Is a GN with no power options worth more or less ?

[twinvipers]

My friend is looking at 2 GN's to keep for collecting. One has no power windows or locks. Would this hurt or help value ?

 

[Anthony K]

i believe that less options is less common, but its all in what a buyer of a collector car wants to spend and what he is looking for. one guy might want all options and be willing to spend big$$ to get it, and if all your friend has is a stripper. he gets to keep it, but this works both ways. my suggestion......get both!!

 

[kh440]

it's in the eye of the beholder. towards the end of production they tended to put everything but the kitchen sink in them. So a car with little in the way of options might be slightly more rare in 87, but more common in 86.

 

[RobsIron]

A lot of people think 'luxury' when they hear Buick. Power everything.
I just purchased a bare bones stripped GN with 9700 miles. I've owned GNs since '92 and I have rarely seen one with no power options. Usually they'll have at least one power option.

Don't get me wrong I love all the power stuff. It is a little weird with the window cranks though. This car I feel is unique..not even a power antenna. It weighs in at a little over 3300 lbs. Has to be in the fastest factory GN category.

 

[Big Stu]

Nice sig there. Holy car colletcion batman!

 

[phillyturbosix]

Originally posted by kh440
it's in the eye of the beholder. towards the end of production they tended to put everything but the kitchen sink in them. So a car with little in the way of options might be slightly more rare in 87, but more common in 86.

I was shocked to find my build date with my low option car.. Sept. of 87 and I have no power windows, no power locks, no cruise control, No power seat... Kinda happy I don't have those options. I miss cruise control on the long trips to shows but those power windows are so slow! Late built to race!

 

[Boston GN]

I have these same thing. No power anything. I like it that way. Less crap to break, lol

 

[salvageV6]

Hurt value.

 

[Gary Wells]

Originally posted by salvageV6
Hurt value.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
FWIW & IMHO:
I have to agre with SalvageV6 on this. I think that you are going to fing that there are considerable more people that want a highly optioned car as compared to no or low optioned car. My turbo-t has no cruise control and no power windows, and I do miss the cruise control even going to work for a 15 mile stretch of freeway. The most honest opinion for this question would be directed at an audience that is looking for a car, not people that have a vehicle equipped either way. You always love what you have. No contest there. I also consider power/electric locks and power/electric windows a major safety feature.

 

[efi-street]

IMO, I'd pay a little more to get one with no options. Some of us don't want the belly button car. Only option on mine is power windows. No tilt, no cruise, NO RADIO, no speakers. DID come with a fixed antenna though.
Lighter is better.
(except for when you drive the 5 hours to BG with no radio, no tilt, and no cruise. haha)

 

[Little6pack]

Originally posted by kh440
. So a car with little in the way of options might be slightly more rare in 87, but more common in 86.

This is so true!
In my NO OPTION lightweight 86 GN which is currently for sale that nobody is interested in buying it.

If it was an 87 I bet I would get calls up the KAZOWIE.


I am with SALVAGE6 in it HURTS the value. People love bells & whistles no matter how much weight or items can get broken.


It is like this: When Guys ask me about my OLDER truck 87 R10
First thing I say it has AC, POWER WINDOWS, CRUISE. they all go AWWWWWH!

 

[VinsGN]

I don’t know if the value of a “no option” GN is any less, I believe they appeal to a smaller market of the GN community. What I mean is a nice 86-87 GN is worth (lets say) 12 to 14 grand. A “no option” 86-87 GN, in the same condition, is probably worth the same but there are fewer individuals looking for them. You just have to hold out longer instead of liquidating at a lower price.

I passed on a no option GN not because it was lesser of a car but because I wanted a little more creature comforts. It ended up selling for fair market value.

 

[1987BuickGN]

Interesting......

I too own a low optioned GN, and was curious to find the opinions of the respective owners. Mine is a solid roof, no Power windows, no power door locks, no cruise, no power seat, no tilt, no power antenna,but does have a rear window defroster and Posi(G80). Guess its considered a low weight, low mileage (18k) car. Does narrow the market for buyers, but my main purchase requirement was the solid roof and the G80. Other options, or lack of, didnt help/hinder the purchase.Great reading!

 

[strikeeagle]

A low option GN is worth less. Period. "Collectors" prefer highly optioned cars. Even if it means t-tops or a moon roof (rattle, rattle, rattle). Personally, I had a t-top car and will NEVER have one again. But "collectors" prefer open air motoring.

Strike

 

[efi-street]

Originally posted by strikeeagle
A low option GN is worth less. Period. "Collectors" prefer highly optioned cars. Even if it means t-tops or a moon roof (rattle, rattle, rattle). Personally, I had a t-top car and will NEVER have one again. But "collectors" prefer open air motoring.

Strike

Once again, depends on the "collector" in question. Many collectors (like myself) look for something a little different than the average car and value condition/mileage above all else. I, for one, would never even consider a TTop car.

 

[RobsIron]

Vince said it best.

 

[Welby]

IMO, people like to get alot of "stuff" for their money, and if your car has alot of "stuff" it'll appeal to them more.


Personally, I could give a sh*t, even though my Limited is loaded. First car I've ever owned with power windows, actually. Hell my last two had zip up windows

 

[Gary Wells]

FWIW & IMHO:
A smaller market/audience at some point in time will mean less value, hence less money. And the buyer is probably thinking the same thing when he goes to sell, if the occasion should ever arise.
What do you think that the ratio of persons looking for a highly optioned car is to persons looking for a less optioned car is. My preference would be all options excluding any of the roof treatment options, digital gash, cornering lights, but the option operating the light attached to the doors is cool. And if you believe that the same amount of buyers want t-tops as compared to the amount of those that don;t, well, I just don't know what to say, except Kirban never sold any t-top Turbo Regals up until about 1.5 years ago, now why is that? He rarely buys t-tops, Virtually never. Go figure.

 

[BlackBandit]

When I first bought my 87 GN I was stoked because it had p/w, a/c, rear defrost, and g80 rear. I was looking for light and fast. Now it has tilt, cruise, and twilight sent.(with concert sound and p/l in the near future ) Why, because as fun as it is to have a 'rare' gn, I don't plan on getting rid of it and I like the options. If I was starting a collection I might pay more for a low option gn but for a driver, which I would assume is most of the market, they're probably worth less.

P.S. no particular point in mentioning it but mine was also made for Canada so the speedo's got the kph in big numbers and the mph in small numbers.

 

[Gary Wells]

FWIW & IMHO:
Rarer does not always mean more money.
In most cases, yes, I agree.
WE4: rarer tha GNs but worth less
Limiteds: 1035 made? rarer but worth less than GNS
'86 production way less than '87: worth less, too, and if they are not worth less, they do not command the money they should compared to '87 production #s, everything else equal.