1990 Grand Am LE

[minardi]

Hello all,

I currently drive a 1988 BMW 528e; however, it is going to need at least $1000 in front-end work and is rapidly approaching 200,000mi. One of old college buddies is selling a 1990 Grand Am LE for $400. It is pretty mechanically sound (I have been in the car quite a bit) and has 115,000mi. It has the 2.5 liter engine, so I have a feeling I could probably get at least another 100,000 mi out of the car (I will be moving from Detroit to the Boston area in about a year and need something that will safely get me there--my BMW's front end is in a lot of trouble).

I know that transmission work was done on the GA in the late 1990s and timing was replaced in January 2003. The 2.5 liter Tech 4 has never really given my friend any problems.

There are only two major problems I can see: the drivers window won't go down (I'm sure it is something simple that my friend was disinterested in fixing), and the AC blows warm (although it as all mechanically sound--so it just needs a charge, I reckon).

Does this car sound like it's worth $400? I've had a 1989 Grand Am SE in the past, and the Quad 4 gave up at 147,000 miles---but I've heard different things about the 2.5 liter engine.

Thanks for any input!

[Matt95GT]

If you're looking for a cheap daily driver, the 2.5L "Iron Duke" is prolly the best engine from any year GA. Their longetivity is great, plus parts should be plentyful in the junkyards.

Window problems are fairly common across all years... chances are you'll simply need to replace the regulator/motor assembly. They pop up on eBay for $40 often.

[sunrunner_pei]

I agree, the 2.5L was probably the most reliable engine ever offered in the Grand Am. However with the age of the car it won't be long until it needs some major front end work as well. Probably not $1000 worth, but be prepared to spend at least some money on general repairs.

[minardi]

I'm going to be a starving PhD student soon, so I will be living on measly stipends for next five or so years. I just need car on which the repairs will not extremely costly. I suppose that I am lucky to have had the BMW for over two years with major trouble.

[nineteen88ga]

As long as the body is fairly solid I'd buy it up as a good driver. My 88 2.5 has a little over 108,000 and so far no major mechanical work. The biggest things were water pump, torque converter sensor, and a coil pack.

[Colin]

AC blows warm (although it as all mechanically sound--so it just needs a charge, I reckon). If the refridgerant is low or gone completely there is a leak , that will need to be fixed before you can just "recharge it " . This could be a bit of $$ depending on what the problem is .

[Prospeeder]

Well it will be very plentiful in junkyards, seeing as almost every GM vehicle had one. Firbirds, camero's Astro Vans, all the A body cars like 6000's Cutlass ciera's Century's and celebrity's and fieros Grand ams of course, GMC Sonomas and Chevy S10 and blazer Bucik Skyhawk, Skylark, Olds Omega Pontiac Astre GMC Safari Sunbirds from certain years. Whew it was used ALOT prolly in more cars than that

[RocketFast321]

forget the chevy citation, I think it was in the shitvette too.