Dannymik Posted August 12, 2004 Report Share Posted August 12, 2004 This past winter I was on the hunt for a TGP and never scored a deal. One of my concerns was that I'm not a mechanic and up until this past month there weren't any real nice ones for sale...most had high mileage and a list of issues. Now I have been eyeing the 1997-2003 GTP's. I know that the price is going to hurt a bit, but you can't go wrong with the 3800. I want something that is not a headache/reliable and has a good aftermarket if I get the itching for more speed. I've heard a few rumbles in here about the problems the '97 GTP's have. Now if any of you were in my shoes what year/years would you be intersted in? Personally I have been trying to avoid the '97/'98 models, but thats only cas I don't feel comfortable with buying those years. Any specific help on the differences between the model years would be of great help....you know the good, the bad, and the ugly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfewtrail Posted August 12, 2004 Report Share Posted August 12, 2004 This is a decent guide to "differences" over the years. http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/used/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/2315 I haven't heard anything too bad about 97-98 model GTP's(the 97's are the ones people usually say to stay away from) myself, I've seen a few around here with pretty high mileage still running strong with very few problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted August 12, 2004 Report Share Posted August 12, 2004 The 97's and possibly the 98's are cheaper on insurance though because insurance companies only considered it a GT, not a GTP. Also, it seems as if only half of the 97' and 98's had problems and the other half were perfectly fine. Mainly the problems i've heard with these years are electrical problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted August 12, 2004 Report Share Posted August 12, 2004 Get a Regal GS I think they interiors in them look WAY nicer than the plastic-tastic Pontiac interiors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl3196 Posted August 12, 2004 Report Share Posted August 12, 2004 99-00 best years imo. Digital climate control and have performance shift button. In 01 they did away with both of those features and you get manual dual climate control. If you get a good deal on a 97 or 98 go for it. I havent heard much bad about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runt Posted August 12, 2004 Report Share Posted August 12, 2004 Do you guys with the GTP's and new GT's and what not get better milage than what that autotrader link says? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl3196 Posted August 12, 2004 Report Share Posted August 12, 2004 I get 19-20 in town and 27-28 on the highway with my GTP. I've heard that some modded ones get up to 35-40mpg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfewtrail Posted August 12, 2004 Report Share Posted August 12, 2004 I get around 30mpg pure highway driving, I average about 27mpg when driving normal with a mix of mostly highway and a bit of city driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted August 12, 2004 Report Share Posted August 12, 2004 i've been in a modded 97 gtp that could pull off 36-38 mpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro Posted August 12, 2004 Report Share Posted August 12, 2004 I would go with a 99 and up. Just because of all the electrical problems ive heard that have plagued the 97 and 98's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmokesGTP Posted August 12, 2004 Report Share Posted August 12, 2004 Thats very interesting, how come they end up getting better mileage after being modded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl3196 Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Thats very interesting, how come they end up getting better mileage after being modded? Better flow through the engine. Better designed parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannymik Posted August 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 a small update on my GTP shopping. One of my partners at work told me today that his dad is looking to sell his '97 GTP, because he is interested in that new Dodge Magnum. His dad is in his 60's and a motorhead. He also owns a Lightning which is his baby. From what I heard it has had no known electrical problems thus far, just your basic maitenance. I will find out more tomorrow in detail, but its a coupe, the dark "hunter" green, I think the gold crosslaced wheels, obviously leather(tan), and about mid 80's for mileage. This car has been garage kept and serviced as recommended. The rough price that I was told was $4500, so that sounds very affortable and fair for me. Now I need to find some pictures of a GTP in Hunter green with gold wheels(not my favorite). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannymik Posted August 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 another quick question...is a moonroof standard in a GTP? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl3196 Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Sunroof is an option. That price sounds real good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 not a bad price. especially with only around 80k on it. what's wrong with it if anything? yeah, those crosslaces on the 97+ GPs are ugly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannymik Posted August 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Well I was told to forget about the car. The guy at work said that its been in the shop numerour amounts of times, but then again he doesn't know for sure what was the problem/s. I don't think he wants his father to sell it to a person that he works with in case it gives me trouble. I'm sure I'll find out more this upcoming week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl3196 Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 Make sure you get it check out real good before you buy it then. Maybe hook it up to scanner and see if there are any codes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannymik Posted August 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 This is the reason I want to stick with my guns on the '99 and up models...I have no time and patience for a pile of electrical problems . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl3196 Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 This is the reason I want to stick with my guns on the '99 and up models...I have no time and patience for a pile of electrical problems . I don't blame you. My 2000 hasn't given me one problem yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henschman Posted August 16, 2004 Report Share Posted August 16, 2004 dude thats a really good price from what i've seen. I'm gettin a 97 for about $2800, but that's with like 140,ooo mi, a broken sail window, and a dented quarter panel. The only electrical problems, from what i've read, is if you're thinking of doing a custom pcm (you can't mod as many settings, etc.) A lot of 97 drivers have gone to 99+ wiring. Shoot, if i found one for that price i'd probably buy it instead of this one just to have lower mi and in better condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfewtrail Posted August 16, 2004 Report Share Posted August 16, 2004 This is the reason I want to stick with my guns on the '99 and up models...I have no time and patience for a pile of electrical problems . I don't blame you. My 2000 hasn't given me one problem yet. Have any HUD dimming issues? My 01 suffers from the HUD issue...I believe most do this from a bad solder joint on the photo cell, I've been lazy and haven't got around to resoldering that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted August 16, 2004 Report Share Posted August 16, 2004 the electrical problems aren't that bad a new harnas here or there its really not bad at all,.apparently that hunter green was only produced in 97 and was the most rare color on a 97 gp, but thats just hearsay... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaloutsider Posted August 16, 2004 Report Share Posted August 16, 2004 I saw a hunter green GTP with the fucking SE rims and SEAFOAM GREEN INTERIOR. It's on/was on eBay... Now THAT is rare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl3196 Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 This is the reason I want to stick with my guns on the '99 and up models...I have no time and patience for a pile of electrical problems . I don't blame you. My 2000 hasn't given me one problem yet. Have any HUD dimming issues? My 01 suffers from the HUD issue...I believe most do this from a bad solder joint on the photo cell, I've been lazy and haven't got around to resoldering that. Never had a problem with the hud dimming. But now I remember I had to replace a few bulbs in the dic. Othere then that no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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