Finally got a new car.!

PerfectCreature

So, after saving and all the talk about how I needed one I finally got one.
I bought it from private sale from a local dealer so he was able to give me 14 day plates. I paid $4300 including taxes and all that good stuff. He wanted 5k but I got him to go down by nit picking at the cars imperfections.
Anyway. It's a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am. It is SE1 version and 4 door. It does not have the Monsoon system which I am glad for because I have been told they really suck when you have to take them out.
Anyway, I am able to put a 2 din radio in which is kind of cool because I can get a navigation system that does all the cool stuff. It is a nice red, and it runs very smooth as far as I can tell. Has more power than my other car did and steers really well. The carpets needs a little scrub down and I need to patch up a hole in the seat. I just painted some spots.
I had to cover over some paint dings and sand down some rust. I plan on washing and waxing it tomorrow. A good wax should keep the paint in good shape over the winter. I will most likley wash the underneath the car a few times a week to keep the rust down as much as I can. I still have to do the rust preventative maintance but can't afford the supplies I need at the moment.
I still need to do the regular tune up deals when you get a new car....so...

For mods and upgrades I will would like to put a nice stereo, I was thinking the DB series for my fronts and run some infinity kappas for the rears as a little boost. Plan on getting an SR sub as well for the car. I am going to put an intake in it and put a cat back exhaust so it will have a nice rumble to it. The one I want to buy has a 10 year rust guarantee...little do they know I live in the state of Rust. I plan on starting that after winter....

Anyway. Here are some photos. (Like I said....it is kind of dirty)

ryanjoachim

Congrats!

I miss my little Honda I had a while ago. "Sport" cars are fun.

Enjoy!

kawizx9r

Congrats bro!

Time to empty the wallet all over again though haha.

j allen

I hope, for your sake, that the belt setup doesn't resemble the one in my buddy's Bonneville SSEI. I got roped into helping replace the serpentine today, and youch!

ohskigod

wow, that thing looks like it was babied. good luck with it.

PerfectCreature

Well, I am not sure. I have not taken the time to really inspect the car 100% to see how hard certain things will be to replace.
As for the wallet...let me ponder that....I think it is empty haha.
Yeah, it will cost me some money to do what I want to do.

Well my cat back (PaceSetter Monza exhuast) is about 350. The short ram is about 100.
I will most likley get an HID kit and new housing for the HID kit.

Then I have my audio side that demand tribute as well.

What should I run for my rears then, I hate bright sounding tweeters. I do not mind my monitor 50 tweeters so that I why I would like to stay silk dome....

Then of course I will be buying an SR12.

kawizx9r

Geez, your exhaust and intake is much cheaper than what mine will cost me :eek:

I hate bright sounding tweeters too, and the components I just got aren't coming with tweeters. Will let you know how the Vifa's I picked up from Madisound come out once they're installed and broken in

I too have an SR 12" on the list as well as an amp for it, one step at a time though! lol

More pics once its all washed+waxed!

PerfectCreature

Yeah, well....it is almost plug and play not much piping though. I really wanted the Borla....but the damn thing is almost 900 strong.
Borla -- http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BOR-14821/

Pacesetter - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PSM-88-1474/

Well, let me know how they sound. I am up to other suggestions if anyone has any....perturbing to rears....

Only issue is...I hope that the pacesetter is not loud...or area has a strict sound ordinance in effect where anything over stock levels at max RPM at any given time gets a ticket for sound disturbance.
I just want that low rumble....I love that sound.

kawizx9r

PerfectCreature wrote: »

Yeah, well....it is almost plug and play not much piping though. I really wanted the Borla....but the damn thing is almost 900 strong.
Borla -- http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BOR-14821/

Pacesetter - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PSM-88-1474/

Well, let me know how they sound. I am up to other suggestions if anyone has any....perturbing to rears....

Only issue is...I hope that the pacesetter is not loud...or area has a strict sound ordinance in effect where anything over stock levels at max RPM at any given time gets a ticket for sound disturbance.
I just want that low rumble....I love that sound.

