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View Full Version : Buying a GTP - maybe



Clinical
05-30-2009, 11:43 PM
Considering they book around 4,000 - and I really cant find anything wrong with this one.

I sold my alero this morning and near have the mustang payed off and ready to sell now as well (thank god that will be over - I screwed myself on that) and my intention is to just spend 3k or less on a good running decent car, and if I can find a car that I could play with and have fun with as well - all the better.

This little place along 61 has a few cars for sale, the guy that owns it isn't into the car business much at all - he runs a rather large towing/wrecking company - So he isn't really a car salesman and is straightforward with 5-8 cars he has for sale. Due to this he's known to be honest about the cars he sells as he really doesn't worry if they sell or not as it doesn't even make up 5% of his business.

Anyway they had a 1998 GTP Sedan Leather/Sunroof/Hud with 215k on the body and 112k on the motor which had some rattle under the hood and was priced at 3800 - i Drove it and it definitely still had its power but still for the price wasn't what I wanted.
He said he put the new motor in but didn't know anything else about the car as he picked it up through an insurance company.

Then i test drove their 97 GTP Coupe they had there. Not quite as loaded. Cloth / No Sunroof / No Hud but that stuff really doesn't worry me to much.

All the lights / AC / stereo worked. Tranny shifts fine and precisely. I couldn't see any leaks. No rust from what I could tell. Rear bumper where it says Pontiac was really scraped up but meh. Mufflers are a bit rusted through - but the body itself is pretty much rust free. Engine looked in great shape.

Has 146,000 miles on it - starts/runs fine. The guy told me to go down a back road and just lay into it. Did 0-100 like it was new. The launch left nice black marks on the road.
I was really really impressed with it. The guy told me that it was traded for another GTP they had sitting out - so I'm guessing the previous owner liked GTP's too and may have beat on it a bit but you'd never know it the way it drives. The passenger window is pretty slow - but still.

The asking price for it is $2,500 and I personally think from experience if I were selling it I'd price it a bit more since it books at 4k and I really can't find anything bad wrong with it.


Sorry for the really long paragraph - I just don't want to screw up like I did with my Mustang deal.

I know there are some people on here (cough* tricky *cough) who really know their stuff about GTP's

I'm just wondering if I should be looking for anything else. All gauges work and the supercharger boosts perfectly fine. The car is completely stock from what I could see under the hood.

Thanks for reading my extremely long essay haha

Thanks for any advice

FiFdYnUtZ
05-31-2009, 12:12 AM
looks like a pretty decent deal..they are solid cars and parts are cheap...i put old one in the 13's for well under 1k and after a few other things it would run consistent mid 13's and still got over 30mpg on the highway

ZacFields
05-31-2009, 02:29 PM
My folks have a 2003 GTP that has been a great car for them. Given, my dad does take really good care of his vehicles (changes oil every 3,000 miles. Sends them in to the dealer at the specified intervals for check-ups and maintenance), but they haven't had any problems with it and it's approaching 100k miles within the next year or so.

For the price, it doesn't sound like a bad deal at all. As with any used car, make sure you're setting money aside in savings to help you deal with any unexpected repair costs that might pop up. Buying high-mileage used cars is one of those things; you've just gotta prepare yourself for the worst.

I say go for it. They are fun cars, and a GTP is good to drive year-round! No real need for a winter beater.

Drifte
05-31-2009, 03:22 PM
go for the cheaper one. Just know instead of car payments you will have maintenance costs that cost nearly the same. Obviously thats not expected every month but it will occur. If the guy knows his cars, ask him if he could put it on a lift for you. Check the suspension and brakes out. Exhaust rust is no big deal, just shows its age and means you have an excuse for some different exhaust.

If you get it let us know, post up some pics.

Clinical
06-02-2009, 04:29 PM
depends primarily on if I can get my Mustang sold here quick.

Assuming it does sell, I'll probably definitely either be buying this GTP or else an '89 Formula GTA up in des moines - still kinda debating that as well, but yeah :P

96-eclipse-gst
06-03-2009, 10:24 PM
I would have to agree, sounds like a good buy. Just obviously check over the usuals. The 3.8 liter is a very strong motor. Good chassis in all honesty. I wouldn't mind owning one, everything is fairly easy to fix/replace.

Ames
06-04-2009, 02:07 PM
The 3.8 is a good engine. I had an 03. My dad has it now and has 125,000 on it with almost no maintenance.

stangvortech
06-04-2009, 10:48 PM
stick with the mustang... 3.8 power.......

