So after getting the wife's 2000 Stratus stolen and totaled in St. Louis, we've been on the hunt for the next ride. We are trying to keep it in the $9-10K range, which obviously means used.

Right now I think we have it narrowed down to a couple cars:
1. 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GT
2. 2001 or 02 Nissan Maxima

I would usually go with the Maxima for style points, but they are selling with fairly high miles (80K+) in our price range and I have a little reservation with that. Should I be concerned?

With the Grand Prix, they run about 55k miles, a little newer, and a little bigger with the same fuel mileage. I'm not considering the supercharged GTP for economical reasons (91 octane and not as good mileage). This is the first year of the fresher design. I should not have let the wife sit in the 2003 and then the 2004.

I'm not hung up on domestic vs. import, I want something safe and reliable for a 9 month old. Space is also a slight issue, think two-hour road trip for the family on a weekend to the grandparents.

So with that, anyone have any input/advice/suggestions? I'll be looking to buy in about a month or so to save up some more dough to tack onto the insurance check.

 

1. 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GT for 9-10 grand?

 

Love my sedan, bought a year ago for 8k.
1998 BMW 328i w/106,000 might be too old and worn for your taste.

15.0sec car that gets 33 highway, seats four adults, surprising trunk and standard features are options on other cars.
(leather,sunroof, pwr this and that...)

$10k today should get a '99 to '01 which I believe are a 'fresher' bodystyle.



A big plus is you can be a ***** out on the road because people expect it.

 

Screw milage, go for safety, get a bronco or another truck.

Adrianspeeder

 

If your car got stolen, why don't you steal a car? That way money is no object.

 

Yep, $10,550 asking 2004 Grand Prix

I'll have to look into that, thanks.

I like it! Pay it forward! Anyone know how to hotwire a 2007 Lexus?

 

I'd say a used Nissan Maxima, BMW, Lexus or Infiniti.

We've had cars from each one of these manuf. with over 100,000 miles and each runs wonderfully and is in great shape. My GF has a Pontiac with 55,000 miles and the thing is horrible. I won't buy a pontiac as long as I live. It rattles like crazy and there is always something wrong with the motor or drivetrain.

Just my opinion, and quality control number show those other manuf beat out Pontiac quite easily. Though the newer pontiacs are getting nice, but those are out of your price range.

Good luck,

Duke

 

Around here theres a couple of brand new leftover 2005 Crown Vic LX Sports with the police package, but nice looking (leather interior, moon roof, alloy wheels, etc.) for around $17,000.

 

My wife's last car (before her current '05 Escape) was a late-90's Pontiac and all I can say about it is WHAT AN ABSOLUTE PILE OF CRAP THAT THING WAS!!!!

I could understand if I had bought it used and didn't know exactly what I was getting in to, but I purchased the car new and maintain my vehicles meticulously. After owning that vehicle, you would have to hold a gun to my head to get me to purchase another GM product.....

 

My father has owned nothing but Nissan/Infiniti since '88 (200sx, 240sx, 3 Maximas, I30, G35x, and a Sentra) and my sister has had an Altima, Maxima, and now a Pathfinder since the early 90s. I used to have a 240sx.

All in all, I spend more time fixing the f-150 in a month than all those cars took during their entire service lives (all were 100k+ except the Sentra). Don't get me wrong, I love my f-150, but those Nissans are bulletproof, especially the V6.

 

Ditto that, my mom had a '96 Grand Prix. I got to the point that I could pull both the heads off and have the car reassembled in an afternoon. While she had the car it blew the intake manifold gasket 3 times, went through 3 water pumps, two alternators, god only knows how many sets of tires, several batteries, four struts and more electrical problems than I care to remember and that was just to keep the damn thing on the road. The car not running always overshadowed small stuff like the window motors going out, the A/C breaking several times and constant electrical gremlins. On top of that it has to be one of the most miserable cars in the world to work on. One of the happiest days of my life was the day the engine finally seized. After that I am thoroughly convinced that Grand Prix is Pontiac for "big bag o'****". If I had the choice of a Grand Prix or Huffy, give me the Huffy on a cold, rainy day. At least with the bike I know that I once I warm up my misery will go away. I would only recommend a Grand Prix to someone that truly hates themselves.

Joe