whats the best grand am to buy?

surfermatt95 · 05-13-2012, 09:43 PM

i have a 99 grand am gt, i did the headgaskets on it, lim uim, tune up, tranny oil and its got 133k and iwas thinking about selling it and buying a 02 grand am gt what do you think ? theres a picture of my car,

FuriousG · 05-13-2012, 10:18 PM

Not much difference between a '99 and '02. If you're serious about changing at least go for an '03-'05. Even that wont' be enough of a change to offset the amount of money you'll probably lose in the swap. Your best bet is to stick with the one you have.

surfermatt95 · 05-14-2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FuriousG

Not much difference between a '99 and '02. If you're serious about changing at least go for an '03-'05. Even that wont' be enough of a change to offset the amount of money you'll probably lose in the swap. Your best bet is to stick with the one you have.

even with it having 133k? i mean should i at least swap to a 99 with lower mileage i feel like this one is close to death, it runs good and i want to do a bunch of stuff, rims, paint job, interior , neons etc but i feel like itll be a waste because the car is at the end point of its life, it runs good and im about to put a new cat on but im not sure if i should put all that on this or just get a lower mileage one... but i feel kinda stupid for even asking :P

locoman99 · 05-14-2012, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfermatt95

even with it having 133k? i mean should i at least swap to a 99 with lower mileage i feel like this one is close to death, it runs good and i want to do a bunch of stuff, rims, paint job, interior , neons etc but i feel like itll be a waste because the car is at the end point of its life, it runs good and im about to put a new cat on but im not sure if i should put all that on this or just get a lower mileage one... but i feel kinda stupid for even asking :P

133k?. It just got broken in. wrecks rust and women are the only things that can kill a loved car. When something wears out...upgrade it.

shiwnath · 05-14-2012, 12:32 PM

Actually.. Between a 99 and an 02 there were some changes for sure. The 99 has smaller bosch style injectors, a crappier upper intake manifold design and a different style EGR just to list a few, but performance wise I think they're about the same.

surfermatt95 · 05-14-2012, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by locoman99

133k?. It just got broken in. wrecks rust and women are the only things that can kill a loved car. When something wears out...upgrade it.

so this should last me a while? of course itll last til i stop repairing it :P im 16 and pretty excited about this , so should this car easily go past 200k?

surfermatt95 · 05-14-2012, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiwnath

Actually.. Between a 99 and an 02 there were some changes for sure. The 99 has smaller bosch style injectors, a crappier upper intake manifold design and a different style EGR just to list a few, but performance wise I think they're about the same.

is the exterior body the same? i feel like i like the 02 body style better

tipnitty · 05-14-2012, 03:28 PM

Just keep yours, don't go through all the hassle of selling one and potentially buying someone else's problem.

BJPbrandon2448 · 05-14-2012, 03:35 PM

particulary the grand am you want to buy is one that doesnt have a blown headgasket.

locoman99 · 05-14-2012, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfermatt95

so this should last me a while? of course itll last til i stop repairing it :P im 16 and pretty excited about this , so should this car easily go past 200k?

190k...i did put an 01 engine in it at 160k..but that was more on me than the car. i just made a 700 mile round trip in it and didnt think twice about it. Stay on top of any issue and it will be in better shape at 200k than 100k

AaronGTR · 05-14-2012, 05:35 PM

133,000 is nothing! It's definitely far from "about to die" unless it's been beat on or completely neglected. Anyway...

The bodies are pretty much the same on all grand ams from 1999-2005. The most significant changes were made to the body cladding on the SE's in later years, and of course the change to the mickey mouse mirrors and availability of the SC/T appearance parts, which was in '03 I believe.

There were some significant changes to the power train however between the '99 and the '00-'02 cars. There were some significant updates again in '03 to the engine and trans. If you want one with the lowest miles and best updates, you should probably look for an '03-'05 model. There were a few minor interior changes through the years too, but nothing major.

surfermatt95 · 05-14-2012, 11:02 PM

thanks everyone, ill just baby this car and try to get what i can out of it, it was given to me for free so any money i put wont be wasted

UndeadGods · 05-16-2012, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfermatt95

so this should last me a while? of course itll last til i stop repairing it :P im 16 and pretty excited about this , so should this car easily go past 200k?

225k here

chris_gt_74 · 05-16-2012, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UndeadGods

225k here

Damn you drive a lot!

I have an 05 with 97k which feels like a lot to me.

05-16-2012, 06:58 PM

Mine has about 144k and still runs good. I used to drive cabs a few years ago and a lot of them had the 3.4 like impalas. Most of them were luminas but I think they had similar engines like 3.1s and other 3.4s. They were driven for sometimes up to 12 hours a day and had well over 200k on them not to mention that they were beaten to s*it by other slobby drivers that drove them and were worn but they seemed to just keep going. It seems like if you keep repairing them and changing oil/trans they keep going. I watched some video of a Buick 3.1 that claimed to have have piston slap and sounded like s*it but the guy said it was alright for high miles and it was designed that way but idk never learned too much about that.

UndeadGods · 05-17-2012, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris_gt_74

Damn you drive a lot!

I have an 05 with 97k which feels like a lot to me.

I bought it with 200k, it was mostly city driven, by a drunk driver who crashed it a few times n blew a head, twice, apart from that, it runs pretty solid!

surfermatt95 · 05-17-2012, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UndeadGods

I bought it with 200k, it was mostly city driven, by a drunk driver who crashed it a few times n blew a head, twice, apart from that, it runs pretty solid!

