Looking For A Grand Prix For My Son - Questions & Support Needed

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Originally Posted by WickedGoat

I ended up rebuilding the trans in mine because the seller flushed and filled the fluid to make it look good. Three weeks into ownership and the trans started acting up and eventually wouldn't go in Drive anymore. Pulled the dipstick when I looked at the car... it was a nice red and smelled good. Pulled it when it started acting up and it was muddy looking and smelled burned. First time I have gotten bent over on a car in a long time and it will be my last time. If a private seller can't produce receipts or show any kind of service history, I'd probably move on unless you can fix stuff yourself, or have a decent budget for a mechanic to do it. Mom and pops dealers tend to get their cars from auctions and are real hit or miss. Your local Ford, GM and Dodge dealers can get nice ones in trade from time to time but you gotta be quick on those. Although I was pissed about the trans in my car, the seller did do a fair amount of other stuff to it and I can concentrate on the other stuff and get it looking good again. It will give me something to do and be fun in the process.

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That's how I got mine. It was in great shape and a trade-in so I snagged it before it was listed for sale lol and that's cause I worked at the dealer.

The rule here now is that to sell more than 3 cars a year, you require a dealer's license. That makes dealers out of quite a few regular folks, especially if they just fix n flip cars in their spare time. As far as "niceness" goes, even a car with a salvage title can still be a cream puff. But shiny paint is all most people, dealers, insurers, look at. Mechanical condition has little or no bearing on market value, as you have found. I shop for a solid history and have bought good cars that way with little inspection needed. Buyer beware, you are wise to be here researching.

I am used to 97-03 GPs. But, how I got my GTP was some parents bought it for a young driver then once they discovered the gas pedal, sold it immediately to the guy I bought it from, a hardcore vintage Pontiac fan who never used it just liked it. I think they did the kid right. I drove a 99 GT coupe (not supercharged) for 4 years with no performance complaints. Plenty peppy even in today's traffic. I have now driven a 99 GTP (all same but supercharged) for over a year. The difference in operator skill required is ENORMOUS. I strongly advise against putting a new driver in anything with an L67 engine. The potential for unintentional traction loss is much greater and the computer isn't fast enough to really keep you out of trouble. #1 tip for safety in a FWD GP of any kind: Lots of tread on the tires, gotta have that all around. Rain tires year round are my choice. Theres my .02 worth.

Appreciate all the advice and feedback. This is my son's 2nd car so he does have some experience. A disgruntled ex-girlfriend had some friends trash his 2003 Taurus, although we couldn't prove it. I was pretty set on getting him another Taurus but I am a fan of the GP's and that 3800 engine. If I had known this was going to happen I would have given him mine. I think my GP had about 178k on it when I sold it.

I'm still leary about buying a car with 150k+ miles. I'd like to be closer to 100k but then the price goes up. That's alos why I am not having luck with finding the right car at a reputable "dealer". The prices are several hundred more. Maybe I need to spring for it.

I don't consider those smaller Mom and Pop places "dealers", even though they are. Too many scammers. Unless I knew of a reputable place, but I don't.

He's a lot more "conservative" than I am behind the wheel so that makes me a little less cautious about getting him a car with a little more pep.

I've sold cars on craigslist but I never try to hide any issues with the car. In fact, I go out of my way to make them known. Karma.

IMO the only time you will have wheel spin in a stock unmodified GTP is from a stop. personally, I would rather have the power available and not use it than to need it and not have it. also an fyi, if you get a supercharged Grand Prix, you have to run premium fuel in it which is not the case in a non supercharged Grand Prix.

edit: keep looking and be patient, the right grand prix is out there. dont settle for something you dont want and paying a little more for a lower mileage vehicle will pay off over time

Definitely get the blown car. Neither M90'd nor NA are fast enough to be dangerous, IMO.

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Originally Posted by SgtMarshal

...... also an fyi, if you get a supercharged Grand Prix, you have to run premium fuel in it which is not the case in a non supercharged Grand Prix.

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OK, now this I did not realize. This will be important for a 17 year old's budget. I might need to eliminate the GTP from my searches. I agree the extra oomph is nice but I had always thought the non-supercharged had plenty of get up and go when needed for passing, merging, etc.

you can go to www.fueleconomy.gov and compare fuel costs. premium typically costs 30 cents more per gallon which ends up being about 4.50 more per tank. The trade off is that every GTP has more options are are nicer cars IMO than the GT version. my father in law likes is 03 impala which is naturally aspirated and needs to get another car, but he wont even consider getting a supercharged 3800 because of the premium fuel situation. Premium fuel really doesn't cost that much more.

edit: the city/highway rating on that site aren't very accurate. a supercharged grand prix will often get 30 mpg on the highway.

