yay i get to be a newbie again!
figure i'd post this over here since it's a little more turbo specific
i found a red TGP near my area...well ok...about 5 minutes away
it belongs to one of my friends landlords...it's just sitting in the driveway uncovered and never moves...so i have decided to rescue it
i have a little more info as of now...the paint job is excellent minus some minor surface rust on the bottom edge of the drivers door and on one corner of the moonroof...it doesn't have a cd player though ...all electronics work...it runs...i'm not sure how good yet...haven't got to test drive it
other then the rust...it needs a new battery...also i plan on checking for crossover issues etc. I'll probably buy it no matter what ...and use parts from my LE if needed
tried to snap some pics today...but it started raining
so i suppose what i need to ask is...any ideas on value...so i know what to offer...its obvious the guy doesn't know the car is rare...so i expect i can get it for around 2 grand
also a longing question in my mind...i've noticed some people having issues with the PMIII abs system...it that common thing to have problems with
oh...btw...if you don't know me i'm a regular at w-body.com
If you can pick it up for around 2,000 your getting a pretty good deal. Make sure to test drive it and see if the turbo is still good by pulling off the intake tube and checking the shaft for play. Also check to make sure the H.U.D. still works. If all of that is good go for it. It will be money well spent. If you have anymore questions on it or have any trouble with it make sure to post back here. There is always someone that knows how to get it done.
Don't forget to check the brake system. See if the anti-lock or brake lights are on in the dash. The PM3 is expensive and is a common problem. I don't think the HUD is too big of a deal (IMO) because I've seen them go for around $60 on ebay. Big deals: xover $425, PM3 $700, turbo $???, tranny.
tomorrow i'm gonna get to take a closer look...i'll check the turbo and crossover...it needs a battery so i'll wait for a test drive
but anyways i'll post some pics of the soon to be mine tgp i found
Sounds good, best when resurrecting a used TGP or any used car sitting dead for a while is to have it as a project one for a while. As for the ABS unit, from all the people that email me (way more than the postings here :oops: ) most common is just the charge out of the accumulator, $100 from Prior. No one every seems to care ahead of time for the ABS Unit (or the radiator or others), meaning caring for it by pumping the float/lever switch to loosen all the debris it has collected (that DEBRIS will enter into the passages and wears the seals causing owners to HAVE to get a complete unit from Prior!) then draining and cleaning out all the old moisture filled fluid in the reservoir, then fill with new, drain out of the farthest rear, closest rear, farthest front, closest front calipers and be ahead of the game of complaining :roll: :) .
SO!! How many miles, what kind of care has it had/prior problems known and/maybe fixed? A good detailed underhood pic will tell me a ton of what has gone on with it over the years :!: MAKE SURE first it has engine oil and radiator fluid all up to level before you go drive some car that has been sitting for a while (and change those soon as you get it/before you drive it much!). Tire condition? Bounce it for struts, driver it for same and shift quality into all gears, idle stability, smoke out the back end after sitting idling hot for a while. Brake rotors have rusted so don?t freak from the grinding sound when coming to a stop. Gauge Cluster lights on can all be fixed easy from Shawn?s great web site details 8) . Anything you find I would use to get the price down, though I agree with around $2,000, many on eBay have been going for less and are indeed worth that lower amount mainly since they looked a little rough, not even cleaned enough to be up for sale :roll: .
That is about it, get it running and reply back with what you found :D !
