Daily driver questions

[DDR]

I have been thinking about this one for a while for years. Current situation is I have a daily driver, a 1999 Mitsubishi Galant which has been excellent to me. I have a 1986 SVO Mustang as my toy car for weekends.

Been thinking about getting rid of the Galant and getting an 87GN. The main issue here is cost. I know a car with real low miles would not be a bad idea, but they are up near 20 grand, I wanted to stay 12 grand and below.

Just wandering if I could get a daily driver without much headache for that price.

I would like to hear some thoughts if anyone has a higher mileage GN that they drive every day.

Thanks.

[firebird_1252]

right now you can get a real decent TR for 12k. as far as them being a headache they all are at one time or another. by far my gn is the best daily i ever had. it never once left me stranded. the gasmilage is pretty good for what it is. a blast to drive.. but when they break they break big.

[GrandNational3]

I have an 87 GN with over 100,000 on it and use it as my daily driver from about April to Oct. and love every minute of it. I don't drive it in the winter as I live in Iowa and the salt on the roads would just it up. But I say GO FOR IT!! You should be able to pick up a pretty nice GN for about 12 grand, it may have some miles it but then again who nows you might find one some one has had stored and just wants to get rid of for whatever reason.

[87natty]

Mine been a daily driver for over 4 years. Damn thing is getting me through college. The only issues are wear and tear, like the rear main, water pump, shocks, bushings, little things as they come. I find I have more problems with aftermarket parts. And the transmission, but I did it as preventitive maintenence kind of thing. As firebird said, god gas mileage for what ot does. A little tempermental, but nothing bad.

[FlyinGN]

It depends on where this guy (DDR) lives. in know in my area (Philly/NJ) you ain't gettin much of a GN for $12k.. I personally do not think these cars are a good everyday driver. Too easy to steal, parts gettin harder to get and just plain worth too much to park in a Wal Mart shopping center.

[larobj63]

My daily driver is a '90 Accord. Ask me where any of the sensors and/or emission devises, etc.. are on that car. I have no idea. I'll never need to know.

The GN I drive only in the summer, only in nice weather. Ask me where all the same things are on the GN. I know where they all are. I need to know, because if I haven't replaced them yet, I will someday. And it's only got 75K on it.

My point - GN's are a fun/great/gotta-have-it car, but a good daily driver, no. I think of a dd as being trouble free like my Accord, or (I assume) your Galant. I change/add oil in the Honda, and the brakes/tires every 8 million miles, that's it. So far this season, on the GN, I have changed a rear brake cylinder, coil pack, module, and now the Alternator is dead... It's just old, and a GM....

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by FlyinGN

It depends on where this guy (DDR) lives. in know in my area (Philly/NJ) you ain't gettin much of a GN for $12k.. I personally do not think these cars are a good everyday driver. Too easy to steal, parts gettin harder to get and just plain worth too much to park in a Wal Mart shopping center.

ya you hit it on the head .... Time for me to get something NEW again

[Robert Walton]

I drive mine everyday. Even if you get a low mileage car just remember those low miles are on a 18 year old car. I would maybe look around for one that has had the motor and trans rebuilt by a reputable Buick person that way the major mechanicals are fresh. In my opinion stay away from T-Tops. Mine leak big time. Scotchguard is o.k but I have to keep up on it. My fuel pump just crapped out and when I pulled the tank it was full of rust and sedement!! I sold a perfectly good Lightning to buy this car. I have wanted a T since 1984. After all that I would tell you to DO IT NOW!!! The look on a C5 Vette owners face is priceless when a BUICK rips his $50k car a new one .

[DDR]

For starters I live in the NJ/Phila area.

Second I was around GN's for a couple of years in the early 90's. I was in a business, nothing but GNs. Some of you may have heard of it, 1/4 Mile Performance out of Atco, NJ. At the time I had the greates sleeper Regal of all time, in my opinion. I had an 87 regal, blue half Landeau top, AARP stickers on it when we got it, blue plush seats with the shifter on the coloum. Did it all up with 87 drivetrain and stock GN wheels, and upgrades to probably about a 12 sec car. Never finished the rear, because I got out of it. To make the story short, the GNs were only a few years old at the time. I knew of a daily driver who had well over a 100K that he drove every day. That was years ago.

I just do not want to get into a lot of headaches and money and give up something so dependable to me. But I have always wanted to do it. I know I will spend money to get it running better.

My 86 SVO runs excellent with some upgrades. If I didn't like the SVO so much, I would part with it and replace it with the GN. I cannot part with it, it has been the funnest car I have every owned or been around. I have been arounded everything possible, GNs, Vettes, V8 Mustangs, Camaros, Firebirds etc.

I can live without the t tops but I know that a sunroof would be very important to me.

Tough decisions.

I do appereciate all of the input.

[87GN@Tahoe]

ditch the mits. and get the GN... daily drive the ford... (actually maybe not, you may end up stranded)

[Just a Six??]

These cars are the BEST Weekend Warriors but Daily Driver No Way! Thats why I carry a trunk full of spare parts & tools when I go for a trip. My van I just gas & go with an occasional oil change.

[scottyb]

I have no problem driving every day. October will make 4 years for me, and now at 192,000 miles (bought the car with 155k). The car has stranded me twice: tranny pump failed, and timing chain let go (I wouldn't even consider the timing chain since I SHOULD have replaced it as PM). The only other required repairs I have done are ball joints and heater core. The rest is PM and upgrades I wanted to do. None of the sensors have failed.

This car easily blows away every other used car I have owned in regards to reliability.

[nero]

1 year 2 months and counting. Daily driven in all seasons. 139 on the clock when bought, 151 now. Why have an 18 year old car sit, barring the pristine, ultra-mint TRs--but those are few and far between.

And of course, it goes without saying that an 18 yr old car will have it's share of bugs and maintenance. IT'S WORTH IT, it's your decision if it is. But don't let your TR be a garage whore... buy it and drive it!

[VxTurboxV]

Why not go for a swap? Hybrids are getting more and more popular. You get all the benefits of a TR W/O the hassle of worrying all the time. I'd be terrified to leave a mint GN anywhere... But if I had a nice foxbody mustang or RX-7 (both dime a dozen sports cars) I wouldn't be so heart broken if I got a door ding. Parts for the 3.8 usually aren't to bad. (Think I paid $22 for a water pump a month or so ago!) 12k could build a pretty nice hybrid... Not to mention regal bodys are super heavy! I'm probably barley pushing 300HP and I ran several 11 sec passes. No 300 hp GN is gonna do that! Not to mention better MPG...etc etc.

I'd love to have a GN, I just can't afford the initial cost of a nice one.

Good luck!

[urntfstenuf]

here are some pics of my Baby which I driven for the past 15yrs.. execpt when I broke something now you will always do the regular maitnance on any car you own,but it all depands on how you treat it.it is a 87GN but last year I changed colors to Platnum Grey with black accent.new engine has maybe 60g miles on it and I just changed the timimg gears. so you may find one ,but how well did the owner take care of her interior is cherry I installed new seat covers front/back from Postons,even painted all the trim,original grey.don't have pics of interior.