are these cars just crap?

**Aeroheadcww** · 03-06-2011

Originally Posted by That Canadian Guy

pre 03.

Correct sir! Edited my post to reflect your wisdom

**flash527** · 03-06-2011

not to piss anyone off, but i've always bought ford, and never had trouble. 4 different fords all over 200k, and no problems. i bought a cavalier that was a piece and fell apart at 100k. my gtp has 80k, and ive already replaced a tranny, and its in the shop now for a head gasket. im selling it asap and headed straight back to what i know works. ya i said it, now freak out.

**matt5112** · 03-06-2011

Originally Posted by flash527

not to piss anyone off, but i've always bought ford, and never had trouble. 4 different fords all over 200k, and no problems. i bought a cavalier that was a piece and fell apart at 100k. my gtp has 80k, and ive already replaced a tranny, and its in the shop now for a head gasket. im selling it asap and headed straight back to what i know works. ya i said it, now freak out.

How did you blow a head gasket?

**SnowDrift** · 03-08-2011

Originally Posted by flash527

not to piss anyone off, but i've always bought ford, and never had trouble. 4 different fords all over 200k, and no problems. i bought a cavalier that was a piece and fell apart at 100k. my gtp has 80k, and ive already replaced a tranny, and its in the shop now for a head gasket. im selling it asap and headed straight back to what i know works. ya i said it, now freak out.

So you made a bad choice in what you bought on the used market and bought two vehicles that were abused heavily before you got them and found four fords that were babied all their lives before you found them. It happens.

Just an added point, in my mechanical engineering program in college, the manufacturing advisors who worked with Toyota told us that it is common industry practice to engineer a car to last 7 years. Anything more than 7 years should be considered a bonus.

Toyota can blow it out their butts. The "advisors" told you that because they have spent too many hours in the presence of attorneys. If cars were really only designed to last 7 years, our economy would crumble overnight. That isn't directed at you at all, though, and it's not a personal attack on your comment. I have a beef with manufacturing in this day that things used to be designed by engineers. Today they're designed by attorneys and accountants.

**mechguy** · 03-08-2011

I have a beef with manufacturing in this day that things used to be designed by engineers. Today they're designed by attorneys and accountants.

I agree that the politics between the finance and engineering departments are excessive.

I would bet every performance engineer had a desire to put an intercooler underneath the M90, on our cars. The eng dept designed and proposed the idea to upper management and the financial people. Then the idea was shut down because the added cost was deemed to not equivalently increase sales.

**gtpinsc** · 03-06-2011

head gaskets dont usually fail on these cars.. im not hater of any make of car. good luck with the new ride when u get it.

**matt5112** · 03-08-2011

It would have increased tire sales.

**Poil336** · 03-08-2011

that and it was going to outperform f-bodies

**matt5112** · 03-08-2011

how?

its heaver, FWD, and its FWD and less power?

300 < 320+

**Poil336** · 03-08-2011

96 LT1's weren't 320, they were 275.
f-bodies were 5.7 0-60 and 14.1 in the quarter
gpx went 5.8 and 14.3
maybe not out-performed, but close enough to pull the intercooler and detune

**matt5112** · 03-08-2011

And two years later the LS1 came out.

Which in an 01/02 SS would net 12.99 on stock tires in the right conditions and a damned good driver.

**Poil336** · 03-09-2011

no arguments there lol. definite step up in performance between those two motors

**blueguy** · 03-09-2011

Pffft...who is stock anymore?

This guy.

YouTube - Stock LS1 Camaro Runs 12.69 @ 110 MPH

OR...if we can up the ante a bit...

YouTube - Ranger C6 Z06 11.22 Bone-Stock on Stock Tires

YouTube - Ranger C6 Z06 10.85 Bone-Stock on DRs (Drag Radials)

**donkason** · 04-22-2011

I saw this and had to put my 2 cents in. These cars are absolute junk. They look cool. They are fast. Past that it's garbage.

