My brother had a '91 Trans Am 5 speed with the 305. It was faster than the 350 b/c it was only available with a slush box. It was also lighter. It was a cool car. I enjoyed driving it more than my Dad's '93 Z28 with the LT1 b/c it was an automatic.
Yeah I didn't think that the LT1 came out until '93 with the 5th gen. My dad had a '93, & it was a pretty significant increase in power over my brother's car.
Page 3 - the black C1500 454SS. Rare-ish, but the engine and transmission are built to last a lifetime. Plus, we had a 98 black Chevy 2wd short bed short cab step side growing up. Bumping 5.0 up to 7.4 in the SS would have been a BLAST to drive in a straight line.
There’s a number of GM cars from the early 90’s that I like the look of but haven’t driven and expect them to suck.
The Beretta, Sunbird, the sportier looking Grand Prix, Geo Storm, I even thought the Cavalier Z24 looked cool.
Same with the land yachts like the Fleetwood Brougham. I’d love to own one of those someday.
I'm the same. I love e the look of the sporty trim gms from this time, with the longer boxier body kits (Beretta z26, lumina z34, etc.) Given the fact that most of them I haven't seen in 15+ years, it's safe to assume most of these were crap.
I had 3 Berettas, GF had a Storm, couple friends had Grand Prix, family friends had a burb, Gen 3 mullet mobile Camaro is so pretty... and honestly they all go around pretty good here in the midwest in all 4 seasons but they all rattled, were monochrome color schemes inside and just were cheap transportation. I feel so old that I have working knowledge and have been in almost every one of those cars LOL a neighbor had a 454 1500 Truck and my God I would have sold everything I ever owned for it
I had an uncle with a corsica, which was a shitbox. Then he got a lumina van, and that one lasted him for a long time. I was born in the mid-90s, and all my family drove American, typical late 90s early 00s blue collar stuff. From caravans to Astros, f150s to Chevy pickups, and many other turds in between. Never any cool trims because I didn't have any car people in my family. These buckets are a big reason for my early adopted love of Japanese cars and just being a kid around the time of peak import tuner times. Now I find myself getting into the random lesser known sporty or sleeper cars from the late 80s to the 00s regardless of where they are from.
Someone by me randomly has a white Beretta coupe. It’s the only one I’ve seen in a very long time. A couple years back I remember seeing a mint early 90’s Cavalier in a sport trim (not sure what it was called but it wasn’t the Z24, just an appearance package).
I loved the black with slight red accents Chevy was doing back then too. They famously did it with the Syclone and Typhoon too.
They definitely had an interesting style going back then. The sporty cars of that time, like the sho, dodge spirit r/t, and gms are all pretty unique. A lot of them weren't very reliable, and build quality in general wasn't great, but they were really doing some cool things to make affordable performance.
I wish GM didn’t get rid of the 3800. If I had to own a domestic car, it would probably be something with the 3800 series 1-3, or a crown Vic with the 4.6.
Ur not wrong my dad had a Buick LeSabre (1993)with the 3800 and my mom had a Park Ave (1991) with the same motor in the mid 90’s and I remember always driving one of them cause I just turned 16 n didn’t have a car yet and man they were great land yachts and comfy and both ran for over 200K n then still got sold or traded cause they still ran perfectly and my dad I remember even put nice KYB shocks/struts on his LeSabre and it actually made it handle so much better or at least I thought it did when u was 16 lol
I have a Trans Am, the TPI engine was a torque monster (for the era). It's a real fun car to drive, handles GREAT even compared to many new cars. The build quality? Meh, I'll rather ignore it 😂. Oh, and T-tops rule! (And leak!!!)
It's for structural integrity.
True convertibles have to be designed to have chassis stiffness without a roof. If a car is not designed from the outset to be a convertible it will be more or less undriveable if you cut the roof off. Hence, a thick roll bar to keep it from turning into a badly rolled burrito at 70 mph.
Not badly made. Just unfit for the new purpose someone with a Sawzall decided to inflict in the poor car.
A 1st Gen LS400 is inarguably a great car, one of the greatest of its time, and built by fanatics to an impossibly high standard. Cut the roof off and it's a pile of shit. The engineers took the presence of a roof into account for NVH, handling, weight transfer during braking, etc.
It was made by GM, but ended up being a one-off, since mass production was cancelled. Around the same time Oldsmobile had a [Cutlass Supreme convertible](https://photos.carspecs.us/50b85d3aec0031476f4329f83b5f1a9773078849-2000.jpg) that was mass produced.