XD thats funny, yeah the guy who had this drove drunk the last time he had it, and ran up against something red, broke off right mirror and dropped cigarette on seat i just now called the bank, the guy owes 823.67 on it and it adds 12% daily and i think im going to pay it, since i got car for free its just all fees and interest and he filed car in bankruptcy and sent it to chargeoff! not sure what to do other than play hardball

UndeadGods · 05-17-2012, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfermatt95

XD thats funny, yeah the guy who had this drove drunk the last time he had it, and ran up against something red, broke off right mirror and dropped cigarette on seat i just now called the bank, the guy owes 823.67 on it and it adds 12% daily and i think im going to pay it, since i got car for free its just all fees and interest and he filed car in bankruptcy and sent it to chargeoff! not sure what to do other than play hardball

Yea the first day that i got my car on the road (after having it sit for like 3 days cuz of VIN number related problems) i blew a head after driving it for 15 mins

.

Front n back bumpers were cracked/broken, pass headlight case was broken, the black plastic piece that holds the headlights in is broken on pass side so noting really held the light in lmao.
She lost her license so her mom sold her car

surfermatt95 · 05-19-2012, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UndeadGods

Yea the first day that i got my car on the road (after having it sit for like 3 days cuz of VIN number related problems) i blew a head after driving it for 15 mins

.

Front n back bumpers were cracked/broken, pass headlight case was broken, the black plastic piece that holds the headlights in is broken on pass side so noting really held the light in lmao.
She lost her license so her mom sold her car

thats crazy, i actually enjoyed doing my gaskets i just did not like those two screws on the lower intake manifold that were hard to remove and put in and i broke the screws on exhaust where they come together

UndeadGods · 05-19-2012, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfermatt95

thats crazy, i actually enjoyed doing my gaskets i just did not like those two screws on the lower intake manifold that were hard to remove and put in and i broke the screws on exhaust where they come together

What happens if you break those screws? How would you fix it?

I'm scared to take apart my engine cuz I'll prolly forget how to put it back together

05-13-2012, 09:43 PM	#1
surfermatt95 GAGT - Member AKA: matthew Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: melbourne, florida Age: 26 Posts: 75 Vehicle: 1999 grand am gt sedan	whats the best grand am to buy? i have a 99 grand am gt, i did the headgaskets on it, lim uim, tune up, tranny oil and its got 133k and iwas thinking about selling it and buying a 02 grand am gt what do you think ? theres a picture of my car, Attached Thumbnails

05-13-2012, 10:18 PM	#2
FuriousG Nürburgring Driven! AKA: Isaiah Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Plumas Lake, CA Age: 43 Posts: 934 Vehicle: '03 GAGT / '09 G8 GXP	Not much difference between a '99 and '02. If you're serious about changing at least go for an '03-'05. Even that wont' be enough of a change to offset the amount of money you'll probably lose in the swap. Your best bet is to stick with the one you have. __________________ 2003 GAGT: CAI, SLP Catback, DHP ECM, 18" ASA JH9 Rims, Eibachs, Corvette Z06 Brakes, Front/Rear STBs, Debadged, Dual Post Mirrors, Projector Headlights, Tinted Tails, Fogs, 3rd Brake & Reverse Lights 2009 G8 GXP: #1233 out of 1829 - SOLO Axlebacks, VCM OTR Intake

05-14-2012, 05:35 PM	#11
AaronGTR BlingWithBallz AKA: Aaron Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Detroit area, MI Age: 43 Posts: 12,254 Vehicle: 2000 Grand Am GT1 2dr	133,000 is nothing! It's definitely far from "about to die" unless it's been beat on or completely neglected. Anyway... The bodies are pretty much the same on all grand ams from 1999-2005. The most significant changes were made to the body cladding on the SE's in later years, and of course the change to the mickey mouse mirrors and availability of the SC/T appearance parts, which was in '03 I believe. There were some significant changes to the power train however between the '99 and the '00-'02 cars. There were some significant updates again in '03 to the engine and trans. If you want one with the lowest miles and best updates, you should probably look for an '03-'05 model. There were a few minor interior changes through the years too, but nothing major. __________________ The few, the proud, the boosted! 13.788 @ 103.73 mph (3/2011) 320 whp and 300 ft/lbs torque. (3/2011) See it here. the total package.

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05-14-2012, 12:32 PM	#5
shiwnath GAGT - Member AKA: Trevor Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kitchener, Ontario Age: 31 Posts: 169 Vehicle: 2000 Olds Alero Sedan	Actually.. Between a 99 and an 02 there were some changes for sure. The 99 has smaller bosch style injectors, a crappier upper intake manifold design and a different style EGR just to list a few, but performance wise I think they're about the same.

05-14-2012, 03:35 PM	#9
BJPbrandon2448 GAGT - Senior Member AKA: Brandon Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Fremont Ohio Posts: 1,027 Vehicle: 2002 Grand Am GT	particulary the grand am you want to buy is one that doesnt have a blown headgasket.

05-14-2012, 11:02 PM	#12
surfermatt95 GAGT - Member AKA: matthew Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: melbourne, florida Age: 26 Posts: 75 Vehicle: 1999 grand am gt sedan	thanks everyone, ill just baby this car and try to get what i can out of it, it was given to me for free so any money i put wont be wasted

05-16-2012, 06:58 PM	#15
jd99gagt Guest Posts: n/a	Mine has about 144k and still runs good. I used to drive cabs a few years ago and a lot of them had the 3.4 like impalas. Most of them were luminas but I think they had similar engines like 3.1s and other 3.4s. They were driven for sometimes up to 12 hours a day and had well over 200k on them not to mention that they were beaten to sit by other slobby drivers that drove them and were worn but they seemed to just keep going. It seems like if you keep repairing them and changing oil/trans they keep going. I watched some video of a Buick 3.1 that claimed to have have piston slap and sounded like sit but the guy said it was alright for high miles and it was designed that way but idk never learned too much about that.