Thread: The GP's are really resilient cars

This is more of my story of my car than anything, just kind of throwing this out there for other stories/opinions....but....I have been a Ford guy mainly all my life (go ahead, bash)...but I came across this 2000 Prix GT for real cheap (I'm talking scrap price) b/c it did not run at the time, and I was told, it was either going to the scrapyard, or "if you can get it running and out of here, you can have it for what the boneyard would give me for it." Well, I felt sorry for it, because it was in decent shape, the interior was nice, and the body was a little banged up, but nothing serious. I was only looking for a "beater" car anyway to run around and toy with. It had been sitting in a Police impound yard for a year, and they did not have room for it anymore, and wanted it out of there (don't ask why it was there.) I knew how to get it running after a brief diagnosis, and when I got it started, it fired right up...I was shocked...that 3800 came roaring right to life with the touch of the key and not a knock, or a tick or anything....after sitting for a year! I was actually able to drive it home. Well, long story short...after going over it, to make it road worthy and 100% safe, I have put a little over $2000 into it.....brakes, rotors, coolant flush, hoses, plugs, wires, one coil, ICM, MAF sensor, boneyard smog pump (that didnt work, CEL still on, but it runs fine, hafta try another one), new tires, fresh oil and filter of course, fuel filter, new lower control arm/ball joint assembly, new CV shalf on one side, front end alignment, new A/C compressor after the old one locked up on me, and a new hub assembly on the one side. I think theres more, but thats all I can think of for now. Total, I think I'm in it like $2500. I don't think thats bad for a car that I got for next to nothing, and now...runs like a CHAMP....I just drove it to work today...and after I fixed it up...that 3800 runs like NEW....I just filled it with gas today and the mileage is up to almost 22mpg...and thats running the A/C!! And, did I mention it only has 125k on it. The tranny also shifts smooth as silk and works like new. I always knew from working in the Parts business that these engines were good.....but this car has really impressed me how it literally sat that long....and with some TLC...came back from "the dead". Just a story I thought you all might enjoy. I tried to upload pics, but for some reason the Forum would not let me, kept failing. Oh well, its not the prettiest car to look at, but it runs like the wind!

Nice find on the car. What I am curios about is how a stranger can get a year old police impound vehicle for next to nothing, yet if the vehicle owner had tried to claim the car it would have been thousands of dollars in storage fees (far more than the car is worth) to get the car back.

Do the LIM and UIM... the gen 2 motors are notorious for them going bad. Do it before it goes totally bad and has the potential for more harm.

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Besides the criticism and for my grammar and lack of of pictures, I appreciate the support.

Quicksilver, to answer your question, the guy I got it off of, was the father of the daughter of whom had caught up in come "illegal" activities while having the car, and the Police seized and impounded it. He was titled in his name, and after a year, they told him, they were over flowed with cars, and if he wanted it back, they offered to waive all fees and storage costs as long as he came as got it. SO, he did.....but once he did, he just simply did not want it, and had no use for it, plus, could not get it started it again. So he said....if if I could get it running....I could have it for what the junkyard offered him for it.

It's a 3800 thing. FWIW my father was given a car that had been his mother in laws. Car literally sat in the garage for 8 years (confirmed) without running. I brought over a battery only. Turned the key and it ran on about 3 cylinders. Got it to rev a bit and it made a pop sound, then it purred. The sound had to be the other injectors clearing.

8 year old gas...if that isn't bad enough, we drove it at least 15 miles before considering changing the oil. At that point I did the intake gaskets, valve cover gaskets, TB cleaning, AC recharge and he loves the car. I borrowed it the other week. Fires right up each time you turn the key. The 3800 is one of the good motors out there.

Originally Posted by BillBooost37

It's a 3800 thing. FWIW my father was given a car that had been his mother in laws. Car literally sat in the garage for 8 years (confirmed) without running. I brought over a battery only. Turned the key and it ran on about 3 cylinders. Got it to rev a bit and it made a pop sound, then it purred. The sound had to be the other injectors clearing.

8 year old gas...if that isn't bad enough, we drove it at least 15 miles before considering changing the oil. At that point I did the intake gaskets, valve cover gaskets, TB cleaning, AC recharge and he loves the car. I borrowed it the other week. Fires right up each time you turn the key. The 3800 is one of the good motors out there.

Agreed....as said in in post, I am now believer in what all my customers used to tell me....that the 3800's were ALMOST indestructible. And with only 125k on this one, I hope to get more than my moneys worth out of this one!!!