Buick GN - long term road test

I hope this isn't a re-post...

Edmunds is doing a long term test with an 87 Buick Grand National. It's really fun reading:

http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/features/1987-buick-regal-grand-national-long-term-road-test-index.html

Very cool. I love GN's. My mom's friend and her husband bought one new in 1987, and they still have it. They drag race it occasionally, and it is FAST. I want it.

That tape deck... my parents' 1986 Olds 98 had the same one. Nothing like going on a family vacation in 1987 blasting Def Leppard's Hysteria on cassette just after it came out on that thing. So awesome.

I also just realized that if I take my Trans Am and CSX and combine them into one car, I would get a Grand National. Now that's weird. Talk about a compromise!

I seriously can't understand their format at all.

I want to read it all oldest to newest, start to current end.

Is there a way to do this?

That's pretty cool.

damn, now I want a T-top GN.

Cotton wrote: damn, now I want a T-top GN.

wait, you didn't before?

SnowMongoose wrote:

Cotton wrote: damn, now I want a T-top GN.

wait, you didn't before?

I'm sure he did, but now he just realized he's going to get one

I'm not allowed to look at Monte Carlos or GNs.... as if my plan had been executed my Met would have been a 383 monte SS but my GF threw a kicking screaming fit over how much she hates those beautiful 80's body lines.

FranktheTank wrote: but my GF threw a kicking screaming fit over how much she hates those beautiful 80's body lines.

You need a new woman.

I swear I can smell them, and still break my neck every time I see one.

I want an SS Monte or clean G body in the worst way.

I had a 81 Camaro, 305, two barrel, auto, peg leg 3.08 rear gear. It ran a solid 17.44 in the 1/4 every damn time.

A buddy got a Regal. 350, four barrel, 3.73 posi. I beat him EVERY TIME.

It helped that he weighed 200 lb more than me. Not the car, him.

Then I remember all of the crap, the way everything "fit" the interior, the GIGANTIC overhangs... and I'm ok.

Cotton wrote: damn, now I want a T-top GN.

so rusted out floors and having water drip on your head in a light rain storm is your idea of fun?

FranktheTank wrote: I'm not allowed to look at Monte Carlos or GNs.... as if my plan had been executed my Met would have been a 383 monte SS but my GF threw a kicking screaming fit over how much she hates those beautiful 80's body lines.

I am guessing you and the Missus are roughly late 40s based on some of your posts...

Tell her you hate those 60's body lines. On her.

No, don't do that. Ever.

Swank Force One wrote: I seriously can't understand their format at all. I want to read it all oldest to newest, start to current end. Is there a way to do this?

I'm with the Swankster. I can't figure out how to read the entries in order. You scroll to the bottom, and it's not at the beginning. You click on "Introduction" and there is no "Next." I would like to read about this, but berkeley it.

Yeah, it's really formatted poorly.

Lesley wrote: Yeah, it's really formatted poorly.

Their old blog was great.

I smell an opportunity - the Lesley long term blog. I'd read it. You'd get a new car in the driveway every few weeks.

I'm really pissed Edmunds dropped the Long Terms off their App. I was enjoying the GN long term car, but I haven't kept up in a while.

Yah, I could dig that. Porsche is giving me a CPO Porsche 911 (2010 997 Targa) this July for a week. I have a feeling I won't want to give that one back.

Next week I pick up a Fiat Abarth Cabriolet. And to, um, explore its reputation as a rather "gay" car, I've convinced a couple of outrageous drag queens to do a photo shoot with it...

tuna55 wrote:

FranktheTank wrote: I'm not allowed to look at Monte Carlos or GNs.... as if my plan had been executed my Met would have been a 383 monte SS but my GF threw a kicking screaming fit over how much she hates those beautiful 80's body lines.

I am guessing you and the Missus are roughly late 40s based on some of your posts... Tell her you hate those 60's body lines. On her. No, don't do that. Ever.

haha he's not yet 25 according to his profile

WilberM3 wrote:

tuna55 wrote:

FranktheTank wrote: I'm not allowed to look at Monte Carlos or GNs.... as if my plan had been executed my Met would have been a 383 monte SS but my GF threw a kicking screaming fit over how much she hates those beautiful 80's body lines.

I am guessing you and the Missus are roughly late 40s based on some of your posts... Tell her you hate those 60's body lines. On her. No, don't do that. Ever.

haha he's not yet 25 according to his profile

Aww crap. I guess I guessed wrong.

Sorry. It's still a funny joke. Just change the decade.

In reply to tuna55:

As much time as I spend at work and in the shop she probably already thinks I don't like her body lines. Keeping the peace at home is an ageless tradition.

Finish the F100. Finish the Met. Finish the 72 Dually. Buy an engagement ring. And she will kill me when she finds out that buy a G body just got slipped between Dually and Ring

Cotton wrote: damn, now I want a T-top GN.

They squeak and leak and creak and all sorts of other Dr. Seuss sounding onomatopoeics.

Swank Force One wrote: I seriously can't understand their format at all. I want to read it all oldest to newest, start to current end. Is there a way to do this?

All of the content under "What's Hot" used to be on a separate website called "Insideline" and it was one of the best organized websites I have ever been on. For some reason, Edmunds decided to mess with success, get rid of Insideline and use its content as a sub division under the normal edmunds website. I don't think I can ever forgive them for that.

I remember being in High School when the GN and then the GNX were released. They were hot E36 M3. C&D tested a GN and it ran a sub 14 sec 1/4 mile, which was extremely fast in 1987. (still pretty damn fast today) It was actually a little quicker though the 1/4 mile than the Corvette--- which was big news for a Buick. Of course the GNX was even quicker....but it was incredibly rare.....a real mythical beast.

The first time I saw a genuine GNX on the street it was a total event. We drove next to it for a while, hoping he'd get on it.....he didn't. It didn't really matter, as kids we were totally in awe.

The GNs were pretty common, as were their T-Type counterparts. Seeing a GNX in the flesh though, was like seeing a Hemi Cuda, or Superbird.......the stuff teenage dreams are made of!

Lesley wrote: Yah, I could dig that. Porsche is giving me a CPO Porsche 911 (2010 997 Targa) this July for a week. I have a feeling I won't want to give that one back. Next week I pick up a Fiat Abarth Cabriolet. And to, um, explore its reputation as a rather "gay" car, I've convinced a couple of outrageous drag queens to do a photo shoot with it...

Along those lines, do you have a blog, website, etc? I'd love to follow along with your automotive exploits.