Jeff M
i posted this over at w-body.com too
the tgp didn't look quite as good up close at i had expected
I'm not positive how well it runs...it's been sitting there for 2-3 months...the guy drove it there so i kno it ran when he parked it...but i still need to see for myself
Side Shot
(http://69.164.156.28:6969/DSC00693.JPG)
Angle shot
(http://69.164.156.28:6969/DSC00694.JPG)
Front
(http://69.164.156.28:6969/DSC00695.JPG)
Back angle
(http://69.164.156.28:6969/DSC00696.JPG)
Back
(http://69.164.156.28:6969/DSC00697.JPG)
back seats...the rear mirror fell off apparently
(http://69.164.156.28:6969/DSC00688.JPG)
front interior...drivers seat has a hole in it
(http://69.164.156.28:6969/DSC00689.JPG)
cassete deck and dic
(http://69.164.156.28:6969/DSC00691.JPG)
moonroof
(http://69.164.156.28:6969/DSC00692.JPG)
gauges...note the mileage, note it well :twisted:
(http://69.164.156.28:6969/DSC00690.JPG)
last but not least...the engine
(http://69.164.156.28:6969/DSC00687.JPG)
Nice CD player
Quote from: redturbo90Nice CD player
It takes those extra special cds that believe it or not are the same size as a cassette :lol:
Good photos, cannot see down in too much of the engine bay but it's too dark to get an exposure anyways, does not stop me from seeing a lot of things to know of, and some to check. I see the alternator has been replaced, some spark plug wires with an ?other? brand. Crossover pipe is toast, from seeing the substantial rust/burn mark on the shorts side pipe run shielding and some black soot in the area. Some other o2 sensor and serious signs someone either took out the ABS unit, or serviced the Accumulator, or from other signs, may have taken out the turbo and/or crossover a while ago, and the ?signs? I see from this is the fuel lines pushed down/out of the way a lot, make sure they are not damaged from such bending, and you will need to get them up and away from the turbo exhaust side and downpipe!! I do believe the turbo was at least off since it looks (you need to confirm this) the top coolant line hose next to the wastegate solenoid appears solid black rubber not the silicone rubber with an orange liner (sometimes green). Looks as though the power steering pump has had some work, only because the cap is different, maybe just the cap/was lost once. From the large damp spot/oil spot on top of the front valve cover, check to see it is coming from the breather tube seeping at the rubber grommet, I mention this as the oil spot is more so under the wastegate solenoid then the breather tube making me think the bleed port on the solenoid is blowing oil, that would be coming from the turbo?s compressor side, maybe bad turbo oil seals. The yellow markings near the top black coolant pipe coming down to the aluminum timing chain cover/water pump body may indicate a water leak there at one time, maybe still, common as the cork gasket gets pretty dried up after time. Check that the sunroof not closing yet has not caused to much water damage/leaks, I believe seals are still available though with some care, you can remove part of the seal and reform it and reattach it back on so the roof closes! Not able to be sure with what I see, but there should be 4 vacuum lines coming off the top of the throttle body, I can only see a few for sure. Do pull off the oil fill cap and check for caking and buildup inside the cap, this will show just how well the oil changes were maintained, or if milky in any way, would be a coolant leak/warped head.
That is about it, I can be wrong on these but you still want to check, them!!!, and if I am wrong, then better for you/less to fix :lol: All in all one of the nicer TGPs I have seen of late, low miles too for these cars, body looks much better than a lot of them getting dents etc, nice 8)
Good Luck!!
Jeff M
Well, from seeing the pictures, even if the guy does know what he has, DEFINATELY DON'T OFFER MORE THAN $2K FOR IT! IMO the car isn't even worth $2k. My dads TGP cost him $1500 and it was (and still is) in much better shape than that one is. (from what I can tell from the pics) Yeah, his had 105k on it when he got it, but its not much difference from that one (18k difference, which isn't much). Not to mention it is rust free and was obviously babied its whole life (and appears to have been stored winters). Now, I don't know about that one, but the paint is obviously not in that great of shape, the moonroof either doesn't close or isn't closed, and if it isn't closed it could've done some damage to the exterior.
I might also add that I paid $1800 for my STE, which has a MINT interior, and is in pretty good shape on the outside. (better than the TGP you are looking at)
The bottom line is, these are not high dollar cars. They are 14 years old! I would offer $1500 TOPS. If I thought the guy didn't know what he had I would offer $1200. Thats just my opinion though.
