stew Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 looking at a loaded 97 monte LS, loaded with everything but CD, 3100 V6. Seems to run better than many newer cars, all accesories work but the sunroof. it's a 1 owner car with mostly highway miles, few scratches on the body and the center console being broken seem to be the only other issues. I talked to the previous owner, she said she didn't want to trade it in, but her husband made her, states that they changed oil every 2000 miles. Is this worth between 2000 and 2500? Should I expect problems even though the car seems bulletproof when i drove it? Thanks, Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GutlessSupreme Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 well.. even though every thing that I've learned in life tells me never to buy a car besides a Volvo or Toyota with mileage that high, I'd say you could probably make it another 60k at least, knowing the 3.1. Still, I don't know.. it may be a '97 but that is a LOT of miles.. I dunno.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 I paid $2300 CAD (add about $1000 after ALL repairs, but thats still a decent price) for my 1995 with 3100. Its got 215000km which is equal to 129000miles. Personally I would never buy a car with THAT much mileage. $2000-$2500US sounds like more than I paid for my car in the condition that its in, plus you don't know what else it needs.... I'd look for something else. If it was extramely cheap or a rare car I'd understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoStudd Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 GM cars have terrible resale value, especially when the car has over 150K miles on the clock. I'd offer them $1750, tell them to take it or leave it. If they don't accept, then tell them good luck trying to find someone to buy it. Most people who know nothing about cars, when shopping for a car will run far far away from a car with that many miles. As far as the car itself, you may eventually have problems with the motor and trans. You should expect that to happen sometime down the road and plan for it accordingly. I'm not saying it will shit out on you tomorrow, but be prepared for it. I'd just drive it until it dies. It could possibly last you 2 or more years if you maintain it religiously. If that motor takes a shit, instead of replacing it with another 3100, replace it with a 3400 from a 2000-2004 Impala or Grand Am. Check out this site for details: http://www.3400swap.com You can pick up a low mileage 3400 for less than $500 at most boneyards... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 well seeings as the last owner claims that it was religiously maintained i'd feel more comfortable bying it. are there any service recipts? like it was said 1700-1800 would be a fair price, you could probably take it to 300k easy if you don't beat on it and keep up the religious matniance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canada Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 You can use a 3400 from 99+ L and N bodies.......don't forget the 97+ U vans either (this is where mine came from). My biggest concern would be the transmission......check the condition and color of the fluid. It should be red and somewhat clear....black = bad. Does it shift (both up and down) alright? If the transmission should fail down the road, they are cheap to replace. If the motor fails, as Stew mentioned, 3400s are cheap to swap in (I purchased and installed mine for $550). That just leaves brakes and suspension to fail......which are both easy to repair or upgrade. I'd try and buy the car if you want a Monte......it won't be the quickest thing (3100 W bodies are quite slow)....but it is a decent looking car that does what it was designed for well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cryptnix Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 L67 same price man same price!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 I would offer $1500, take it or leave it.... I would be surprised if I could get $2500 out of my loaded (except Sunroof) '97 cutlass with 117K on the clock....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteOut Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 Lets for a second pretend that the motor and transmission ARE good. You still have to contend with a car that has 200k miles on it. That means the suspension, steering, brakes, electrical system, etc... are all due for replacement sometime soon. I'd say its going to be more trouble than its worth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 Heres a small list of what I'm fixing on my 95 GP that I bought last month.. $2000CAD and it has only 215000km (129000miles) but it is still a high mileage car... -driver's side P. Window -signal light switch -all brake pads and rotors -both mufflers -R balljoint and tierod If the engine and trans seem good (look for leaks too) take it to a garage and find out everything that needs to be done (like I did). Otherwise you might find yourself throwing money into a moneypit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 I would offer $1800 on it. If you get it, plan for a 3400 swap, and go ahead and get the new/used engine and tranny ready for when this one does take a crap. Like WhiteOut said, a car with that high of mileage will have problems, but hell, it's a lot newer than most of the cars on this board, so it may not have as many. Hell, now that I think about it, I would spend $2000 on a 97 Monte. Could be one hell of a project car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94CutlassSLCoupe Posted August 25, 2004 Report Share Posted August 25, 2004 I would not be afraid of it....but I think $1500 or so would be about it for how much money I would pay...espeically considering I have a fully loaded '94 Cutlass Coupe with a 3100 that has 14,500 miles on it and I paid $4800 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supreme_style21 Posted August 26, 2004 Report Share Posted August 26, 2004 :shock: Someone should buy MY car then. I'd be damn happy if I got $1,800 for mine with 97,000 on the clock. I can't imagine how worthless it would become with over 200,000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midnight rider Posted August 26, 2004 Report Share Posted August 26, 2004 Strictly speaking as a dealer, even thought it has 204,000, it should still be worth around $2000 if it has been well maintaned and runs good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomFE3 Posted August 26, 2004 Report Share Posted August 26, 2004 97 monte carlo for 1500-2000 dollars? that seems like a damn good deal to me no matter what the milage. what you could do is buy it for as cheap as theyll go and then put a tranny and engine in it right away so you dont have that bad feeling in the pit of your stomach that your just waiting for the engine to take a shit. and then if anything happens to either, you have a backup engine/transmission that you know works and could get you around for a few thousand more miles untill you find another car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsgrntld187 Posted August 27, 2004 Report Share Posted August 27, 2004 I'd say it's a good deal. I'd go for it, but just cuz my Cutty is in the process of being dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stew Posted August 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 Well, they weren't really willing to deal to a decent price, so it looks like a no go, BUT found a 2 owner 96 lumina, stripped (even just has the AM/FM radio, not even a cassette player!), 110k miles, perfect shape, new tires, 2400 out the door, I think they'll probably get it. Thanks, Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 well one word of advise when buying base cars, the bug to have all the options will bite you, bad. and you will end up tearing apart the doors to add powerwindows and locks and this and that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supreme_style21 Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 No doubt. I almost bought a Grand Prix that way.. 110% BASE. It was cheap, so I was going to pick it up. Thank god I did not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midnight rider Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 i'd rather have a stripper car myself. less weight and less shit to go wrong.... I say, go for it. Sounds cheap enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stew Posted August 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 Well, I have a 96 Caprice, leather, dual power seats, factory CD, LT1, etc, etc, so it won't bother me HEHEHE Seemed to be the best bet for reliable transport for the $$$$$, but i'll admit, i love options I like based out though too, had an 84 S-10, no options, rubber floors, but a 355 under the hood, that thing was fun Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 heck i'd rather have a 200k 86' z24 thats fully loaded then a 2000 cavvy base with 1k miles :shock: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 best way to see if they kept up with maintenance is to open the 3100 oil cap and look in. At junkyards I normally see coal like buildup everywhere, but occasionally I'll see a clean valvetrain, usually a crashed car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 in all seriousness the montie could outlive that lumina depending on whos taken care of it miles don't matter half as much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 i'd rather have a stripper car myself. less weight and less shit to go wrong.... I say, go for it. Sounds cheap enough. Hell no! That's what W-bodies are all about! If my '95 didn't have all the features it does I would have walked right past it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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