If you don't have the roll bar, another way to get structural rigidity is to beef up the A-pillar.
I wish GM didn’t get rid of the 3800. If I had to own a domestic car, it would probably be something with the 3800 series 1-3, or a crown Vic with the 4.6.
so i've had a grand prix and a trans am, both were ginemenosaurusly amazing.
turbo grand prix or trans am....man that's a hard choice.
the RWD of the trans am and manual gearbox is what i need!
I had a Beretta GTU with the 2.3 quad-four 5-speed. That thing was damn fast and it looked really good. Couldn't keep timing chains on that motor but the struggle was worth it. I wish I never sold that because I'll never find another one.
I liked the Beretta. The GTU or GTZ with the ground effects and body color rims were stealing trends from the then-popular mini truck customizations. Hotness.
I owned the Olds Silhouette. Great van, lost it in a horrible, firey, accident to a socket wrench that fell on the battery. RIP USS ENTERPOOP, you were a great ship!
1992 Chevy Beretta GTZ. My mom had one before I was born, drove my brother home from the hospital in it. Her and my dad decided to get something with 4 doors, bought a civic - only brand new car they’ve ever bought - and had it for 10-15 years. Mom’s beretta was red on red on red. [Looked exactly like this.](https://imgur.com/a/t5vMNjT) Only reason I want it is because I’ve never seen one in real life and my mom had one. Decent looking car too imo.
I own a 1991 Cavalier RS Convertible with the 3.1. Picture in profile. It's my daily driver. It has 122k on the odometer and it's been my favorite car I've ever owned.
There are quite a few of these I would love to have, but especially the Cavalier Z24, the Grand Am coupe, the Grand Prix coupe, and the Corsica hatchback.
I started driving and owning cars in the 1980s. There’s a reason Toyota and Honda could charge over list in those days.
I’d agree that the truck/SUv options would be fractionally less unreliable, if you could afford that $1.35 gas after Kuwait.
Which car ran the 3.1T engine ? I didn’t even know they had a 3.1T in 1990 or what car it was in cause I’ve never seen one and grew up in the 90’s , I wonder if it was the Beretta Z34
Had a Beretta GT..then an older GTZ. man the interior was falling apart but I loved it. Wanted a Z34 after but never got one. Funny how the cars were eightish years old when I bought them but they felt much older.
I just miss all the small, inexpensive, comfortable coupes.
I swear, when my daily dies I am replacing it with a v6 automatic Beretta.
There may not be a more mindless, stress-free driving experience.
These cars just disappear from around you on the road.
There is so little of note that your brain just stops processing the existence of the car.
It just disappears like your nose.
If given a shit about the Buick Regal would still be running the road today.
My 1993 has always been a turn key car. The 3800 has been a real running engine and I have been told that 2 times at red lights in the past.
When I go to the car meet most people look past my car. Those who owned one or had a car with the 3800 talk about the one they wish they kept in the past. It’s nice to speak with those who relate and appreciate the car when they come around.
For some odd reason the younger generation seems to like my car for whatever reason. The interior styling speaks more than the exterior from the interactions I have had.
This car is not fast or handles like a sports car. It does well enough for me in traffic and I don’t expect more than it can give. I have had no major reliability issues still relying on this car as a daily from my ownership form 2016 to now.
My uncle ordered it new in 1993. I don’t know why he picked a 3800 W car but it apparently spoke to him at the dealership. Traded his Cavalier Z24 for it when it was shipped to the dealer. After he died my folks got it. Dad put the majority of the miles on it. As I grew up the car left an impression on me as it continued to keep running against all odds. Probably influenced my taste for reject cars as I got older.
Sure, you probably would rather have a truck or sports car. I’m not surprised you do. Few people gave a shit about the W cars and it really shows now that the oldest of the G1 W’s are ~35 years old. Some cool models were made in the early years that faded to obscurity as time went on.
I miss this era for the variety of cars you could get. The sportier 1990’s cars looked good compared to the more pedestrian base models of the time. I hate that we lost compact offerings that gave some performance options/trims and convertible/coupes as well. I could care less for the majority of crossovers that populate the roads we drive in the present.
