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.
My website if you want to purchase a car or parts: www.vehcor.com
Amazon store: www.amazon.com...
For Vehcor merch: teespring.com/...
#cheap #pontiac

[@ryans413]

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

[@vehcor]

And more proof coming for that claim! 😂

[@crazikyle]

He already has, lol kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6bOgnienMuFqas

[@vehcor]

I must say, this comment has aged well! 😂

[@cjackfly]

They're garbage.

[@ssenssel]

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

[@Gramps83]

Just grand am GT's. LOL.

[@slimbruh]

ive bought a lot of pontiacs😂

[@tonymorfin8750]

@@slimbruh And you've bought so many because they're no good. Toyota or Honda? Yes. Pontiac. No question. No.

[@minmogrovingstrongandhealthy]

@@tonymorfin8750 To be fair you can give a perfectly pristine car to someone and that person can trash it in matter of days. I met these oddball people in my life that had zero common sense to maintain their vehicles and drive them properly. Here is one example. There was an old person who had a Yugo from 80s and he maintained it in pristine condition for 30 years, drove it in summer, winter, been places with it, whatever the car was perfect. Due to old age he was banned to drive a car ever again so he sold it. So the person who bought it basically trashed the car in just 2 months, it was dirty inside out, scratched, bumpbed, by a year later the transmission was completely ruined and car itself was so damaged that it looked like it was abandoned for 30 years, it ended up being sold to a mechanic and became a rally project. Only the shell of the car had value everything else was torn to pieces. I seen many of these examples with tons of other cars be it "good" or "bad" in the press, its up to their owner to maintain the car and find actually trustworthy mechanics too since they can also trash your car.

[@elmarko9051]

@@tonymorfin8750 It's simple, buy a Honda or Toyota if you have money. Buy old GM if you don't, and can wrench yourself to save money.

[@DougSmith-kd3en]

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?

[@midwestmutineer7675]

Great cars! Totally agree.

[@johnmccree8941]

Is there such a model of Grand Am? The Grand Am Sliver?

[@ice44567]

I basically do this but with Tauruses since I know them really well, and parts are dirt cheap. Any mid or full size FWD tends to make a great winter beater, so I'm going to keep driving them lol

[@williamfoote2888]

It’s a damn Ford, you monster.

[@willbachman9312]

For those of you with tight budgets black calking and tinted plexiglass or clear depending on your needs will make a hell of a window that won't roll down. I actually made one that i sloted into the track and attached to the mechanism it worked but temporarily and streaked up over time

[@Foxlone]

I am very appreciative that you make videos. Not only because of the great information you provide but also because the way you explain and and talk. It modavates me to work on my own projects. I also like makeing videos about prblems and how I fixed them on cars.

[@dustyplumb1]

Scott that was very informative and good job you Know all the rat holes to fix the beater …over here in the UK you’re not allowed to have extra vents in the door sills to keep the car hugging to the road . Genuine thumbs up from me 🇬🇧👍🔧 dave

[@Yousitech]

I bought a cavalier with a blown head gasket for $400. It’s been a good vehicle after I fixed it and did a clutch on it. That’s like the easiest head gasket ever at least

[@JF-wk5zo]

I'm surprised at how well you did on the original price of the car. 500 bucks is cheap today. For the folks who think 40 bucks for the lines is cheating you could still do it buying aftermarket lines for 200.

[@ESPLTD322]

“The snowflakes that fall from the sky, not the other snowflakes.” Killed me hahaha

[@classicxl]

Might sound alittle weird but the Grand Ams was my dream car especially the 95s with rear spoiler and alloy rims . My mom had a 92 and friends mom had a 97 , i finally got my own a 2003 green Gt1 4 door with the 3.4 cylinder. unfortunately was also probably my least reliable car next would be the 08 grand prix Gxp 5.3 with the crappy transmissions . Still loved that car was wanted one over any lamborghini or ferrari

[@lear60man]

I liked the Old Pontiac Grand Am's. It would be interesting to have some AI gizmo make a modern rendition of one today.

[@striker1553]

Ever do an OBS chevy? I paid WAYYYYY too much (*cough 10k, almost rust-free in Michigan*) for a 94 Silverado that I absolutely love. Oh man, a sensor broke? Still runs and drives lol. Love old trucks.

