buying a high mileage GN, help!

[bigdombo]

hello all big gn fan here gonna be my first one, dont have much cash though so im looking at kind of a project,
,
its an 87 , with 180k miles, i know alot! it needs paint and minor body work, interior is mint and car does run and drive and seem tight. im getting it at a great price of 4k, any opinions on if its worth it, and experience with high mileage, everything is stock. thanks!

 

[HotAirGN]

My 87 is high mileage but I purchased it from the original owner. Just check fluid colors and see if there is a known service history. If the interior is mint, that is a big plus. Just be weary of rust as it seems to hide. I have put tons of work into mine but I did get it at a much lower price so it probably evens out.
These cars are easy to go through (after you do it enough times) so its not a big deal to have to fix something. Just refresh and maintain and you should be fine. Don't be worried about miles because you will probably want to modify it anyways and will replace it with new parts when you have the urge.

 

[WillRideAgain]

If you are a big fan purchase it. You stated it was stock and you dont have much cash right now,keep it stock and keep the boost low around 13lbs and drive it and enjoy it. High mileage and mods and high boost will not be good. Just buy it and drive it stock until you get right enjoy the car.

 

[Odog87]

I bought mine at 130k....no real complaint just know your dealing with a 20+ year old car, so it's gonna have old car problems. If your passionate about the hobby then go for It...I gurantee it wont be your last 4,000$ so have fun. We got good support here so use it...its a great tool. Live by your decision.

 

[1984 t-type]

Check for rust on the body and frame around the 2 rearmost body bushings ( behind the rear wheels and back by the bumpers ) all g bodys like to rust there some worst that others. Not necessarily a deal breaker but know what type of work your facing

 

[Dabigguy]

Well the engine, tranny and read end are worth almost what the asking price is !!! Buy it, work on it a little at a time and enjoy !!

 

[mikes86ttop]

i bought my 86 ttop gn for $2800 with 115k and a bad motor but the body was really solid i picked up an original 28k mi. drivetrain and popped her in...to me mileage is nothing

 

[xtremexnyc]

I would consider that if you purchase the car for $4K. How much more will you need to get the car up to your standard. Sometimes you are better off saving some more $$ and purchase one with less issues. If you have the time to do a little here and there, spend as you can afford along the way then go for it . But sometimes it becomes more $$ than you expect. Good luck with everything.

 

[1984 t-type]

Hey look at it this way for the year it is that's a low mileage car. 7500 miles per year ain't bad

 

[1fast6]

If you are a big fan purchase it. You stated it was stock and you dont have much cash right now,keep it stock and keep the boost low around 13lbs and drive it and enjoy it. High mileage and mods and high boost will not be good. Just buy it and drive it stock until you get right enjoy the car.

This is good advice.
Just be careful if you do buy it. I say this because so many people get into a car like this thinking it's some kind of fast ass street bruiser then are not happy with the "real world'' performance. Next thing you know there turning up the boost on a high mileage car and that's when the problems really start to show.

 

[HelloBozos]

My 86' i had,bought brand new Oct 86' went 113,000 miles ,Very Hard Miles !! before it threw any bearings.If it's bone stock,just clean it up an leave it that way,the value will increase,Espeacily if it still numbers matching, (block,trans,rear) Everyone now a days have ruined that

Enjoy!

 

[turbo39151]

The price seems nice but if you say it has higher miles, you need to be prepared for inevitable repairs or fixing other people's "repairs".

Also, you mention it needs paint and body work?- add another $4k-$5k to start for getting that handled unless you do it yourself or go to Maaco...

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED??

You may want to see if there are any TR folks near you who might be willing to go and look at the car with you. You do not want to spend $4k to find out that your small "project" has really turned in into a complete renovation.

I'd find a more experienced TR person to inspect the car, make a list of what it needs or will need, and price everything. Then decide if your wallet is up to the task. These cars are not cheap. They are money pits. Most of the older guys here will tell you to save your money and buy one that is done. It's cheaper and easier in the long run and you'll actually get to drive and enjoy the car as opposed to dumping money into it to get it right- like the rest of us do...

