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Heading out to pick up this beauty in the morning! 1999 Challenger 1800
- Thread starter dmiles
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dmiles
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Thanks, the test ride went great! It was already in the water, and the owner had no problem with me pushing it to top speed. It came right up, planed out, and from what I could tell, a little over 50 mph, and a little over 7000 rpm, both engines. The lake was really crowded, and I have not driven a boat since the 90's, so I was a little busy watching max speed, rpm's and other boaters. But for $3500, I had seen all I needed to see. The engines look great. That gauge on the right is a voltmeter. All gauges, blower, bilge pump, the weed grate, lights, stereo, everything works.
The story goes that these folks bought a lake house at Smith Mountain Lake a couple of years ago. This boat, along with an old Sea Ray, and 2 jet skis came with the house. The previous owner had all maintenance done regularly by the same guy. Looks like he just wrote the checks, and the guy must have done good work for an 18 year old boat to be in this kind of shape. Much better than I expected. So now they want to rent the Lake house out, and they needed dock space for renters that have their own boat. So the jet boat had to go, quickly. The lady said she looked up low retail, and set the price $1000 below that. Needless to say, I jumped on it. The ad was placed late Thursday night, and I loaded it up this morning. She said she had to delete the ad on Friday, because she was overrun with calls and texts, and she was pretty sure I was serious.
Of course I had a flat tire on the trailer on the way home. I was lucky. I was only about 25 miles from home. I knew there was a Tractor Supply about 20 miles from where I was, and my wife was at work, which was about halfway between where I was, and that Tractor supply. I placed an online order for store pickup for a rim and tire, and a jack. She got off work early, went and picked the stuff up, and brought it to me.
Got home a few hours ago, and still sorting everything out. Thanks everyone for the great help given here. I knew a ton more of what to look for than I ever would have had I not found this forum.
The story goes that these folks bought a lake house at Smith Mountain Lake a couple of years ago. This boat, along with an old Sea Ray, and 2 jet skis came with the house. The previous owner had all maintenance done regularly by the same guy. Looks like he just wrote the checks, and the guy must have done good work for an 18 year old boat to be in this kind of shape. Much better than I expected. So now they want to rent the Lake house out, and they needed dock space for renters that have their own boat. So the jet boat had to go, quickly. The lady said she looked up low retail, and set the price $1000 below that. Needless to say, I jumped on it. The ad was placed late Thursday night, and I loaded it up this morning. She said she had to delete the ad on Friday, because she was overrun with calls and texts, and she was pretty sure I was serious.
Of course I had a flat tire on the trailer on the way home. I was lucky. I was only about 25 miles from home. I knew there was a Tractor Supply about 20 miles from where I was, and my wife was at work, which was about halfway between where I was, and that Tractor supply. I placed an online order for store pickup for a rim and tire, and a jack. She got off work early, went and picked the stuff up, and brought it to me.
Got home a few hours ago, and still sorting everything out. Thanks everyone for the great help given here. I knew a ton more of what to look for than I ever would have had I not found this forum.
dmiles
Member
Yikes! Sorry to hear that! Please let us know the outcome. I know those things are crazy expensive, and looks like it means you'll have to go to a dealer, which if I had a choice between a dealer and another root canal, I'm 100% sure I'd go for the root canal. With apologies to all the honest dealers out there.
I've read that there are aftermarket alternatives, both with and without DESS. Will be watching to see which route you take. At least you have this forum, so you are in the right place. Good luck to you.
Yah there are ways you can bypass on on the 97 challenger and others. The 1998-1999 Challenger there is not which is what you and I have. The cheapest Mpem I'm finding is around 1400. Just pray you never have this problem.
dmiles
Member
I know this may be easy for me to say because it's not my wallet, but one way to look at is the $2700 you paid, plus the $1400 for the Mpem, still puts you at average retail book price for the boat, and hopefully you'll be good to go for another 18 years as far as the Mpem goes, anyway.
Yes it could always be worse.
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