Joining the CNG club....probably....

[CrazyCobraManTim]

Greetings All!

First I want to say thanks to John the Proprietor for this great site! It has been helpful in educating me about the overall market, the people and the vehicles out there. Way to go - thanks for your efforts!

I'm considering getting a gently used 2000 Crown Vic LX from an older gentleman who has placed into a home. His family isn't interested in the car and have offered it for sale. It is a 3,000 psi system with about 50k miles for $7500. Sounds like a decent deal for a comfortable (and safe) cruiser. It has the carpool stickers and a spare set as well.

I'd only do a few things to the car: (A) 2.40 or 2.73 gears to bump the overall cruise range - thought I don't know what it has installed, (B) tint the windows, and (C) slap in a nice MP3 player with a decent woofer.

Anyway - I wanted to say "HI" to everyone and hopefully I'll get the car and be a contributing member!

Cheers,

Tim

[John Mitton]

Re: Joining the CNG club....probably....

Thanks, Tim and we look forward to you joining the fray!

[peakay]

Re: Joining the CNG club....probably....

Tim, i just PM'd you.

[CrazyCobraManTim]

Re: Joining the CNG club....probably....

Ok will check....

[CrazyCobraManTim]

Re: Joining the CNG club....probably....

Oh, I'm so PO'd...

I've not heard from the seller since Monday, when we scheduled the sale for Wednesday. It's not Thursday night and I haven't heard from him. I think he sold it to some guy from Fresno who was down visiting family, as he was pushing me to complete a cash deal Tuesday morning before Mr. Fresno left.

Coincedence???

Argh.......though this has given me an opportunity to check on a few other leads (CNG Crown Vics are slim pickings). One is local, one is far, far away!

Cross your fingers for me!

[John Mitton]

Re: Joining the CNG club....probably....

These CNG vehicles go fast, especially if they have been well-maintained with service records, etc.

Also, keep in mind that when someone sends a PM via the forum, you will get an e-mail notification but you cannot reply to it via e-mail (must come here to use the PM system at CNGchat).

Here is another resource, if you have not seen it already:

http://cngchat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22

Good luck!

[CrazyCobraManTim]

Re: Joining the CNG club....probably....

I ended up discovering that California no longer issues carpool lane stickers for any vehicle, CNG, electric or hybrid. I thought it was only hybrid!

As such, I had to find something that was local, with sticker attached. There was only 2 advertised CNG Ford's - a 2003 Crown Vic for $18,500 with 85k miles (I think he is smoking something with that price), and a 1998 F250 with 113k miles for just under $5k. Guess which one I opted for?

I was considering another forum member's 1996 CV, but the wife suggested I get the pickup, which would allow her to sell her clean 2000 F150 XLT and get an SUV of some type. This turned out to be the best deal, as I can sell both our cars, and use the $$ to hatch a crazy scheme. I would get the wife (2) SUV's - an early model Excursion V10 (nice ones with decent miles, V10 and 4x4 run $10-13k) and then an around-town car. Something like a 4-cylinder Ford Escape, Honda CRV, earlier model Toyota RAV4, etc.

I'd get the best of both worlds, having towing when I need it and decent fuel economy all the rest of time, with half the maintence schedule, wear & tear, etc. All for about $25k - not to mention a spare car.

Now if I can find an inexpensive way to add CNG to the Excursion to extend the range and reduce the cost of driving it - I'd be like some other family who've kept their 1980's Surburbans for 20 years as the family camping vehicle. There are certainly worse vehicles than a load Excursion to do just that.

Tim

[CaptJeff]

Re: Joining the CNG club....probably....

I ended up discovering that California no longer issues carpool lane stickers for any vehicle, CNG, electric or hybrid. I thought it was only hybrid!

Tim

Tim,
This is ABSOLUTELY false. California issues CLEAN FUEL stickers, for true clean fuel vehicles, ie. CNG, and Electric.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/decal.htm

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm

I just bought a 2008 Civic GX Jan 12th (after selling my 2003 to a friend in Utah) and my stickers were issued Jan 29th.

I'd say go buy a new GX and enjoy the benefits!
Best,
Jeff

[CrazyCobraManTim]

Re: Joining the CNG club....probably....

That is just crazy, but hey - we are talking about California government here.

I was on the phone with both agencies, not to mention AAA, for HOURS and was assured that you couldn't receive stickers. Bastards...(can I say that?).

Ugh....well, I certainly wouldn't want to soil a perfectly good Civic with the stuff I sometimes haul, and beside, Honda Civic aren't up to the task of towing. Perhaps if there were a factory Ridgeline, I'd consider it, but then we're talking $35k+, and I didn't want to spend that.

I guess it all depends on who you talk to (and when).

Sigh....

Tim

[CrazyCobraManTim]

Re: Joining the CNG club....probably....

PS - Even the guy I spoke to when I purchased my truck said it took him months to get his sticker, and he mentioned it could take nearly a year. Not that I know anyone who has ever encountered this, but when your dealing with such limited information, and flat out misinformation from the DMV, it is hard to know who to believe.

That's why I joined the forums!

[CaptJeff]

Re: Joining the CNG club....probably....

Tim,
It can take a while, all depending on how the buyer handles it..

When a vehicle is purchased, **IF**the dealer gets their money that or the next day, AND has proof that the check cleared already or they were already wired funds, they can (certain dealers that have a direct DMV link) title and register the car and issue a PERMANENT registration and license plates the next day.

This is something that the BUYER will have to push for and make sure it happens. Like a good real estate agent pushing a loan through and getting funding and closing of a house in 48 hours.

With this license plate number, you can request the White Clean Fuel Stickers. You must be creative when sending them in so that they don't think they are for hybrids nor re-issue, but a SULEV/ILEV CNG vehicle currently eligible for WHITE Stickers.
BTW,
Dealers have 20 or 21 days to get the paperwork into DMV with the dealer packet if they don't have this instant access, (I don't know the formal name) and then the packet could EASILY sit at DMV for a while since they have to manually enter all this data into their system. Then when you get your plates you could request your stickers. When signing all the purchase documents, IF you don't ABSOLUTELY read the fine detail of the "report of sale of motor vehicle" and it shows motive force as G(gas) instead of N(CNG), you caused a self induced many week delay, and will get a rejection for your sticker application based on a non-qualifying gasoline vehicle.. Add another few weeks for that, then get the title corrected, then re-request stickers, etc.

So, be thorough and dilligent and you will get them in short order.
Best,
Jeff