SS Malibu

[Canyonero]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what really happened. :P It was a years ago, they were still driving to around until the starter went a few months ago. I'll talk to him tomorrow. I'm a glutton for punishment.

[pocket-rocket]

It gets around great but has body damage (someone forgot to put the eBrake on and it rolled off into the forest).

That's a likely story... j/k, it actually made me Lol.

[Canyonero]

I actually cashed out on the Amigo, sold it yesterday. I kind of know the guy, so I let him off with a fair deal. I'm out of debt now.

There is a Malibu on craigslist that I could buy outright. $2900 for a black 2000 Malibu LS, 89k miles, sunroof, leather, etc. But I think I might just hold off for now. See how it goes with only the Trooper.

I might buy a cheeeaaaap '92 Trooper off a coworker though. Thinking of scrapping it and putting the 3.2L in a 1st Gen. It gets around great but has body damage (someone forgot to put the eBrake on and it rolled off into the forest). Just needs a new starter.

[IanSzgatti]

Exactly... I work in a garage with a dealership, so I know all about getting cheap cars... the thing is, we do try to ass rape. In the end though, we're likely to fold cuz we do wanna get cars down the road. With trades though they really do have to be exceptional for us to fold over...

hey, funny thing... the seller I bought my reverse glow gauges from sent me another one by accident... I never got charged for it... so now I have a spare for a 97-03 Malibu

[Canyonero]

IssacHayes posted about headers above, and I posted a link where you can buy them.

I agree on black too, not ideal. My favorite that I've seen has been dark blue. But, you can't always get the perfect used car. I don't NEED another car at all, so I can afford to be patient. I'll let the color slide in favor of the sun roof. I don't care one way or the other about leather.

The dealership never called me about the Malibu today. I have to stop by soon on business, so I might hassle them again (we're building our fiber-optic network right by the dealer, everyone likes high-end connectivity). I don't like playing the buying-a-used-car game they like to play at dealerships. I know what I want, and you have it or you don't. They're only offering $3300 for my Amigo, so I'm hoping to sell it private party. I have it on craigslist for $4700 OBO, which I think is fair.

I went to school with the sales guy I dealt with, and I know he's just trying to make a living too. Whatcha gonna do...

[IanSzgatti]

blacks not my color, but whatever. The interior is nice with the leather.. look for that thing i just posted in the members rides section... i picked up some pretty cool gauge overlay thing... i highly recommend that for the gauges in your soon to be Mali. And when you do locate header let me know where you gettem from

[Canyonero]

I totally agree with you there. I'm trying to unload my Amigo and get this one:

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/car/670466390.html

Black, sunroof, spoiler, leather...

[IanSzgatti]

I think the grand Ams are alright... but for my own tastes the styling is too over the top.. to many body contours and everything. The Malibu has that plain look yeah, but if you can dress them a little and have the right color, you notice it has really nice lines...

i think it's sleek

[Canyonero]

Awesome, I might just do that when the time comes.

http://www.headermania.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=H&Product_Code=3400C&Category_Code=V6HeadersM

[IsaacHayes]

S&S headers fit the newer malibus. I think it fits the 99 small port malibus too.

[Canyonero]

Well, I might be trading the Amigo in and getting an '03 Malibu tomorrow (Sunday). Silver w/ 47k miles. I stopped by the local dealership this afternoon to look at a Malibu, but it was actually an '05 "Classic" with a 2.2L 4cyl. I drove an '05 Grand Am with a 3400, it was nice, but too expensive.

[Canyonero]

I think I'll just buy a 2000+ when the time comes, so I don't need to bother with the heads. I like the grill better too (and that's what really matters right?). Are there some decent headers for this model?

[IanSzgatti]

largest improvement though was the cam+heads+headers

yeah i definately need to go get some 3400 heads... headers are hard to find up here... i may just port out some 3400 manifolds... dont know yet

[cwahl]

well it looks like you're going my route

i did the 00+ ported top end and noticed a large improvement over the smaller ported 99... (mine is a 99 too).

largest improvement though was the cam+heads+headers

[bszopi]

FWIW - for what its worth
IIRC - if I remember correct
FTW - for the win
FTL - for the loss
HTH - hope that helps