Thread: Why do I love my GTP?

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  1. #1 Why do I love my GTP? 
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    About 6 yrs ago I bought a 1995 Z28 Convertible. Really good shape and 115k on the odometer. Was an A4 with the optional 3.23 rears. Wife ended up blowing the head gaskets so that's when I ended up modding the ole girl. LT4 hotcam, 1.6RR, 3" Headers with exhaust (to Flowmaster), 2400 stall, ported heads, CAI and a tune. Damn that car really hauled ass. I ended up spinning a cam bearing about 2 months later. It still ran good and everything just didn't hold oil pressure at idle. I had thought about changing it out but: 1. Really no room for more than 2 people. 2. Mileage kinda sucked (it would do ok but the damn car was so fast I was always in the throttle). Anyways I ended up straight trading for a 1995 Nissan Hardbody 4x4. Which in turn a year later I straight traded for a 1993 Jeep Wrangler. Yea I know Wrangler mileage SUCKS worse than the z28 but I always wanted one and for the price (freeish) it was hard to pass up to say I had owned one. Damn I sure miss riding topless and doorless....but the mpg ugh.

    Getting the Wrangler my jobs had changed and I ended up commuting to work 17 miles in each direction. The Wrangler "fun" got old fast with constant fill ups. So I straight traded with some cash (to me) for a 1992 Honda Civic CX. WOAH fantastic mileage but was a tad on the slow side (ya think lol). Something to be said for going from 340 whp to maybe 55 whp lol. Anyways wasn't TOO bad of a car, just no luxuries in a CX. Ended swapping to a D15B7 with A6 cam and Y8 trans. Couple years after that I straight traded for a 1998 Civic EX Shell. Had a bad motor but I swapped my motor from the CX into it. While it was a nice car, got great mileage and finally had "Luxuries" I am 72" and broad shouldered so it was a bit cramped. But I suffered for the MPG in it. And while it wasn't a speedster, the combo I had would put a smile on my face on occasion.

    Anyways not too long ago I came across a Buick Regal GS and my jaw absolutely hit the floor when it took off. I knew my car was decent for what I had done to it and this Regal looked like something Grand Pappy would drive. So imagine my surprise when he toyed with me lol. And that's when I found out about the 3800 S/C. From there I did more research and started learning all about the W Platform.

    And that's when I started falling in love. What wasn't to like for my needs? 4 door (I occasionally help out a friend and take his kids home from School when he's on a trip). Big and roomy. Dual Climate control (no more "fights" on the 2x-4x yearly trips to Medford to see the Mother-In-Law). HUD (omg BEST part) on certain platforms. The more I read the more I got hooked. Then I find out the same Platform was in a Grand Prix GTP. I've ALWAYS loved the way the 97-03 GTP's looked. So then began my quest. I almost had a straight up trade for my Civic with a 03 GTP that was already modded (3.4, downpipe, etc). But in the end her boyfriend didn't want a Civic. They had 3 W-Platform cars and wanted to trade one for a MPG car.

    Searching Craigslist one day an ad caught my eye. A 1998 GTP for $300. Pics looked nice. Had HUD, Sunroof, etc. No dents I can see. Let's see here...... Clean Title.....drove to Montana and back......Has Engine issues.....what the hell. So I called them up cause surely must be a typo cause quite a few GTP's in my area sell for $2500-$3000 and even with issues/dents still sell for $1200-$1500. Nope isn't a type. $300.....Engine knocking. Well ****, wonder what'll it'll cost to rebuild it....$600ish doing it myself BUT with a spun bearing might not be rebuild-able (Hadn't yet learned about not rebuilding these lol). Anyways JY had a 99 Regal GS motor for $700 with 1 yr warranty. So I went and checked it out. Sure had minor issues: ABS light on. HUD not working. Little paint missing on bumper. But inside pretty damn clean (not a rip ANYWHERE.....no cracks in dash....nothing broke). Still started and drove so took it for a spin with a spun bearing lol. Still for $300 and swapping out a motor......so I bought it and haven't looked back. I LOVE this car. For what it is and what it does it's STILL amazingly fast AND get decent mileage to boot. EASY to work on. Isn't hampered with 300 miles of electrical plumbing. And EZ to mod. I mean an Average .5 to .75 second drop in quarter mile time just doing things I would normally do to a car that would PROBABLY net me .2-.3 in another car (IF I'm lucky)? And swap out a pulley for another .5 drop (on average)? I'm game. Then find out all the little frills? Auto Headlights. TCS. HEATED seat (yea baby). Comfort and roomy. Not to mention from a...somewhat rough....teenage growing up, my knee gets pretty irritated from time to time and driving a clutch takes it's toll. That and my wife cannot drive a stick so having another car that's auto is a plus.

    So yea. It's a Pontiac. It's "old" by today's standards but can still put up a hell of a fight (and with minimal mods win a lot of those fights). I can easily and comfortably haul 4 people with junk in the trunk and still pass a car on a lonely stretch of road quicker than my civic riding solo. Can still put out 28 mpg on the freeway in Climate Controlled Comfort. And in my neck of the woods theres not a whole lotta cars that could beat mine stock for stock. Hell one day in my Z28 IN STOCK FORM I counted 143 cars.....4 of which would beat mine, 11 of which is a drivers race (depending on mods/etc). That left 128 potential victims I would have no issue beating (unless it's a sleeper). The odds aren't as great in todays market (those V6 stangs/camaros are no joke) but ya know what? Mines Paid for, more practical and with the right mods (3.4"/exhaust/intake) can keep up with yours. Mines also a LOT cheaper and easier to work on to boot. I'm VERY happy with my GTP.




    That's my story.....what's Yours?
    Last edited by Locruid; 01-01-2017 at 10:49 AM.
    My Project: http://www.grandprixforums.net/threa...Loc-s-1998-GTP
    1998 Grand Prix GT Loaded (Wife's Car)
    2000 Durango: Fully Loaded From Factory
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  2. #2 Re: Why do I love my GTP? 
    Push to Open GTPkirmet's Avatar
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    Very interesting story my friend. Got any pics of this "GTP"? Have you started a build thread?
    98 GP Build?: http://www.grandprixforums.net/threa...-in-particular
    Power :Gen V, 3.6, 10.5mm, HS 1.9s, 105#, SDs, FWI, DHP Tuned, CS144
    Stuff :Gauges, 04 Leather seats, Cool stereo, Pregens, LEDs, Retros

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  3. #3 Re: Why do I love my GTP? 
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    Ty

    Yup, link in my sig.
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