And the house is worth WAY MORE than another car you would have had to buy. Good choice.

Ive got a series ii 3.4l v6 in my 94 firebird

If you have to hope to catch failing gaskets at 120k, then repair the stuff yourself and drive an old GM piece of junk you have clearly sometime in your life misplaced your priorities, badly. Who cares how much they've artificially inflated the value of your house. On the bright side, you could have been homeless, isn't America great?

Yeah just swap out the dexcool for green coolant but I think the head or intake gasket was only on the later model series ii's, because gm switched to the dexcool which was corrosive to the gaskets if you fix that they're really reliable motors

@@misterbuklau4053 Yes they are reliable engines but the overall product is poor. Should this video have been produced is my question. Buying a good engine in an otherwise questionable product is not the best advice. Some may find the proposition worthy. If you have the skills and the time and can tolerate risk, ...and most of all are a maintenance fanatic go for it. For the average person I'd say stay away, get a Toyota or Honda and forget the GM with a nearly bulletproof 3.8 engine, alocate your time and efforts to more worthy causes than car repairs. Times are not very forgiving; why hinder yourself with a GM product.

I've owned several 3800s, and several LS V8s, along with a few '90s LT1 V8s, and Vortec Big blocks like 7.4 and 8.1, and a Duramax Diesel... If you care to include those legendary GM V8s, I'd agree with you! Even though the 4.3V6 was a dog power wise, it was also bulletproof. GM had a lot of great engines that would easily go a half-million miles when maintained.

“...no arm waving or shouting “?

@@banesik5444 he was referring to youtube mechanic Scotty Kilmer!

I strongly recommend not listening to Scotty. He’s got serious problems.

Mark M I usually double check his claims to see if they’re true or not. He does have some merit. I don’t think he purposely tries to mislead people. He seems to mean well.

The 3800 is a great engine

Robert Bell I realize. I wanted to get myself a car with a 3800 with a manual transmission.

@@markm0000 agreed. He's not 100% right, nobody is.

RIP Holden

I’m still driving one. Supercharged

Wow the mechanic over charged you its plenty of room to get to the water pump its a piece of cake my mechanic is charging 100 for the waterpump

stupide?

Amen!

Why don't I start a company to compete?

Planned obsolescence my friend leave it the American economists of the great depression. Sending our limited resources straight into a toilet.

@@YEET-yh6qc Yep. I still drive my 1999 saturn sl. still runs good. still hope to get 2-3 more years out of it. they probably won't make parts for it much longer. they realized their mistake and made later models that were less reliable

@@prioris55555 my plymouth neon has been a treat its been 19 years and the water pump and gas pump went out, i also changed the timing belt and it was all factory.

I bought 2005 LaCrosse brand new. 195,000 miles, it just keeps going....

You sir are indeed, correct

mike brink Entire car would be engine.

Like the Wizard said the parts are cheap compared to other makes. I don't know where you could get a factory mass air flow sensor (Hitachi) for less than $70. Most MAF's are several hundred dollars.

Add the fact that statistically Pontiac drivers have a high percentage of wanna-be hot-rodders, the mellow Buick driving style and maintenance mentality would make them a safer used buy.

Hey my Parents had (well, still have actually!) a 96 Ford Windstar! I actually learned to drive on that thing. One of my earliest memories as a small child was going to the dealership with my parents in 99 or 2000 and them asking me how I liked the back bench seat... So much has been hauled in that thing over the years. My Dad never got a pickup because he was able to do so much with the thing as a practical do all. He actually uses it as a hunting rig of all things now LMAO. Sure it handles and steers like shit (seriously why is its turning radius so massive? Did I mention I learned to drive and parallel park in it?) but I still have a fondness for it. I didnt realize it had Fords equivalent of the GM 3.8 which is cool. There have been a lot of little weird things gone wrong with it. Window motor replacements, airbag suspension my dad had put in it constantly failing, electrical gremlins, exhaust leak, etc. And of course the notorious head gasket failure. I remember my Mom was pissed when my dad plunked the cash to have it repaired and the cost was more than the thing was worth lol. And I know my parents well enough to know they dont always keep up with regular maintenance. All that and it still turns over and drives after sitting for ages. I kinda hope they hang onto it. Youre right no one talks about the Windstar and when they do its never in a positive light.

The Ford 3.8 litre actually had a big recall for the head gaskets, and actually had to buy some vehicles back

Buyer beware though - these Buicks can also come with the god-awful 3.6l V6 in the CXS trim. DO NOT GET THIS TRIM! Literally the only difference between that trim and the CXL trim is the engine - the CXL comes with the 3.8, and is personally one of the best cars on the road IMO.

True I have over 260k on vans . 400k on truck. Cheap to fix simple tech. GM ruled then.

@@MitzvosGolem1 spider injectors suck though.

Yeah i have tbi version in my 92 jimmy good old engine

ZippoVarga your so right I’ve had 2 trucks with the 4.3 both over 450000 km still going when I sold them

When you mention a 4.3 engine are you talking about a Chevy S-10 or GMC Sonoma?

High mileage type "full synthetic" 5w30 motor oil ONLY & GM Delco filters only. U will see 300k mis as i do on all my Ford trucks!

@@Davido50 Thanks for the tip!

@@msaintjo no prob. It will work well 4ya.

If I can get a deal on this Grand Prix, I've gotta get one.

I have the same car it feels like a v8 if you punch it i never lost a race yet good job gm😊

Well I mean if you’re buying one of these cars you better have some money to fix them.

