Well, it looks as if I'll be spending the summer rebuilding the 3800...

[qbodsyt]

Debt is a bitch.....a total bitch

I hate to say it, but IMO you should never have bought that POS. If you're a high mileage driver then buying a domestic on credit is a recipe for loss.

With $9,000 hanging over your head and the reality of the situation being that you'll never, ever break even with this car (even if you fix it up to stock and then don't drive it for two years) my advice would be to redo the seals, leave it entirely stock, spend $30 on cleaning supplies and give it the detail of its life and then sell it for as much as you can get. If you can get $6000 for it refurbed and shiny, then that's better than if something else on it blows in 6 months and you get tired of it and sell it then for even less because of increased mileage.

$9,000 might not seem like much debt, but with the state of the economy in both of our countries, right now has never been a better time to be debt free. The speed with which a small-medium sized debt can get out of control and turn into major debt is amazing.

My advice would be to concentrate on ONE vehicle. Fix the GTP, clean the GTP, SELL THE GTP. You have a house mortgage? Consolidate the remainder from the GTP into your mortgage payment and count it as a lesson learned. The hatch is wicked awesome cool, but put it on the backburner until you're independently wealthy and have the necessary free time to really do it right.

And what have you said in this thread several times? That the CB is always pulling its weight (and yours) no matter how sad it is. That it's going to do the job of being your DD better than the GTP which you owe $9,000 to and hasn't really given you anything in return. Imagine what $9,000 invested in the CB would give you!!! Bodywork, engine work, suspension work, tires and rims, a pimped stereo, an SE leather interior......

Cut your losses and recognize where your priorities and money are deserved.

Or, sell all your cars and buy a stock DX coupe with a clean body and title, and enjoy having an inexpensive, reliable and comfortable fuel efficient vehicle that you can drive until you're debt free. That would be the most economically sound choice, though my choice would be to dump the excess two vehicles and just patch up the H22 CB for the time being.

All just my opinion, and nothing but support for whatever you decide on. But personally, I'd rather be slower and richer than 3800 supercharged faster but poorer.

[deevergote]

Well, when I bought the GTP, I had my CB7 as a project, and a 2002 Accord SE as well. I drove the SE just as often as the GTP, and didn't really expect to be putting 50,000 miles on the domestic beast. Not to mention, there were two household incomes, mine being fairly significant. Things fell apart, the wife took the SE, and I was left with an ailing CB7 and the GTP. I got the hatchback back last year, and I'm putting that into the equation. 50,000 a year is a LOT for the domestic, I agree. It was only supposed to be about 20,000 a year... which would've been much better. They do have a reputation for lasting a long time. The motors, anyway. The transmissions can go (and I've taken care to maintain and baby that thing), and the suspensions are garbage (I've already blown that... that was supposed to be where the money was going for this car!)


I'll fix it, as well as the hatch... and I'll have two reliable enough cars to get me by while I work on the H22.

[npor]

As stated above.... getting another car is NOT an option. I'm stuck under this thing. I have to make it work. If someone wants to send me $4000, I'll sell the GTP right now for $5000 and get something else. Any takers?

haha yeah i know, im just saying, if you decided to sell everything, that'd be a cool option.

[br0nx finest]

used domestic cars..always ftmfl.

[Fake Thug]

I really think you guys are beating up on the 3800 too hard. They are decent motors and as new as it is it prolly has a better chance of being less troublesome than a almost 20 year old cb in most cases. I dont know the particulars of this case, but I do know that if maintained religiously the 3.8 is good. I have quite a bit experince with GMs and can also tell you this.

The aftermarket can provide much better quality parts than OEM. Most people dont relalize that roughly 90% of GM cars flaws are parts quality. With dodge though then its 50/50 parts engineering...lol j/k I can also say that by and far GM A/C systems are some of the best imo.

I have a CB and it has been far from trouble free. You guys forget that for the most part the reliability has been sucked from these cars. They are not new any more. I dont know anyone that does not have something wrong with their CB. Realistically deev I think you should just fix whats wrong with the GTP and drive it.

[foamypirate]

I can also say that by and far GM A/C systems are some of the best imo.

Hell yes, the original A/C system in my Dad's 1988 GMC K1500 is still cold as hell, and it's never been recharged or serviced.

[deevergote]

Realistically deev I think you should just fix whats wrong with the GTP and drive it.

Yeah, that's what I'm going to have to do, I think. Building it seemed like a possible idea, but yeah... I need a work car, and I don't really want to kill the CB7. I also don't want to rely on the hatchback, especially since boosting that sucker has been the plan since 2004 when I got it!


So yeah, fix the GTP. Drive it. Keep fixing it. Pay it off. Sell it. Get something better.


Is it bad that I still want a Solstice and a G8?

[Fake Thug]

Is it bad that I still want a Solstice and a G8?

Solstice yeah. G8 nope. From what I have read and seen the quality on that is pretty top notch. Plus RWD....yup.... just wait a while and get the Gxp....yup

[Ralphie]

I would say that if your 3rd gen Accord is close to DD status, keep that stock-like, repair what is needed only. Then, your cb7 is already H22 swapped, you have connections on this site, use it to your advantage to do up the h22 swapped cb7 for project/fun car. Sell the GTP and use the money for the hatch & cb7.

This was going to be my opinion.

Sell the GTP, use the money from it to fix one of the other two to DD status and then go from there.....only thing is you owe so thats a tricky one.

Gl Mike!!

