If this car is going to cost me 1000 dollars or more to fix, I would rather just buy another one and have a parts vehicle. In Florida they practically give rust free GTPs away for nothing. Up here the same car would be 5000 dollars or more depending on miles.
But engine noise scares me. Especially if it is a rod knock or something. I did some messing around with it and I think it may be a lifter issue. So that might be fix able. I also watched a couple of other 3800 vids on youtube that had the same sound and two guys said it was a clogged CAT. :dunno:
I test drove a Fusion with a manual trans today, and then a Titanium model. I think one of those might make a good replacement for a weekend summer car. If I don't get another GTP.