[@easymac79]

49:29 After replacing a temperature sensor on an ebay engine, my gauge started climbing suddenly after a couple minutes of driving. Popped out the thermostat and tested in a pot of water. It opened just fine. Turns out the new sensor must have a different resistance that is wonky on the dash gauge. OBD scanner reads proper temps (180F opening temp, runs up to about 183F for normal driving. I hit 190 with some effort). THE POINT IS! Thermostats don't really fail*. The spring can crack, I guess - never seen it. Corrosion can build up and jam the valve - again, never seen it, but I suppose taking it apart for inspection can clear the crud and it would never be seen. The valve could disintegrate. * But in all of these cases, it would fail open. The spring keeps it closed. The valve makes a seal. Without closure or sealing, it will run cool - so yes, you might not find it run up to temp, but I don't think they can fail and cause an overheat. - Just my 2C.

[@vincentbryan1962]

2000 is the new 1,000. Yes. I got two Geo Metros for 2k. I got a Mazda 323 for 1,500. Done $500 to it and it’s reliable as all get out. I sold it tho to get a geo metro convertible which is 50 mpg and the Mazda was like 24. So yes it’s possible you just have to be lucky and looking

[@Baldskul]

OEM dirt, must be new old stock!

[@vehcor]

Sure is! 😂

[@charleshenshaw9099]

Also I have a similar seat cover for my dog to ride with me. Cheers Brother

[@richardkoon5544]

You are cracking me up by Crackin on the Crack Heads. LMAO.

[@voyeur442]

So is there no safety inspection in your state? In Ontario you would need to repair the rust before you could register and plate a car

[@bearing_aficionado]

Happy Friday, Scott!🍻

[@VV0RK]

Jokes on you I drive my winter beater year round

[@kpdvw]

without a rusted undercarriage/frame repair this thing is illegal to be operated on public roads...!

[@markspence3295]

It’s not an ebrake, it’s a cable operated handbrake.

[@mrchevy7892]

The grand am guru.

[@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.

[@moparnut6286]

You are Absoultely correct! It destroys the cars from the inside out making them very unsafe in a crash. I hazard to say that 25% of the cars in the northeast should not be on the road... And when EV's and salt water brine come into play we will have many tragic deaths.

[@12yearssober]

The reason for it is that people are unable to drive in snow anymore. Insurance lobby the states to treat the roads like they do.

[@dueljet]

@@12yearssober it is a shortsighted approach. All of the salt is destroying the safety of our cars, bridges, and other infrastructure. Beyond that, the salt is destroying our drinking water. The increased sodium intake is literally killing people. I don't really care about what the lobbyists want, I'm simply talking about the reality of the situation. Which is the current approach is not sustainable.

[@lorieandpatrickdavies7483]

100 agree. Not only does the salt destroy vehicles (often before they are even paid for), it also destroys our infrastructure (like the rebar in bridges and overpasses). And it also gets into our freshwater, doing catastrophic damage as well.

[@houseofno]

The real problem is that you're complaining on KZbin but not proposing any workable solutions. What do you want to do, stop the weather? What's your better solution, if you have one? Fact of the matter is, sewage and drainage systems are almost always separate systems, depending on your community. If I were to guess, the salt is going to go into the drainage systems, where hopefully the salt is filtered out along with dirt and contaminants and repurposed somehow in your community's municipal water system. Perhaps you haven't bothered to educate yourself on exactly how your municipality's drainage system works and where wastewater goes to get treated. I am having a hard time trying to understand your purpose for complaining when the civil engineers in your area may not necessarily see your comment. To quote an old saying, "what does this have to do with the price of tea in China?" What I mean by this is, how does this complaint help when the people who are reading this may not even live in your area and this may not even exist as a problem in your area? What is your solution exactly? Do you want to shut down your entire city just because there's snow and ice?' Making people wait in freezing cold for trains and transit buses that may not even be running in extreme temperatures? Not all municipalities use salt to mitigate snow and ice. Some use snowplows and massive snow blowers. Shifting it elsewhere isn't exactly an ideal solution to the problem, but if it's out of the way and presenting less of a hazard to motorists who are just trying to reach their destination intact is better than nothing. If you really do have a better idea, why aren't you getting it to the people who are better positioned to put your better idea into place? Odds are, they may might not be viewing Scotty's KZbin channel to see your comment? I am at a loss as to how complaining about salt on the roads on a single KZbinr's DIY channel is going to get your better idea in the hands of the people in the best position to implement it, but I don't see how shutting down your entire municipality on the account of snow and ice is a realistic solution anymore than this newfound power you have to control the weather?

