How should I go about buying my first GN

[progress1vebmx]

I registered here last year, thinking I would be getting a Grand National for my first car. I realize now, that it would have been a mistake on my part (other than the awesome deal I was getting..).

Anyways, I am now ready to buy an 87' GN this upcoming March. What things should I look for in the GN, and what should I expect for 8-9k? What are the typical first mods for the GN? I also looked up insurance, and it's not too bad. Not as bad as I thought it would be, only 145$ a month.

 

[striker_29]

Dude shop that insurance as rates are all over the place. That seems high, even for a youngster unless you have a bad driving record. I thought I had a good deal, shopped around and now pay just a touch over that for 6 mos. As far as the rest goes, check out the new buyers guide at www.gnttype.org

First mods will be scantool and fuel system upgrade, just stick around asking questions before you make any moves. Good luck...striker

 

[Little6pack]

Don't buy one sight unseen. try to go & see it.
Or ask a member here to look at one for you or with you.

The price range you mention should buy you a nice stocker
with 45k or up miles.
Or
It may buy you a fast modded GN.

GN as a first car ever driving?

I am not sure if you should get some driving time in a ****box first.
Then move on to a GN.

 

[progress1vebmx]

Yeah, that was through progressive, as full coverage. When I get the GN it's going to be when I turn 18.

It's funny, I'm Asian...and I hate the majority of imports =o.

I was also maybe thinking about, exhaust, downpipe, powerplate, shift kit, 160 thermo... depending on how much money I have, I want to put in about 1500 for getting the car up and running as best as I can (before any mods), and then getting some mods.

Oh, and what I meant to say was : LAST year, I was going to et a GN as my first car. But now that I am experianced in driving, I think I am ready to get a GN.

 

[striker_29]

Agreed, you should be able to get a decent mileage gn for that, or one thats already got a few goodies. My insurance was with progresive, I'm now with shelter so check them out. It may just be my exceptional agent that is familiar with Tr's, but give them a look and see. All the rest of your thinking seems right in line, just be sure to take a real good test drive and pay attention to everything when you do. Good luck man!

 

[salvageV6]

Pay cash and buy in the dead of winter.

Don't wait for spring.

Really.

Oh, there's a lot of nice ones for sale now too. Check out the cars for sale section.

Sounds like you are ready for one.

 

[charlloots]

have patience dont settle get what you want for what you want to spend on the car consider all options like insurance ,cosmetics rims ,radio ,perfrormance mods is it gonna be a daily driver.
good luck either way

 

[turbot2496]

These guys are right about the insurance, that quote is way high.

The first thing you need to ask yourself is what kind of GN do you want. Do you want a totally stock GN with just the basic performance mods(ie. fuel pump etc.) or do you want a full blown street screamer (ie. bigger turbo, frontmount intercooler, heads, intake etc etc.) or do you want a trailered to the track drag car. Now is the time to make these descisions because with the cash you have you can get pretty close to any of these but taking one and making into the other is a very costly proposition.

Buy a car that someone else has already spent all the money on the mods you want.

It will be much cheaper in the long run. If I was shopping for a performance GN here are some things I would think about.

1. Stock paint sucks. It was originally laquer and the only cars that have decent paint after all these years are ones that were stored and have no miles on them. Even then the paint is not gonna last when you start using it as a daily driver. Find a car that has recent paint preferably base coat clear coat and that the original laquer was completly removed ie sanded to bare metal. If not the new paint will check after a few years. Buying a car with crappy paint can end up costing you alot in the long run(3500-7000)

2. Motor- Stock motors are at least 16 years old now. Even with low miles the seals etc. are old. Plus a car that was started once every 3 months for the last 16 years probably has alot of wear on it and the only miles that were put on it were probably WOT. Look for something thats been professionally rebuilt to the level you want it (ie. heads, steel caps etc.). This will save you at least 3500 in the long run.

3. Interior- Get on the resto websites and price some of this stuff. Car with a crappy interior is gonna cost you at least a grand in the long run if you can even find all the pieces.

4. Engine managment-- Do you want a car with a FAST system, maf trans +, max effort etc. These setups can cost quite alot and if you have a preference try to find a car with what you want on it. Find a car that is already in good tune and is running the number you want with the parts you want.

5. Turbo-- Get a car with the turbo you want to accomplish whatever goals you have in the car. This will save you at least 600 bucks.

6. Intercooler-- Same with turbo. Front mount will cost you close to a grand but buying a car that already has whatever you want will be much cheaper in the long run.

7. Radiator-- Stock radiators are probably all crap by now. If it doesn't have a new radiator in it it will probably need one.

8. Gauges and Scanmaster-- Get a car with the gauges you want already installed ie egt, boost, knock etc etc and also they may have a scanmaster and data logging programs too like direct scan that they will throw in for a fraction of the cost.

Alot of other stuff but this gives you a general ideal. Sit down and plan out what your dream GN would have in it. Add everything up that it would cost you to take a totally stock GN and transform it into this dream car. Now you have the top most price you would pay for your dream car if you built it yourself. Now start shopping for something as close to that dream car as you can get. I gurantee it will be a ton cheaper finding something as close as you can to that picture that someone is selling rather than building it yourself. I've seen magazine cars on here sell for less than half what the owner has in them. Be patient in your shopping and be prepared to travel a little to actually see the car. Your patience will pay off in the long run. When you find the exact car you want don't be stingy and try to lowball the guy too much. He's probably already losing a ton on the car and putting the screws into him that much more might loose you the deal. Ton of people on this board wanting something for nothing. Right now its a buyers market. You can get just about anything you want for about 15k tops. You say you only have 8 or 9 but the more car you can buy now the more it will save you in the long run so you may want to save a little more or borrow some. Anyway good luck and I hope this helps.

 

[turbot2496]

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=104805

This car would be awesome for 10k if its as advertised. Not a very good daily driver with that tranny but if you wanted a sharp performance car that would be the ticket. All in what you want. Buy you beater for a daily driver and have this baby for the weekends. Man oh Man.