@@markm0000 for sure. Maybe more to the point is that it seems of the era 94-07 the Pontiac grande prix and alike cars have a suspension that goes far softer when worn when compared to let's say a crown Vic or alike of the same era. He hadn't mentioned the suspension so I thought I'd add it. I also live in an era where you don't need to have inspections done which might be why people seemingly get away with a lack of suspension up keep.

That's too funny 😂🤣

Your right on the money on that one, when i worked at a shop we were constantly replacing suspension components on these cars and dont forget the electrical issues with these cars.

HAHAHAHAHA!!!

Oil doesn't get dirty between changes lol

Good call, the last model looked decent but most of those Bonnevilles were uglier than Hillary. Very nice interiors though.

@@ZinfandelRed1914 😂😂😂😂😂

The Booneville SSE was a very sporty car and leather seats too!

The 7th Generation Buick Lesabre is my Favorite

Oldsmobile Intrigue had the 3.8 series 2 as well.

That's because GM used to make things worth owning. Today? Run far, far away.

How long have you had it if you still have it?

Ls4 gang babbbbbyyyyy

Only if you get rid of the AFM/ DOD, but there's little you can do about the transmission unless you hit the jackpot and have the only one that works

I've got a rear/4wd, non-afm version of that 5.3 in my GMC Envoy. Also very reliable, but with 365HP😁. It started @ 290hp, but it's an 'LS' so I did the right thing and modified it a li'l bit. Gots to do the right thing!

You can say the same for women 😂😂😂

You got the Wal Mart type women. Theres the Abercrombie and Fitch, Guess, type of women. Also there is the Marciano type of women. Finally you there is also the Prada, Gucci, Chanel, type women.

Used reliable cheap? Honda!

Totally smart move

Yep, the last new car I bought was back in 1994, New cars are a rip-off. I have bought a couple of used Toyotas, a used Honda, and a used Ford F-250 pickup since then.

Those smaller v6s are underrated. Very reliable motors

Honda models of the last twenty years are the same. The body falls apart, electronics get fussy, cheaper oem AC components develop a leak. However, the engine is dependable, with just decent maintenance.

@@ferndog1461 oh really now? The rest of the car doesn't fall apart if you maintain it properly. Rubbish.

@@ferndog1461 lol it's not a Chevy.

@@sugarkang you kidding ? It's litteraly a GM product

ferndog1461 the engines with the VCM are junk.

$$$$ profits

The 3800 as we know it didn't come out until 1989. The 1988 model years had trouble and they weren't sure how things would go over time until 1990 or so. That's part of it for sure. Also GM wanted a higher displacement engine in Cadillacs for marketing reasons. The engine you mention was garbage for sure, but I actually think they had valid reasons. And then the Northstar came out and there was no reason to use the 2800 and, goddam, that was a great engine according to car magazines! Until people figured out it too had major troubles. By then it was too late.

If you want another take on the same engine the car Wizard talks about how cheap the parts are. Rachets also talked about the infamous oil problems with certain 4 cylinder Toyota engines (2AZ-FE) including a Camry: www.cars.com/articles/2007-2013-toyota-oil-issue-1420690185925/. I am a Toyota fan but that engine was not nearly as good as the 3800 gm.

@@dogsplantscarsneatstuff176 Thanks, I was looking at Toyota Camry, but think I will switch to 3800 Series III, is there a best year for these engines and do they come in other models like Chev or Buick. I will have to do some research since I don't understand everything he said, like naturally asperated, I have to figure out how to identify the vehicles and years that have this. I'm looking at one right now, a 2004 GP with low miles, a Grammas car. Cant tell if the engine is a series 3, and they don't know, it's a decent price and oiled underside each year. I will do my research, thanks,

@@rosemunn6918 The 4T65E transmission was improved from 2003 on. So always get a trusted mechanic to inspect a used car before you buy it (you probably knew that). I will be biased. Buicks are usually bought by older, mellower drivers than the other GM's. If you want to ask mechanics with experience go to the 3800 Pro forum and ask. It's free. Jake is Mr. Goodwrench and has super advice. Good luck!

@@dogsplantscarsneatstuff176 I just joined, I'm not good on computers so how do I post a question, what page etc do I go to. Thanks,

@@rosemunn6918 After you log in. Pick a topic . You can pick something specific or like general Tech going down the page. Just for fun pick general tech. After you use your mouse to click General Tech go up to the left hand corner and click Start discussion. A box on the page will appear and type in your question. When done mouse click "post thread". My suggestion in your case would be to ask something on the order of what problems should I look for buying this make model year of your 3800 engine equipped car. On Chrisfix channel he has a page you can print out that reminds us what to look for when buying a used car. Hope this helps.

Yeah, what is a great engine worth in an otherwise unreliable piece of machinery. Not much.

Well according to Scotty anything other than a Toyota, or a Honda with a manual transmission, is a piece of junk anyway...

Yes he would

Hell yea 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

2006 Lucerne has the series III.

Quadruples

@@Viper81766 4 kids total. The youngest are twins. I made an appointment with a Doctor after my wife told me "It's Twins!" lol

@@michaelg4778 I hear ya :-) I thought you may have had two sets of twins . I agree the GP was a good looking ride .

Yeah, your generation was a good looking car, but he wasn't lying when he said the last gen Grand Prix was ugly! Have you not seen the 2004+ nose and butt!? Designed by the jerk who brought us the Aztec, I swear he was commissioned to put Pontiac in the grave!

@@jeladsnikpoh1289 The 2004+ was definitely not as good looking as the previous generation but still not too bad. I think I am in the minority because I like the Aztec! It is SO ugly that it has a special charm that makes me like it.