Best bet for used domestic, mid-size, V6 coupes?

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b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
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Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I had the misfortune of renting a late model Monte Carlo and it is a total piece of crap. The Honda Accord coupe is a freakin' Ferrari in comparison.

Why are you discounting foreign makes?

I'm not really...just looking for something different. On top of that, used import prices seem to be inflated around here
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
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Instead of the Monte Carlo, I'd go for a Grand Prix GT/GTP. Same size car, but the Grand Prix is a bit better looking. And in the GTP trim, it's got enough umph under the hood to make things fun. They made the previous gen Grand Prix in a coupe trim.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
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Not out yet, but the g6 Coupe looks SWEET.

oh and the g6 (non coupe) is pretty nice. i test drove one the other day.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
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Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Originally posted by: b0mbrman
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
oldsmobile intrigue

Ah. Forgot about that...are they decent?
:thumbsup: Cheap too. Get the 1998 model--it has the tried and true 3.8L motor.

i've got the '98. ;)

134,000 miles on it. had to get the stabilizer bars replaced on it the other day. i broke it.

the struts are about gone too according to the mechanice but after 6 yrs, 130,000 miles i'm apt to believe almost anything could be about shot on this thing.

but it's still a pretty decent ride. nothing wrong with the 3.8 liter v6 in it right now.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
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Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
Not out yet, but the g6 Coupe looks SWEET.

oh and the g6 (non coupe) is pretty nice. i test drove one the other day.

edit

sorry about that. i missed the "used" part of your OP.
 

PeeluckyDuckee

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
4,464
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I second the 3.8L Intrigue, 99 and above. Very smooth and powerful engine. Has decent handling and good feel of the road.

<-- Speaking from Intrigue driver bias.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
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Originally posted by: PeeluckyDuckee
I second the 3.8L Intrigue, 99 and above. Very smooth and powerful engine. Has decent handling and good feel of the road.

<-- Speaking from Intrigue driver bias.

intrigue "00 went to the 3.5 liter.
 

Mermaidman

Diamond Member
Sep 4, 2003
7,987
93
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Originally posted by: PeeluckyDuckee
I second the 3.8L Intrigue, 99 and above. Very smooth and powerful engine. Has decent handling and good feel of the road.

<-- Speaking from Intrigue driver bias.
Was that your ride before the Prelude? Bet you wish you still have it :)
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Originally posted by: PeeluckyDuckee
I second the 3.8L Intrigue, 99 and above. Very smooth and powerful engine. Has decent handling and good feel of the road.

<-- Speaking from Intrigue driver bias.
Was that your ride before the Prelude? Bet you wish you still have it :)

Heh heh. My last daily driver was a Prelude also :)
 

Summitdrinker

Golden Member
May 10, 2004
1,193
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Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
The 97 and older real cougar and t-bird are really nice but not in the v6 form. The v8s last forever and get in the high 20s mpg highway.

that's right, try to get a 92 or 93 with a v8, the 96 and 97 were good too with the V8

94 and 95 were ok too but not as good, great cars I owned a 92,93 and 95 mercury cougar

cougar, t-birds
 

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
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Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
Originally posted by: PeeluckyDuckee
I second the 3.8L Intrigue, 99 and above. Very smooth and powerful engine. Has decent handling and good feel of the road.

<-- Speaking from Intrigue driver bias.

intrigue "00 went to the 3.5 liter.

official, confirmed.

not that it's a bad engine.
 

PeeluckyDuckee

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
4,464
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The Intrigue is still a family car. The Prelude is my own. And yes, for road trips on the highway I have a domestic preference ;) I feel most comfortable climbing hills and passing people on highway as the torque is there. Though the Prelude is fine for flat highways I've never taken it to the hills yet so can't comment about how the torqueless monster does.

Though I can say I'd p!ss my pants sh!tless driving a 1999/2000 Civic hatchback on the highway. That car has absolutely no power at all. I would not put my life at risk for the sake of saving money. Depends on where you take the car mostly though I'd say. As a city beater it'll do fine.

 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Originally posted by: PeeluckyDuckee
The Intrigue is still a family car. The Prelude is my own. And yes, for road trips on the highway I have a domestic preference ;) I feel most comfortable climbing hills and passing people on highway as the torque is there. Though the Prelude is fine for flat highways I've never taken it to the hills yet so can't comment about how the torqueless monster does.

Though I can say I'd p!ss my pants sh!tless driving a 1999/2000 Civic hatchback on the highway. That car has absolutely no power at all. I would not put my life at risk for the sake of saving money. Depends on where you take the car mostly though I'd say. As a city beater it'll do fine.

Well, a "city beater" in Texas sees a lot of highway time, just because of the way our cities are laid out
 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
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General Motors with a 3800. Look at the Pontiac GP. Or expand your options to include sedans (you can't tell how many doors it has from the driver's seat anyway), and you might find the Regal and Intrigue likable.
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Originally posted by: Thegonagle
General Motors with a 3800. Look at the Pontiac GP. Or expand your options to include sedans (you can't tell how many doors it has from the driver's seat anyway), and you might find the Regal and Intrigue likable.

Yeah, I'm definitely expanding to sedans...
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
I can confirm the GM 3800 3.8L V6 engine being a good one. My first car was a '92 Pontiac Bonneville, with 176k miles. The engine never needed any major maintenance. Just spark plugs, the sprk plg wires, filters...thats it. Pretty solid engine.
 
Mar 19, 2003
18,289
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71
Originally posted by: Excelsior
I can confirm the GM 3800 3.8L V6 engine being a good one. My first car was a '92 Pontiac Bonneville, with 176k miles. The engine never needed any major maintenance. Just spark plugs, the sprk plg wires, filters...thats it. Pretty solid engine.

:thumbsup:

My first (real) car as well. Actually my current car is very similar. :p
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Originally posted by: Excelsior
I can confirm the GM 3800 3.8L V6 engine being a good one. My first car was a '92 Pontiac Bonneville, with 176k miles. The engine never needed any major maintenance. Just spark plugs, the sprk plg wires, filters...thats it. Pretty solid engine.

:thumbsup:

My first (real) car as well. Actually my current car is very similar. :p

Word. After all that driving, the only thing that went out on it was the AC. We go that partially fixed, but ended up giving the car away so it didn't matter. It had an excellent ride and was very roomy. :)
 
Mar 19, 2003
18,289
2
71
Originally posted by: Excelsior
Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Originally posted by: Excelsior
I can confirm the GM 3800 3.8L V6 engine being a good one. My first car was a '92 Pontiac Bonneville, with 176k miles. The engine never needed any major maintenance. Just spark plugs, the sprk plg wires, filters...thats it. Pretty solid engine.

:thumbsup:

My first (real) car as well. Actually my current car is very similar. :p

Word. After all that driving, the only thing that went out on it was the AC. We go that partially fixed, but ended up giving the car away so it didn't matter. It had an excellent ride and was very roomy. :)

Yeah, I loved mine as well. It had much lower mileage (108k when I got it, +10k after a year) and everything worked fine...until I got rear-ended and it was totalled last August. :(

So I basically ended up replacing it with a newer version (1994 SSEi with the supercharged engine and lots of other stuff), couldn't be happier with it. And it's great to have all the room considering how often I move all my stuff for school. :p