Test Drove My Likely GT!

[Subtle_Cynicism]

Ok, so when I got home for lunch from school today, rather than seeing my 97 Intrepid parked out back, I saw the silver 2000 Grand Am GT sitting where it was.

My mom had went and picked it up during school.

We know the dealer and have bought our last several cars from him, and my little bro plays hockey with his little son, so we're very close.

He's letting me keep the GT for a few nights. He actually had two GT's, a 2000 in dark green and this new silver one. Some lady had purchased the green one, and she said, "you know, I'd like to test that silver one, it seems like a better car" and he said, "oops, it's sold". That made me chuckle, as my family and I haven't agreed yet, but it's more than likely. My mom loves it, which is really rare.

It's got chrome fivespoke rims, leather wrapped steering/shifter, power sun/moon roof, tinted back window and backseat windows, but the other owners put some really crappy decals on it in yellow that say GRAND AM and RAM AIR all over it. They will be promptly coming off if I purchase it.

Test drove it a bit, and it drives amazingly. I tested all the lights and such, and they all work.

Aside from that is there ANYTHING you guys can recommend I check to see working properly before I commit to this?

I trust you more than I trust any car dealer, even if he is my parent's friend!

[Riley1123d]

Well, I can't say anything in specific, but I can recommend one thing. Being you have it a few nights, take it to your mechanic and just ask him to check it out for you. I think that would be a smart thing to do. Also, do you mind my asking how much they want for it? Also, the mileage? I'm just curious :)

[sunrunner_pei]

Have a mechanic inspect it for a LIM gasket leak. It's very common with the 3400 V6. Check the oil for coolant, and check for exterior leaks around the LIM, particularly under the throttle body. Besides that, look for obvious collison damage. Look for good alignment of body panels, etc. Check ALL the car's functions. Drive at night. Drive with the stereo off. Drive over rough roads. Test it well.

Best of luck!

[EKling]

Be very picky looks over every little detail to make sure they work fine and roll up as quick as there supposed to. So you know how much the motor has been used. Check and make sure the doors shut like they are supposed to and all that special stuff.

I have one just like that except its black.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/684000-684999/684278_5_full.jpg

[Big Joe]

sounds like a good car too me but i'd take it to a machanic just to make sure

[Subtle_Cynicism]

I don't mind talking about it. It may be a little overpriced, I don't know, but I live in Upper Michigan, and a good Grand Am GT (note GT) is hard to find. I see a lot of 4 cylinders and SE 6's, but a good GT with low milage is a rare buy.

Here's the background.

There is a family that lives 1.5 hours away from Kingsford (where I live), and they decided to buy a Chevy TrailBlazer to accomodate their growing family, so they traded it in for the Trail Blazer.

It's a silver (near immaculate paint; rarely anything on the front bumper) Grand Am GT, model year 2000.

It's got dark gray cloth interior, manual seats (though the driver side has a power thing to lift it up and down), power windows,locks, etc, and a power moonroof.

It's got 54,000 miles on it, and also has chrome rims, and full tint, spare for the front two windows. The headlights could use a touchup, just as they look a little more faded (but that's common for most cars).

He was asking about 8,800 for it, I believe, but we are trading in our 1997 Dodge Intrepid ES Sport for it, which is fully loaded, spare for moonroof and leather, and he's giving us 2,900 for it; more than any other dealer in the U.P. would give us for it.

He is willing to put that 2,900 towards the final price of the GT, bringing it down to about to roughly 6,000. I am bad at math, so I rounded, crucify me. And he's even doing us the favor of listing the price as 6,000, so we pay less for tax and title, because he knows my parents.

I bought my Firebird from him, my mom bought her '01 Jeep and her '04 Trailblazer from him, and everyone of them is a great car.

I'll take it to the mechanic and see what he thinks, but it seems to be near perfect, I can't ask for much more. Here's a full list of the options that I've seen so far:

-Chrome Rims (factory)
-Power Package
-Moonroof/Sunroof
-CD/Cassette/Radio
-54,000 Miles
-Tinted rear window and back windows
-"Power seat" (only for raising up and down)
-whatever else is standard on a GT.

Let me know what you guys think.

[scotiez]

It sounds like an awesome car. With it being priced at 8800.00, it is probably pretty close to book price. But if its in great shape its worth it. You'll have to post some pics of it if you get it so we can all see it.

[Subtle_Cynicism]

I will get right to it...if I have time tomorrow I'll shine it up a bit more than it already is and take some pictures of it next to my firebird and individually!

[R8DERHED5150]

Watch out for the windows. The regulators suck on these things. My left one went out just a week after I bought it. The right one is beginning to make a little noise. The volume knob barely works on the radio. Ummmm, transmission takes a second to go into drive from park. Well, thats about all the problems I have having with mine right now. Aside from that, I still love my car.

[95GAinFLA]

if you dont take it, i will.:)

[Fusion_Orange]

Price sounds cheap. Make sure its in good shape- ie- no bent frame or anything. Ive heard of a lot of people, a few on this site, including me, who got suckered into gagt's that had bent frames. If its been in any type of accident, there's a good chance it will leak. Sounds like a good car though.

[Tommy00GT1]

I just had my window regulator replaced too. Started making a noise for a few days, then the window wouldn't go up all the way.
Luckily I am fully covered by the warranty, and I also have a bumper-to-bumper for two years after that runs out.
Sounds like a really nice car, Mike. Hope you enjoy it.
I bought my 2000 GT1 last month, and I love it. The only thing that blows big time is the Delco radios; particularly that damn volume control problem. There are 6 years worth of Delco radios with that flawed volume control problem. My car has it too, darn it all.....
But the dealer just told me that mine is covered by the warranty, so I was happy to hear that.

Good luck with yours Mike.. Take care everyone.

Tommy

[TA^Guy]

Now that was random. lol

[Brandon]

heres something thats been fixed a couple times on my car and still hasnt been fixed, but im sick of screwing with it.... the trunk lid was scraping the paint off the side fenders on the corners right above the tail lights..... well they have fixed that, but now to shut the trunk itself you either have to slam it pretty hard (esp for a new[er] car) or 3 or 4 times before it catches.... other then that just do what everyone else has said and test the heck out of everything before you get stuck paying for it to be fixed.