My 95 3800 engine never leaked oil and I drove that car almost 200K miles. I was religious about changing the oil every 3K miles. I never used synthetic oil in that engine.

I now have a 2004 SLE and started to use the synthetic Mobil 1 with my 1st oil change and have not noticed any oil leaks at all.

The 3800 is a good reliable engine. I would recommend it, in the SLE package, to your Mom because it is reliable and when you put your foot into the accelerator the car does get up and move.

Custom 88 I hae heard bad things about the 3.5 and good things mostly... Bad have you been happy with yours...

Tonight we test drove a GXP. It is the dealership owners demo. It has 3800 miles and they are advertising it for 27,250. Cheaper than the SLE w/premium pkg. Its Greystone with dark pewter interior. I like the seats with the suede better than the regular leather. The exhaust has a nice deep sound and i had a **** eating grin on my face everytime my mom stepped on the gas. The engine sounds good, its its weird being in a pontiac and heaing the Northstar engine. She also prefers the 2 tone suede seats to the regular SLE leather. She is not crazy about the 18" tires, i real killer when it comes time to replace them and also the fact they are sport tires, it may not be great in the snow. The interior seems much smaller than her 95 bonnie. I had to adjust the seat all the way back and down so my knees wouldnt hit the dash on the passenger side. I am 6' so its not like i'm a giant. I tried to get into the back seat and couldnt. I had to adjust the front seat pretty far foward to get into the back and get my legs in. Also the head room stinks. It has the same dimensions as the Grand Prix, but feels tigter. I guess since she doesnt really drive people around its ok. We are also going to look at a Crimson Red one and a Cranberry Red one too. I have the paint chips from the dealer and we both like the reds better. But for the deal, we may get the grey.

So are you getting a SLE or GXP... And I take it you will get Crimson or Cranberry Red?

My mom is still deciding on the car. The only ones near us are GXP'*. If she wanted to get an SLE, it would have to be from another dealer 2 or more hours away. There is 1 SLE in our area that we are going to look at on monday just to see the interior color and how it drives. We got the paint chips from one of the dealers and she really likes both the crimson and cranberry red. She is not crazy about the "flashy" chrome wheels tho. In out area there is the Greystone GXP that she drove and liked alot, a cranberry GXP and a Crimson GXP. She doesnt need the power of the V8, but like i said before, the deal that has been offered on the Greystone GXP demo, is better than any of the deals she has been quoted for a SLE. Ill keep everyone posted to what happens

Okay well they do sell SLE'* with uhhh N93 non chrome wheels... (Not like mine...)

Just an FYI...the reports of the Tires and the Wheel combo or the GXP in the snow has been very positive by members on this board...you have nothing to be afraid of

I believe that she will be getting a greystone GXP. Its not that she needs a new car, but she thinks its time to get a new car. I will keep everyone informed and some pictures up if whatever she decides.

PM me with these "bad things" that you have heard about this engine. I'd love to hear it for the sake of curiosity. I don't think Ward'* would put it on the ten-best engine list if it were a bad engine. (!). Originally it was to replace the 3800 until Oldsmobile was discontinued (it was an Olds engine) and it was too expensive to produce compared to the relatively cheap (but relatively reliable) 3800 engine. Notice that northstar engines are replacing the 3800 now though? Did you know that originally the 2000+ Bonneville was to have the 3.5L V6 instead of the 3800? GM placed it in the Aurora instead however. I dont' think they'd put a "worse" engine in their more expensive, luxury-oriented vehicle... I remember reading an article for the new upcoming 2000 Bonneville that was boasting about a new, high performance 3.5 V6. Later articles said the Bonneville was to have the 3800.
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...=503092#503092

BTW, the 00 SSEi is in the shop for a large oil leak from both valve covers that was causing smoke to sometimes come out from under the hood when the car was running.(running regular dyno oil) and a coolant leak from the throttle body, and a faulty fuel tank pressure sensor. The 2000 SLE will be going in soon for the valve covers too. They've been replaced once before according to dealer service records as well. Neither engine has over 65,000 miles on it.

Have we seen any GXP members with engine trouble yet? Where are all of these people with engine trouble?

Other than the typical oil consumption problem, I'd say the Northstar is doing well. The CHASSIS of the GXP is the problem. There have been numerous problems reported. Vibrations, braking, intermediate shafts, foglights, and the list goes on.

Your oil leaks on the 3800'* are not typical.