Why do I still like this car?

[SJAndrew]

My wife intimated this question earlier.

Perhaps she's right.

I have a '98GTP with 149k miles on it.

Thus far, I have fixed/replaced:

• Catalytic converter (flex joint was bad)
• Oilpain and gasket (leaked like a sieve)
• Fuel pump w/ resistor (died)
• SC coupler (engine sounded like it had rocks tumbling in it)
• Master cylinder (internal leaks/loss of pressure)
• Coolant elbows (leaks)
• Axle seals (leaks)
• Water pump (died)
• V/C gaskets (leaks)
• TPS (died)
• EGR valve (died, threw codes)
• Window regulators (3 so far)
• Blower motors (died)
• Tensioner pulley (bearing seized)
• Outside temp sensor (140 degrees, I don't think so)
• Wheel bearing
• Tie rods
• front and rear struts
• Rearview mirror (anto glare broke)
• Engine and trans mounts
• Sway bar (OEM broke)

By pretty much any objective metric, this car has been a POS. Yet, I still like the car and defend it against my wife and friends who say "you should just sell that thing".

And, it's not because of its performace (my GTO is 3X faster and more fun to drive with its tremec and RWD). It's also not because of its build quality (my daughter has better build quality in her dirty diapers than the interior in my GTP). It's not because of the FWD (I would rather have RWD for any number of a dozen reasons not least of which is physics).

I still enjoy working on this car and also am proud that it still runs (and runs well) after 16 years. It's also the first new car I ever bought. Maybe that explains my irrational behavoir towards it.

Who knows.

I'm curious to find out if anyone else has found themselves in a situation like me: spending another Saturday fixing the latest thing to die only to wonder if "it's time".

[acidcrashdburnd]

I am the same way with my 93 Old's 88 Just keep dumping money into it. All the things you have listed seem normal for a 16 year old car.

[Neil98gt]

Sounds pretty standard to me. After 14 years and 150000 miles it's going to need maintence/repairs..

[JoRoW99]

Yea actually not too bad. Better look into lower intake manifold gaskets

[SilvaMan61]

I'd say she aged well. You haven't done much honestly.

Sell it

[Logan541]

It's a fun car to work on and drive and in my case My 1997 was a semi gift from my parents when Dad retired, I had a 5 year note, I made payments for 2 years then my Dad paid it off one day on his was home from shopping as a surprise to me (Big surprise as Dad was very cheap and always favored my youngest sister out of the 4 of us). I will always keep this car trying to figure out what to do with it when I die since I don't have anyone to leave anything too.

[RareGMFan]

Any car is going to have badly worn suspension parts and gaskets go bad once it gets deep into the 100k+ mile category. Unless you plan on getting either a brand new, or very low mileage newer car, you can't escape that simple truth. If there is a gripe with the car that would have you questioning keeping it, it should be overall build quality and lack of refinement. The question then becomes are you ready to pay to step up in quality?

[bsharpminor]

The argument I always make about keeping my Bonneville with 290,000 on it is: if it costs less to throw parts at it than a car payment would be, you are getting ahead. Also insurance and license are less expensive on an older vehicle.
Above and beyond that, if you like working on it, your enjoyment in that alone is worth something.

[acidcrashdburnd]

Any car is going to have badly worn suspension parts and gaskets go bad once it gets deep into the 100k+ mile category. Unless you plan on getting either a brand new, or very low mileage newer car, you can't escape that simple truth. If there is a gripe with the car that would have you questioning keeping it, it should be overall build quality and lack of refinement. The question then becomes are you ready to pay to step up in quality?

I cant believe you got rid of your STE cars :'(

[Rico]

If you're mechanically inclined then a used car will make your bank account larger. A new car is just about the worst investment a person can make. A $28K car driven off the lot is worth $5K less within the first 10,000 miles. It's like throwing money out the window.

Try this: Put an equivalent car payment in a savings account every month. I guarantee even if you pull from that account for repairs on a used car you'll be amazed at how much cash is in that account in one year. Do this for five years and use the money for a down payment on a house.

When some of you finally get that dream job and start thinking about a new car....think again. Is it worth it?

No matter how much dough I make I will never, repeat, I will never buy a new car.

[Logan541]

If you're mechanically inclined then a used car will make your bank account larger. A new car is just about the worst investment a person can make. A $28K car driven off the lot is worth $5K less within the first 10,000 miles. It's like throwing money out the window.

Try this: Put an equivalent car payment in a savings account every month. I guarantee even if you pull from that account for repairs on a used car you'll be amazed at how much cash is in that account in one year. Do this for five years and use the money for a down payment on a house.

When some of you finally get that dream job and start thinking about a new car....think again. Is it worth it?

No matter how much dough I make I will never, repeat, I will never buy a new car.

yep I been saying the same thing for years

[mechguy]

General benchmark IIRC is that autos are designed to last 7 years with great reliability.

I'm not sure if anyone in my immediate family has owned a car up to 150k miles.

My buddy with his GTI has replaced the DSG trans module more than once while still under warranty. He wasn't sure what it's called, but regardless it would have been pricey.

I'm pretty conditioned to driving a beater for where I live. The roads and winters are that harsh.

I hear what you say, but don't think other brands are better.

[mechguy]

I remember being a child when our lemon 92 Bonneville hit 200k KM's.....we were practically scared of not making it home. Lol.

[Rico]

I remember being a child when our lemon 92 Bonneville hit 200k KM's.....we were practically scared of not making it home. Lol.

Bill may not like this comment. LOL
At least it was a '92 and not a newer one.

[Dee23]

I'm pretty much on the same page too...I love my car for a number of reasons, but the main reason is bc its a underrated car(at least performance wise anyway) and I love proving people otherwise....period....when people see the potential in these cars, their whole attitude changes about these 3800s.

Oooohhhhhh, I really love the expression on a persons face that's driving a 80k car when they see my "quote on quote" piece of shiittt car fly by em'..... This is why I can't get enough of my 3800....LOL

[nos4blood70]

The reason I love mine is because it appears that it will survive anything. Hitting tow hitches at 20 MPH head on, off roading and scraping the ever loving hell out of the underbody, Ford F-150 hit her in the side and she just has a massive dent while the truck needed a new rad, dropping it off ramps cause I'm stupid, UIM failure where I drove around for over 250 miles with it eating it's own coolant and the bearings getting melted by the bad oil, driving 5+ teenagers every morning for two years and all their sh*t in relative comfort, neutral drops cause I have horrible friends, respectable get up that no one really sees coming, stupid comfortable, amazing highway gas mileage, and city too for what the car is, bump starting friends cars, rescuing people from the side of the road, Etc etc.

All in all, I love it to death, but soon her age will catch up to her, if not already.

[dsmuts]

Quote on quote that cracked me up lol

[SlowNA06]

You'll have a new car again soon enough if you keep fixing it. I know so many people that fix the heck out of a car and then sell it out of frustration when there's nothing left to break. What a waste. I know plenty that think 150,000 miles means the car needs to be put out to pasture. I got a buddy that recently ticked over 500,000 miles on his all-original '86 5.0 Mustang. So no, it's not "time" until the body rusts through, especially on something as cheap and easy to fix (and fun to drive) as wbodies.

[raygt2005]

i have an 05 gp and also had an 04 gtp the 05 is now my winter car i drive a porsche in summer but still my favourite car is the gp it just feels right

[Dee23]

Are u serious? Funny, Porche is my dream car but I love my 3800 and wouldn't give it up for nothing. Do you really prefer to drive the 3800 over the Porche? That's crazy...LOL, these 3800s are really good cars!!!