[@chrisj8822]

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

[@mattdebbage3821]

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.

[@vehcor]

That’s the way to do it.

[@gerry-p9x]

Aww at least run it thru a car wash in salty months and deduct the cost as a biz expense. Vid the wash and post on yt. As a short

[@Mountain-Man-3000]

The UK is a whole different beast. I see used cars there for £1000 that would cost $10k in Canada. Honestly I would have at least a dozen cars if I lived there!

[@the_kombinator]

I bought a 99 Matiz in Korea for $1,000 CAD (1,100,000 WON at the time) and it had 75,000 KM on it. I had it trouble free for my duration there, and after 4 years I brought it back with me. I still have it. That thing paid for itself like 4 times over.

[@adorablecenturion8436]

​@@Mountain-Man-3000because cars arent as desirable for their costs to use and petrol prices, they actually have a funtioning public transportation system unlike the US

[@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 .

[@Zach-sg5uu]

Most parents don’t make their daughters pay for anything on their transportation! They also think they shouldn’t have to repair anything themselves!

[@jayb.5017]

Some of the best cars I've had have been less than $500. My current daily is a $200 Pontiac Aztek, it's been fantastic for the past 6 years, this is the first year for any major repairs and that's just been replacing the evap system.

[@Blazerows]

My first car (currently still is) is a 2002 mercury sable with 96 thousand miles. Bought it for 200. It needed some work. Spent around 1600 on it total (as of now) and we got it to run. I got it insured and was out driving in no time. Cut to a few months later and it died. And I have been attempting to get it fixed by myself. It died right around June 2023. it still isn’t running but I have learned so much. I think I have become a car guy. I miss it so much….

[@josiahw79]

why do you wish more parents financially abandon their children when newly adults and aren’t even established in life and may need help from time to time? there’s nothing wrong with that if you can afford it great if not there’s nothing wrong with asking for help from time to time

[@WorkingWithWimberley]

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

[@vehcor]

Thanks, we will find out. So far so good. Not even a CEL. I was expecting one for the notorious evap leak on the rusty filler neck.

[@tetreaulthank4068]

Scott is my morning entertainment ! Such a bonus 👍🏻

[@flavoredsnacks9979]

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

[@nakedmongoose123]

I had a grand an when I was 18, it wouldn't start one day and left me stranded 20mi from home. I don't recall the verdict but I wish I had it around now that I like to work on cars !!

[@robertdemeny251]

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

[@ryans413]

There not bad cars pretty reliable. Sadly the salt eats them away

[@brijohnson6660]

A friend has a very solid G6 but I liked the Grand AM myself. Its a 'girl' car to me, so I never got one. Still mad GM cancelled their only nameplate I liked.

[@mikewest6569]

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.

[@dave_n8pu]

@@Joe-y1d2y Agree, even if he was close to me, I doubt I could afford his good quality of work.

[@marvinstoker4267]

They have those safety switches that always go out on the shifter.

[@deshaunjackson8188]

Since the current price of gold per pound is $22,372.00 and Scott is probably 180 lbs. His weight in gold would total approximately $4,140,000. Considering he is mid to late 40's he has got around 20-25 years of work left in him at 200k a year he would be worth about his weight in gold.

[@the_kombinator]

The same people in high school that said. "just by a new one" are 20 years later ROYALLY broke, can't afford their rent due to all the extra warranty payments on shit they don't need, micro subscriptions, brand new cars that they haven't a clue how to maintain... Here I am with two mid 2000s high mileage dirt cheap cars, an old 486 computer and an NES for entertainment, and.... look at that, I can send my kid to extra curriculars, go on vacation twice a year, and have three (two that are roadworthy) classic cars. But go on, be lazy, throw out the microwave because a 54 cent switch broke on it, and buy a new one. Probably the same turds that go on about going green and reducing carbon footprint: They've made slaves of themselves by culling curiosity and having their imagination fed to them.

[@JJ-yn8fl]

Totally! Now there's this weird majority mentality of 'my time is valuable, not worth the effort', I'll just pay someone to do it or buy a new one. Meanwhile, they make only $25/hr, but since their time is so valuable, will pay someone $40/hr to mow their lawn while they utilize their time most effectively (tiktok and snapchat crap) lol

[@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!

[@patjohnson3100]

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.

[@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.

