I'm looking at acouple '02 GP SE'* that the company my wife works for is selling. Both of them have the 3100 v6 and are pretty spartan as far as appointments & options go. One of them has 102k miles for $6,300 and the other has 69k miles for $8,000.

What problems could possibly arise with these cars. What problems do GP'* normally have? How is the 3100 engine?

TIA

Well, the 3100 is known for leaking head gaskets and intake gaskets. They are solid engines, but you need to always be aware of what'* going on under the hood.

The GP'* are pretty well built cars, but they always have problems with the wiper motors. That'* the only problem I've had with mine so far, besides normal wear and tear.

Weakest point on the 3100 is the lower intake manifold gaskets. It'* also not uncommon to get a slight lifter tap when cold as the engine gets more and more mileage.

IMO, the 3100 is too small of an engine for a full size car such as a Grand Prix. You'll probably find it to be underpowered. And being a company car and underpowered, I wouldn't doubt that the engine'* been "worked" pretty hard.

Actually, all of the cars that they have have all been pretty much babied. The company is a Farm Finance company and the cars are used for visits to the various customers. It is a small company (employee wise) with several branches across NY. I'm not too worried about the cars being beat on. I personally know the person that has driven the higher mileage GP and know for a fact that that car hasn't seen speeds in excess of 70mph in it'* entire life.

Right now my sister is driving an early 90'* Grand Am with a 4 banger. I don't think she'll say that the 3100 is underpowered in the GP. Her car lurches between gear changes (3sp auto), chews up tires like its no body'* business (even after repeated alignments and almost complete suspension replacement), and leaks just about all fluids imaginable. It needs to be replaced and I thought the GP would be a nice upgrade for her. I just wanted to know what I was getting her into.

I know that the 69k mile one is still under a b2b transferable warranty until 75k miles or the next like 13 months and that it has just been completely checked over at the originating dealership before being taken off the road and replaced with a younger car.

I'd be wary of the lower intake as well. Not a matter of if, but when...

I totally agree. Just a week ago, I saw a silver GTP drive by, and it had the wipers stopped at a 90-degree angle position. It looked as if he was surrendering!

Well, due to the fact that I know how my sister drives and takes care of her car, I think I'll just let these pass. If I needed a cheap car, I'd pick either one of these up (probably the 69k one) in a heart beat because they both are PERFECT exterior, interior, & underhood. The oil has always been changed at 3,000 miles in both of them and all severe duty service intervals have been maintained and documented. For my sister, who doesn't check anything (my dad has to do it for her when she'* home) I don't think she would notice a leaking LIM gasket until the engine was a total loss. Me I noticed my LIM gasket leaking on my SSEi probably a day or two after it started, LOL...

Thanks for the info!

I had a commercial customer just the other day with a 2001 GTP 2 door COMPANY CAR....jeez how do I get that job!......of course you know now that I think about it, when I did the carfax on my Regal it came up as an ex company vehicle as well, lucky azz execs!

You can get a 3.8 for that price, if not lower. I wouldn't get a 3.1 97+ GP at all.

Ditto.

Shawn