Does a cheap, reliable car exist anymore for less than $1000?

Everything is more expensive these days. I have been hearing a lot lately that there are no more $1000 beaters, those are $2000+ now. I have tasked myself with the challenge of finding a beater with a budget of only $1000 that I can make my reliable winter car. Of course, I picked a Pontiac Grand Am for this, I know a guy with a few spare parts laying around. Let's see what the car needs, get it done and see what we have spent for a reliable daily driver that will be sacrificed to the salt gods so that the nice vehicles can enjoy a cancer free life.

#cheap #pontiac

[ryans]

Scott can do a Grand Am blindfolded he’s done so many in the past.

[dueljet]

The massive over salting needs to stop. More salt doesn't equal more safe. All of that crap ends up in our fresh water supplies. As a lifelong car guy and career registered nurse, I can say that our winter weather mitigation practices need a serious overhaul.

[ssenssel]

Scott single-handedly is keeping the used Pontiac market in business.

[mattdebbage]

I love cheap cars. I bought mine for £600 ten years ago, I'm still driving it.... I keep replacing parts but nothings very expensive or difficult.

[bullittandy]

I cannot believe those brake and fuel lines come off without disassembling half the car. That was simply amazing. And it take a genuine expert to have figured something like that out. Well done!

[StephaniexBecca]

Never can go wrong with a Pontiac. I still drive my mother’s ‘93 Grand Am GT every so often. It’s affixed with an Antique plate and I’m currently using cheap parts to make it pretty again. I’m don’t have a certain budget, but I’m working on putting an A/C compressor and what not. Of course, I’m deciding not to break the bank with the car, and it still has its original engine. After I’m done, I plan on putting it into car shows around the area when it heats up. Beautiful Aqua 4-door, with all the options, including the color-keyed rims. I did replace the carpet as well.

[mikewest]

People like Scott are worth their weight in gold. Understanding how things come apart and get put back together, along with the knowledge to do the work, is becoming a lost commodity in this country. It takes time and especially patience along with analytical thinking.

[chrisj]

The most surprising part was the e-brake cables weren't rusted solid.

[flavoredsnacks]

This happened to me nearly exactly. A buddy of mine was looking to offload his 2006 Grand Prix as soon as possible so I managed to pick it up for $700. All it needed was a brake job and and an evap solenoid and now I've got a dependable beater for under $1000. Throw on some new tires and replace some exterior parts and it's looking great and driving well for under $2000.

These old Grand Ams and Grand Prixs are truly a gem from a better time and I'm glad there's other people out there that appreciate them as much as I do

[TheJeffShadowShow]

It is refreshing to watch a detailed repair such as the one I just did on my 2011 Lucerne CXL (window replacement). GM wanted almost $1, 400 for the LR glass quarter window set. I bought the complete glass from a local LKQ Pick Your Part wrecking yard and removed it myself and paid $67! I installed everything myself in two hours.

[Jesselovespinball]

My first car I ever bought was 700 bucks . I drove it for three years . Maintained it as cheaply as I could . Learned a lot about cars along the way . Skills I still use to this day . Taught me a lot of lessons about life . For example, mom and dad aren’t your source of income . If it broke, I payed to fix it, along with insurance and gas . Wish more parents did the same .

[MrClarkisgod]

I bought a 2002 Lincoln LS V8 in 2015 for $900 due to a "blown head gasket and overheating issues". It was all the plastic coolant pieces were cracked and leaking. $200 in parts and a coolant flush later we were back on the road and that car is an absolute champion.

Sure the wheels don't match, the heat doesn't work most of the time(but the heated seat does... go figure), and someone tried to break into the trunk so the trunk lock wont take a key (but the electronic trunk popper still works). I had to put new brakes on her once for $160 and I did tires once for $400. So I've been driving that car for a decade and I'm less than $2000 into it. For many people that's 2 car payments.

[WorkingWithWimberley]

Solid build. All done in one video. I bet the car makes it through winter with no problem!

[patjohnson]

Great job giving a basically sound car a new lease on life. With care, that car could go another 87, 000 miles. It always surprises me how people can be so neglectful of expensive pieces of property.

[BryanEnsign]

That hood is saught after from many collectors and people that love that model. This is an awesome and for that type of pontiac a killer ride. As someone who is restoring an 01 Firebird that I got for 1200, I think this is a Great video.

[ReliableGuy-sbfb]

Former GM Pontiac Buick Tech here, it was nice to see you do this job, its been awhile since I've seen a old Grand Am, well done and good luck.

[DougSmith-kden]

I like that gen Grand Am they were good cars and pretty reliable when properly maintained. They looked and drove really good imo. Good mechanicals, cheap interior plastics and a few issues but it was an affordable car . Any body remember Lethal Weapon 4 with the sliver Grand Am car chase?

[robertdemeny]

I love the Grand am builds. In my opinion it's a pretty looking car.

[kenmurray]

A good choice for a winter beater. The Grand Am's stick to the road like they are glued to it. A little shopping around & some fixing up & 1000 bucks is not hard to do. Need to remember it's a beater not a keeper so keep parts costs down. The best beater I've had was a Hyundai Pony. Paid $300 for it & drove 4 winters in Ontario. In the 4 yrs I changed the oil & put a tractor muffler on the 2nd year. Sold it for $500 to somebody for his beater.

[halelorf]

Had an Alero with the bluetooth rockers and brake/fuel line rot in that same spot. Bought it for $600 and drove it for 150k miles. Had some winter tires and cruised through whatever Michigan could throw at it. Perfect winter beater car.