I have been looking for a great deal on a GTP for my soon-to-be 16 year old son. Yesterday, I think I finally found it but I wanted some feedback on these cars -- what to look out for, common issues, general thoughts, etc.

The car I found is a 96 GTP with the 3.4L. 90K miles, one-owner, garage kept, perfect body, no dings, perfect interior, new tune up, serpentine belt, new tires, etc. Price: $2500.

My son originally thought he wanted a 97-03 model with the 3.8L but this deal seems too good to pass up.

Questions:
  1. What do you think about this deal?
  2. Would it be worth another $1000 if I could find a car in the same condition as this one, only in the newer generation?
  3. What are some of the issues/problems common to the 96 models?
  4. How does the 96 transmission hold up?
  5. How does the 3.4 compare to the 3.8?
  6. Was the transmission upgraded from the 96 to 97 models?
  7. Can the 3.8L Supercharged motor be easily swapped into the 96 model?
Thanks for any and all comments. I am new to this board and new to the GP. Just hoping to quickly learn a lot so I can make a decision.