Thread: Looking into purchasing a gxp

Hello everyone! I'm new to this site and figured this is the best place to go to ask a couple questions. I currently own a 2004 GTP CompG with 60k miles on it that is having a few mechanical issues (radiator is going bad, front hub assemblies are going bad) and I could fix it (ugh) but I'd rather trade it in and upgrade to a GXP. I found a deal on a 2007 GXP, clean title, bright red, 40k miles on it, that the lot is trying to get rid of for $11,500 (I'm pretty sure that's an excellent deal with the low mileage and like new condition it's in). However....I have heard that GXPs eat through transmissions like crazy, no matter how good care you take of them, especially the 2007 models for some reason, and don't want to be walking into a money pit. I have even read threads that the transmissions fail as early as 45-50k miles....which would literally be right after I purchased this car (out of warranty too of course). Would anyone out there recommend taking a chance on the GXP? Or maybe there is some trick I'm not aware of to help protect the transmission from failure? Thanks for any input anyone can give me!!!

Do it.

And buy a transmission cooler and you'll be fine.

Wow thanks for fast responses everyone! Sounds like a transmission cooler would be a must if I went with the GXP; I don't know too much about transmission coolers but I bet they aren't too expensive to buy but the labor to install them is probably high. I would like to stick with my Comp G but in all honestly the previous owner really didn't take too much care of the car. I have had to dump way too much money into it already in repairs in the 2 1/2 years I've owned the car (I had this crazy theory that since the last owner mis-treated her I could do better....but I now realize she may be too far gone). I got a pretty good deal on it or else I wouldn't have bought it at all because it was obvious to me when I test drove it that the previous owner didn't take very good care of it (mis-matched and balding tires, cheap-ass self-installed window tint that was peeling, paint touch-ups all over the exterior,...etc.....and it only had 30k miles on it). The GXP really is nice, I was just so worried when I read about the failing transmissions. $11,500 is a pretty damn good deal for a GXP that new, in great condition, with that low of miles (44k). We'll see.....

Thanks for the excellent info everyone and I will let you know what I decide on!

Feel free to put any input in about what you know about installing/purchasing transmission coolers if you would like

Originally Posted by Fivefingerdeathpunch

The GXP's dont really eat transmissions, it just can be a common issue. Mainly its the heat, the LS4 block seems to superheat the trans because it and trans case itself are both aluminum. The fluid life is cut in half almost. Thus a trans cooler is pretty much a must on them. If you don't beat the piss out of it all the time and just do some "fun" driving now and then it will be fine.

Some people get problems, some dont.

Your 04 Comp G trans is one of the best out there, but are the most rare too, if you were trying to find a used replacement.

Both have there problems and most are the same.

I bet the dealership wont give you anything for your car if you traded it in as is. Fixing the radiator and front hubs and selling it yourself would get you more money.

Volvo tried matching an aluminum engine to the 4t65e.

~270 horse, 280 ft lbs, eats transmissions from 50-100 000 miles depending on which vehicle it was in. S80 being less often than XC90's as they were lighter.

Lighter being 3700 vs 4700 lbs.

Dave from TEP had a look at one that had died, report was the entire thing saw too much heat.

A few with S80s have reported treating the car with the utmost respect, and the tranny still kicked it around 100K miles. Had them replaced by the dealer for 3K.

As Cam said, put a cooler in there in the spring. I wouldn't worry about it in the winter.