[@lloydcc]

I love this! I have always loved the Grand-AM and GrandPrix. I have had both, oddly they are at the top of most reliable cars I have had. My 93 Grandprix finally died at 308k miles and it was because I was driving home from work one snowy night here in New England and went off the road and hit a tree. I was fine but so much had broken off the engine and the rusted frame snapped, was just not cost effective to repair.

[@Bond007er]

I had a Bonneville was a good car my dad bought it for .my mom but I had a near fatal accident in my 85 cressida rolled it due to axel breaking so they gave me the Bonneville.. drove the hell out of it traded it in for a brand new 2014 Ford fusion hybrid..

[@brijohnson6660]

"the rusted frame snapped, was just not cost effective to repair."🤣😂😆🤣 Did you have to call two tow trucks, then think about it for awhile to decide? still laughing.. I imagine the car in half, a trail of rust debris, and the engine in a tree 20 yards further on.

[@PatientXero607]

The '99-'05 Grand AM is a perfect choice. Solid 3400 engine with the 4T45-E. If I wasn't a blundering idiot who replaced cars every few years, I would have kept my '04 SE1 which had the 3400. They were easy to break into though as it all it took was a punch to the trunk lock to get in. My '04 was vandalized during an accident repair. The repair company was negligent in leaving it parked outside their impound lot. It was broken into and the winter tires were stolen. It was repaired though and the repair company did replace the winter tires.

[@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.

[@StephaniexBecca1600]

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.

[@alfx5432]

I have a 97 what motor I have a 3.1 in my GT

[@StephaniexBecca1600]

@@alfx5432 The 3300 engine.

[@mph5896]

There is only 1 person in this word that cares if a Grand Am has a door reflector that the tabs aren't broken off of. 🤣

[@Aminuts23]

I think if you never check Schrodinger's air filter it is BOTH clean and dirty. One of my first cars was a 99 Grand Am and I was too poor/cheap to pay for proper mechanics so I felt very nostalgic watching you take this thing apart. Thanks. 😁

[@kenmurray4232]

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.

[@cavtj1]

Scott, loved the comment on "even Mexico has out-sourced to China". I watch your vids to maybe learn a thing or two, but you keep me coming back with your humor and entertainment value. Good job on the Grand Am. (Can't believe there are still some left in the Mid West) Never seen anyone replace the fuel and brake lines together. Guess you have worked on a Grand Am or two!

[@brijohnson6660]

if you have whole cars around, assemblies are usually much easier than bending and installing one line. at least everything GM since 1990 seems built for this particular task.

[@45AMT]

Awesome! It's a black Friday double special! 1 It's a Grand Am video! 2 it's over an hour long! Thanks Scott!

[@DavidHollis-w3w]

Scott’s Grand Am Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for the win…

[@vehcor]

I’m only responsible for like half of the Grand Ams left on the road! 😂

[@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.

[@MrLandslide84]

Buicks. 3100 and 3800. No problems except normal wear and tear. Around $1000-3000

[@donaldmorrison5289]

Thanks Scott, the world needs more can do people like you.

[@kevinmartin9432]

I always wait for the girly scream when you back off the trailer, and it always makes me laugh😅

[@vehcor]

I’ll never beat the original! 😂

[@knucklestheechidna5718]

One thing i always do on those 3100/3400 first is put the metal lower intake gasket. Those things have finicky cooling systems you really have to bleed those bleeder valves very ez to get air bubbles after the gasket replacement

[@scofab]

Back when I were a pup the magic number was $100... drove many miles in various acquisitions at that budget, and had a hell of a good time. Drive it like ya stole it, and thanks again.

[@brijohnson6660]

mid 90s it was 250-400. usually you make a profit when you sell it running as well.

[@73sdawson]

I usually buy japanese cars, and have never bought american, but I always liked the look of these grand ams and other GM sedans going back to the early 90s. They had some style and comfort that the accord and camrys lacked. id buy this one today as a second car, if i didnt have to worry so much about reliability.

[@OmniMontel]

The mid 90s and later American cars weren't exactly unreliable if you did any maintenance on them.... They just didn't like not having basic maintenance.

[@AsphaltRhys]

My pick would be a Buick Lucerne with a 3800 if you can find one, transmissions can be junk but they are fantastic cheap cars. Our family Lucerne has 217k miles and will start second crank after sitting for months

[@eddiekerbo]

It's terrible how bad cars rust out. It's a great video, thank you. Ilove all your videos!❤

[@brijohnson6660]

Really tho? Do good cars not rust as well?

