Oppo, Teach me Something New Today: Grand Prix Edition

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
03/08/2014 at 17:36 • Filed to: None

Tell me Oppo, what makes this a good car? I'm not bashing on it, I've got a friend that has one and I'm curious as to what makes it so good or bad? What's it like, how does it drive? Acceleration and handling? ALL that good stuff.

I personally think it looks good and I've sat in one a couple times; the interior felt nice enough but that's about it. I have no real idea of what it's like living with one.

DISCUSSION (20)

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/08/2014 at 17:41

GM W platform from 1988. FWD auto only with an available V8.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/08/2014 at 17:43

Handles like a rotten log in a mudslide. Cruises like a champ. A good long distance driver that's cheap to work on and maintain. Seats are comfortable enough and interior electrics rarely break besides the HUD on the windshield (the projector likes to fail). Get it with the 3800 Series III supercharged and it isn't a bad stoplight drag car. But the 4-speed auto is a liability for tuning.

GoliathRex > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/08/2014 at 17:44

I concur on the "I know nothing about these things" thesis. This body style has really grown on me though. I distinctly remember thinking these were probably turds when new.

No DLO fail, the nice transition of mirror to fender, nicely shaped rear "hips" . There are alot of pleasant details. Hell- there isnt even much signature pontiac body cladding left by 2004.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
03/08/2014 at 17:44

Hmm why use such an "ancient" platform?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/08/2014 at 17:45

If I remember right the one I was in was a V6? I thought it was decently quick from a stoplight; can't imagine what a supercharged one would do....:P

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/08/2014 at 17:46

Because old GM wanted to save money.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > GoliathRex
03/08/2014 at 17:47

Wasn't the sharp, pointed front-end a Pontiac thing? Other than that, the most prominent thing that comes to mind is the BMW-like grill inserts...

I really like the front end of this car.

 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/08/2014 at 17:47

It makes it a good car cause it's better than previous gen W-body.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer >
03/08/2014 at 17:51

Could you explain further? This sounds somewhat interesting...

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
03/08/2014 at 17:54

Luckily, as is not the case with all platforms, GM used a decent one for the long haul.

deekster_caddy > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/08/2014 at 17:54

W-body is a solid platform. Handling is decent, can be easily improved with aftermarket sway bars and rims/tires. Power and economy are also good with the torquey 3800 V6. Supercharged versions (usually GTP) even more fun and stiffer struts/larger sway bars. There are a lot of aftermarket mods and bolt-ons available, but you reach a point somewhat quickly where you can exceed the ability of the transmission to handle the power.

Another bonus to these is there are a bajillion w-bodys on the road, so parts are readily available. They are rock solid reliable. A few very minor engine issues in early years (too much plastic on the motor) that were resolved by the model pictured.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
03/08/2014 at 17:58

But they used it instead of developing a RWD platform for America.
Unforgivable.

 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/08/2014 at 18:00

W-Body platform is one that got better as it continued production.

1st gen had some pretty cool editions but overall were typical GM cars of the 90's. There was the TGP, STE and GTP which were hella cool. However, 1st gens were prone to leaky intake gaskets, poor electronics and rear suspension that rotted out. Also shitty brakes that constantly warped due to bad caliper design.

2nd gen was better. Motors were improved but intake gasket issue remained. Brakes were way better and they had 3.8 supercharged.

Now this gen is even better. Although previous gen has better styling imo. This gen has better driveline. Optional V8 with massive torque steer.

I had a first gen. 91' STE. It was loaded with options but the motor was absolute shit. It had a 3.1. When it worked it worked good and got decent economy but I had major issues with it 3 times. I bought it with a "blown" motor. I took the motor apart only to find that brainiacs that worked on the engine broke on the head bolts inside the block. After replacing the motor and driving it for a year intake gasket went. So I replaced that and drove it for another year and timing chain snapped. Then the rear suspension caved in due to rust. I scapped it after that.

deekster_caddy > deekster_caddy
03/08/2014 at 18:01

They have a lot of modding potential.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/08/2014 at 18:02

I liked my '91, sold it in '01 with 250k miles

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
03/08/2014 at 18:09

Next question, what was wrong with a RWD platform? Were they originally FWD? I really don't know a thing about the Grand Prix....

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > deekster_caddy
03/08/2014 at 18:10

That is quick!

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/08/2014 at 18:52

It was originally a full sized RWD Coupe in 1962 developed by John DeLorean as a sportier Catalina. It remained a RWD coupe until 1988 when GM wanted to FWD all the things to better compete with the Japanese. They also began offering it as a sedan the same year.

NinetyQ > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/08/2014 at 21:42

W-bodies are good, reliable cars. Others have explained the history, so I'll just go into some of the details.

It's an old platform, but it was a good one. GM spent over a billion dollars in R&D on it, I think. As a result, the chassis is mostly good. Someone pointed out that the rear suspension rotted out, but I never had that problem, and I have a '96 Grand Prix (first-gen) with 212k miles on it. I've owned it for 8 years.

During that 8 years, the engine has died once and the transmission has died twice. Because I had/have more money than sense, the car is still kickin' because I'm irrationally attached to it. It's not the best thing out there, but it's fun for me. I want to add to my collection of cars, not replace it.

As for the generation you posted, the supercharged 3800 is probably the best engine option for these. The normal 3800 is extremely reliable, but the lesser 4-speed auto it came with is not. The supercharged models came with a heavy duty version of it, and is known to be more reliable.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
03/08/2014 at 23:19

Kinja'd!!!

It was available with the same HUD, just like the Corvette.