[Silly Little Cars] looking at an 84 cushman and 97 interceptor (David Buergler)

Wed Feb 20 13:01:39 PST 2013

That's good to know. I plan on doing a full tune-up and change all fluids, so once done with everything else I'll definite check the front fork setup.

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve <sclark1 at flash.net>
To: 'Silly Little Email List' <silly_little_cars at lists.sillylittlecars.com>
Sent: Wed, Feb 20, 2013 12:43 pm
Subject: Re: [Silly Little Cars] looking at an 84 cushman and 97 interceptor	(David Buergler)

5 inches

From: silly_little_cars-bounces at lists.sillylittlecars.com [mailto:silly_little_cars-bounces at lists.sillylittlecars.com] On Behalf Of Steve
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 2:20 PM
To: 'Silly Little Email List'
Subject: Re: [Silly Little Cars] looking at an 84 cushman and 97 interceptor (David Buergler)

Forks are real similar to motorcycle.  I had a motorcycle mechanic rebuild mine.  The only hiccup was that the kit of O-rings that should cost about $2.00 was $200.00 from MME which were from Westward.  But boy what a difference that made.  I can confidently drive the thing at 60 and the nose came up about  inches. 

From: silly_little_cars-bounces at lists.sillylittlecars.com [mailto:silly_little_cars-bounces at lists.sillylittlecars.com] On Behalf Of goaliefergy1 at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 2:16 PM
To: silly_little_cars at lists.sillylittlecars.com
Subject: Re: [Silly Little Cars] looking at an 84 cushman and 97 interceptor (David Buergler)

What issues do the Interceptor forks have? Also are the front forks similar to motorcycle forks that are filled with fork oil? I found a really good deal on an Interceptor that I'm probably gonna pick up this weekend. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Alec Bennett <wrybread at gmail.com>
To: Silly Little Email List <silly_little_cars at lists.sillylittlecars.com>
Sent: Wed, Feb 20, 2013 11:49 am
Subject: Re: [Silly Little Cars] looking at an 84 cushman and 97 interceptor (David Buergler)

I have both as well. There's things I like about each. Off the top of my head: 

Cushman Pros

Awesomely simple

Cute as hell, and awesomely goofy looking

A bit shorter than the Interceptor, which is nice since you can park perpendicuar to the curb a bit easier. I park perpendicular with an Interceptor too, but sometimes not on narrow streets, and you have to be careful not to box anyone in.

Super cheap ($300 to $1000), and parts are cheap too, not that I've needed many.

Massive trunk.

Cushman Cons

Engine is under the seat so you always have a whiff of engine

That '84 is going to be air cooled (they switched to water cooled mid 1989) so you won't have much heat

No protection during an accident at all. 

Interceptor Pros

Comfy comfy comfy. Bucket seats.

Rock solid engine, fuel injected

Ultra powerful. You can go 80, not that its the best idea. But where I live (SF), it gives me the freedom to cross the bridges, which you can't do with a Cushman, at least not without a lot of planning and adrenaline.

Has a roll cage and shoulder strap seatbelt

Lots of heat.

Great area under the seat to mount a subwoofer and 6x9s for a thumping stereo...

Most Cushmans don't have the solid doors, but all Interceptors do.

Interceptor Cons

Longer than the Cush, so harder to park perpendicular

Pricey. Everything is more pricey on an Interceptor, including the purchase price ($1500 to $6k)

Looks like a prop from the Terminator (I guess this could be a pro too, but I like the look of the Cushmans more)

The engine is under the trunk so you have a relatively tiny trunk.

You don't have that nice area between the seats and the trunk for grocery bags. Actually I guess pre-97 had a little storage area back there, but they got rid of it on later ones.

The frickin fork can be an issue.

On Wed, Feb 20, 2013 at 10:47 AM, DanTuel <dantuel at frontiernet.net> wrote:

I have both & I like the Interceptors better but the Cushman is going to be easier to get parts for. Engine parts for the Interceptors are no problem because they use small 4 cylinder car motors and transmissions but anything other than that can get frustrating and expensive. God luck with whichever you buy.

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