Ouch thats pricey!

Magnaflow catback exhaust for my vehicle averages on sale for 490.00 (single) so that won't be done til everything else is (and there's ALOT to do )

I was a bit worried about my sound as well after going straight pipe, but it's not really as loud plus it has a nice deep rumble at idle. That's coming from a turbo I4, a V6 would give a deeper rumble :eek:

PerfectCreature

Yeah, I do love that rumble. I won't love it if it gets me in trouble with the cops.....
Anyway. Between the Short Ram and the Cat Back....I can net almost a 10hp gain....so that will bump me up to 180hp....haha. I can get chugging along for sure. lol.
After a bit I will install some new sound equipment.

kawizx9r

PerfectCreature wrote: »

Yeah, I do love that rumble. I won't love it if it gets me in trouble with the cops.....
Anyway. Between the Short Ram and the Cat Back....I can net almost a 10hp gain....so that will bump me up to 180hp....haha. I can get chugging along for sure. lol.
After a bit I will install some new sound equipment.

You remember the PT Cruiser I recently got right?

Well according to K&N, the short ram should net me 18hp alone and the catback...well nothing because my car's a turbo. Already swapped out the spark plug wires, spark plugs, modified my airbox, dropped in a K&N air filter and went straight pipe. Got an AGP WGA that Mole' sent me so until I get a boost gauge installed, the WGA will have to wait its install. Need some bigger fuel injectors too if I'm going to be modding it up to/past S1 levels, as well as a 3" o2 housing and a few other things. That's on another forum though haha

I can't remember if you got a new HU or if you were in search of one. Also, what sub did you ultimately go with and what other car audio do you have? I just ordered an HU from Crutchfield and bought some components off the forum that are still on the way so I've been a bit busy myself.

Do post pics, and lots of'em!

PerfectCreature

The air intakes wont net you that much. You could get a healthy 4-10 from an intake just because the stock tubing is so constrictive...
As for the HU? I sent it back. I am getting a 2 din radio. I never did buy the subwoofer. I have all my old audio stuff for sale in the garage area just because I am going with all new stuff.

Anyway. As for the mods and being busy? Yes I am busy, but not only that I have little to no money due to bills. And buying the car outright. Insurance is only 70 a month full coverage. Believe it or not, it is 45 cheaper than my skylark with only liability.
Odd how a 2003 is cheaper than a 1995....

kawizx9r

PerfectCreature wrote: »

The air intakes wont net you that much. You could get a healthy 4-10 from an intake just because the stock tubing is so constrictive...
As for the HU? I sent it back. I am getting a 2 din radio. I never did buy the subwoofer. I have all my old audio stuff for sale in the garage area just because I am going with all new stuff.

Anyway. As for the mods and being busy? Yes I am busy, but not only that I have little to no money due to bills. And buying the car outright. Insurance is only 70 a month full coverage. Believe it or not, it is 45 cheaper than my skylark with only liability.
Odd how a 2003 is cheaper than a 1995....

Yeah, I should've added more emphasis on the 'according to K&N'

I finally ordered an HU with TA and a couple of other features. I too have a double din dash but I prefer single since I always take the faceplate off and would hate to lug around something bigger than a single. My older audio stuff that's being replaced is going to my cousin, which to him will be a significant upgrade, imagine that.

Least your major purchase is out of the way! The rest will come in due time

PerfectCreature

Yeah. I never bother to take the plate off, if I do I lock it in my glove box...(The Ga does not have that feature but my skylark did)
Anyway. The biggest is done yep....will probably get the exhaust first....not sure though.
If I get the intake I was thinking about Weapon R but I have heard some bad stuff about them....
http://www.weapon-r.com/index.php?act=view_product&id=899

They sell a heat shield which I may get just to protect the filter anyhow. Still, I can pick them up for about 100 which is not that bad I guess.

kawizx9r

Does Air raid offer a kit for your vehicle? I'm guessing they should but they're a good alternative to K&N's.