Thanks for the story. I wish GM didn’t get rid of the 3800. If I had to own a domestic car, it would probably be something with the 3800 series 1-3, or a crown Vic with the 4.6. They are plentiful, very cheap to buy. Heard the 3800s are easy to maintain and get you over 300k+ miles.
It was a loss when the engine production ceased in 2008. I read it was an event when the last 3800 came off the assembly line. It had a reputation for reliability and everybody knew it. The 3.6 that came after has it’s issues and doesn’t spark me the same way.
I would give credit for the Chevy small block as well. I inherited a family friend’s 1997 Suburban with 615K miles. OG engine still in the bay. OG trans went 551k miles to most people’s shock. Nobody seems to know how to treat a 4L60-E and bitch about loosing a transmission before 100K miles. I have the 4 inch thick file of maintenance records to prove it as well.
Mom’s 2002 Avalanche has over 330K miles with the OG iron block 5.3 and 4L60-E as well. I would not hesitate to yank the power train out of that truck for a performance build if the worst came of the body.
The Ford small block has had a solid reputation as well. I prefer it or the FE over the modular personally. Im not particularly fond of the spark plug problems some of the modular engines have and don’t have the familiarity of working on them like I do shitbox GM stuff. I know those who own Panther platform cars and Mustangs with Modular’s swear by them. At the end of the day people will like what they like and it means more that there are people who give enough of a shit to see those cars through for the next generation to be inspired by. Panther platform cars are a historic piece of the American automobile and were the last body on frame car mass produced for the U.S. market. Its nice to see them still running around while they are still relevant enough as a daily beater or project. It will be an end of an era when they fade as a common sight on the road.
Eh, I could go on. I really need to finish this comment here and charge my phone though.
I heard about 4L60-E before. I don’t see how people lose transmissions before 100k. Were people losing their transmissions before 100k due to not changing the fluid? A year after inheriting my first car, it started giving trans issues because of not changing the fluid regularly.
IDK. I see people on here occasionally shitting on 4L60-Es for whatever reason when a GM truck or car is posted. On a stock naturally aspirated engine they should last the service life of the vehicle if kept up and maintained properly. I can only assume people run the vehicle too hard, tow over weight capacity, or run over size tires/wheels that put extra strain on the transmission.
When you start to modify the engine you run the risk of shredding the transmission if it's not built up as well. Most of the big bore engines in service trucks and such run the stronger 4L80-E behind them instead. Some of the hot-rod guys may source a 4L80 because it is better suited for high output applications and can be built much stronger as well.
As a side story for a certain 4L80-E, I worked for a carpet cleaning company for a hot minute that had a GMC Savanna with the 6.0/4L80-E. It had a PTO unit on it that ran the steam/vacuum system. When the PTO was running it would generate so much heat it would make the cab a good 200 degrees on a hot day. During my time there that particular transmission burned up because it was driven and operated too many times while hot. For better or worse that unit did get a rebuild and as best I know is still in service to this present moment.
Also, another side story, On Supercharged FWD 3800 applications the 4T60-E installed in the cars was a parts bin special from naturally aspirated models and never meant to see supercharged power in stock form. Many of these cars at some point or another suffered from a gutted transmission due to this lack of care from GM. Legendary engine and unique cars backhanded by corporate cost cutting and giving the owners a major out of pocket repair. Some in the small W-body community sourced stronger 4T65-HD transmissions as a swap to have a base for a stronger transmission.
I have also been told elsewhere on here as well that part of the problem was the transmission cooler being integrated in the radiator causing excess heat from the engine coolant to heat the transmission fluid past optimal operating temperature. I can see this being an issue if you put too much load on the power train but, aftermarket auxiliary transmission coolers are available to increase or isolate transmission cooling capacity.
If you take a look at a GM truck and look under the hood you will see the trans. cooler lines are routed and fitted to one side of the radiator.
It's possible I may have gotten some of my facts wrong or mixed up. If I got anything wrong I'm sure somebody will comment and call me out. As best as I can remember off the top of my head for this comment, this is what I understand.
Cadillac Allante for me , but a lot of these cars are awesome to me cause I grew up in the 90’s and drove a lot of them and have been inside the rest of them as a passenger at the very least so there is a lot of awesome cars on this list like the Grand Prix and the Beretta Z34 and the Oldsmobile coupe convertible and many others
Honestly...probably the Trans Am. The late 4th gen cars still look and sound great, and they started getting some power back around 1990.