Shawn
thanks for the input everyone
tomorrow if it's warm i'll go check the engine out as closely as possible
i was mistaken about the rust...the body itself has no rust whatsoever...but the paint is faded on the hood trunk and back bumper...minus the bumper, the hood and trunk could be fixed with some finish restorer
From what i saw up close...the moonroof did not leak even in that position...the interior is almost perfect minus the hole in the drivers seat and the rear view mirror having fallen off
The tires on the car a completlely bald also
I plan to only offer $1000 for the car provided it runs and drives with no major mechanical problems...i will go up to $1500 or so if the seller wants more and if the car is in better shape engine wise then i thought
87,000 miles seems very tempting...so if it does have engine problems i may buy it for less and just fix it up...not sure yet
only problem is I have to sell my current Grand Prix in order to buy it...which i will once i am sure that this is the car I want
All i can say is wish me luck...I'd really like to have a TGP in my possesion...but who knows maybe this just isn't the one
That looks like a nice car. You'd probably forget about your current car after a while with the TGP.
i have a pretty good news update as far as the mecanical condition is concerned
wiped off the dust from the engine and it looks about 20 times better...the turbo is in great shape all tubing etc is nice and clean no cracks nothing
all vacums lines are there and accounted for :D
not sure if i'm seeing the fuel lines you metioned Jeff M...I wasn't sure exactly what i was looking for though
EDIT: Nevermind i see them in the pic now...IIRC they weren't that close to the exhaust/crossover area...but i'll make sure tomorrow
It is obvious that the turbo was removed at one time...apparently to replace the crossover...that's the only explination for the shiny new crossover i found...doesn't appear to be the stock gm one either so i may be in good luck
So far it's just looking like the engine needed a nice cleaning...i've seen cars that bad before so it doesn't suprise me an engine coulb be that dirty from sitting there so long...it's been sitting at my friends more like 6-7 months...who knows how long it was sitting in thier yard
I tried calling the owner a few minutes ago but no answer i'll try again in a little bit.
All i have left to do is pump up the tires...charge the battery and start it up and she how it runs and drives...if that turns out good...i'll buy it for sure
ok due to recent events i'm gonna kick up this thread...the guy never advertised the car like he said he would so i'm still the only buyer
i took some new pics yesterday...you can see them here
http://rudefyet.co.nr/tgp%20pics/
today i went out and wiped my hand across the hood...which i originally thought was faded...um well...it's shiny as new...there just a really thick layer of grey dust from the gravel it's been sitting on for the past 6 months or so :roll:
i'm half tempted to take a bucket out there and wash it even though it's not mine...just to see what it looks like clean :D
as for me buying...well i still need to sell my LE...and i'm gonna have to find some more money somewhere...but i will buy it eventually no matter how long it takes
I had the same opportunity. The car was just sitting and wasting away. Got it for $500, needed work and I guess the cost of fixing the brakes scared them.. About the crossover, you dont need to spend $400 for one, they can be done for way far less than that. If you can weld or know someone that can it can be fixed for about $40! No dig on the Jeff M x-over but I would never pay that much. (Thats removing the accordian/flex part.) junk yards are full of 3.1l engines and most of the parts will fix most of the problems.
If the guy doesnt know what he has you have the advantage. Go a lowball price and see what happens.
Don't wash it, the guy will want more money cause it will look good!
haha...trust me i won't wash it...but there is a shiny spot on the hood where i rubbed it off
the guy does know what it is...he actually is a big GM fanatic...but this was his daugheters car
let's see he told me all he had
Grand National (sold a few months ago)
Camaro Pace Car (sold)
Beretta Indy Pace Car Edition (for sale)
Turbo Grand Prix (for sale to me)
2 Vettes
a beat up S-10
a Venture
i've already ran the car...etc...hell the guy encouraged me to push it...it needs no work whatsoever...87k...possibly original crossover so not sure about it...i threw him an offer for $1500...but he said he'd take $2000
Only problem is at this moment i'm $2000 short...lol...but have no fear that TGP isn't going anywhere so i can take my time