And the price does reflect the 167K+ KM's on it... would have to consider what if any major maintenance has been done on it (I.E. timing belt, water pump that sort of thing) and really NOT comparable to the car my wife's friend was wanting to sell....
Those engine's don't have timing belts. This one would be more of a daily driver where your wife's friends car would be one I'd only drive on nice days.
Shawn, you must be thinking of the issues the Gen I had with the timing chain and gears. Those were a problem but there has never been a 3800 with a belt.
The Gen II had an improved design chain/gears and I don't think we've ever changed one at our dealership. On the early ones it was such a common problem we stocked all the parts to do the chain and gears at our little dealership.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
The major known problem with the 3800 Series II 1995-99 is hydrolock due to poor design of intake plenum and EGR passage melting the plastic intake permitting the cylinders to fill with coolant. Sounds bad but very repairable. GM developed a metal sleeve version of the plenum 2000 onward eliminating this problem. Overall the 3800 has to be ranked with the Chevy Small block in terms of longevity durability, reliability and power. This makes this car very desireable low cost good value car for old car guys like us. I own a 98 88LS with 160,000km and it is has been and is a great car.
Definitely no argument from me on how great the 3800 engines are. My only concern is comparing a 167k km offering to a 44k km one...esp when the 167 K km has been used to tow, the leather appears to be dry and wrinkled.. And looks like it's been a daily drive...compared to a low mileage, example which has been garage kept, well maintained never used as a tow vehicle... Apples and oranges is all I'm saying...
Definitely no argument from me on how great the 3800 engines are. My only concern is comparing a 167k km offering to a 44k km one...esp when the 167 K km has been used to tow, the leather appears to be dry and wrinkled.. And looks like it's been a daily drive...compared to a low mileage, example which has been garage kept, well maintained never used as a tow vehicle... Apples and oranges is all I'm saying...
Hey Shawn not directed at the other low km showroom mint condition car, just my general comments pertaining to this affordable well used decent looking GP and engine issues. I wouldn't pay more than $1500 for this one though.
Ok if this with 167 Klms is worth $1500, what's the low mileage one worth? Maybe 4 to 5 times the price?
So 5 x1500=$7500 or 3495x5=$17475.
I doubt you will be able to find anyone on the planet who will pay more than $10g's for a mint one.
That's the reality of depreciation on a car.
Especially a FWD GM. Good daily drivers, very poor investment vehicles.
Even a rare and desirable GM car of the 80's such as the Grand National or 89 Turbo Trans Am are still not a big dollar car.
The average low mile GN is actually averaging between $25K - $30K. However I do agree with you on the GP. My friend was hoping to get that for her low mileage 40th Anniversary GP, based on the $42k she paid for it and the very low mileage and the fact that it's been babied since new. But has since realized that is not the case and has since decided to keep it, at least for a while longer.
Asking price on a GN may very we'll be in the $25-30 k range but actual selling price?
I have an 87 GN t top with 130 Klms that I'll be lucky to get $8500 for. It's not mint, but a decent driver.
Quite a few GN owners think that their cars are mint, but very few really are. As for low mileage...., too many unscrupulous odo diallers on those old G bodies too take the dash reading with anything but a grain of salt.
Quite a few GN owners think that their cars are mint, but very few really are.
True. The interiors did not stand up too well. Same as Cutlasses/Regals of the same vintage.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Asking price on a GN may very we'll be in the $25-30 k range but actual selling price? I have an 87 GN t top with 130 Klms that I'll be lucky to get $8500 for. It's not mint, but a decent driver. Quite a few GN owners think that their cars are mint, but very few really are. As for low mileage...., too many unscrupulous odo diallers on those old G bodies too take the dash reading with anything but a grain of salt.
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale sold one with about 30K miles in great shape for $25K. Full roof though. T-Top versions always get less due to twisting. So a GN low mileage, (I.E. 50K KM or less) in very good shape one can reasonably expect to pay in the $25K range.. I'm not talking about a GN that's been driven daily here.
