993. Most of them are in Cincinatti. There is one or two closer to home, but I haven't gone to see them yet, as I've got to wait for the money to materialize.

My current daily driver is a 1988 Mazda b2200, and my wife drives a 1993 Buick Roadmaster. I've done all the work on the Roadmaster over the last six years except the first fuel pump that went out (I did have help in most cases) and a few things on the truck. I'm not afraid to turn the wrenches myself if it's something I'm comfortable doing. Being as I've owned some older cars, I'm not scared of the challenge.

I think your advice is really sound, sgath92. Fact is, you're better off only buying new cars with warranty if you can't at least do the maintenance. And I might be taking a little bit of a dangerous step, but you don't live forever in this world. I gotta do it this time!