Thread: Help Please

If you guys out could give me some help that would be great. A year ago I had bought a 97 GTP with 140k on it. After buying it, it turned out to be a lemon. The oil pan gasket was leaking and so was the valve cover gasket in the rear. The owner before me just put glue all over it the leaks so it would hold till I bought it. Many other parts went bad as well, but most were easy fixes I did myself. But a month ago the car spun a rod bearing and now it was a loss. So I sold it and now I am looking to buy another GTP in the next few months.
So my big question is what do I want to look for in buying another one. As in like problem areas for these cars. A suggestions would be great. Im only asking because I really like these cars and I am no mechanic, so some thing are just out of my league. Thanks again.

Here are some that I thought of. I'm sure there are more; these mostly come from problems I saw with my car on other cars on the forums.

• Transmission: Check 1-2 shift and 2-1 downshift for slipping. Easiest way is to floor it from about 35 MPH on a highway on-ramp.
• Engine: Look for any signs of leakage (e.g. fluid residue). Check the plastic coolant elbows (rev the engine while looking under the hood to make them spray out). Check the condition of all hoses for cracks/wear.
• Power steering: Drive the car slowly while steering back and forth. Listen for any whining/whirring sound, which indicates the pump is going bad. Feel for any binding, which could indicate the rack is going bad.
• Check all interior switches (heated seats, window switches on all doors, etc). Make sure A/C works quietly.
• Take it to a place like Advanced/Autozone to test the battery and alternator.
• To see if it's been modded before: Look under the exhaust for the u-bend after the catalytic converter. This is the most restrictive part of the exhaust, and is usually one of the first parts replaced when modding a car (and they won't put the u-bend back on when they de-mod).
• Remove belt and check all pulleys for excess play and to ensure they move freely.
• Remove oil-fill cap and check for excessive sludge on rockers, which could indicate he didn't change the oil frequently (not sure if GP's build up sludge on the rockers at all, but I've seen it on other cars if the oil hasn't been changed frequently).