Recommendations on buying 93/94/95??
 

Hi there,

I did a search and found some useful information, thank you. I also just wanted to see any new opinions though and ask a more direct series of questions.

I am looking to buy an SSEi, either 93, 94, or 95. Is there a recommended year of those 3 based on quality, problems, performance etc?
What should I look for with those years, any problematic areas?

My wife and I had a 93 SSEi, sold it about 6 years ago and have regretted it since. At the time, it was our only car, and after some alternator problems, we got rid of it.
Now, we are going to buy one which will just be a spare car (she has her Grand Caravan, and I have my SHO's and MR2), and we'll play around and modify it.
I will ask the modification questions after I buy one, but at this point I am looking for any advice at all on what to look for, and so on.

Thanks folks!
Sincerely,
Mike

The 92/93 had 205hp stock (but tons of torque), while the 94/95 had 225hp....BUT the 95 is a crossover OBD year, so it has hokey electronics. I'd shy away from that if given the choice of an equally nice 94.

Most of the aftermarket support is for the Series 2 96 and up, but there's still quite a bit for the Series1, and the list gets longer every day.

I am looking more at a couple of 94's right now, thanks for the input about the electronics!

I take it from what I have read here and elsewhere that the transmission is very competent and not prone to problems, is that correct?
It could have been an anomaly, but our alternator went twice in a span of a little over a year. So, on our 3rd alternator, my wife having been stranded with an infant twice, and with 99,000 kms (62K miles), we decided to sell it. We then realized that it was probably more related to incompetent GM Goodwrench service, not diagnosing a cause for the alternator problems.
Anyways, as I mentioned, we miss that car. Now with 3 kids, it could also be practical along with fun on days when we don't want to take the van somewhere.

I am not really considering a Gen II at this point, but is it a much better car? I realize I have not really ever looked at one.

Thanks again!
Mike

most of the time, a reman alt has only what was wrong with it when it came in to the rebuilder fixed and thats all. thats how they keep the prices down for them. also a weak cell in the battery or floaters in the battery can short the system out and be bad on min. and good the next. we have a tester at work that actually measures the resistance in the plates and electolite in the battery, gives you the voltage, cca,ca, where there is a shorted or bad cell, and if the battery is bad or good and just needs recharged. you wouldnt believe how many batteries test good with the old VATS battery testers and proven bad on the new tester. we sold enough batteries the first 3 months we had it to pay for it. even the ones we didnt sell when we told them how they tested, ended up going bad as soon as the cold temps came into play. we now test every battery in every car that we pop the hood on. :wink:

If you are looking for a car to mod, don't get the 95. You can't do much too it. Although, it still is a great car stock 8) . The 95 was the last year with the old style grille, which in my opinion, I like better than the grilles used in 96-99.

I can sacrafice a damn good looking grill for an L67..what do you say?? lol. I think the 96-99 Grilles look meaner..but the 95 and down SSE/i grilles are also bad ass..there is somethin about 'em. Either way is straight.

Jeffrey10 X 2,

That's what I kept telling them, to check for something else causing the alternator to go. But, they wouldn't listen to me and just kept changing it. It was still under warranty and only cost me the warranty deductible once (well, twice, but after fighting GM for a couple of years they reimbursed me for the second time). Oh well, water under the bridge now I guess.
I only really brought it up to make sure it was not a common problem with SSEi's.

BonneAlien and Sol,

We are looking at a 93 to 95 purely out of preference. That is not to slight the 96+ at all, but we just like the looks of the 93 to 95 a bit more, and want to go from there. If a good deal on an immaculate 96+ were to come along, we would certainly have to seriously consider that.

You like the bodystyle of the 93-95's...
I like the 240 HP and 280 ft/lbs. of torque on the 96-current and the bodystyle of the 96-99's
Ask yourself, 225 HP vs. 240 HP, which would you choose???

Well, granted everyone has their own opinions and preferences. In no way am I saying that one style is 'better' than the other, I am only saying what my preference is on the bodystyle.

The 225hp vs 240hp can be overcome with money, so that is less of a concern to me at this point.

I'm also not saying I refuse to buy a 96 to 99. We had a 93 and really liked it, and still like that bodystyle, so that is what we are looking for at this point. Again, I will also be keeping my eyes open for the 96+, but it would have to be a really great deal and make a lot of sense, since my wife also prefers the 93 to 95.

Again, just so no one gets offended or misconstrues what I'm saying, I am not saying that one year is 'better' than the other. I plan on having it past 240hp, no matter which year I get anyways, so the stock horsepower is a secondary consideration at this point.

Thanks for all the input everyone!

Whatever you get I'm sure will be great.