Asking price on a GN may very we'll be in the $25-30 k range but actual selling price? I have an 87 GN t top with 130 Klms that I'll be lucky to get $8500 for. It's not mint, but a decent driver. Quite a few GN owners think that their cars are mint, but very few really are. As for low mileage...., too many unscrupulous odo diallers on those old G bodies too take the dash reading with anything but a grain of salt.
Asking price on a GN may very we'll be in the $25-30 k range but actual selling price? I have an 87 GN t top with 130 Klms that I'll be lucky to get $8500 for. It's not mint, but a decent driver. Quite a few GN owners think that their cars are mint, but very few really are. As for low mileage...., too many unscrupulous odo diallers on those old G bodies too take the dash reading with anything but a grain of salt.
Do you want to sell the GN ?
Hi Ken I'll let you know. I've got the T top seals & trim Out now as well as a bunch of other work to do.
Since when do G body cars become worth less because of a T top???? it's a body on frame car not a unibody!
if you only want a drag car buy a Regal & strip it out.
Asking price on a GN may very we'll be in the $25-30 k range but actual selling price? I have an 87 GN t top with 130 Klms that I'll be lucky to get $8500 for. It's not mint, but a decent driver. Quite a few GN owners think that their cars are mint, but very few really are. As for low mileage...., too many unscrupulous odo diallers on those old G bodies too take the dash reading with anything but a grain of salt.
Do you want to sell the GN ?
Hi Ken I'll let you know. I've got the T top seals & trim Out now as well as a bunch of other work to do.
Since when do G body cars become worth less because of a T top???? it's a body on frame car not a unibody!
if you only want a drag car buy a Regal & strip it out.
from the appraiser's mouth : T-Top car is worth more $
I have N.O.S. window fuzzies and a washer bottle and overflow bottle for one
Thanks Ken. T Top G body cars have always been more expensive than hard tops from what I've seen.
I realize G/N's have a different following than the rest, but unless it's a drag car only a T Top has always been mo' money.
I do understand the hardtop desire when used as there is no maintaining seals, leaks, etc.
I don't know where you guys are getting your information..
I've known a ton of GN owners over the years and T Top cars are always less desirable. It's still an awesome car, but I've always been told if you're going to buy one, buy a full roof because they don't twist. Is the reason GNX's were all solid roof.
Then there is the GN Astroroof, rarer than the two, no twist, but still sun & air above you.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Astro roofs are rare indeed! As for body twisting on a stock GN? They are less than 300 HP so not the same as a GNX at all.
I don't think GNs are all they are hyped up to be or have been. Back in 87 there wasn't a lot of competition so they caught everyone off guard.
I went to the Indy 500 all thru the 80s and really got into the Buick Turbo cars. My favorite is probably the Riveras.
I've never seen one in Canada, but they were very cool and respected down in Indiana.
Then there is the GN Astroroof, rarer than the two, no twist, but still sun & air above you.
i know zero about these cars, but im amazed that anything this cool made it to the streets by gm in 1987, it looks mean! we had a cutlass ciera in that time frame, it wasnt cool,
fast or mean looking and everyone else i knew had one also
i think it has aged better then many specialty cars including the original topic of this post.
-- Edited by ga on Saturday 12th of April 2014 09:45:23 AM
Astro roofs are rare indeed! As for body twisting on a stock GN? They are less than 300 HP so not the same as a GNX at all. I don't think GNs are all they are hyped up to be or have been. Back in 87 there wasn't a lot of competition so they caught everyone off guard. I went to the Indy 500 all thru the 80s and really got into the Buick Turbo cars. My favorite is probably the Riveras. I've never seen one in Canada, but they were very cool and respected down in Indiana.
Astro roofs are extremely rare, in fact I don't think I've ever seen one in Canada. And yes, on paper they were less than 300 hp..but everyone, including GM has stated they were under-rated for insurance purposes. Hence why a stock GN will spank a mid to late 80's and into early 90's stock Corvette. In New Brunswick, an 87 GN is a pretty common car as 1 dealer brought in 45 of them and many can still be found around the province.
