"New" Car in the Driveway...

[NOS2006]

Well, many of you know the vehicles my family owns:

2007 Buick Rendezvous

2006 Chevy Cobalt SS/SC

2005 Pontiac Grand Prix

1990 Chevy Cavalier Coupe

Well, we mainly have the Cavalier for insurance and "oh $h!" purposes. However, in order to get it running smoothly in an "oh $h!" instance, we'd have to spend a few hundred on a new door or two, battery, and radiator at the very least. So, seeing that we haven't started it in a few months, and haven't run it in over a year, we're finally getting rid of it. It will be a donation, and a sad one to see go since I've grown up with that car.

Also, the Grand Prix will have seen its days with us soon, as it too will be leaving next summer I believe (lease should be up by then). And, on top of that, my sister just turned 16 and may be licensed relatively soon. That said, we found an offer we just couldn't pass up...

Our neighbors have had a '99 Grand Am since they moved in a couple years ago. The lady who drives it loves the car; however, they are not mechanically inclined. She found out a few days ago that she had a bad water pump and it's leaking some coolant. So, at 125,000 miles, her husband told her to buy a new car. She went with an HHR. After getting this new car, they looked for a buyer. Coming to our house this evening, they asked if we knew of anybody interested in the car. Meanwhile, it's got new tires, brakes, shocks, struts, and windshield wipers with minimal paint work needed on the body. She said, "Well, I hate to see it go, but if you could let anybody know that this car needs a new water pump installed, we'll let it go for $800." My dad jumped, went next door and took it for a test drive, and decided he'll give them the money they want tomorrow. The water pump should be relatively simple to fix and he's excited to have a reliable backup car. Simultaneously, my sister is anxious to get this car, although they were planning on getting a G5 or Cobalt.

All in all, I think it's sweet that yet again they're getting another GM, though it's not new off a lot. I'll update with wash/wax pics as soon as I can get around to fixing any body work I can find on it.

Before Wash:

After Wash:

Edited August 13, 2007 by NOS2006

[Sixty8panther]

Not a bad deal, although I'm a snob...

For $800 I would have to be either buying a 1970s Grand Am

or some other V8 powered RWD car.... pref. a hardtop.

Edited August 11, 2007 by Sixty8panther

[Ravenfreak13]

My neighbor down the street has a 99...not maintained well though. I hate seeing fogged up headlights and theres a big nasty chunk of residue on the back door due to the removal of a giant mets sticker.

[NOS2006]

Yeah, the headlights are fogged up, but whatever. We just brought it home earlier today. I just checked it out and it's not in too bad of shape at all. No dents at all, but there are some noticeable dings/scratches that I'm sure could be easily fixed. Should make a nice little project to clean up and look nice.. Anyone know if I can take off the side cladding and make it look clean?

[z28luvr01]

I think you can fix the foggy headlights with some compound and a handheld orbital buffer.

Is this an SE or a GT? If it's an SE with the aluminum siding-esque cladding, you might be able to heat the pieces up with a blow dryer, work a corner loose, and continue heating and pulling. If it's a GT, I'd just leave it alone since the cladding covers the bottom half of the car.

Does it have the twin cam 2.4? If so, that water pump is a real PITA to change. My dad did a couple on his Skylark. It's behind the timing cover. Probably nothing your dad can't do, but he might invent some new curse words. Obviously, spend the extra dough and get a good replacement water pump. The less often he has to do that job, the more he'll like the car.

Despite the water pump, it's still a steal. Good score, and it'll be a nice upgrade over the Cav.

[NOS2006]

Yeah, I'm not sure when he plans on getting the water pump replaced, but I'm going to go out and fix the thing appearance wise as much as possible right now. I told my sis that this is her birthday present since I'll probably be out there til the sun comes up getting out every scratch ding and flaw as possible. I'll be sure to get some early morning pics!

Oh, and it's an SE with the 2.4 DOHC. The water pump sounds easy at least, we'll see in a few days I guess. Either way, he's replacing the timing chain too since it's connected. Again, we'll see...

Oh, and instead of fixing the headlights I think she'll be getting some aftermarket ones instead. Pretty cheap and an easy upgrade, and it'll show her she has to work hard to get what she wants, as she's working the same min wage job I had when I started out, though she's a cashier and I was a stocker. And min wage went up $2 since then.. Grrr.

[Northstar]

What sort of buffer do you have? An orbital buffer won't remove much of anything, you need a much more powerful buffer to take out scratches. I'm assuming that's what you have? What compound do you use with it?

Congrats on the new car. N-Body's aren't bad but nothing great, either. If nothing else it should be a pretty reliable car that's a decent car for a new driver to run around in.

[NOS2006]

Well, seeing as though the body has got ding marks, paint chips, and swapped paint over many panels of the body, I decided that it's a worthless endeavor to do the entire car. I took a swirl remover to the hood and roof and a polish to most of the car. I didn't even finish with a wax because of the poor paint on there now. It looks much better, don't get me wrong, but it's going to need a paint job along with a few new parts. The driver's rear quarter panel is starting to rust at the bottom and the front bumper is cracked. Aside from that, I think the side cladding will be going one day, along with the Grand Am SE badging all over.

Needless to say, I just got done doing this work and am ready for bed!

[Cory Wolfe]

Oh, and it's an SE with the 2.4 DOHC.

...Good luck.

[ocnblu]

The Alero and Grand Am share doors, but not rear quarter panels. When you take the cladding off the door, you'll have that cove that you see on the Alero. The quarter panel on the Grand Am has just a flat area under the cladding, so with the cladding off, it will look mismatched to the door.

[Dsuupr]

Not a bad deal for $800.

[NOS2006]

The Alero and Grand Am share doors, but not rear quarter panels. When you take the cladding off the door, you'll have that cove that you see on the Alero. The quarter panel on the Grand Am has just a flat area under the cladding, so with the cladding off, it will look mismatched to the door.

Whaaaaat?! haha That's effing ridiculous! :shakes head at GM of 10 years ago:

[Northstar]

Whaaaaat?! haha That's effing ridiculous! :shakes head at GM of 10 years ago:

That's not uncommon even today...

Cobalt and G5, Acadia and Outlook, Equinox and Torrent, Tahoe and Yukon, etc., all share still doors, sometimes with different cladding, sometimes not.

[NOS2006]

That's not uncommon even today...

Cobalt and G5, Acadia and Outlook, Equinox and Torrent, Tahoe and Yukon, etc., all share still doors, sometimes with different cladding, sometimes not.

Yeah, you're right. But I think it's funny the door on the Grand Am is actually indented and you can't even tell.

Anyway, I'll be adding pics to the first post shortly...

[gm4life]

Good Find for that kinda money!