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Why are people abandoning the W-Body?

jaydubb71

jaydubb71

New member
Yeah. Exactly as the title of this thread says. Why are people jumping ship? I bought my 98 GTP BRAND NEW! Im on the second vehicle since (2002 Maxima and 2009 G8 GT) and I still cant let her go. She still musters up some decent steam also. 216000 miles. Trans number 3. Original engine. Not driven easily either.

Why???
 


They aren't worth much anymore, why spend $$ to build a car worth $500-1000?

Rust

The 3800 platform is a bit dated the only way to make it come alive now is a turbo
 
I understand that they aren't worth much to some. But what about using them as a daily? I mean... I'm not trying to set the world on fire with a super fast W-body. But why not keep it around? These things were stepping on a lot of toes when they were newish. I know I was slapping a few cars around with mine back then. Maybe I just love the car...
 
Cost to build a 500whp engine... Not bad

Cost to build a trans to handle that... Priceless

For me, rust wasn't an issue. I just couldn't get past the fact that I would never be able to build a reliable transmission for any amount of money if I actually pushed the engine to it's full potential.
 


It’s a valid question. I love my 2000 GT (130K) and my wifes1998 GTP (260K – only on second transmission). My GT has just about all thesuspension stuff done to it so it’s a handler. I’m holding out for something catastrophicon the GTP and I’m parting her out &keeping the parts for a top swap on theGT. LOL.

BUT honestly, it’s the technology. I just drove a rental2016 Impala. 6 speed auto, 300 HP 3.5L? Damn thing was fast at any speed. Holycrap. Ok handling, but in a straight line it moved. The wifey loved all thetech and moderness’ too. I would have never even looked at an Impala let aloneseriously considered one after her car dies. The price for slightly used one isn’ttoo bad either (can’t afford new and can’t afford/find a GXP G8 either).

Hard to compare a 2016 Impala to a 2000 GT GP, but still.

I’m actually hoping to keep my GT until my kids are ofdriving age which is just in a few more years. It’s a solid car. I think aslong as people still enjoy their W bodies, they will last. People move on,taste change and want something different. Styles change.
 
Rust.... Ehhh... I understand. I got a lil bit around the gas door area. Yeah the tech is way behind. But unless you're trying to go stupid fast (11s and quicker) I don't see the trans being an issue. I will tell you this. My PCS solenoid has been disconnected from the harness since 2007. The trans is fine. It may shift a lil rough but I keep my torque management on. She is just fine. I'm noticing the trans temps are higher than I like. I will be installing a trans cooler soon...
 
I love my 04, it's the only car so far that hasn't given up on me... No matter how hard I pound on it, it'll still get me where I need to go.

I fully plan on keeping this car until I'm too old to drive, and it's got no rot to speak of. Lol

They're decently durable cars, outside of the trans and rust, and unless they're already a problem, they can be prevented from becoming a problem pretty easily... Shift kit and regular maintenance on the trans, and vigilance on the rust prevention will keep a W-body on the road for upwards of 300k miles.
 
WarStryker13 said:
I love my 04, it's the only car so far that hasn't given up on me... No matter how hard I pound on it, it'll still get me where I need to go.
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Exactly. Mine sat for 7 years. Decided to put her back on the street. Changed the oil, valve cover gaskets, flushed the cooling system and 4 new tires. She huffed some oil smoke initially (valve seals needed some fresh oil maybe) and is running great. Been back on the road for a little over a year. With the exception of this air conditioning that driving me nuts, I still love driving her!
 
I've seen quite a few people who left the platform, come back to it because they missed their old GP... There's just something about these cars, they keep the interest going.
 


WarStryker13 said:
I've seen quite a few people who left the platform, come back to it because they missed their old GP... There's just something about these cars, they keep the interest going.
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When I bought my G8, I had the Maxima and the GTP. I had to sell one. The Maxima was an OK car. BOTH were modded. Maxima was starting to become headache. It needed additional tuning to reach its full potential. I ALMOST sold the GTP. Then I remembered... I had HPTuners. I hadnt touched the tune EVER. It had a DHP 1.0 but.

I can honestly say Im glad I kept my GTP. Some people local to me are getting them and asking me a TON of questions bcuz Ive had mine for so long. Heck, even my ex-headache, I mean ex-girlfriend went and bought one (2004 Monte Carlo SS) after driving mine for a little while...
 
I've had my 00 GTP Coupe since 05 and 112K, I replaced the trans at 291K, and just swapped the motor at 330K, it's my DD and averages 24MPG city/hwy combined, I don't plan on it going anywhere soon. I drive 62 miles a day and my thinking was why should I buy a new car with a price tag of $20K-$80k that gets the same MPG or worse and won't be worth half of what I paid for it in 3 to 4 years, when I can fix this one for less then 10% of $20K.
 
waupachino said:
I've had my 00 GTP Coupe since 05 and 112K, I replaced the trans at 291K, and just swapped the motor at 330K, it's my DD and averages 24MPG city/hwy combined, I don't plan on it going anywhere soon. I drive 62 miles a day and my thinking was why should I buy a new car with a price tag of $20K-$80k that gets the same MPG or worse and won't be worth half of what I paid for it in 3 to 4 years, when I can fix this one for less then 10% of $20K.
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Exactly. If I can SOMEHOW manange to stay out of boost (hehehe...) I can get damn near 25 or better combined. Too much stop and go traffic and the occasional "Imma take your lane sucka!" battles. LOL! I can probably get more than that considering how much cruise timing I got in her. Problem is, theres this cute little whining noise she makes whenever I go real deep... LOL
 
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WarStryker13 said:
That whine is addictive, I hear... Lol
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Very. Sometimes I snap the throttle JUST to hear it. Or to scare these youngins out here when they cross the street at night outside of the crosswalk with dark clothes and sagging skinny jeans on. I know they cant run... LOL
 


It's a love/hate relationship kinda thing... Lol

I have 3 at the same time, one down and for parts, 2 still going, one has 230k+... I will always have one! Maybe sitting rusting away, but still have one!
 
It's a love/hate type of thing. The platform is dying. I still have the GP but reality set in that after damn there 9 years of owning and tinkering with it that I just got tired of having to constantly fix **** on what seemed like on a daily basis and once the old motor fell victim to rod knock that was enough for me to decide to go ahead and suck it up and get another car payment after several years of not having one. That and I knew I would be switching jobs soon after that, that involved mostly out of state work and the GP wouldn't have been up to the task.


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REDCRAPGP said:
It's a love/hate type of thing. The platform is dying. I still have the GP but reality set in that after damn there 9 years of owning and tinkering with it that I just got tired of having to constantly fix **** on what seemed like on a daily basis and once the old motor fell victim to rod knock that was enough for me to decide to go ahead and suck it up and get another car payment after several years of not having one. That and I knew I would be switching jobs soon after that, that involved mostly out of state work and the GP wouldn't have been up to the task.


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How many miles?
 
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