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Looking to buy a Prix...

D

Dread Pirate Steve

New member
Hiya. I decided the other day I was going to sell my Jeep Wrangler because the ever nagging annoyance of driving a fully manual(windows, locks, trans, etc) car became too much. I expected to take a week or two to sell it while I searched for other cars, but within 3 hours of putting it on craigslist I had it sold. It will be gone Friday. Needless to say, I suddenly find myself in a rush to purchase a new vehicle with what I got from the Jeep. One of the first things that came up on Craigslist was this Grand Prix: >>>2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GT w/LOTS of extras!!<<<<<

The mileage is high, but the car looks to be in nice shape, at least the body and interior. I'm not 100% sure this is the one I want, looks like it needs a new clock spring, and fuel level sending unit(my first guesses based on the symptoms), both very expensive parts when purchased new, at least on the Jeep they were. Still, 3500 for a fully loaded GP seems amazing, and he's flexible on price, so it seems like a great deal to me. The rust thing is my biggest concern right now, the Wrangler I just came from was rotting away before my eyes, I was looking at doing frame swaps and weld-in body panel replacements myself due to lack of funds, eventually I said enough was enough and sold it.

Anyway, I'm going to go look at this car, probably on friday, was wondering what sorts of things to pay attention to on these vehicles? As far as rust goes, what areas tend to rust away first?
 


I just traded my 90 Mustang LX 5.0 for 98 GTP (super charged) that was selling for $3500. Straight trade with no money, That is a GT, it looks good, but the mileage is high. Offer him/her $2800 and see what happens. I have seen GTP's selling here for $2500 with mods. So if he/she wants to sell don't give into the $3500. Just my opinion. Hope you get it or something you like. Grad Prix's are fun cars.
 
Body rust = rust you cant imagine underneath.
That's a lot of miles.
What extras? The only extra he doesn't expect you to PAY EXTRA for is the tint. Rest is stock.
In the front shot, see how effed the passenger headlight area looks? And did you read that part about all new front end parts? 1+1= danger.
For that price, I personally advise against it.

However, I hope you do get a GP, they're enjoyable to own for the most part.
:)
 
Sorry guys, I've been going back and forth on cars for a few days. I'm still not 100% sure that I want the Prix, I really like the body style of the 00-05 Bonnevilles, but I think I like the GT's leather interior more :P also, so many people get that butt-ugly tan dashboard in the Bonneville. What's up with that :th_lipssealed1:

I've also noticed another thing: the used car market in Michigan stinks! Both the GP and Bonne are about 500-1000 bucks cheaper on Chicago's craigslist. Now just to choose one that I'm 150% sure I want :P
 


aint nothing wrong with a bonnie. but if i were you id also look into regals. therye basicly the same car as a gp, but youd have a greater shot at getting one that wasnt beat on. plus i do believe your insurance will be cheaper.

are you sure you wanna go N/A?
 
Dread Pirate Steve said:
Go what?
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do you want a V6.. or do you want a supercharged V6. grand prix GTP, bonneville SSEI, and regal GS are all supercharged. they arent that much more expensive, and definetly that much more fun.

youll only be paying a couple extra dollars per fill up using 91 or 93
 


For comparison, I picked up a 2001 GTP recently, very clean, 120K miles, for $3000. That's Canadian $ but lately that's been about even with the US$. A friend got a Bonny SSEi about 6 months ago, same year, similar mileage for around the same price (can't remember exactly off hand)

I'd pass on that one unless he's willing to come down. A lot! Keep looking, I hope you do find a GP, they are a hell of a nice car!
 
SilvaMan61 said:
do you want a V6.. or do you want a supercharged V6. grand prix GTP, bonneville SSEI, and regal GS are all supercharged. they arent that much more expensive, and definetly that much more fun.

youll only be paying a couple extra dollars per fill up using 91 or 93
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Well, the Bonneville SSEI's do have the interior I like. I can't justify the extra cost though. I don't have a job to keep up with repairs at the moment so I am looking for something for 3k or less, something that I can rely on for at least 2000-5000 miles while I get said job and save some cash. I don't want to be that jobless loser on the block who still finds the cash to buy a car with a supercharger. I also need to be thinking about buying the car today and getting smacked with 1000 dollars worth of bad parts tomorrow. Trust me, I've seen it happen too. Had a 4 cylinder Wrangler that blew the head gasket, radiator, and transmission in less than 200 miles...:th_skull: drove it a grand total of 300 before someone hit me and totaled it :th_angry2:
 
i dont mean to be overly persistant but you may be thinking to highly of them. its a horribly inefficient supercharger that doesnt add much power, but because of this it also isnt much to keep up with. I actually dont think it requires any "special" attention or maintenance, other than higher gas grades, and a S/C oil change every, what is it, 30,000 miles.

if i were you, since you dont want to throw money into repairs for a while, id make sure you buy one with the lower intake manifold already replaced. these will typically go out around 95,000 miles. it can be a costly job depending on who you go to. this is the case for any 3800 powered vehicle, supercharged or not.
 
Yeah, I heard about those manifolds. I would be very unhappy if I started the car one day and it went boom.

I guess it all depends on what fits my price range. And by the way I'm sorry, but if I am going for supercharged, I am going to get a Bonneville :D From the Chicago area there aren't any that fit my price range, from my area(detroit metro) there's 1, with issues. 2000 Bonneville SSEI Supercharged Between blue, white, and black tailpipe smoke, is there one more commonly seen in Pontiacs?
 


white smoke, and a sweet smell would mean its burning coolant. which means that the LIM gasket is gone. but the ad says he rebuilt the engine with all new gaskets.. so idk. may be worth looking at.
 
SilvaMan61 said:
white smoke, and a sweet smell would mean its burning coolant. which means that the LIM gasket is gone. but the ad says he rebuilt the engine with all new gaskets.. so idk. may be worth looking at.
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Yeah, and from what he says, it sounds like he's been driving it like that - I figure he would have mentioned a coolant leak.
 
Dread Pirate Steve said:
Yeah, and from what he says, it sounds like he's been driving it like that - I figure he would have mentioned a coolant leak.
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I must eat my words, he said it's white smoke....he said in the ad he didn't know what it was now he claims it needs valve seals in the head. I'm kinda wary now. Plus my racist dad is very against me buying a Detroit car because apparently they're all poor and don't take care of their cars. Since he's the car person of the family, I sort of need him to come along with me, so I don't think this one is gonna happen. Also, it has 180k miles. The search continues...
 
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