Looking into a 1997 Grand Am SE

[Robborboy]

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Hey guys. I just joined here so please don't flame me if this is the wrong place. I am a previous owner of a 1996 Mustang. Traded that for a 1996 Ford Probe and I gave that to my dad.

Anyway a good friend of my mother is selling a '97 Grand Am SE and I was looking into it. The interior is in PERFECT condition just like it came out of the factory or has recently had the interior replaced. The body is in perfect condition. I'm not sure what the color is specifically called but it is comparable to the Ford Probe's Rio Red. Something that seemed a little iffy is that the owner said it had 200,000 miles on it. I am unfarmiliar to how this car handles up to that but I would like to know. She runs well and has brand new rubber on the wheels.

Sadly she is an automatic. But that is all I can find here. Should it be a good car though I am completely willing to do a transmission swap.

Can someone give me their opinion?
If any more information is required I will previde it.

Thanks To All Who Helps,
--paul

[Ralph]

Personally owning 2 quad engines I think 200k is a little high and am willing to bet there has been an engine swap, timing tensioner, headgasket, water pump, or somthing like that replaced in the past. As for the 5-speed swap take it from someone with experience wasting money on something like that since you havn't bought the car yet. If you want a 5-speed find a 5-speed. There are a good amount of 97 5-speed Grand am GTs probably the most common 5-speed grand am generation.

Whats the price that will really tell us what its worth.

[Robborboy]

Ok here is the new info on it.

$3000
1996
152,000 Miles
Automatic
It has been serviced at Don Hall Chevrolet (Huntington, WV) Every 3 months since originally purchased.
It has brand new rubber on the tires.
Perfect body.
The cloth on the doors is a little old. And the dash has one little crack in it.
Apart from that perfect interior.

[The Artist]

152k is a lot of mileage for no major work to be done to it

1. The biggest PITA is the water pump... it's booked at $600 + depending on where you go, and normally they blow between 70-80k so I would expect this to happen at some point
2. Does the owner of the vehicle have all the receipts for all the work done to it?
3. 3 grand is too much

http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/PricingReport.aspx?YearId=1997&Mileage=152000&VehicleClass=UsedCar&ManufacturerId=40&ModelId=265&PriceType=Private+Party&VehicleId=8313&SelectionHistory=8313%7c24932%7c14580%7c0%7c0%7c30 9227%7ctrue&Condition=Excellent&QuizConditions=

and that's rated at excellent... perhaps my zip code has something to do with it, but not so likely to the point that it would change the price dramatically. I would offer something in the range of 21-2200 and if they don't like that, move on

[Robborboy]

When I did the blue book I got 3,185. http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/PricingReport.aspx?WebCategoryId=35&YearId=1996&VehicleClass=UsedCar&ManufacturerId=40&Condition=Excellent&ModelId=265&PriceType=Retail&VehicleId=9623&Mileage=152000&SelectionHistory=9623%7C24932%7C41129%7C0%7C0%7C35 3067%7Ctrue%7C353090%7Ctrue%7C353094%7Ctrue%7C3531 09%7Ctrue%7C353185%7Ctrue%7C353143%7Ctrue
I changes the things on it to what the car has. Also the year is a 1996 I made a mistage on the original post sorry.

EDIt: Yea all the recipts are provided, and Don Hall also verifies it. The last service was April 4th of this year.

[Robborboy]

Thanks for the assistance you two have provided.
The purchase has been made and right now seems to have been a good choice.

[jean-seb]

Congratulations !

I love my 95 ! You should be very happy with your 96 !
Anyway, just thought I'd comment on your buy. :)


J-S