Is the FWD Gran Prix just a total dead end of a car?

Javelin (Forum Supporter) said:

Speaking from 10 years of 3800 Grand Prix ownership...

The head gaskets are trashed and so are the heads. You'll spend a fortune fixing everything only to find out that the transmission is blown, too. If you manage to somehow fix that, you'll be rewarded with the lamest driving experience of the last 30 years and an interior that makes lawn furniture from big lots seem high end.

There's a reason why it's free. Usually you have to pay someone to take these away.

So...you're telling us that your a masochist, eh? 

In reply to FSP_ZX2 :

No but my ex wife was

The comments have been tallied, and it's not worth dragging home regardless of the title situation, whatever that is.

Thanks for all the info, grassrooters! I'm just going to pull the alt this morning. Still can't think of anything I really want from it except that, wiring, maybe the AC compressor for some experiments...

Dead end?  Nope.

MadScientistMatt said:

The best reason: This should bolt in.

Here's a write up of one of its platform mates running 10's. The worst part is figuring out how to deal with transmission and traction issues; one fan commented "These cars make great 13 second cars, but aweful 12 second cars."

There was a guy on YouTube with a Regal and a highly tuned 3.8 with the blower.  It looked like grandma’s.  Replete with whitewalls.  He’d get people to roll race him.  From about 40 mph hilarity would ensue.  He was taking down some very fast cars.  Even the ones who managed to beat him were gobsmacked.

Javelin (Forum Supporter) said:

Speaking from 10 years of 3800 Grand Prix ownership...

The head gaskets are trashed and so are the heads. You'll spend a fortune fixing everything only to find out that the transmission is blown, too. If you manage to somehow fix that, you'll be rewarded with the lamest driving experience of the last 30 years and an interior that makes lawn furniture from big lots seem high end.

There's a reason why it's free. Usually you have to pay someone to take these away.

Before you give up on 3800 FWD GM cars, you owe it to yourself to read Peter Eagan’s experience.  From his column ‘Side Glances’ in Road & Track

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a9382/buying-mileage/

Patrick (Forum Supporter) said:

pointofdeparture said:

Which generation do you speak of? Some of them are more beloved than others.

For example, I'm about as anti-GM as they come, but will always have an appreciation for and secretly covet a nice example from this generation.

I miss my 90 turbo grand prix

And to think, if offered in a rwd option, these would be worth SOO much today. 
 

also. If I owned one, I'd slap "Grand Pricks" in the back and drive like an shiny happy person everywhere.