High mile GN clean or Low mile needs paint?

[NitrousMan]

I'm looking at 2 87 GN's one with low miles 80,000 with a newer motor and trans with FMIC new ta 49 turbo but the car is pretty dirty for a the miles and it needs a paint job plus the interior is pretty rough and could use all new weather strips. The owner is pretty young and doesn't know much about GN's or what's been done to his car since most of the work was done by the previous owner. It does have aftermarket wheels that I don't really like but it has hooker exhaust and hooker headers. This car the owner doesn't have a list of all the mods done he could give me because he's not sure of everything.

The other GN has 152,000 miles on it but it has a 3 year old paint job that looks very nice with GNX flares, stock wheels and some mild mods to the motor with a stock turbo and alcohol injection and a rebuilt rear but the owner doesn't know if the motor or trans has ever been rebuilt but they are very clean. The current owner has owned it for a few years ans keeps it in the garage. He is the 3rd owner. The interior isn't perfect but it's clean and all the weather stripping was replaced in the last year. Here's a list of what this car has done to it:
Red Armstrong XP pump w/Billet regulator.
Cold air induction w/K&N filter
LT1 MAF w/Translator
009 42 lb. injectors
power plate
Progressive alcohol inj.(6 mos old)
F body radiator w/dual fans
3 in. Down pipe
Hooker Cat Back dual exhaust w/test pipe
New timing chain and gears
upgraded rockershafts w/LT1 comp cam valvesprings
Tubular lower control arms w/poly bushings
Eaton posi
Driver side airbag
pinion snubber
line lock
Vacumn brake conversion
Nitto 275 extreme drag radials
GNX flares
Direct Scan w/laptop

I'm kind of leaning towards the high mile car but should I be concerned about the miles since I'm going to use it for a daily driver? Both cars are Texas cars and have no rust. With a car with that many miles on it what should I look out for? Both cars are priced under $8,000.00. Thanks for any info.

 

[no-nos]

i'd go for the car with high miles too, it seems they took better care of that car than they did the other, my buddies gn has 155k on it and runs 11s, miles are important but it all depends on how well the car was looked after

 

[Drac0nic]

Go with the high mile car, the guy has made educated choices on his mods versus the other ones, the fact he threw hooker headers on it shows he doesn't know what he's doing and you may find some mods you don't like. I'd much rather have a virgin motor and trans then a person who doesn't know what they're doing rebuilding one.

 

[KansasCity-T]

I bought my car with 177,000 miles on it and could pass for 77,000 miles. If I were you I would go with the high mileage car. It sounds like he has also done some good mods to it. Also, another thing to think about is, you won't feel as guilty putting miles on the car.

Deron L.

 

[NitrousMan]

The guy with the high miler is a really nice guy and I feel that he's been very honest with me so far. He says the car doesn't burn any oil and it's always run Mobil 1 oil. I was also considering a 98 or 99 LS1 Camaro Z28 or SS. I've seen a few for sale and they seem to be pretty reasonable on price. Most of the one's I've looked at have been pretty stock which I think is good when it comes to the LS1. I like to do my own mods anyway. I know everyone here is pretty bias towards the GN but what do you guys think of the LS1 for a daily driver/hotrod?

 

[INEEDAGN]

Go with the high-miler for sure. Go ahead, ask me how I know.......

bob

 

[NitrousMan]

Originally posted by INEEDAGN
Go with the high-miler for sure. Go ahead, ask me how I know.......

bob

How do you know??

 

[INEEDAGN]

I was hoping you wouldn't ask......

The main reason I point to the high-miler was that it seems to have been well taken care of, and owned/modded by someone who probably knew what they were doing, versus "throwing parts at it". My car has 72,000 miles on it, and that odometer reading is what I was paying attention to when I bought it. I completely ignored the fact that the engine had been overhauled at 66k, two owners ago. After calling the owner before last, I found out that the transmission and rear end have both been rebuilt also. The engine has been modified internally with an aftermarket cam, pistons, and "mystery" head work. To make a long story short, it is a very nice car, with a presentable older repaint, but tuning this thing is impossible. I don't know where to start on a car that's had so many aftermarket parts stuck in it with no tuning to compensate for any of it. Every time a problem arises, I'm scratching my head wondering if it's something they screwed up when it was apart. Since every bolt has been out of it, it does me no good to have a lower mileage car, except maybe resale and insurance value. It sounds like the exact same situation you will be in if you buy the first car. If I could do it over again, I'd buy one that is 100% dead stock and unopened regardless of mileage, and walk away from the deal if it has any more than maybe a K&N on it. If the mods were done by someone who knew what they were doing it MIGHT not bite you in the rear later on. The first car just sounds like a mechanical nightmare, not to mention it will need additional money right away for paint/interior. Ask yourself: "what good would that odometer reading do me on this car?" I hope my whining gives you some more aspects to think about.

bob

 

[salvageV6]

Buick built very good motors.

Can't say the same about everyone else.

Best to find a car that someone honest knows about or someone you can trust is selling, check the oil pressure at idle and 2400 rpm HOT and drive it.

Going with a stocker or mild buildup and adding parts yourself is the best way to learn about these cars.

 

[NitrousMan]

It sounds like I should go with my gut feeling from what everyone is saying and take the high miler. Does anyone have any comments on the LS1 Camaro questions I posted earlier in this thread?

 

[scottyb]

I'd prolly go with the high miler as well. It's all about the whole package, and your comfort level with the seller. I did the same as you and bought my car at 155k. I drove several lower mile cars, but they were sloppy by comparison. I'd also be leery about the rebuild.