Clinical
06-04-2009, 11:49 PM
If it weren't for problems popping up here and there and the fact that my car is definitely marked in town ever since my ticket (I get cops following me all the time >.<) I might.

+ The insurance on it is 140 a month for full coverage.

I enjoyed the Mustang - but I'm ready for a change :P

s13kid
06-04-2009, 11:52 PM
My parents have a GTP, I drive it from time to time. Its an 01 and the car is pretty nice. Rides good and its decently fast. I think they look like booty though...

FiFdYnUtZ
06-05-2009, 10:09 AM
stick with the mustang... 3.8 power.......

gtp=more 3.8 power

NewSpeedSteed
06-05-2009, 10:14 AM
stick with the mustang... 3.8 power.......

gtp=more 3.8 power

+1
Factory s/c FTW

stangvortech
06-05-2009, 01:10 PM
stick with the mustang... 3.8 power.......

gtp=more 3.8 power

naaa fwd ftl....

i dont think you can get 600 fwhp out of a gtp i may be wrong........

Clinical
06-05-2009, 01:54 PM
Only GTP's I've seen with numbers like that are turbo setups

Either way - 240hp would be plenty for me :P

This being one of them :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzM2Gytw4rQ

FiFdYnUtZ
06-06-2009, 12:14 PM
there is an 800+whp gtp stock shortblock (forged of course) running 8.80's...WRONG ford boy..you need to hit up youtube, there are a lot of gtps in that hp range...

ZEE
06-06-2009, 12:33 PM
How can it be a stock shortblock if it's forged. Do they come with forged pistons, rods, etc. Maybe they do. I don't know GTP's.

Clinical
06-06-2009, 02:34 PM
Well I had actually really shifted my attention into a 84 Z28 Brand new paint - beastly sounding third gen. Had T-Tops and power everything - just had some pain in the ass problems like the doors needing to be slammed / window motors would need replaced soon / headliner was missing - but it is a beautiful car. However it simply wasn't worth $2500 and the guy won't budge on it - I was sure I'd get it if I offered him $1500 and went up to $1800.

The alignment also was terrible and the tranny shifted hard - I gave him the rundown and he still wouldn't budge so I had to walk out of it. I really wanted that.

Anyway - definitely looking like I'll be owning the GTP soon. It'll be nice to have a car I'm not ridiculously ashamed to take to a track.

Drifte
06-06-2009, 02:48 PM
your mustangs not bad. But the GTP will be very usable year round. Bolt ons and regular maintenance and you'll have a pretty nice car. I cant rag on mustangs right now...next week I probably can though.

FiFdYnUtZ
06-06-2009, 02:56 PM
its a stock bore/block shortblock...stock "style" lol

ZEE
06-06-2009, 04:54 PM
Just saying that calling it a stock shorblock is all sorts of untrue and misleading. Stock displacement stock block would be more correct.

Clinical
06-10-2009, 12:52 AM
Everytime I think I have my eyes fixed on my next car - I find something else.

I don't think I can find another car though that I'd rather have than this 8)

Assuming my Mustang's current pending sale goes through - this will probably be what's sitting in my driveway in a few weeks.
91 Formula 120k miles on body 57k on motor 350TPI Built Auto - Shiftkit - Hyperchipped / Intake / Flowmasters. $3200obo - Already been talking to the guy setting up a sale as soon as the mustang goes. Hopeing to make off with it for about $2600

Only things wrong is a soft floorpan in one spot from T-Top leakage and one small rust spot on exterior and the Tach doesn't work. Everything aside from that has been done right on this car.
http://irocu20.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/crosslace-3.jpg

Drifte
06-10-2009, 08:25 AM
I dont see that working out in the winter.

NewSpeedSteed
06-10-2009, 09:11 AM
I dont see that working out in the winter.

+1
I was having the same thought. Even though (I'm assuming) you drove your Mustang in the Winter driving a car like that formula would be a completely different experience. Not saying it couldn't be done and I'm sure people on here will chime in saying it would be do-able, but personally you couldn't pay me to drive it in the snow and ice.

Clinical
06-10-2009, 11:08 AM
My laser will be fixed before the winter - the Mustang got driven in the winter a bit - however most of my time in the winter was spent in my Alero - but that is sold now.

I'm actually getting my laser trailered to my garage today so that I can prepare for the new tranny. The formula would be garaged throughout the winter - maybe one or two drives when snow / ice is melted just to satisfy withdrawals :P

Stutz
06-19-2009, 07:56 PM
Make sure you check for valve cover gasket leaks and the rattle under the hood could be the coupler.