I was browsing another forum earlier today and found an ad for a '92 Grand Prix STE for sale for $750 U.*.. Obviously, I clicked on it, because that had me interested. The car has 196,500km on it (approx 122,000 miles), and has the 3.4L DOHC V6 in it. (not necessarily a bad thing, just not an engine that I am particularly fond of, too much maintenance for me) The engine for those of you that don't know is 210hp, 215ft.lbs stock, and this one is slightly modded. (K&N air filter, modified stock airbox, fan switch)

The owner says the car runs and drives very well, and he just had a complete tune up, and had all the fluids flushed within the last year. (coolant, tranny, etc...) It also has a new alternator and battery. The problem is, the car is not driveable right now because it has a fuel leak. The owner is not sure where the fuel leak is, and doesn't want to mess with the car anymore. He also said the engine has an oil leak, and he thinks it is fairly major. (he said he thinks it is the dist o-ring, the rear main seal, or a head, but he'* not sure) The car is also missing the exhaust from the cat back. The ABS brakes don't work either. (which doesn't suprise me because mine don't either)

Now as most of you already know, I already have a GP STE, so why would I want this one. Thats a good question. The reason I want to buy this car is because it is LOADED. It has every option but the CD Player and the moonroof. It has power EVERYTHING. (just like mine) It has a black leather interior, that is in mint condition except the drivers seat is starting to wear on the left side (which every one of them do), and it has the HUD. When I got my STE I was dissapointed that it had no HUD, Leather, or factory CD Player. The only factory option in had was the moonroof (which of course was the only option I didn't want). So, I am considering buying this car for a parts car to swap out the interior and HUD and maybe a few other parts. Then I would have an extra tranny, and an engine, and a whole body in case I smash my car up. Not to mention windows, carpet, wiring, steering wheel/column, stereo, etc..... Pretty much I could replace anything that goes wrong on my car unless it is engine related.

The main problem I have though, is the car is in Canada. That means I have to mess with trying to get it registered and everything in the U.*. I don't know what any of the laws are for that though, so it may be really easy or really hard, does anyone know those laws by any chance? If its just a parts car do I have to go through all that? Not only that, but because of the fuel leak, I would have to trailer the car home...which would be a bit of a hassle compared to just driving it home, but doesn't make me un-interested.

Also I was thinking I could just swap out the interior and put the HUD in mine, and put my interior back in this car (my interior is MINT, but it is cloth not leather), fix the fuel leak if it isn't too major, and then have this car as a backup car in case I need to work on mine or something like that. (not to mention I wouldn't have to run premium gas in it) It probably wouldn't be a good everyday car with the oil leak and everything, but not a bad secondary car, especially for a 16 year old.

Personally I think the car is a very nice car, and is a VERY good deal for the price. I am really considering buying this car instead of doing mods to mine because I think I could really improve my car by swapping some of this stuff out. (and my car can already smoke the tires off it without brake torquing it, so how many more mods do I really need?) I was just wondering what you guys thought? Do you think I should get the car? How much trouble do you think it would be to register it in Michigan if I decide to drive it?

I think it would be kinda cool (and very confusing for the neighbors) to have 5 Grand Prixs, every one of them a different color, and 4 of them the same body style. Then I could tike a nice Panoramic picture, and then put the Bonnie in there and get a pic of 6 Pontiacs. I think our Neighborhood association would get pretty annoyed with us having 7 cars at our house though.

What do you think?

Shawn

Shawn

Be specific where in Canada? The logistics of moving the car across the border esp if it is not driveable may negate the value. I mean if the car is in Windsor Ont then its easier then if its in Montreal, or friggin Red Deer Alberta.

It sounds like a fun project car, despite the high miles. I really dont know much about the 3.4 DOHC, but I'm sure you and yer dad can get her running.

The real issue...can you get it home :?

For a parts car alone $750 sounds great. But if you can fix the leaks that'* even better. But my neighborhood didn't get annoyed when I used to have 7 cars and a boat at my house

Sounds good to me. Especially if it IS in Windsor or another place not too far from Michigan.

Well funny you should bring up a GP. I was at the garage to drop off the Bonneville and in the shop was a nice looking earlier model 2 door GTP. I was talking to my friend ( the mechanic) and he told me they are the biggest pieces of junk ever made. Same brakes as my 90 cutlass ( I agree it was crap) and same mono leaf in the rear, ( I never had problem with that) . He also told me that the way it was designed the alternator is almost under the engine so it basically needs to be changed once a year. And also the engines are not reliable at all.

That particular car had 2 motors in one year.

SO I am not going to tell you to buy it or not, just passing along what I heard.

On the other hand he said he would drive a Bonneville any day, lol. Even my 14 year old one.

3.4 DOHC= piece of ****
around here no mechanics want to work on them
they arent repair freindly
just look how everything is placed

I know the engine is a junk engine. I don't plan on driving the car everyday, so I don't really care. I figure if I buy the car, swap out the leather, HUD, and anything else I want to swap out, then drive the car everyday, and the engine quits, I could probably sell the car for $300-500. That is still a very good deal to me, becuase I just got a complete leather interior and HUD for my car, not to mention I had an extra car to drive around until the engine went. Seems like a good deal to me.

The car is in Pickerington, Ontairo, Canada. According to Streets & Trips that is 318 miles from my house. I drove 250 miles to get my STE that I already have, so another 68 miles doesn't scare me for how cheap the car is. My Grandfather has a 2003 GMC 3/4 Ton HD Truck with a 6.0L Vortech that he bought to pull his fifth wheel. I am sure he would let me borrow it for a day, and I know of a few people that would loan me a car hauler trailer for a day, so me bringing the car home wouldn't be a problem as long as I don't have a problem bringing it across the border.

Like you said, the real issue is getting the car home, and that is mainly what I am worried about right now. From what I have been reading online, it isn't too difficult, I just have to pick up a few forms and fill them out I guess. I am going to stop by the Secretary of State after school today and tell them my situation and ask them what I need to do.

And getting the car running shouldn't be too tough. It runs and drives fine right now (according to the owner), it just has a fuel leak, so it isn't a good idea to be driving around in the car. So if I fixed the fuel leak I could drive it everyday, assuming I can live with no exhaust. But I could get an exhaust on it pretty cheap, so thats not a big deal. The owner said he was driving the car everyday until the fuel leak came up, so I'm not to worried about how driveable it is. He offered to let me test drive it before I buy it, so I will do that, and if it drives fine, I won't be too worried.


Thats what I'm thinking. A $750 parts car that is in that great of shape is an awesome deal to begin with, but one that can be fixed up cheap and driven is an even BETTER deal.

Here are some pics of the car:











Shawn

Pickering Ontario is an eastern suburb of Toronto. Its a good 45 mins from my house. Thats not to bad.

Go for it

Yeah that interior is in GREAT shape!

Buy it and swap the options onto your STE..$750 is a great deal for all the options Take the engine out, find the oil leak, and use that LQ1 as a project engine to build or even turn around to sell.

Come get it during the march meet in TO!!!!!