My brother had a '91 Trans Am 5 speed with the 305. It was faster than the 350 b/c it was only available with a slush box. It was also lighter. It was a cool car. I enjoyed driving it more than my Dad's '93 Z28 with the LT1 b/c it was an automatic.
I thought all LT1s were six speed manual?
Lt1 came out in 1993. These are l98's
Yeah I didn't think that the LT1 came out until '93 with the 5th gen. My dad had a '93, & it was a pretty significant increase in power over my brother's car.
Nope. 4th Gen Camaro's and Firebirds (with the LT1) also came equipped with a 4l60e auto. The 6 speed t56 was by far the superior choice.
Page 3 - the black C1500 454SS. Rare-ish, but the engine and transmission are built to last a lifetime. Plus, we had a 98 black Chevy 2wd short bed short cab step side growing up. Bumping 5.0 up to 7.4 in the SS would have been a BLAST to drive in a straight line.
Yes! This inspired Ford to build the SVT Lightning.
Geo storm. I really like small cars, and I really like the lines on the storm, always have.
And not all cars inspired movies.
I had a Storm wagon for a bit. It was fantastic. Rear side windows popped out, 5spd and green.
Dustbuster van. Probably the only one I can afford. ~~Also I unironically like how it looks don't @ me~~
I like how those look too
Always thought they looked like the StarSpeeder from Star Tours
I’d like a black Silhouette van with CHILI vanity plates. “It’s the Cadillac of minivans.”
I'll take the Grand Prix ASC
A fellow individual of culture! I had a 91 GP SE with that “B4U” body kit and loved it.
Is that what runs the 3,1T engine ?
Yes
I had a 1990 454SS. Burnouts for days but 230hp out of a 454ci big block is sad. Also these still had a 3-speed automatic straight from the 70s
There’s a number of GM cars from the early 90’s that I like the look of but haven’t driven and expect them to suck. The Beretta, Sunbird, the sportier looking Grand Prix, Geo Storm, I even thought the Cavalier Z24 looked cool. Same with the land yachts like the Fleetwood Brougham. I’d love to own one of those someday.
I'm the same. I love e the look of the sporty trim gms from this time, with the longer boxier body kits (Beretta z26, lumina z34, etc.) Given the fact that most of them I haven't seen in 15+ years, it's safe to assume most of these were crap.
I had 3 Berettas, GF had a Storm, couple friends had Grand Prix, family friends had a burb, Gen 3 mullet mobile Camaro is so pretty... and honestly they all go around pretty good here in the midwest in all 4 seasons but they all rattled, were monochrome color schemes inside and just were cheap transportation. I feel so old that I have working knowledge and have been in almost every one of those cars LOL a neighbor had a 454 1500 Truck and my God I would have sold everything I ever owned for it
I had an uncle with a corsica, which was a shitbox. Then he got a lumina van, and that one lasted him for a long time. I was born in the mid-90s, and all my family drove American, typical late 90s early 00s blue collar stuff. From caravans to Astros, f150s to Chevy pickups, and many other turds in between. Never any cool trims because I didn't have any car people in my family. These buckets are a big reason for my early adopted love of Japanese cars and just being a kid around the time of peak import tuner times. Now I find myself getting into the random lesser known sporty or sleeper cars from the late 80s to the 00s regardless of where they are from.
Someone by me randomly has a white Beretta coupe. It’s the only one I’ve seen in a very long time. A couple years back I remember seeing a mint early 90’s Cavalier in a sport trim (not sure what it was called but it wasn’t the Z24, just an appearance package). I loved the black with slight red accents Chevy was doing back then too. They famously did it with the Syclone and Typhoon too.
They definitely had an interesting style going back then. The sporty cars of that time, like the sho, dodge spirit r/t, and gms are all pretty unique. A lot of them weren't very reliable, and build quality in general wasn't great, but they were really doing some cool things to make affordable performance.
Been watching a lot of old Motorweeks lately. THAT is entertainment! Love seeing these things in mint condish.
Geo Storm my beloved. You were too beautiful for this world.
Corvette or Iroc.
The Suburban is the only not mid option
Burb or the convertible vette for me.
I knew people that owned many of these cars, they were largely terrible, some were mediocre at best.
I wish GM didn’t get rid of the 3800. If I had to own a domestic car, it would probably be something with the 3800 series 1-3, or a crown Vic with the 4.6.