If I went with an intake, I'd probably go for a CCA intake.

Edit: Take that back about the K&N, they claim 12hp increase for mine.

PerfectCreature

The only intakes made factory that I know of is Weapon R aside from ChromeIntakes on ebay (which make quality intakes with the KN filters) there really is not an intake by KN that fits my car. While I could modify a honda civic intake to work in my car I prefer plug and play.
Yeah. 12 is still a bit much just from adding an intake ha.
Plus, that intake just looks crazy.

cstmar01

nice and congrats.

I have a 2004 grand am GT that I also drive and fun easy to drive car. They can also get great milage as well. Only complaint was winter driving which sucked....

schutz2106

Looks good!

steveinaz

Nice lookin car! I'm chomping at the bit for a Chrysler 300, but I'm trying to display some self-discipline...LOL

indyhawg

Nice looking car. I like the color.

PerfectCreature

My dad had a 300. Loved it...very nice car.
As for the color? Yep...that why my skylark was that same color as well. It is called Redfire Metal I guess.....

Anyway
I washed and waxed it. I did not do a through job since it was my first time ever hand washing and hand waxing a car.
I learned a lot though. Next time I will go all out with polishers and clay bars; the works.
Anyway, I will post pictures up as soon as I can load them, probably tonight sometime. It really made a difference in the color. It made my car come to life a bit, it sort out brought out the color and it made it all sparkly again.
Had fun doing it as well.
I will clean the engine next time I have some free time. That will most likely show the most improvement...and take the most time.
Right now I have to focus on some problems it seems to have...I will be taking a visit to the dealer tomorrow. He may not like me too much...

kawizx9r

PerfectCreature wrote: »

I washed and waxed it. I did not do a through job since it was my first time ever hand washing and hand waxing a car.
I learned a lot though.

Lol sounds like my cousin, she spent 2 hours the other week...had I known she never washed a car before I would've given her some pointers. She even killed the battery because she had music playing the entire time she was washing it while the car was off :eek: I'd suffer the same fate if I did that for even 20minutes....but I know better

Btw, why a dealer? They charge an arm and a leg for anything!

Sherardp

My mom had a Skylark that same color. Always loved the Grand Ams cause they were fast and fun. My buddy used to drive his mom's around all the time. Congrats and enjoy bro.

PerfectCreature

The dealer is the guy who I bought it from. The car was given with no warranty, but I am stopping by to see what he replaced and where maintenance was done. Just to kind of figure out what is the cause of my issues.
I know the plugs need replacing but I do not want to say, replace the coolant or the trans fluid if he already did. Plus he said he would fix the hole in my seat.
Anyway. PICTURES!

kawizx9r

Damn, that colors nice.

Replace the wires the same time you replace your plugs

PerfectCreature

Oh yes. I am buying Taylor Red wires. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/TAY-72200/

Those are the ones I will be buying with my plugs.

kawizx9r

Ha nice, I just got some Taylors as well!

Read 40 ohms across each wire (give or take).

Would've gone with Granatelli's but the one's I wanted were priced at 199.99 :eek: rated at less than 2 ohms though!

mdaudioguy

Very nice, dude. I hope it runs as good as it looks for you!
Be careful how much $$ you throw into it, though, as you'll never get it back.

PerfectCreature

Very true. I do not plan on putting that much into it. Just an intake and an exhaust to help with gas. Then the regular maintenance.
Also, a stereo. A nice stereo.

Yeah those taylor plugs are only 35 for a set. That is cheaper than the AC ones at my local shop. About 20 cheaper.

kawizx9r

If you're talking about ACCEL's, they're not only more expensive but they're rated even higher at over 124ohms (which is bad obviously).

PerfectCreature

Nah the OEM AC DELCO plug wires. They want around $70 for a set for my vehicle. The plugs I need are $15 each. AC Delco Iridiums. I can get them for about 6 each though through a friends mechanics discount.
No, I have been told good things about Taylor wires.