Well folks, that old itch started itchin again. Dang!
Seems like every 12 to 24 months, I get a hankerin to swap out vee-hikkles. Here we go again, as we used to sing in basic training.
I was thinking Grand Prix or LeSabre. To make a long story less long, I ended up at the KIA dealer where I bought The Mighty Spectra.
They're close, and they showed a GP online.
I wandered the lot looking for it, and out back was a
wash me! wash me! LeSabre in the neutral bluish. Its 15" alum wheels needed a good scrub, and it looked like some TLC was needed.
So the saleshomie and I took her out. It was about a 2003, it had just turned over 100,000. Normally I wouldn't look at something so road weary, but this car had a very tight suspension and generally seemed unworn and solid.
The trusty 3.8 was very quiet, the AC seemed to need some charge but cool air issued forth from the handy dashboard-mounted ventilation apparatus. Radio worked well, gadgets worked well. Bottom line is I could probably drive away with this for $4000. Hmmm. Or less.
There was a good deal of rust from the back view. This was an all-season car, obviously. They said it was traded in by an older lady, the car had been purchased at this dealer when it was an Olds/Buick/Cadillac. Possibly service records will be available if she had it serviced there.
Next was an '04 Bonnie with 70K, SLE I believe. Middle model, with 17" wheels. Pretty bronze color, leather, roof, but it drove all loose and shakey. Like it needs bushings, alignment, balance, struts, whatever.
I think he was asking 10 or 11, don't recall exactly, because next I spent a lot of time at the BPGMC dealer.
At BPGMC, I knew they had some recent GP models. I don't think ABS is standard, forgot to check the dash lights on the '08 I drove.
But before the GP, we checked out an '01 Regal GS (3.8 sc), 90K, white with grey rockers, leather, roof, onstar, whatever. Very clean car.
I owned an '02 and the seats were murder. But these GS seats seem a bit firmer. And the GS has more toys, spiffier interior.
They priced this at seven grand, with of course room to roam. I haven't checked KBB on any of these.
This was a nice car with a lot of pop. Suspension is reasonably tight for its age/miles, there's not a lot of roll in the two corners I pulled some Gs in.
Front end feels like it needs struts, otherwise reasonably tight for a 90,000 mile car. I think with new struts and bushings from head to toe things should feel good. But what do I know?
Little rust under the back end, the only place you can see much with no lift.
Saleshomie said an older couple traded it in. There's very little pitting on the front end, which makes this look like a town car.
Drove an '08 GP with cloth and no roof. Roof is not a big deal to me. This car had 30,000 on it and they're asking $13K. Negotiable of course. There's an '07 GP with 30,000, leather and roof, beige, asking $12K.
Needless to say, the GP was the tightest, brightest car I drove. It has HUGE outside mirrors which I like a lot. Lots of gadgets, like ATF temp, pretty kewl.
As a pure driver, I'd say the GP is the nicest. Of course, it's new. It's still got warranty. I'd prefer ABS, and IIRC the LeSabre had 4Wdiscs and ABS, as did the Regal. Pretty sure the GP has 4Wdiscs, not sure about ABS.
As for a trade, the KIA dealer said they'd give me auction. The BPGMC sounded like he could do better than that, like KBB. I go back tomorrow to check out the 2007 GP.
Anyone with handy hints, or vehicle connections, feel free to chime in. I need to check out a few more cars.
Stay tuned to this channel.