[owequitit]

I really think you guys are beating up on the 3800 too hard. They are decent motors and as new as it is it prolly has a better chance of being less troublesome than a almost 20 year old cb in most cases. I dont know the particulars of this case, but I do know that if maintained religiously the 3.8 is good. I have quite a bit experince with GMs and can also tell you this.

The aftermarket can provide much better quality parts than OEM. Most people dont relalize that roughly 90% of GM cars flaws are parts quality. With dodge though then its 50/50 parts engineering...lol j/k I can also say that by and far GM A/C systems are some of the best imo.

I have a CB and it has been far from trouble free. You guys forget that for the most part the reliability has been sucked from these cars. They are not new any more. I dont know anyone that does not have something wrong with their CB. Realistically deev I think you should just fix whats wrong with the GTP and drive it.

What if maintenance on your CB was an issue just like on the 3800? No car will last as long if you don't take care of it.

Now, statistically speaking (on the grand scale of automotive use, and NOT personal experience), if you buy a domestic, and an import from one of the more reputable companies (i.e. Honda or Toyota), and maintain them both religiously, I can pretty much assure you that 9 times out of 10, the import is going to run better longer. There are those fluke domestics, but with the imports, the super high mileage cars aren't usually flukes, they occur much more regularly. And the fact of the matter is that he is now relying on a 16 or 17 year old car that has been sitting, neglected maintenance wise, and has two bad spark plug threads because his 10 year newer GTP, with fewer miles, couldn't handle the task.

That is the simple reason why Hondas and Toyotas hold their value better. Resale value is based almost 100% on the long term prospects of the car. They hold value better because they are more likely to run longer. Because they are more likely to run longer, people are willing to pay more money for them further down the road. People will honestly approach a used domestic with 100K, and barely want to pay $3K for it, no matter what because they know what is likely to start happening. With some imports, they won't even flinch at 150K if it is in good shape, because they know it has a lot left in it.

That goes directly back to your statement about poor GM quality usually falling back on QC of parts. Problem is, EVERY part on that car is subject to GM QC.

Also, just based on personal experience, his GTP is less than 100K, and look at the issues it has had with being average on maintenance. I have seen Hondas with ZERO routine maintenance STILL go 150+K before breaking down the first time.

Now, that is not an indictment that I hate all GM products. I have seen GM produce some really cool cars. Unfortunately, 5 years or 100K miles down the road, they tend to not be as cool anymore, because they start falling apart. And literally, they will be fine one day, and 10K later, EVERYTHING needs replaced. I believe they have realized this, and have started to change their ways, but now they have 30 years of unconvincing to do, and they still aren't on top of their game. Once they get on top of the game, they will have to stay there for a long time, until people start to have faith in the quality again.

Deev, like I said, fix it and drive it stock. You like it when it runs well stock, so just drive it. You can only recoup your cost by either driving it into the ground, or...driving it into the ground.

Becareful of the big picture though. $4,000 is a hard loss to swallow, but then again, it could be far worse if you keep pumping money into it and don't improve or eliminate that loss on a dollar for dollar basis. That is known as throwing good money after bad. Sometimes, it really is cheaper to just take the hit and be done with it.

Also, I don't have to tell you this, but modifying cars is pretty much a monetarily losing prospect, no matter which way you cut it.

[owequitit]

Solstice yeah. G8 nope. From what I have read and seen the quality on that is pretty top notch. Plus RWD....yup.... just wait a while and get the Gxp....yup

The G8 does seem better built that Pontiacs of recent yore, but they really haven't been around long enough to say for sure that "yes, they are indeed leaps and bounds better." Even the GTO's, which are really the first ones I consider to be well built, are still pretty green by real world, long term standards.

I do agree that you should wait for the GXP too.

[deevergote]

This was going to be my opinion.

Sell the GTP, use the money from it to fix one of the other two to DD status and then go from there.....only thing is you owe so thats a tricky one.

Gl Mike!!

Sell the GTP... then sell both Accords and my left nut to pay for the remainder of what I owe on it.

I owe $9000 or more... I'd be lucky to get $5000 for it as it sits. My only option is to fix it. If I fix it, I'll like it again (I don't really dislike the car... just the current headaches).

[deevergote]

The G8 does seem better built that Pontiacs of recent yore, but they really haven't been around long enough to say for sure that "yes, they are indeed leaps and bounds better." Even the GTO's, which are really the first ones I consider to be well built, are still pretty green by real world, long term standards.

I do agree that you should wait for the GXP too.

Holden does generally have a better reputation than the American GM branches. The GTO was a Holden, and not a very great one at that... the G8 is considered to be a VERY good Holden. Car and Driver called it "the BMW that GM always wanted to build". And when C&D, who has been swinging gratuitously from the area just north of BMW's taint for the past 20 years, says such a thing, it's definitely considered high honors!

Granted, I'd like to wait to see how they stand the test of time. I may one day buy a used one. That won't be while I'm doing my current job, though... The GTP is bad enough on gas!

[Straight Success]

Prioritize Deev. Just kidding. Keep us posted. Good luck.

[deevergote]

My priorities are crazy these days! With my job requiring a working car, I like to have at least TWO of my cars driveable at all times. That means the Accords have to do it now... so I have to make them right. Then I need to fix the GTP. Meanwhile, I need to cut down two LARGE trees (that's nearly $2000), rebuild my deck, pave my driveway, and look into having my downstairs carpet/linoleum ripped up and the floor refinished.

Hello $10,000.



The floors aren't really a priority. The rest is pretty urgent for work, safety, and legality.