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Originally Posted by nos4blood70

Definitely get the blown car. Neither M90'd nor NA are fast enough to be dangerous, IMO.

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Agreed. Even tho it has like 195 to the wheels (sc) model. Think about it hauling around this 3700 lb car they are tanks.

Hey folks, what do you think about this deal? It's exactly what I had before: 2004 GT Silver. 135k miles, new tires, brakes about a year old, rear and front struts replaced within 3 years. Interior looks clean. The son owned the car for the last 3 years and stepped to a new truck. I spoke with the father who is a mechanic and bought it from the son to get him out from under it. He said his son was very anal about taking good care of it.

It's about 1.5 hours away so I want to be pretty sure I want it before making the drive. He said the price is a little negotiable. Thinking I could get it for 3800 or 3900.

Thoughts?

http://lansing.craigslist.org/cto/4863286461.html


And there was this one but I wasn't sure because of the miles and it's not a GT. Interested in any thoughts and advice.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/4853188338.html

Insurance may cost more on a GTP for a 17 year old... call your insurance company to get an idea...

For both of them, make sure to look at the LIM gaskets. The silver one is nicer, IMO.

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Originally Posted by nos4blood70

For both of them, make sure to look at the LIM gaskets. The silver one is nicer, IMO.

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What is LIM? L.... Intake manifold

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Originally Posted by JCWarrior

What is LIM? L.... Intake manifold

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Lower intake manifold

You could try adding the Impala SS and the Monte Carlo SS to the search. Some of those also came with the 3800. Opens the door more for an older, but lower mileage car.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/4845779743.html

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/4864087123.html

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Originally Posted by EJOUIE

You could try adding the Impala SS and the Monte Carlo SS to the search. Some of those also came with the 3800. Opens the door more for an older, but lower mileage car.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/4845779743.html

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/4864087123.html

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I didn't know they came wit the 3800. Definitely worth looking into. My main goal is a car with a history of being dependable, no rust buckets and safe.

Grand Prix is at the top of my list and Taurus was on the list but I thought it would be nice to get something with little more style.

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Originally Posted by theaceofspades

Lower intake manifold

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Got it. Just look for visible signs of leaks?

One other thing - nonsupercharged cars did not always come with ABS. It was available as an option, but some don't have ABS. If you get a non-supercharged car, I would recommend ABS for your son.

-BC

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Originally Posted by JCWarrior

Got it. Just look for visible signs of leaks?

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If it's black plastic it'll need replaced. If it's metal it'll be good

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Originally Posted by bobc455

One other thing - nonsupercharged cars did not always come with ABS. It was available as an option, but some don't have ABS. If you get a non-supercharged car, I would recommend ABS for your son.

-BC

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Also. The car will have abs if it's has a button to turn traction control on and off in the center console im not a big fan of either both have almost caused me to have an accident but its up to you

Good info guys, thanks.

I have been avoiding, what look to be, nice cars because they appear to be for sale by what I call "mini dealers". I decided to pay the $55 for unlimited Carfax reports in case I decide to look at one of these vehicles and the first one I looked up showed it was originally from Louisianna and from a county deemed a flood disaster zone.

Hmmm....


It did not show that it was totalled or anything like that and had other events (minor accident) after 2005 so I'm not sure if it had been flood damaged. But man, sure doesn't give one a warm fuzzy does it?

Buying used cars has gotten so much more complicated that it was 10 years ago.

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Originally Posted by JCWarrior

Good info guys, thanks.

I have been avoiding, what look to be, nice cars because they appear to be for sale by what I call "mini dealers". I decided to pay the $55 for unlimited Carfax reports in case I decide to look at one of these vehicles and the first one I looked up showed it was originally from Louisianna and from a county deemed a flood disaster zone.

Hmmm....


It did not show that it was totalled or anything like that and had other events (minor accident) after 2005 so I'm not sure if it had been flood damaged. But man, sure doesn't give one a warm fuzzy does it?

Buying used cars has gotten so much more complicated that it was 10 years ago.

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Remember not all accidents are reported. So some incidents may not even show up on a carfax. That's where you have to do a visual inspection to make sure it's good. When I checked the histoy on my 2001 gtp it showed a clear record. The car looked and drove fine to me. I was told by some random guy standing in front of 7 eleven that the car had been in a accident because the hood didn't line up all the way around. Never noticed it until he told me. I was never really happy with it and ended up selling it in the end. Other than that the car was EXTREMELY clean.