Thread: Hey!

I just joined. I currently do not own a GP but I am actively searching for one now. I live in Frederick, Maryland and work in Rockville, Maryland.

I currently have a 2000 Grand Am SE, and a 1992 Eagle Talon Turbo AWD. I was going to purchase a 98-02 Trans Am but I decided against it. I've loved the GTP's for years now. With recent research between all different makes and models I think the current cost of the GP with the power you get, the new modifications developed over the past few years, and it's great style, has finally made me realize this is the car I want.

I'm excited to be joining this community and I think I'll enjoy it a lot.

I have a few questions and I will be posting these same questions in the braking/handling section as well.

Off road racing with all wheel drive is my passion. That is why I have the Talon. I have never been a huge fan of drag racing. I'm more of a circle track/ road track kind of guy. Whenever I modified the talon I took the suspension/handling, and braking into account way more than power. The off road rally doesn't require a lot of power so I never bothered with upgrading the turbo, etc.. The 14b doesn't have a lot of turbo lag anyways which was ideal for me on tracks with short straight aways and a lot of turns.

I don't want to drive off road with the GTP I get but I would like to take it around a track. I know it has it's downfalls being front wheel drive and more, but I'm not too worried about that. I'll work around that. What I would like to ask is for peoples opinions on whether I should purchase the 4-door sedan model, or the 2 door coupe model? I'm looking into a 99-03 GTP, unless it's a 98 Daytona Pace car edition.

I'm wondering if the 4 door sedan would be better for what I want because of the slightly longer frame which could result in better stability. I know that many Honda and Mazda teams have been using the TSX and 4 Door Mazda 6's rather than the coupes. Does this sound like a legit consideration when looking for a track use GTP?

Has anyone else attempted to build a GTP built around road track use rather than the drag strip?

Thanks again and I appreciate everyones help and advice.

-Martin

Welcome to the forums. I don't belive there is much difference in the length of the coupe and sedan. Parked my two toghether one day and it was only a matter of a few inches. As for the road courses, I would think the fwd would do pretty good bacause you'd have the front wheels pulling you out of the corners and not having to worry about the rears breaking loose and spinning out as easy. That's just my thoughts on it. Well, good luck on your search for your GP and you'll be able to get tons of useful onfo here.

thanks for the welcome 2fast4u! I saw your page. When will you be done with the RWD swap as I have a lot of interest in it!!! How far long are you? Any pictures to display on the project so far? Any speculation on what the total might be?? Any early deals where we pay you before it comes out. The end result being we, the customers, save big time. Example- Phamspeed Budget Turbo Kit for the LSx was $2200 pre-prdered and when it was developed cost $5k+.

Thanks

Martin

Thanks BADAZGTP, I did some further research on it and you're right, the specs show they are only a few inches apart. 2 Door coupe it is! Btw A guy literally down the street from me is selling a 98 Daytona for $5k with 134k miles, but has mods including suspension, which result in over 300hp, I'm guessing to the crank. Is that a fair asking price? I asked if he'd go down. I had an opportunity over the weekend to purchase a 98 Daytona with 104k miles for $4k but didn't pull the trigger I hadn't seen the car. Someone else bought it that night.

It's kinda ify buying a car with mods already done to the motor. You don't know if they were done right, if cheap products were used, if the car was tuned for the mods it has done, what's been done with the car, and the list goes on and on. Unless you know the guy very well and know that his work was done right and can trust him. If it was me, I'd buy a stock one and build it yourself so you'd know they were done right. That's just my 2 cents on it. Do you have access to a scan tool that scan's for kr. if so, ask him to take it for a test drive, throw the scanner on it and see what you get. If you can trust his work, how he has treated the car and it hasn't been tuned, you can get a good tuner and work on that. Get a list of the mods that he has done and we can go from there. If it's nothing to in depth with mods, you may be ok. Seems to be a descent price though.

Here is what the guy selling the Daytona replied to me:

"I do auto glass [work]....I am pretty firm on 4,900. Its the least ill take.. i have alot of money in it, maintence and such.. all gm parts. everything except cat back and struts were done recently. and i have a spare extra wheel new in box. i probably have 8K+ in it. I did debadge it ... It has new gm wheel bearings, rod ends, new intake gaskets which are a must at 100k. and new idler pulleys, and lots more. the wheel bearings/hub assm were 500.it is very reliable and gets great mileage...i would take 4,800 but no less, sorry. i would just keep it, in that case."

This was a list of modifications he sent to me:

"tons of mods including: new headers, full exhaust, cold air, computer upgrade, thrasher modular supercharger pulley sys, intrax springs, kyb struts, full gm performance parts suspension kit (f/r sway bars, strut tower braces and link arms) 18" hp wheels. car currently makes 11 psi boost, never ran it but should run mid 13's ..car runs great and is very reliable, ice cold air and heated power seat. heads up display, dark gray leather. ALSO COMES W/ SPARE 18" WHEEL NEW IN BOX."

I really feel good about this car! He said I can come take a test drive anytime and said he has nothing to hide. Car is in great shape. I don't think he would mind if I did a diagnostics test on it, and yes I can do one. My brother works in a shop so no problem there.

This sound like a good purchase to everyone else?

Thanks,
Martin

P.S. I'll post pics of my Talon soon

Yea it does. I was just curious of how far he actually got into the mods. But seems like he did the basics. I think you should jump on it. If you don't, someone else will. Check the size of the s/c pulley, if it's a 3.4 or smaller, you may have some kr. You'll know when you scan for it. But having the modular system, if you have to put a bigger size on it, there fairly cheap and only bolts on instead of having to have it pressed on. Like I said, sounds like a awsome deal. Let me know if and when you get it and put some pics up of her.

Somebody has already told the selle they'd buy the car before I got a chance. He said they are coming Friday to pick it up. If they don't he will give me a call. Cross my fingers the guy doesn't show up. I'm looking at a few other. I may be driving to Florida just to get one but it would be worth it.

Originally Posted by Quicklynx

Somebody has already told the selle they'd buy the car before I got a chance. He said they are coming Friday to pick it up. If they don't he will give me a call. Cross my fingers the guy doesn't show up. I'm looking at a few other. I may be driving to Florida just to get one but it would be worth it.

My fingers a crossedXX. So how are the other ones? They all GTP's?

Welcome to the site.

Thanks for all the welcomes! Yes all the cars I've been looking at are GTP's. I don't want any less.

I'm being very picky because I know what I want. I'm down to only 2 vehicles I want and it's either a 1998 Daytona edition, or a Black 2 door coupe of any year.

I found a black one in Florida for a very low price, however, decided to not get it. It wasn't because anything was wrong with it other than worn leather like all the GM cars have problems with, but because the customer service was bad. I had been trying to get info and pictures and they didn't seem interested in dealing at the moment. Even if it was a great deal I'll pass.

I'm still hoping the guy who lives down the road from me has his 1998 and that the other guy didn't show up with the money.

Thanks again everyone for the help!

I'd still like more information on some modifictions for better handling and suspension setups for track use.

Thanks man! I'm still hunting for a GTP. My search is getting warmer. Found a few cars I like. Green 4 Door with low miles and a Blue-Black metallic coupe which both I am in love with. I'm thinking with both I do some gold trimming. I feel it would work well with either colors.