high miles/road trips

[RedneckGTP]

Ok, here is the deal. I bought my car from a buddy for 1000 dollars. love the car, and have always loved these GP's. its a 00' GTP 2 door.

anyway. it has 220k we are talking about making a trip to michigan (where I am from and where my family is). for christmas...

ANYWAY. here is the deal. I have a 454 suburban 4x4. love the truck. trust the truck 100% to make the trip. BUT, fuel will be 1200 dollars to go 3400 miles. (the suburban made the trip a few months about pulling a 20 ft trailer with 5 quads on it without complaining once)

The car will only cost about 4-500 dollars. BUT, with 220k should I worry? the car has been pretty meticulously maintained and taken care of, and is 100% stock. It was not beaten on to much. I have put probably 500 miles on it since I have owned it. The ac compressor is making some noise and will more than likely be replaced very soon (next paycheck or two).

But, other than that everything seems good. I would love to take the car, but am nervous. should I be? what should I address or fix on these cars before I take a long trip with high miles?

ALSO, I have the option to rent a impala or something of the sort for about 350 to 400 bucks, and then spending the same 400-500 in gas. BUT if I could put a few hundred bucks into the car instead of renting and fixing any potential issues and do some preventative maint at the same time (money is not lost in mind, its invested into the car. opposed to a rental car, once we get back that money is gone)...

WELL... that puts me back to the 1000 dollar range, and I might as well take the suburban and have 4x4 in the snow...

What do you all think. I would love to take the car. would be more fun to drive on a road trip, but I am concerned about the miles on it.

[Scottydoggs]

i have 224,000 on mine. id drive it to Fl tomorrow if need be. ive done 6 hr round trip drives so far. if it will run all day around town it will run all day on the highway.

id have the a/c compressor fixed before the trip. and do a oil change being your gonna put 2000 plus miles on it. or if you not really due, do it while at the family's.

[REDCRAPGP]

I wouldn't worry about it. As long as the car is mechanically up to par you shouldn't have a issue. Doing basic things like oil change. Check the coolant and check for any odd sounds (not including compressor sound) and any leaks.

Edit: check your tire pressure as well

[BillBoost37]

At 200K+ I got in and drove as far as I wanted. This trip happened to be 8 hours...but I'd take it cross country w/o worry. Stop and go is what kills a car and gives you trouble. Constant highway speed is the best thing for a car.

Check hoses, etc etc and drive it.

[RivMan]

Check tires, alignment, and drive. I went from Michigan to Daytona last year with 285k on the Regal, not a worry in the world!

-Rob

[REDCRAPGP]

But of course BillBoost can pull over and swap his whole motor on the side of the road in a hour if he had to.

BillBoost is the Chuck Norris of 3800s.

[dsmuts]

I would drive my almost 224K gtp anywhere without a care.

[RedneckGTP]

alright. cool.

got it out of the garage today (first time in a week), and she ran good. my wife asked me why I questioned it, and I told her I just wanted another persons opinion. I know the 3.8 is a great motor. owned a few, but this is my first SC'd car, and just wanted to hear from someone else not to worry I guess...

the AC compressor is scheduled to be bought next friday, and installed saturday (I can install and vacuum and charge myself)... So just cost of compressor and freon basically... I am thinking I need to check on my CV joints. I have a little wobble or shake at certain speeds, and the tires are close to new, and balanced. so may replace both of those as my buddy doesnt recall replacing them.

[Chadgervais]

my 04 is closing in on 220k, i would have no reservations whatsoever about starting a cross country trip tomorrow. the 3800 is a solid engine, if maintained well, 300k is to be expected, 400k is possible, and 500k is not entirely out of the question. I might still be driving this car in 2020.

Go for it. Like others have said, keep up with the small stuff.

[asite57]

the only thing ive ever worried about on a road trip with my grand prix is the tires and im at 179K these cars love the highway like it was said before stop and go traffic is whats hard on any vehicle

[TexasTanker19kilo20]

I drove from FT. Hood, TX to FT. Lee, VA earlier this year also drove around Virginia for 3 months then drove back to Texas and now drive from Louisiana to Texas regularly. The only thing I had to replace in the last year is Alt and Fuel Pump and both items where ready to go anyhow. So do a proper PMCS and you should be set for the road trip home.