Either way, these are great cars and finding the right one is half the fun.

Good Luck.

 

[bigdombo]

wow! i would just like to thank everybody for the great responses. well heres my deal. From what i know now, the car has rust on the trunklid, and on the bottom of the doors, everywhere else is solid, and needs a paintjob, im not worried about that, i will save money and do it over the winter. just find a preventive way to not let it keep rotting.

i plan on keeping it bone stock, im just worried if i take off or hit the gas to hard im gonna blow the tranny or something. but thats just nerves i guess.

what i would really appreciate is maybe some things to look for when i go to get the car, drivetrain wise, i know fluid colors,and compression test, any other tricks of the trade to look for? or gn secrets.

i know eventually ill have to do some rebuilds, but i dont want the motor to blow on the way home lol.

 

[turbo39151]

Before we talk about performance, lets slow down a bit and look at the body. This WILL get very expensive.

If you have rust at the bottom of the doors and on the trunk lid, depending on the level of rust you will have to replace them.

Again, WHERE are you located? (we don't need your home address, just a general idea of the state and maybe the city) - helps us to help you.

If you're in the western states you can find these replacements easily and cheaply. If you live in the midwest or east, as I suspect by the condition of the car you speak of, then these are expenses to be mindful of. Good doors are not cheap to buy and less cheap to ship. Same goes for the trunk lid.

If you have rust in these areas you need to check the floors... Don't just look under the car, you need to pull up the carpet and look at the floors! I cannot tell you how many "needs minor bodywork" cars I've seen that ended up having swiss cheese floors... If you can do the welding, cool. If you can't, you want to make sure you can afford to get all of the rot repaired...

I remember someone here mentioning that their rule of thumb was to take what ever rust you see and double it. As that is what rust you didn't see.

Not trying to scare you away, Engine and trans is easy. Body work will break the bank if you can't do it yourself.

 

[Dabigguy]

It's all in what you want and what your budget can afford. If you have mechanical skills and not a lot of money, but a fixer-upper. If you don't have those skills, then do not buy one of these cars without the money to pay someone to work on it. These cars are 25 yr old and ALL of them will have issues, unless someone did a complete restoration.

Buying any car with 180k miles without the engine/trans being rebuilt has it's risks, but the engines in these cars were built tuff from the factory.

Here is a link to a Grand national buyers guide.
The Turbo Regal Buyer's Guide

 

[usetaboost]

Id say the biggest thing to look for on these cars is rust. i believe mileage is not a concern with these cars. It hides everywhere. unless it unbolts, its gonna cost money

 

[bigdombo]

thanks again guys, sorry for not mentioning before im in ny, cars coming from here. i have mechanical skills, but not body work skills, the reason im more worried about the drivetrain is cause if i get the car now i can save up and do all the paint and bodywork ovewr the winter, but having to do that and then rbuild a motor and trans will not be feasable lol

 

[Pronto]

What ever you think the bodywork will cost, double that and you may get close to the actual cost. Personally I would take a step back and re-evaluate. Save up another 4k and you can pick up a nicer car with less body repairs needed.

 

[87gninpa]

Picked up my first GN when I was 17 for around the same price from the original owner @ 155k. It was all I had the money for at the time and I wanted one baaad. I have probably put 6-7k or so into it over the past 10 years but I wouldnt change a thing. Ive had 6 of these cars and not one with under 100k on it, havent really had any major issues other than maintenance. I would worry more about rust on the body and prior care/maintenance than I would about miles. I was just at a local car show this weekend and my 205k GN looked better inside & out than a guys there who only had 49k on it. Its all about how it was taken care of. Good luck either way.

 

[dsapper]

if your already planing on body work over the winter and saving up money for that I say wait. Save some more cash and buy a different car. A good paint job is 3-5k depending on what needs done and yours doesnt sound to easy.

I just purchased a 60,000 mile very clean grand national for 9,000. The deals are out there if you look for them. Overall you will be much better off financially spending a bit more money, even if it takes you time to save, then rebuilding every square inch of an almost 200k car, which you will.