Pontiac GTO 2004-2006 - 04 GTO for 13k good deal?

What's up everyone I'll skip the intro and get right down to business. I've been lookin at getting a GTO for about a month and finally found what I think is a good deal on one. Here is the ad. http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/3111032389.html
It's not something I have to have ( I have a slow dd right now) but it would be my dd if I bought it. He went down to 13k and it drives great and shifts smooth and all that. 2 small dents one on the passenger front fender just above the emblem and one bout the size of a dime on the driver side quarter.
So my question is this a good deal?

Sounds pretty reasonable IMO I paid that for my 04 from a dealer with 10k more mileage on it.

This is a mixed response debate though some say these cars should be valued far less then others think they are where they should be...personally they are where they should be. Now with them being 6+ years old now and already a limited production run finding a lower mileage stock and clean GTO is getting quite hard so that will cause the prices of them to stay higher IMO.

Look at mine for sale. ;)

Lookin but I can't find it... can you post a link please.

http://m.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1482875&highlight=Qsm+gto

That's a sweet car, but I'm not looking for a modded car.

The only other issue with the car I looked at is the ignition lock cylinder but that's and easy fix.

looks clean id offer 12k.

looks clean id offer 12k.

yes id offer 12 since it does need some minor things. overall not a bad deal. I got l lucky and got mine for 11,700 out the door and its a 04 and had 52K on it. Ive had mine for about 5 months now

I offered 11,700 and back and forth he really didn't want to go any lower that 13,000. I think I'm going to let him stew for a couple days and try and get him lower. It's already been listed a week and he hasn't sold it yet so I can use that in my favor.

I picked up an 04 about 3 weeks ago with 73k miles for $10,500. Body / paint is showroom condition. Interior is excellent. It was modded though, im very happy with purchase -- but for 13k id keep looking

I still think its a buyers market.

You might be able to get it cheaper if your see some flaws in person, I have seen some good 05/06 GTO for around that same price.

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=442766

I bought mine in January for just under $15k with 15k on the clock.

I'd rather pay top dollar for a car I thought was sound over a "deal" that gave me a headache. These cars are very expensive to fix.

I offered 12,300 and he came down to 12,750 and wont budge. Its already been listed for 2 weeks so I think i'm going to pass on it as much a I want one.

I bought my 05, bone stock from an older guy for 13k. With 70k miles. Keep looking.

No its not. Bought my LS2 05 last year with 59k for $11k

I want to know where you guys are finding these deals, anything in good condition with 50k-70k people are wanting 14,500-17,500.

Buddy you need to look harder,its a buyers market, i have seen some really nice ones in the 10500 to 13 range,and i have seen some killer c5s for not much more than that, just have to hunt and be willing to travel,

^^^This. I hunted for 6 months, and flew 1000 miles to get my car, and drove it back.

Also, what happened on mine. I saw it listed for 15k on ebay. He had numerous picture's, and I viewed the history (although not accurate). That listing expired, and no one met his reserve. Next I saw it listed for $14k. I sent him an email asking if he would take 13.7. He said yes, then I actually went back and said 13.2, he said yes, but couldn't provide good dealership paperwork (basically a one man dealer, younger guy just starting, doing a couple cars at a time). So that deal was done. I saw it listed AGAIN and asked if he would just do it as private party (I was financing some of the car). He said yes, and I bid on the car, and won it for $11k. Bought a $100 plane ticket, flew up there, and made the 17 hour drive back throughout the night.

Damn you're a much braver man that I am, I could never buy a car sight unseen. The seller texted me back and said he would do 12,500 told him I would let him know. The car is really clean just had the struts and strut mounts replaced as well as brakes. Its got a clean carfax and other than the minor things listed above its flawless. I think I'm going to pull the trigger on it.

Well, for $11k I had seen the pics. The paint was great, the interior was great. Beyond that, I knew Ebay buyer protection would have my back, if he listed a car in good mechanical condition, then the engine or trans blew up. Plus, my bank did not give him the check until I registered the car (which was about 2 weeks later), so if anything major would have happened, he would not have got the rest of his money from the bank, plus I would have filed an ebay claim with him.


With all this said, I can see the car had been wrecked. Under the trunk carpet, there are ripples in the paint. During detailing, i have seen minor paint runs, and my new washer fluid tank did not quit fit perfectly, making me think the front was a tiny bit tweaked. No one besides me would ever know this stuff, but I have seen it. I am still very happy to have got this car for $11k, as I have not had a single problem with it, and I'm at 72k now.

If it was me, I would look hard at this one. Nearly same price I got mine for, and I doubt you will find any surprises. The GTO is heavy-ish, so if your slow to mod, and LS2 may be the way to go. I can't believe this car is still for sale. http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=442766&page=3

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=444018

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=443841

Mine was listed on Craigslist for 15.5. I offered him 13 and he took it right away. I always wonder if I could have gotten the car for 12.5

Well we talked a little more and we agreed on 12,500. For how nice the car is its well worth it in my mind. Going to pick it up tomorrow night and can't wait. It will be so nice to have a v8 rwd stick car again:).

nice. youll like it.

