thinking of a Regal GS/ grand prix GTP

[Reaper]

well guys i am looking for a daily driver. the GN is gunna get a nice rest for a while, amd get a minor resto. so i am looking in to a either 3800 v6 or the 3800 supercharged V6.


my questions are:

i have not heard to may bad things about them, prolly cause i have not really been listening for them.

what kinda problems are there with them?
motor, tranny etc.
is the GTP or GS rated as a sports car?
should i be affraid of a higher milage car?



any thing you would like to add about a 96 to 2001 GS or GTP would be great

 

[TRYMY231S]

I love my GTP - it's totally different from the Regal. One thing to note is that when your tranny goes (and it will), it costs a lot to get it up and running again. That's if you can find someone who wants to do it.

My GTP has been down for almost 4 months; I broke the trans on the first pass of the year (YANK transmission). It limped about 15 miles (to the nearest bar ) and was able to COAST into a funeral home parking lot. A couple of days later we returned with a trailer and the director came out. He asked if I was the person he talked to earlier and I was like, uh..yeah. He then said they should charge me since the car died and they displayed it for three days. I was laughing.

The GTP is not a sports car, it's considered a GT by insurance companies.

I wouldn't really go with a high mile car just cause the trans is gonna go if it already hasn't.

Anything else?

 

[Kevin Turch]

My Gs is great, 97 with 50k. I got a warranty for that tranny that will go

keeps cost down to about 50 bucks for a deductable

 

[98 GSX]

I work at a buick dealership and have not seen 1 trans. problem on '98 and up regals. '97.5 regals have the 4t60e which is not as strong as the 4t65e. Also most buick drivers are older and drive more conservatively than the average pontiac driver. If you can find a nice regal that was owned by an older person-which is about 95% of them-dont worry too much about mileage. A high mileage car will be much cheaper. I drive a '98 w/ 85,000 miles and orig. trans.
Todd

 

[98 GSX]

Hey guys with tranny probs.

How often do you change trans fluid?
Todd

 

[TRYMY231S]

Every 15,000 miles with non synthetic.

 

[jon_we4]

I am thinking of having a beefy cooler put on for my 4t65e then I'll put in the thrasher shift kit

other than that I love my 99 GS.....nothing like it... complete luxury (for a mid sized car) with boost.

 

[terryk]

I replace filters more than fluids. I will spin on a new oil filter at 1500 miles and replace the trans filter at 10K but run the synth oils/fluids lmuch onger.

I think new (and quality) filters have more impact on durability than oil and trans fluid (in the case of syth's.)

I've beat the crap out of two 4T60EHD's and at 200k, they are still working great. But nothing lasts forever.

 

[Das Regal GS]

Originally posted by 98 GSX
I work at a buick dealership and have not seen 1 trans. problem on '98 and up regals. '97.5 regals have the 4t60e which is not as strong as the 4t65e. Also most buick drivers are older and drive more conservatively than the average pontiac driver. If you can find a nice regal that was owned by an older person-which is about 95% of them-dont worry too much about mileage. A high mileage car will be much cheaper. I drive a '98 w/ 85,000 miles and orig. trans.
Todd

I disagree with you on '97.5 Regals have the 4t60e trans. Mine has the original trans. the 4t65e. I have 76k on her and have been beating her up with about 125ish runs down the dragstrip. I am fairly modded as well.
But I do agree with you that the Buick drivers drive more conservatively that the GTP drivers. I would go with a GS just for that reason alone.

 

[terryk]

I've looked at lots of these cars and 96 was the last year I've seen a 4T60EHD with an S2 SC 3800.

Also, the 4T65E and 4T60EHD have the same torque rating per PowerTrain/Hydromatic. The only difference spec-wise (yes the guts are somewhat different) is the 4T65E can accept the larger torque converter and has shift quality solenoids. But as far as Hydromatic is concerned they rate them the same. Neither like being hammered on a 2-3 upshift either. Bang.

I've heard of as many 65E's dying as 60EHD's so I wouldn't put too much stock in believing a 65E will hold up much better. I've abused a pair of 60EHD's to 200k miles plus and they still work fine. Of course one day the guts will be on the road somewhere....Once you're operating out of specs anything can happen.

TK

 

[RossGN]

I'm not sure about the GTPs, but resale is awful on the GS....which is bad if you buy a new one....but great if you buy a used one (like I did). We've been pleased with our '98. No problems so far...about 70k miles.

 

[neverenuf]

I drove my 87 GN for about three years. It is now sitting in my garage and I have decided to try and sell it. I purchased a 97.5 Regal GS. I am happily surprised with the GS. All of the extra toys and still pretty peppy. It is hard to get used to the front wheel drive, though. It just turned 80,000 and runs fine. I picked it up for a decent price and am glad that I purchased it. I realized going into this that what ever I purchased, in the price range I wanted spend, that nothing was going to be the same as the GN. I never thought I would grow old of the GN but for now I have.