Grand Prix GXP

d98gt

Founding Member
Mar 14, 2002
4,505
59
204
SE Texas
I've been considering purchasing another car and have been checking locally for a vehicle that looks good (everyone has different views on this) and has a nice platform that I could perform basic modifications on. I will be out driving/testing some of these vehicles later on this week and plan on purchasing near the first of the month. I've narrowed it down to a s197 though have recently found a GXP for a nice price.

Now I don't know much about the cars other than the basic 5.3L with 303/323 however plagued with fwd. Anyone have any experience with these cars? Anything I should be aware about? It appears they respond well to mods and can already acquire a 13 second pass stock.

Here are a few pictures of the one I am looking at. Flame away ;) :flame:
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Can be had cheaper than a 05+ gt though I haven't totally an s197 out just yet:nice:
 
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ive heard so many bad thing about pontiacs...my buddy has a grand prix that is literally falling apart and only has 90k miles on it...granted he doesnt take that good of care of it but lots of stuff thats falling apart on it isnt his fault like 3 of the power windows quit working, lots of little crap like that...
 
A friend of mine has one, 06 model, he owned a 96 GTP prior. Very nice car inside(luxury I would call it) and drives very smooth. Ive only ridden in it a couple times but it it has nice power, will do 102mph in second gear my friend says. I would say the power is alot like many stock supercharged cars Ive ridden in, smooth delivery, almost electric like.. but you can feel the grunt, I could tell for sure there was a bigger motor under the hood than my 03 GT just crusing around in it.

They get great mpg on the highway.

The mods for them right now are somewhat limited from what I have been told(I guess compared to Mustangs), not all ls parts will just swap over to that engine due to the differances in the design of the valvetrain.. and if you go real big on power the trans will need alot of work also from what I have been told.

I will give them a little credit, while it is fwd at least they put big rims and tires up front to help out.. I think its 255's up front and 235's in the back.. dont ever drive it through a car wash that makes your front wheels drop into a "channel" they dont fit and it will mark up the front rims about 2" in from the lip.

One thing for me was looking at the engine bay.. I would never want to work on that car, much to tight, changing a belt looks nearly impossible.
 
My dad had a early 80's pontiac with over 200k on it and it was in good shape. If you maintain it it will last. Personally I like the body style of the GTP's before the year you are looking at. I raced one with my old 98 GT with only a catback and barely pulled on it.

Or a get a new G8, aka=The Sickness.
 
My dad had a early 80's pontiac with over 200k on it and it was in good shape. If you maintain it it will last. Personally I like the body style of the GTP's before the year you are looking at. I raced one with my old 98 GT with only a catback and barely pulled on it.

Or a get a new G8, aka=The Sickness.
Yeah I'm looking at a 98 GTP right now with 98,000 miles for my daily driver. It has one owner, garage kept and its looks like new,very very clean. It going for 3,500, what you guys think:shrug: It's down to this or 2002 impala 9C3 police package one owner municipal owned for 3,900:shrug: Sorry for high jacking.
 
Well at this moment it's only an option that I am looking at. The car can be had for the 13-15 range however I am still eyeing other vehicles as well.

I currently have a mustang that has an interesting build which is one reason I am looking at other options for a daily driver, however there is a nice aero sn95 for sale that I will be checking out tomorrow. Could easily just buy it outright and put some of my leftover parts from the other car on it (midpipe/exhaust/intake and so on since its only taking up space). Car buying is frustrating however most dealers/individuals are willing to deal currently due to the tough times.
 
I saw a nice little blue hot rod today. Heard somebody was interested.........

Glad to meet your mom today! Best wishes, let her know I enjoyed her company! I could have shot the shat with her all day.

Let me know whatever you choose to go with.


Mark
 
i just sold my 02 gtp supercharged to fund my 00 gt
it was very reliable car and never left me stranded..not once ;)
some people call them granny prixs..but its very nice on inside and is some wat luxury car - hence granny reference. and it can still be a gay little honda :p
 
Hardly...Car and Driver tested it and got a 14.3 at 98 MPH.

+1, I bet that thing spins hardcore from the line. I've had a Pontiac in the past and loved it, the 3800 engines are one of the best engines ever made. One of my buddies had a 91 Buick Regal custom with the 3800 in it, car had well over 350,000 miles on it with out a rebuild. :flag:
 
+1, I bet that thing spins hardcore from the line. I've had a Pontiac in the past and loved it, the 3800 engines are one of the best engines ever made. One of my buddies had a 91 Buick Regal custom with the 3800 in it, car had well over 350,000 miles on it with out a rebuild. :flag:

As I stated above my friend owns one and while we havent run the cars yet I have seen him take off hard from a dig, and the car did move pretty good, I dont know about spin, but the wieght transfer looked horrible considering it is FWD.. looked like it was going to pull a wheelie lol.

I told him I wouldnt run him till I had gears done lol.. I would though just for the fun of it. The GXP has the power advantage, but against it are FWD, and about 300lbs.