Just reading all these post about the great deals folks got makes me sad. I did 2 months of research and looking, unfortunately I didn't look into private party sales.. outside of my state.. Dumb ass decision.. I paid $20k + Tax MD 6% on a 05 CGM Clean, 36k Miles. This was last July.

Cars great, I love it. Not the color I wanted but best looking one I could find, a month later I went to pull the locks open with the driver side door, realized the lock was just sitting in the mouth. Replaced that for $5, but it wouldn't stick, ended up taking Super glue to it. Then I noticed the door handle coming loose on the inside, then I noticed there was no covers on the screws, then I realized the window wasn't seated correctly. So come to find out, the car wasn't as clean as I had imagined, the window was busted out, or someone hit the drivers door. One or the other, Either way Seems I paid $5,000 too much for my car. Granted I only had to pay $12k because I traded in a 09 TSX with 60k miles on it, I should have only had to pay $5k >.<

Ahhhh, the hidden surprises of used car buying. Got me too

Well for 12,500 shes mine and its the best decision I have ever made. Drove it a hour home and had a smile on my face the whole time and I never broke the speed limit.

Congrats! Any plans for mods? Or a stock cruiser?

Ahhhh, the hidden surprises of used car buying. Got me too
LOL the worse part? i used to be a used car salesman. So I thought I did awesome getting the price down from $24k. Thought I was doing a great job, my dumb ass didn't even think to check black book, was looking at blue book value thinking ' alright alright alright, they gonna learn today!'

Yeah.. I learned.. Scrubbage

Well for 12,500 shes mine and its the best decision I have ever made. Drove it a hour home and had a smile on my face the whole time and I never broke the speed limit.
Drove it home with no tags? Risky.. She doesn't look bad from a distance. :) That's why I love black cars.

Only mods will be LT's and probably a OTRCAI and that's about it till its paid off. Not to risky driving with no tags I had the title and bill of sale saying I just bought it. The paint isant too bad It's definatly getting a wash claybar and wax this weekend.

buy mine lol. 2004 gto, comp cams 224s, patriot gold kit, corvette 243's, slp longtube headers,hi-flow cats, bc racing coilover's, custom audio and interior. new brakes, cross drilled and slotted. new water pump, aem cold air kit. real carbon fiber hood. Car has been updated with 06 rear bumper and exhaust

I'd rather pay top dollar for a car I thought was sound over a "deal" that gave me a headache. These cars are very expensive to fix.

quoted for the TRUTH!!!

I got a "deal" on a 04 QSM M6 and within a month of owning it I replaced:

Brakes all around
DS with a 1pc
RR and strut mounts
new tires
alignment
rear springs

I should have just waited and bought one for a couple grand more that did not need so much work.

That is correct. After getting my "deal", I have wished all the time to have paid more, and gotten a lower mileage, 1 owner car. Something off the forums. Nothing has gone wrong on my car, however, just seeing things, little things, that I know my car had been in an accident. I can tell the back end had been swung out and clipped something, also, there are some little things I have noticed up front.

quoted for the TRUTH!!!

I got a "deal" on a 04 QSM M6 and within a month of owning it I replaced:

Brakes all around
DS with a 1pc
RR and strut mounts
new tires
alignment
rear springs

I should have just waited and bought one for a couple grand more that did not need so much work.


That's the kind of stuff you would need to replace on nearly any GTO you buy. The rear springs are known to sag on any car, and these cars have been out for long enough, I doubt there are more then a handful of GTO's out that have OEM springs without sag. Everyone I see around here, has the sag. Tires and alignment are just maintenance, RR and strut mounts have gone out on cars with less then 20k miles. I replaced my DS with a 1 piece as well, due to the carrier bearing. Also, a known issue. Certain things on this car you won't get away from, unless you buy one already modified.

Bought my '04 last summer with 61,5xx, SAP front and grills, SW headers, custom catback with dual-exit mod, K&N, ported TB, Hurst shifter...for the low, low price of $9,200. Had to drive 5 hours each way, but it was well worth it. I took my time finding one and jumped on this opportunity when it arose. Single mother just gave birth to a 2nd kid, couldn't afford the "toy", and needed it gone. I ended up putting $250 into fixing a shopping cart dent and respraying the underside of the SAP extension where it scraped her driveway. All in all, I got a hell of a deal.
And not even 2 weeks ago, my GF bought herself one, too. I found her an '04, 3 owner, QSM with 39,xxx and a Magnaflow catback for $14.5k. After our 2nd test drive, we asked if there was any wiggle room. Her answer: "$13k is the lowest I'll go". She bought it a few days later. Best part is, this girl lived 7 houses down the street and we were able to walk to take a test drive, and I had to drive 5 hours for mine. Beautiful, very clean car. Not a single door ring or scratch. None of the previous owners used it as a DD. All I have to do now is get a CD out of the player that is stuck...she even removed the removal tool.
The point of all of this is: Great deals are out there. Stay patient, look often, and take advantage of somebody needing a quick sale.

if your in the indy region there is this one http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/3159525109.html