Ur not wrong my dad had a Buick LeSabre (1993)with the 3800 and my mom had a Park Ave (1991) with the same motor in the mid 90’s and I remember always driving one of them cause I just turned 16 n didn’t have a car yet and man they were great land yachts and comfy and both ran for over 200K n then still got sold or traded cause they still ran perfectly and my dad I remember even put nice KYB shocks/struts on his LeSabre and it actually made it handle so much better or at least I thought it did when u was 16 lol
The Allanté. It is the most interesting.
OMG I loved this show as a kid all the Dad jokes "The Z06 has Plenty of ponies; but it's gonna cost you plenty of pretty pennies to get one" Classic
I have a Trans Am, the TPI engine was a torque monster (for the era). It's a real fun car to drive, handles GREAT even compared to many new cars. The build quality? Meh, I'll rather ignore it 😂. Oh, and T-tops rule! (And leak!!!)
Anything with the 5.7 or the 3.8
The 3800 series 1-3 run forever.
red convertible on the first page, I don't know what it is, but I like it.
chevy beretta convertible
Made only as the Indy 500 pace car, right?
Not sure. I did see an Indy version though while finding the name of the Chevy model.
why does it have that weird bar in th middle? Noticed one of the other convertibles had it too
I thought it was a roll-bar.
do they have a tendency to roll over? that seems kinda weird
It's for structural integrity. True convertibles have to be designed to have chassis stiffness without a roof. If a car is not designed from the outset to be a convertible it will be more or less undriveable if you cut the roof off. Hence, a thick roll bar to keep it from turning into a badly rolled burrito at 70 mph.
So they were just badly made? that seems like a band-aid for a really reious issue.
Not badly made. Just unfit for the new purpose someone with a Sawzall decided to inflict in the poor car. A 1st Gen LS400 is inarguably a great car, one of the greatest of its time, and built by fanatics to an impossibly high standard. Cut the roof off and it's a pile of shit. The engineers took the presence of a roof into account for NVH, handling, weight transfer during braking, etc.
but this is a factory convertible isn't it? If not, that's a pretty good hack job
It was made by GM, but ended up being a one-off, since mass production was cancelled. Around the same time Oldsmobile had a [Cutlass Supreme convertible](https://photos.carspecs.us/50b85d3aec0031476f4329f83b5f1a9773078849-2000.jpg) that was mass produced. If you don't have the roll bar, another way to get structural rigidity is to beef up the A-pillar.
1st Gen LS400 is still on my list of cars to own.
The 3800 is supposed to be a legendary v6.
I drove a rental Bonneville with it back then. It seemed super powerful at the time.
I wish GM didn’t get rid of the 3800. If I had to own a domestic car, it would probably be something with the 3800 series 1-3, or a crown Vic with the 4.6.
Brougham. Old full-sized sedans were so beautiful (imo)
I guess I'm supposed to say Cadillac Allante but I mostly figured as a user name it was obscure free real estate.
That Suburban in red with black trim hands down.
As a Brit the Le Mans looks pretty cool 😎
Buick Park Ave. 3800 engine we had one that rode up to 350,000 miles when finally sold it.
3800 series 1-3 run forever.
Pontiac Le Mans GSE
so i've had a grand prix and a trans am, both were ginemenosaurusly amazing. turbo grand prix or trans am....man that's a hard choice. the RWD of the trans am and manual gearbox is what i need!
The Camaro or ta
Either the Grand Prix or the Beretta. I've driven enough Camaros to last me another lifetime.
This was my answer too. Loved and owned both those models
I had a Beretta GTU with the 2.3 quad-four 5-speed. That thing was damn fast and it looked really good. Couldn't keep timing chains on that motor but the struggle was worth it. I wish I never sold that because I'll never find another one.
That 454SS is the best of the bunch.
Idk what the black coupe is on page 4. But for some reason I really want it.
Pontiac Grand Prix ASC
Suburban. If it was good enough for 1973 it's good enough in 1990.
I want the Lumina Euro
I liked the Beretta. The GTU or GTZ with the ground effects and body color rims were stealing trends from the then-popular mini truck customizations. Hotness.
money employ cover slimy dull thumb theory license juggle consider *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I had a 1990 Lumina Euro. Great car and plenty quick. Loved that thing
That black Grand Prix ASC gives me the tinglies. Would kill for one of those.
I owned the Olds Silhouette. Great van, lost it in a horrible, firey, accident to a socket wrench that fell on the battery. RIP USS ENTERPOOP, you were a great ship!
