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Took all of 15 minutes. I would recommend it.
The cabin filter is a piece of cake to replace the engine., whew!
I came across a 1999 ex-opp white Lumina for 5 thousand Canadian. It has the 3800II, 4t65e transmission, recaro seats, stiff suspension, H rated tires(max speed 130mph) and the odometer says 147k km (92k miles). After taking it for a drive last week I found no apparent flaws such as pulling to one side, engine whine or rough shift points. To my surprise when I check the dipstick for the automatic transmission fluid, it is showing bright pink fluids which indicates the fluid is fairly new.
What do you have to say about this folks? The price is right and the car is in relatively good shape, I know it would be hard pressed to find a late model vehicle in the 5000 dollar (CDN) price range, and this one has the 3800II in it which is a big plus. I have always enjoy the power the 3800II outputs, and its smoothness and reliability. Anyways, I would like to take the car home next week unless somebody comes with a convincing reason for me not to.
This is my first time car shopping, I would appreciate any suggestions and comments. Thanks in advance.
Basil
"It's a new engine (well, sort of!). It's the Series III 3800, instead of the Series II 3800 in the new GTPs. There is a new higher efficiency supercharger, throttle by wire, and a few other features. The HP goes up as you see and the torque probably does to cause they're related (it's probably underrated), but the tranny is rated at 280 ft/lbs of torque, so instead of designing a new tranny, they just "didn't" raise the torque numbers. The new engine should rock!"
I would think the new '04 Regal GS will also be getting this same great engine. After all, the Pontiac GTP and Regal GS have share the same engines in the past. Anyway, let's hope so.
While the interior of the '04 GTP looks 'refreshing', I see no mention of the car having a GPS system. Its time GM wakes up and realizes it needs to provide this option on its mid-size cars. Camry and Accord have a GPS system as an option. How can GM expect to make a dent in that market if they don't play 'follow the leader'? Also...where's a 5 speed automatic?
I believe the efficiency increase for the S/C comes on the upper end which is where it usually fell off. Sure, it spins faster, but the engine is also requiring much more air. So this is where inefficiency is likely to show. So it is quite likely that the lower end of the torque/power curves are little changed or unchanged while the upper end of the curves are raised.
As far as the tranny, GM Powertrain rates it at 280 lb-ft. But they don't have separate ratings for the 4T65-E and the 4T65-E HD, so it is unclear which that rating is for. But mainly, why would there be no performance gain from raising the torque? It isn't like the tranny can only transmit 280 or 300 lb-ft. It's just all it can handle. Like if you had a crank rated at 400hp. If you put it in an engine rated at 450hp, it wouldn't limit the engine to 400 somehow. It would just break eventually. You would still have the performance gain of that extra 50 hp right up until the crank has enough.
Also Bushwack, GM does have GPS in cars. It is called OnStar. I think what you mean is a navigation system. I have a feeling that they are not as popular as they seem. Sure, the auto magazines always test cars with them, praise cars for offering them, and then curse them for being such a pain. If you've used one, they tend to be annoying. How many times when you drive do you not know where you are going? And how many times do you change something on the radio or climate control? Nav systems make getting directions easier and changing radio and climate settings much harder. So it makes sense to design for the common case. The common case is using the radio or the climate control. If you really need directions, push the OnStar button and deal with the rare inconvenience of not having the maps show up on a screen (as opposed to the everyday inconvenience of your radio controls always showing up on a screen).
The Aurora has had a nav system available for 2002 and 2003, and I have yet to see a car so equipped. And believe me, I check out a lot of Auroras. I also search GM Buy Power a lot just to see what is out there, and have never seen one built with it. Maybe it is just my area, though, but I suspect my area would be more likely to get a nav system rather than less likely (DC metro area). On the forums I attend, one person has the nav system. I really don't think people buy them much.
I'm hoping that the Regal will be redone with one of the high feature V6's when it is redesigned (likely for 2005).
I differ with you in that Nav systems are popular and provide a great benefit for the driver. I also have a new LS 400 w/ a nav system and I can't imagine buying another car w/o a navigation system. If your driving consists of runs to the market and movie theratres, I see your point. But otherwise,...
Bushwack, I don't want to tell you a nav system isn't useful. If you like it, that is excellent. But I don't just drive to the market and theater. But I almost always drive somewhere that I know how to get to. Do you often find yourself driving to places you've never been and aren't sure how to get to? Also, what is your experience with the radio and climate buttons? Are they a bit harder to access, or not really? Thanks!
