I have a chance to buy a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP limited edition (only 2000 made) Daytona 500 pace car replica. I've located one fairly close to where I live (see pic of one just like it). Also, Pontiac just now offered a 2000 model year close-out incentive of either a 0% interest loan or a $2,000 rebate. This is on top of a $1,500 dealer rebate (it has a few hundred miles on it and it's been on the lot for over two months).
The two-tone leather interior is awesome. The sound system is awesome. The hood scoops are awesome. This car is unbelieveable. It has every option available, including the 240 hp supercharged 3800 engine. Should I get it???
Trouble is, I can get a new 2000 Firebird like the one in this pic for about $5,000 less than that Daytona 500 in the above post.
I can buy that 2000 Grand Prix GT program car I've been looking at for a while for $9,000 less than the GTP limited edition. So, why do I still want the pace car??? Even if I can't really afford it??? Maybe... I'm in love.
Man, tough choice. I'd hate to have to decide between the two (or would I? ). Both are very nice cars. If it was a case of practicality, I'd have to say "ditto" on Oreif's call. Insurance and tabs can be a real money eater, on the other hand, like SCCA says......you only live once......
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01:16 PM
frontal lobe Member
Posts: 9042 From: brookfield,wisconsin Registered: Dec 1999
The major question that needs to be answered to give you the right response is this: how long do you like to keep a car?
If you like to turn cars over because you like the variety, then just go for the cheapest with the least depreciation in it's future--i.e. the dark green program car.
If you would keep a car about 10 years, like those two new ones would easily run, then it's not going to cost you that much more really to get the new ones. And if you plan to live with a car 3650 days (OK, math is off a little because I didn't include the leap years. Sorry. Too lazy.), then for that difference in money by all means get the one you like best.
I never was really seriously considering the Trans Am. I just noticed a red one on the lot and throw that out as an option and as a price comparison. I had a T/A once, a 1977 limited edition Blackbird, just like the Smokey and the Bandit car. Too juvenile for me now I think.
I looked at the Daytona Grand Prix again today. The saleman is one of the best I've dealt with. Very laid-back, eager to answer questions, no games, and no pressure. The dealership came down to their "bottom dollar" today. I knew what the invoice is now and the Dealer only wants a 3% profit, which is actually very reasonable considering factory suggested retail is usually about 10% over invoice. We crunched a bunch of numbers, but no matter what we did, the monthly payments were more than I liked. I could refinance my house, which has lots of equity, but I'd rather not if I can help it. Maybe I'd better make a counter offer on the green GP GT program car. I'm already approved for that loan if I want it.
My Daytona pace car salesman proved to be a sneaky bastard though. As I was leaving just about completely decided it was too expensive, he tossed me the keys and told me to go for a drive by myself (I was accompanied previously). He winked and told me to remember to bring it back. I soon found myself zooming up a curving Interstate on-ramp...in a brand new limited edition, SUPERCHARGED Grand Prix with only 300 miles on the odometer. Easing down on the gas pedal eased me back into the seat, plus the supercharger boast indicator LED lights pegged to full boast, and the digital numbers on the heads-up display quickly jumped up to 75 MPH in no time. WOW! I think this car could beat my Batmobile or at least come close. I set the cruise and played with the CD player remote controls located on the steering wheel. I fine adjusted the seat lumbar support a bit and then checked out the dual zone climate control. It wasn't cold enough to try the seat warmer. This car handles like a cross-breed between a sports car and a luxury car with muscle car performance. Maybe I'll call the credit union on Monday and see what options are available for refinancing. I took the pace car back and handed back the keys with this goofy smile on my face. The salesman said, "That car sells itself, don't it." I just nodded and told him I'd think about it some more.
I'm a bit curious about the "bottom dollar" price. You know what the invoice price is. Pontiac is offering a $2000 rebate. If the dealer is being straight with you, you should be able to get it for 3% over invoice minus $2000. The dealer will still make a couple of hundred bucks profit. There are incentives that the dealers get that you never see. Maybe not huge, but they're there, nevertheless. You might use that 300 miles as a bargaining chip. Tell them "Yeah! 300 hard miles!" or something like that. That car is now last year's. It's been there a while. They really want to sell it. If you act like you're not in lust, and not in a hurry, you can probably get a better deal. (Easy for me to say. I usually go in and drool all over the floor. I'm sunk from the very start.) Just my $.02
------------------ Raydar 88 Formula T-Top 88 Coupe (soon to receive transplant.) 88 "pretzeled" Formula
Phil and others, I'm totally convinced now that the 3800 S/C engine is the best overall swap for the Fiero. Maybe not the easiest or cheapest, but the best in weight, fit, and with a deceptive amount of extra power waiting on tap. Silky smooth, fast, no vibrations, and plenty of low end torque.
Here is more drooled on pics of the Grand Prix GTP pace car.
Interior pics, although it's hard to see the cool two-tone leather seats and special dash trim. Lots of unique differences from the regular Grand Prix's.
The supercharged heart and soul of a Grand Prix GTP.
[This message has been edited by batboy (edited 10-07-2000).]
Raydar, yes you're right, there is either a $2,000 factory rebate or 0% interest with GMAC. I'm opting for the $2,000 if I do buy it. My final price would be about $4,000 under the suggested retail price which is actually under the invoice price once you include the factory rebate. They had already discounted $1,500 for the miles and for it being on the lot too long. My finely honed negatiating skills netted the remaining $500. I've double checked these numbers with several online car services for the prices. Everything seems legit. It's a great deal on a pace car. Just don't know if I should go that far in debt for a car that I'll drive the hell out of and rack an ungodly amount of miles on real quick. ***sigh***
Here's the one I should buy. Over $9,000 less than the pace car. It's a 2000 GT, well equipped, program car. Nice ride, but it just lacks a little magic the pace car has (plus leather seats and supercharger).
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10:55 PM
Oct 8th, 2000
Old Lar Member
Posts: 13798 From: Palm Bay, Florida Registered: Nov 1999
Well-- I got a 1999 Buick GS with a 3800 s/c a four door boat that gets up and moves. I really have to keep watch on the speed. The Buick has the touring suspension so is soft and cushy. Its got the electric leather seats that are like sitting in a Lazy Boy chair. With all the electronic gizmos on it I have to get out the manual to set the radio. The car was a demo so it had almost 6000 miles on it. I had looked at the GP Daytona replicar, the only ones they had here were a blue color that didn't apppeal to me. The s/c are recommended for premium gas and I can get maybe 21 mpg around town or maybe 27 mpg on the road...driving very sanely. The car has just over 20000 miles on it and except for some simple recalls and a headlight housing that filled with water, the car has run flawlessly.
The pricing was good.. The car had a sticker of $27K. With all the discounts, rebate, $3K trade in, plus my GM credit card rebate I got the car for under $20. Sales tax pushed it back up.
I can only imagine how that 3800 s/c can push a Fiero when I feel how it pushes the Buick.
Lar, the blue GP Daytona pace cars were only made in 1998. The 2000 ones like what I'm looking at are only in silver. The make just 2000 per year (all exactly the same) and each year is a different color.
Well, I got the Sunday paper and in the big Pontiac dealer ad that normally runs, they have that green GP GT (above pic) marked as sold. They sold a new red 4 door 2000 GT on Friday. Looks like with the favorable close-out deals right now, Grand Prix's are selling pretty well.
Now that I'm driving the Batmobile again, I hate to get so far in debt that I can't keep working on it and spending some money it up. Maybe I should stick a nice 3800 in my dead 87 SE for a small fraction of what a new car cost and drive it back and forth to work. Decisions, decisions!
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