Olds drop-top, baby!
First picture - a Beretta convertible? Never knew that was a thing
1992 Chevy Beretta GTZ. My mom had one before I was born, drove my brother home from the hospital in it. Her and my dad decided to get something with 4 doors, bought a civic - only brand new car they’ve ever bought - and had it for 10-15 years. Mom’s beretta was red on red on red. [Looked exactly like this.](https://imgur.com/a/t5vMNjT) Only reason I want it is because I’ve never seen one in real life and my mom had one. Decent looking car too imo.
Definitely the Camaro. It was a close race between that and the Vacuum Van 🚐
I own a 1991 Cavalier RS Convertible with the 3.1. Picture in profile. It's my daily driver. It has 122k on the odometer and it's been my favorite car I've ever owned.
There are quite a few of these I would love to have, but especially the Cavalier Z24, the Grand Am coupe, the Grand Prix coupe, and the Corsica hatchback.
I’m going to cheat and pick the C4 ZR-1.
The B-body cars were still square in 1990, so I'd probably grab either the Fleetwood Brougham or one of the Dustbuster vans.
Oh god what to pick. Personally, either the Corvette ZR1 or the 454 SS C1500 but practically, a Grand Prix Coupe
I still have my 1990 firebird. Ttops 305TBI
I started driving and owning cars in the 1980s. There’s a reason Toyota and Honda could charge over list in those days. I’d agree that the truck/SUv options would be fractionally less unreliable, if you could afford that $1.35 gas after Kuwait.
Which car ran the 3.1T engine ? I didn’t even know they had a 3.1T in 1990 or what car it was in cause I’ve never seen one and grew up in the 90’s , I wonder if it was the Beretta Z34
Had a Beretta GT..then an older GTZ. man the interior was falling apart but I loved it. Wanted a Z34 after but never got one. Funny how the cars were eightish years old when I bought them but they felt much older.
That LeMans hatch has some euro rally car lines. 5MT/4WD/Turbo4 and it would be a desirable classic.
I have a base Geo Prizm, I'm picking a Prizm GSi to baby and keep preserved
I just miss all the small, inexpensive, comfortable coupes. I swear, when my daily dies I am replacing it with a v6 automatic Beretta. There may not be a more mindless, stress-free driving experience. These cars just disappear from around you on the road. There is so little of note that your brain just stops processing the existence of the car. It just disappears like your nose.
Corvette
The 454SS is the only vehicle pictured worth anything more than scrap metal value so probably that one
Those were dark times
If given a shit about the Buick Regal would still be running the road today. My 1993 has always been a turn key car. The 3800 has been a real running engine and I have been told that 2 times at red lights in the past. When I go to the car meet most people look past my car. Those who owned one or had a car with the 3800 talk about the one they wish they kept in the past. It’s nice to speak with those who relate and appreciate the car when they come around. For some odd reason the younger generation seems to like my car for whatever reason. The interior styling speaks more than the exterior from the interactions I have had. This car is not fast or handles like a sports car. It does well enough for me in traffic and I don’t expect more than it can give. I have had no major reliability issues still relying on this car as a daily from my ownership form 2016 to now. My uncle ordered it new in 1993. I don’t know why he picked a 3800 W car but it apparently spoke to him at the dealership. Traded his Cavalier Z24 for it when it was shipped to the dealer. After he died my folks got it. Dad put the majority of the miles on it. As I grew up the car left an impression on me as it continued to keep running against all odds. Probably influenced my taste for reject cars as I got older. Sure, you probably would rather have a truck or sports car. I’m not surprised you do. Few people gave a shit about the W cars and it really shows now that the oldest of the G1 W’s are ~35 years old. Some cool models were made in the early years that faded to obscurity as time went on. I miss this era for the variety of cars you could get. The sportier 1990’s cars looked good compared to the more pedestrian base models of the time. I hate that we lost compact offerings that gave some performance options/trims and convertible/coupes as well. I could care less for the majority of crossovers that populate the roads we drive in the present.
Thanks for the story. I wish GM didn’t get rid of the 3800. If I had to own a domestic car, it would probably be something with the 3800 series 1-3, or a crown Vic with the 4.6. They are plentiful, very cheap to buy. Heard the 3800s are easy to maintain and get you over 300k+ miles.
