I decided to get a disposable deer-hunting vehicle.
1988 Chrysler mini-van, 186,000 miles on it, excellent body--no rust, no dents--nearly new tires, needs: new battery, new tie-rod on one side, oil change.
It's from a mechanic's stockpile. It'd been used in a $5 [sic] drive-off from a self-service gasoline pump, and when the state patrol nabbed the guy, it was parked at the mechanic's place. That was, like, two years ago. The previous owner never came back to pay storage fees and claim the vehicle, and so the title passed on to the mechanic.
The mechanic wants $400, and then whatever replacing the battery, the tie-rod, and oil costs.
The mechanic's a younger guy but with a long-established excellent business reputation.
Good price or not?