I got the chance to run this tranny problem by someone else who owns a '00 GS, and he's not had any of the problems I've had - winter or summer. Maybe coolant temp plays a role, but maybe it's getting help from some (for now) unknown bug/feature in the GM tranny???
Thanks
Maybe that isn't what you are seeing, but that's more common than paint coming off the primer.
Jpstax, I just have a feeling that the new 3800 won't go into any W-bodies until they get redone. I wouldn't think it would be that hard either, I just bet it won't happen. However, the Regal is made in Oshawa Ontario while the GP is made in Fairfax Kansas. So they don't share a line or anything.
On the LS 400, it is easy to use - anything computerized is easy to use once you know the system. I will say that not too long ago I drove an Acura RL for a week in Colorado. Acura's Nav System has to be the easiest to use w/o needing to open a manual (I the car was great, too). On the other hand, I'm told by a friend who drives a Jaguar that their nav system could be a bit moe 'accurate' and user friendly.
What color(s) are we talking about here. I have a White '95 Regal (135,000 miles) that has just started to peel paint on the trunk and fuel cap.
Also, I saw a Lumina (around a '95) recently that was White and looked like it was recovering from a bad sunburn.
FWIW, I had an '89 Blue Corsica that GM repainted at almost 100,000 miles since the paint was peeling off in chunks.
Paul
My '95 Regal is also white with just over 65,600 miles on it. I've just noticed another bubble that is starting to peel in the front of the roof. The back of the roof now has about a 9 in. by 4 in. peel that just happened over the winter. At this rate, by the end of the summer my roof will be all gray primer! I have a sunroof also. With the repainting of your Corsica, did GM foot the bill for that? I definitely think that this is a defect in my paint and I don't want to have to pay for a paint job.
Kelly
I haven't been here in a while but here is the answer to your question.
3 power window motors
2 climate control display/head units
3 pan gaskets
1 oil pan
1 valve cover gasket
1 seat heater
1 combination switch (in the steering column, makes turn signals work)
1 supercharger belt tensioner
Coolant gelled in radiator before 70,000 miles. Resulted in corroded radiator. Required $400 acid flush to fix per GM service bulletin. I complained to Buick and got $200 back.
The remaining window motor that hasn't been replaced runs slow and will probably go before long.
Carpet keeps pulling up by drivers door.
That's all I can think of right now. I think I'm leaving something out. If I remember it. I will post it later. I'm sure glad I bought the 100,000 mile extended warranty. Just before I get to 100,000 I'm getting rid of these piece. I'm not buying GM again.
My Mom's 1998 GS has had at least the following:
2 power window motors replaced
1 climate control head/display
1 pan gasket
That's all I can think of.
Kdawg
I've been looking at other GM cars that are painted white and about the same vintage and have noticed that many have the same problem. Regal and Lumina seem to be the primary offenders.
The Regal was built in Ontario, Canada. I have no idea where Lumina's were built in, or around '95, so maybe someone else can shed some light on that. Check the drivers door for a sticker that should tell you where the final assembly took place - the VIN can tell also but that takes some work <VBG>.
The Corsica repaint was paid for by GM/Chevy and it had around 100,000 miles at the time. And, if memory serves was done in '95 or '96 since I had the Corsica and Regal at the same time. The local Chevy dealer did such a fine job that my sister, who has a fine eye for details, could not tell which was the newer car when the cars were parked side by side.
Looks to me like there is an issue with the paint. I'll do a search on the web and see if anything appears - let you know one way or the other.
Paul
This is the best reference I've found so far as to the paint problems regarding GM vehicles. The URL is:
http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?scid=99&did=562
Just copy and paste into your web browser.
Paul
I wouldn't wish that laundry list of problems on my worst enemy. I can say that I will probably be joining you on the window motor problems. Mine are really groaning.
Where did you get the 100,000 mile warranty? How do you like what it's done for you since you bought it? Is there another company you'd recommend if you're dissatisfied? I'm in a better job now and can afford to get a warranty so I don't end up with a mulit-million dollar repair bill.
Thanks
Kelly
I will look and see who the warranty company is and let you know. I'll try to post it over the weekend.
I think I am going to try a Japanese car next time. Maybe a Honda. Can't be any worse than this.
Kdawg
http://www.ascglobal.com/aftermarket/sunroof.htm
If/when you go ahead and get the Regal painted let us know the outcome. In particular, the response from the dealer(s). This is a GM problem and not a Buick problem so you can shop dealers if they give you any grief. The Corsica, btw, was not repainted at the dealership where it was bought.
Paul
Anyone had to change this piece?
Ed