1. Drivers side window switch intermittently working
2. Front Hubs went out at 60k
3. Valve cover leaks lots of oil at 60k
4. E-Brake freezes in cold weather. Had to throw warm water on the caliper for 15 minutes to get to work one day
5. TPMS sticks on every time I turn the key and needs reset
6. Two pulleys went out at 63k
7 RHS front monsoon speaker blew
8. Chrome rims peeling like a sunburn from the inside
9. As of today it needs an o2 sensor at 78k which is understandable, but $ spent
10. Blower motor went out

Basically anything that's not the engine is liable to stop working prematurely and even that will spew oil like a drunk college girl after a bottle of cheap wine. I have 10 problems and I've owned it for almost two years from 52k to 79k

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. I know there's more nickel and dime junk I've done though. I'm about ready to sell the thing and keep driving my 96 Tercel with 220k on it. I got it for free at 190k and all I've done is replace a wheel bearing. It is more reliable than my GTP:-( Maybe I'll stuff the 3800 in the Yoter and take the GP's shell to the scrap yard!

This is sad to say because I have been a GM guy my whole life but this type of thing is the reason they wen't bankrupt and other manufactures didn't.

**Durk Diggler** · 04-22-2011

[QUOTE=donkason;553148]

8. Chrome rims peeling like a sunburn from the inside
QUOTE]

GM cheaps out and doesn't triple plate their chrome, they chrome plate the bare rims so they all peel and leak.

**donkason** · 04-23-2011

To offset my negative with a positive this car has remained bearable due to this forum and all the good folks on it. I'm a pretty good wrench but this place has saved me numerous hours of trial and error. THANK YOU!
Buying a used GTP is like marrying a prostitute from Detroit , you know its been used hard before you ever got in the saddle. She's a dirty girl that will take you for a wild ride and leave you hanging when you need her the most.

**Sandman** · 04-23-2011

Love the car

Only time it's left me stranded on the side of the road is when the tranny blew. Still runs like a champ over a year after the chipped piston.

**dengnath** · 04-23-2011

Originally Posted by donkason

I saw this and had to put my 2 cents in. These cars are absolute junk. They look cool. They are fast. Past that it's garbage.

1. Drivers side window switch intermittently working
2. Front Hubs went out at 60k
3. Valve cover leaks lots of oil at 60k
4. E-Brake freezes in cold weather. Had to throw warm water on the caliper for 15 minutes to get to work one day
5. TPMS sticks on every time I turn the key and needs reset
6. Two pulleys went out at 63k
7 RHS front monsoon speaker blew
8. Chrome rims peeling like a sunburn from the inside
9. As of today it needs an o2 sensor at 78k which is understandable, but $ spent
10. Blower motor went out

Basically anything that's not the engine is liable to stop working prematurely and even that will spew oil like a drunk college girl after a bottle of cheap wine. I have 10 problems and I've owned it for almost two years from 52k to 79k

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. I know there's more nickel and dime junk I've done though. I'm about ready to sell the thing and keep driving my 96 Tercel with 220k on it. I got it for free at 190k and all I've done is replace a wheel bearing. It is more reliable than my GTP:-( Maybe I'll stuff the 3800 in the Yoter and take the GP's shell to the scrap yard!

This is sad to say because I have been a GM guy my whole life but this type of thing is the reason they wen't bankrupt and other manufactures didn't.

U make no sense.... half the stuff you just said is wrong is on the 3800.... so ud scrap the body.... and use the f**ked up engine?

**donkason** · 04-23-2011

Originally Posted by dengnath

U make no sense.... half the stuff you just said is wrong is on the 3800.... so ud scrap the body.... and use the f**ked up engine?

The only problem with the engine is the valve cover gaskets and pulleys. I actually think these motors are stout and I'll bet a good bit of the tyranny problems are from lack of maintenance.

It just seeks like GM cut corners everywhere they could with this car. The engine has been tried and true.

So yes I would love to shove a blown 3800 in my Tercel and slap the peeling chrome 17s on it to make it hook up and boogie, but I lack $, motivation, and a welder to make it happen.