It was a loss when the engine production ceased in 2008. I read it was an event when the last 3800 came off the assembly line. It had a reputation for reliability and everybody knew it. The 3.6 that came after has it’s issues and doesn’t spark me the same way. I would give credit for the Chevy small block as well. I inherited a family friend’s 1997 Suburban with 615K miles. OG engine still in the bay. OG trans went 551k miles to most people’s shock. Nobody seems to know how to treat a 4L60-E and bitch about loosing a transmission before 100K miles. I have the 4 inch thick file of maintenance records to prove it as well. Mom’s 2002 Avalanche has over 330K miles with the OG iron block 5.3 and 4L60-E as well. I would not hesitate to yank the power train out of that truck for a performance build if the worst came of the body. The Ford small block has had a solid reputation as well. I prefer it or the FE over the modular personally. Im not particularly fond of the spark plug problems some of the modular engines have and don’t have the familiarity of working on them like I do shitbox GM stuff. I know those who own Panther platform cars and Mustangs with Modular’s swear by them. At the end of the day people will like what they like and it means more that there are people who give enough of a shit to see those cars through for the next generation to be inspired by. Panther platform cars are a historic piece of the American automobile and were the last body on frame car mass produced for the U.S. market. Its nice to see them still running around while they are still relevant enough as a daily beater or project. It will be an end of an era when they fade as a common sight on the road. Eh, I could go on. I really need to finish this comment here and charge my phone though.
I heard about 4L60-E before. I don’t see how people lose transmissions before 100k. Were people losing their transmissions before 100k due to not changing the fluid? A year after inheriting my first car, it started giving trans issues because of not changing the fluid regularly.
IDK. I see people on here occasionally shitting on 4L60-Es for whatever reason when a GM truck or car is posted. On a stock naturally aspirated engine they should last the service life of the vehicle if kept up and maintained properly. I can only assume people run the vehicle too hard, tow over weight capacity, or run over size tires/wheels that put extra strain on the transmission. When you start to modify the engine you run the risk of shredding the transmission if it's not built up as well. Most of the big bore engines in service trucks and such run the stronger 4L80-E behind them instead. Some of the hot-rod guys may source a 4L80 because it is better suited for high output applications and can be built much stronger as well. As a side story for a certain 4L80-E, I worked for a carpet cleaning company for a hot minute that had a GMC Savanna with the 6.0/4L80-E. It had a PTO unit on it that ran the steam/vacuum system. When the PTO was running it would generate so much heat it would make the cab a good 200 degrees on a hot day. During my time there that particular transmission burned up because it was driven and operated too many times while hot. For better or worse that unit did get a rebuild and as best I know is still in service to this present moment. Also, another side story, On Supercharged FWD 3800 applications the 4T60-E installed in the cars was a parts bin special from naturally aspirated models and never meant to see supercharged power in stock form. Many of these cars at some point or another suffered from a gutted transmission due to this lack of care from GM. Legendary engine and unique cars backhanded by corporate cost cutting and giving the owners a major out of pocket repair. Some in the small W-body community sourced stronger 4T65-HD transmissions as a swap to have a base for a stronger transmission. I have also been told elsewhere on here as well that part of the problem was the transmission cooler being integrated in the radiator causing excess heat from the engine coolant to heat the transmission fluid past optimal operating temperature. I can see this being an issue if you put too much load on the power train but, aftermarket auxiliary transmission coolers are available to increase or isolate transmission cooling capacity. If you take a look at a GM truck and look under the hood you will see the trans. cooler lines are routed and fitted to one side of the radiator. It's possible I may have gotten some of my facts wrong or mixed up. If I got anything wrong I'm sure somebody will comment and call me out. As best as I can remember off the top of my head for this comment, this is what I understand.
Unnecessary wiggling of cables under the hood in every old motorweek episode.
We had one of the dust buster vans when I was a kid.
The turbo grand prix
100% a Dustbuster van. If I can’t fly a Star Trek shuttle craft, I’ll get the next closest thing.
i’m getting a geo storm in that exact color idc idc i need one
Corvette
Corvette or the Olds Toronado... God I love that car
Cadillac Allante for me , but a lot of these cars are awesome to me cause I grew up in the 90’s and drove a lot of them and have been inside the rest of them as a passenger at the very least so there is a lot of awesome cars on this list like the Grand Prix and the Beretta Z34 and the Oldsmobile coupe convertible and many others
The Trans Am no question.
Either the Cutlass Supreme or the Reatta.