Newbie here. Thinking of buying a GN

[shotgun]

I'm looking for a daily driver that is fast and cheap to maintain, and cheap to insure.

I've had corvettes and other muscle cars that were fast, but I hated the negative attention they drew, plus maintenance was a daily chore.

I'm attracted to the GN because of it's innocent if somewhat bland looks. Perfect for remaining inconspicuous. Plus the fact that it's a 6-cylinder adds to the fun when you blow by ricers and unsuspecting V-8 cars. In addition, it seems like these cars would make decent daily drivers, at least I hope.

So here are my questions:

• How reliable are they?
  
  Good as a daily driver?
  
  Do insurance companies make a distinction between a GN/GNX and a plain regal?
  
  What work/money would be involved to run low 12s or high 11s reliably?
  
  Availability of aftermarket parts, and restoration parts?
  
  What should I expect to pay for a GN in good condition?
  
  What should I look for/avoid?

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions

 

[azgn]

at this point in time, I would not recommend a GN/TR for a reliable daily driver.....they are almost 20 years old

and, yes, Ins cos. know how to read VIN codes for a turbo motor......so if you are under 30, it won't be cheap

a "reliable" 11 or 12 sec GN would require a good bit of investment after you acquire the car (if it is an average car)....otherwise, you will pay $10K+ for one that is already in that catagory (and it is still almost 20 years old.....)

 

[klrv6]

Insurance

My insurance agent said it is listed as a "High Performance Vehicle". I tried to tell her the GN only has six cylinders and had to be tubocharged so it could get out of it's own way. $80 a month full coverage and that is with two other cars.

 

[quikv6]

Maintenance

I wouldn't recommend one for you after reading your goals. I have 2, one of which is driven daily. You stated that you wanted something that was easy and cheap to maintain. Yes , theyre fun. Yes, theyre fast. But theyre old, and theyre is a lot that could, and probably will, go wrong. Just my .02

 

[87GN_ponykillr]

Also, Sick people love to steal these cars, You have to watch it like a hawk.

 

[shotgun]

Thanks for the input!

I guess a 20-year old car is a bit more work than I thought.

Are there some newer cars with the 3800, 95' and up, that would fit what I'm looking for? I really like the 3800, and would love to own one.

 

[Fakeyankee]

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder ?? Don't take this the wrong way but I just don't see how you can say the GN is rather bland looking. I too as well as many others have or has had different muscle cars throughtout the years. Maybe the T-types and T's look more nondiscript because they most readily blend in with other daily drivers due to interior and exterior makeup, but.......they are still very appealing to the eyes !!! A GN ?? No way !!! You can see one of those Black Beauties a mile away and they make their own statement !!! Bland ??? Look on the highway and around town today...... and tell us that those cars are'nt about as Bland looking as a box of Corn Flakes !!! This is just my opinion and I believe most of the other guys would agree. No Flame to ya shotgun, just an honest opinion.
Darrell.

 

[shotgun]

Originally posted by Fakeyankee
I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder ?? Don't take this the wrong way but I just don't see how you can say the GN is rather bland looking.

It's all relative. Bland as in it doesn't stand out like a C3 corvette, or a Olds 442.

You have to keep in mind that Regals are common, and it has that box shape that so many cars of the era had. So it blends in. Plus, most of the general public knows nothing of the performance of a GN, so they would never suspect that it would have the performace it does.

Not saying the car is ugly by any means, just saying that unless someone knew what they were looking at, the car probably wouldn't get a second glance. To me this is part of the appeal.

When I had my vette, I got tired of every punk reving at me, and for that matter anyone wanting to race. I've went to pass minivans, and they see it's a vette they instantly speed up

Not to mention the vette was a target for cops.

So no flame intended, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I view the looks of the GN as a grocery getter.

 

[microELVIS]

Originally posted by shotgun
I've went to pass minivans, and they see it's a vette they instantly speed up

 

[nero]

It's all relative, mine's reliable!

 

[Fakeyankee]

Oh Yeah shotgun ??
My Regal can haul more grocerys than your Vett !
Darrell

 

[no-nos]

hay shotgun, i don't know if the other guys are haveing problems with their cars, but as far as reliable, my car has done 500 mile trips with no problems and it's done them over and over, it's all a matter of how well do you maintain your car, if you don't want to draw to much attention then get a t-type or a turbo-t, a gn draw's attention no matter where your are. as far as going fast there are many combo's to reach what you want, a simple way would be injectors, chip, hp-fuel pump, adj fuel pressure regulator
dial up the boost and you could get 12s, like i said there are many combo's. and as 87gn-ponykiller said, you have to watch it like a hawk, get a steering colom lock( that is a must) not a club, thats a joke, make sure the colom lock enclose's the steering colom. don't be fooled thinking the public does'nt know what a gn is, most of us who own one, have a beater with a heater to get around( my 94 jeep gr cherr) they are great cars to own and awesome to drive. hope this helps.

 

[Little6pack]

You are probably correct on all your points.

I would look for a colored T that will blend in. Of course today a a BOX doesn't blend in with all the EGGS on the road.

I would look for a real Ugly one but that has a new EVERYTHING.

Then I would say u have the ultimate 18 year old sleeper.

 

[nero]

Originally posted by no-nos
hay shotgun, i don't know if the other guys are haveing problems with their cars, but as far as reliable, my car has done 500 mile trips with no problems and it's done them over and over, it's all a matter of how well do you maintain your car

Yup!

[hack] PM me with a link or p/n for a good coloum lock [/hack]

 

[no-nos]

hey nero, not sure if you got my pm ( my cpu went off by itelf?)
this thing works great

 

[nero]

GOT the PM nonos, thanks a bunch, I 'preciate it!!! Yeah the red looks good, will *halfass* match my marooninterior !!! Yeah, there's a Pepboys around here... I'll ask 'em for that exact one...

and nonos, that pic begs the question... what is that device to the left of it? Is it a password-type kill switch!?!?!?!? Where did you get that?!?!?!? PM me again if need be! Is it a PITA to install!? The more security the better! Thanksssssss


nero

 

[no-nos]

hay nero here's a list of my security device's
1. two alarms -
2.steering coloum lock
3.a nightcam from www.x10.com the camera cost me about$90.00 it's wireless and hooks up to your T.V's audio/video jacks ( it lets you just click video on your tv remote and view your car from the comfort of your bedroom, you could even set it up so that the v.c.r. records your gn while your away-thats the way i have mine set-up )
most of us spend hundreds on go fast products but we get cheap when we secure our cars, i had on stolen from me but i had no alarm on it-MY STUPID FAULT- if you get the camera get the one that is for nightwatch it cost a little more -about $15.00 but at night it's way better than the regular one. play it safe guys our cars are watched by all

 

[nero]

VERY TRUE! Thanks nonos!

Good thread, good thread!