HardHitter

I'm looking for a beater so I can bring a car to school. (don't want to keep the FD at the college) The car would be driven most likely on the weekdays to get to/from work and be parked on the streets at night at my college. Would also be driven anytime the FD is down which hopefully isn't going to be any time soon.

I was wondering if you guys knew much about the Pontiac GrandAm GTP's as although to me they are butt ugly, they seem like a pretty fun car to drive being a supercharged V6 and all and even if I do decide to put money into the beater, with a grand or so, the GTP can be a pretty good sleeper as I've seen some pull on some LS1 Fbodies and stay close to some 05 GTO's.

I already have one of the nicest cars, so the thought of getting another pretty nice car should be out of the picture, however I have a dilemma right now. At this time I work for a company where I teach 3-12 year olds soccer. We work through cities parks and recs so I am sent to parks all over the area and I need to carry soccer *****, cone bag, and some other things, so equipment/luggage space is going to be an issue, but just recently, I was contacted by a pretty big company (Network Appliances was just named #6 best company to work for by Fortune Magazine) and if they hire me there, I don't know if it'd really matter if I showed up in a POS car or what.

I do not want to bring my FD to my dorms (live on campus) and leave it over night here every day as I know as time goes on it will get it's dents/dings/vandalism.

Just wanted to see if anyone has had/driven a 98+ GTP and their thoughts.

P.S. Other beaters I was looking at was possibly a 5th gen Prelude, Civic, Transam, and something like a Chevy Xtreme truck or blazer. Price is around 6500-8500k for financing. Out of my list, I like the exterior of the Chevy Xtremes, Transam, and Preludes (modified) the best, but I just feel like the GTP would be the most fun car to drive out of them all. 98+ transam is going to be hard to find for around 8500 and below.

HardHitter

Bump, someones gotta know!

01formula6

iTrader: (7)

Before you even mentioned the GTP I was actually going to suggest a Buick Regal GS. Same supercharged motor, better sleeper effect. It should be about a grand away from being a high 13 second car.

wahoo09goalie

I got a Lincoln Mark VIII for ya.... 4.6L cobra engine.....

HardHitter

I think I like the GTP more on exterior looks than the Regal/Lincoln. That's pretty hard to think that too seeing how ugly the GTP's are lol




That's my baby

Starz T/A 17

iTrader: (6)

you might wanna try the cars wanted section

ICRAZY6

iTrader: (68)

I talked the girlfriend into buying an 04 GTP. I like it alot. Except I'm 6'2" and the damn driver seat needs to be reclined for me to be confortable because my head rubs on the roof. It will move but after 100mph you'll just give up. A 2006 Nissan Altima SE-R is my DD. It gets good mpg (roughly 24 in town) and still has plenty of ***** to fly. Its faster than the gfriends GTP. I've seen 140 in the Nissan and only 120 in the GTP. Her car is stock but for a grand you could get exhaust, CAI, and a pully. Should net you about 50-60hp.

HardHitter

Yea, again, as a DD, it just needs to get me from place to place with decent gas mileage. It's not bad having a supercharger too to have fun with when I want to.

Spink

iTrader: (1)

I'm in a similar scenario and I found a nice low milage 96 Maxima. Really low maintenance, easy to work on, great motor even if it is only 190HP, plenty of room to lug stuff or friends around, good gas mileage, seems to be pretty impervious to door dings as well. The only negative I can find is it's not an LS1.

HardHitter

I think a 98+ WS6 is ideal but trying to find one for < $8500 is going to be hard. I think down from the WS6 is going to have to be the GTP.

nick_4.8sierra

iTrader: (2)

Damn, thats a nice import.

wamp42

I wouldnt call a GTP a beater. That 3.8 supercharged V6 is pretty damn quick.

HardHitter

Yea, I don't mean to call it a beater, what I define a beater is a "daily driver" but I guess others define a beater as a thing that barely runs I guess.

I think I'm pretty set on a GTP unless I find a better option. They can run mid 12's with only couple of mods which is pretty good for a daily driver and for a sleeper car like them

horist

GTP is definetly a nice DD type car... plus you can drag them down the strip w/both hands out the sunroof steering with your knees!