[@deshaunjackson8188]

Since the current price of gold per pound is $22,372.00 and Scott is probably 180 lbs. His weight in gold would total approximately $4,140,000. Considering he is mid to late 40's he has got around 20-25 years of work left in him at 200k a year he would be worth about his weight in gold.

[@1984buickboy]

The $1,000.00 cars are still out there. I purchased a 2004 Chevy Tahoe for $1,000.00 and drove it home. I ended up putting another $1,000.00 in it with a used interior, new tires, hub bearings, inner and outer tie rods, fuel pump, j nuts and thank bolts, battery, and oil pressure sensor. I done all the work except tire mount and balance and the alignment.

[@chadseib8707]

Hey Scott, I always love your Grand Am builds & fixes. I’ve had a few myself. Just to give a little info for the future, if it applies. The Pontiac G6 premium stereos have the same type of rear speakers & they’re plug n play. The amplifier in the Grand Am filters the bass & treble, so when you use just the woofer connections, you lose all the high frequencies in an off the shelf speakers. G6’s are plentiful at a junkyard. The speakers are built better also. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@MikeyMack303]

Thanks, Scott, for doing this video. The thing that I'm am shocked the most about this is that the parking brakes did not lock up when you removed the console! Every rust-belt car i have ever even thought about touching the parking brakes has turned into a nightmare! Thanks again!

[@music10293]

My first car was a free pickup that I fixed for a 1000$. Then I got a street bike for 450$ and kept the whole budget under 1000 as well. Came winter I needed something that was easier on gas as I had to travel far. A 400$ non running car that I fixed for 200 got the job done. That was in 2015. I still have both the truck and the motorcycle. The car did 3 years and I sold it for a demolition derby for 250.

[@RedHeadDevil1196]

Id love to buy it after you get done with it after winter. I've always been a fan of late 90's to early 2000's GM cars

[@LM77va]

Much appreciation! I love all of your Grand Am rebuilds. 👍

[@mostlymoparih5682]

Excellent video. I bought a two hundred dollar beater and totalled around fifteen hundred bucks. It was a 2000 Corolla and also did the fuel and brake lines, five in total. Had to drop the tank which required dropping the exhaust and some suspension parts. The lines were about three hundred and fifty bucks from Toyota. The only thing not replaced in the brake system was the MC and rear wheel cylinders. All four struts were replaced along with sway bar links and bushings. The hood wouldn't open so that cable was replaced along with a mirror and door handle. There were a few more things but you get the picture. I was fixing it for my daughter. Body was pretty solid except for one door met up with a car port during a storm. My son's sister in law needed a good car so she ended up with it. I'm gonna have to check out more of your vids because I really enjoyed this one. Happy Motoring.

[@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.

[@deadchannel991]

Loved my 04 alero. Thing drove great but I think the transmission ended up dying, couldn't get it above 10mph in drive

[@itsnotme07]

Yep, if you live/work in the salt zone of the Great White North....you really need a "beater" car. Great build! Look forward to seeing the whiteout results.

[@Alex-lw1pw]

I absolutely love these cars I’m just upset I’m in the Canadian maratimes a 7 year old car is starting to show lots of rust signs

[@richardcobb2852]

Great video. We don’t have any cars with that kind of rust in the south. Paint and interior fade from the sun is our problem. Enjoy your builds. 👍

[@brijohnson6660]

yes and I had a window *pop* in the sun at 28 years. Once.

[@vg4472]

Reliable and Pontiac don't go in the same sentence unless it's a Vibe or Sunfire.

[@daleyingling4868]

You got one of the best channels on KZbin!!! Informative and entertaining. More importantly, to help people get the most out of their dollar in this economy 👍

[@billymasoner3735]

At this point you’ve got a great winter beater, but with as clapped as this thing is otherwise, that’s a super low mileage engine that you could always find a good southern donor body for later.

[@gottahavegoalsset]

I like this topic very much. Please do more of these type of videos for people who like reliable beater cars that just need a part swap once in a while.

[@jamesbruno5896]

Awesome video Scott! Nice job replacing rear brake & fuel lines as a factory assembly!

[@enricopolazzo33]

1000 dollar challenge or excuse to feed Scott’s strange Grand Am addiction?

[@vehcor]

Why not both? 😂

[@patientx77]

Nice video. Informative. I guess the biggest issue is that the majority of people who “need” a $1000 car, won’t have a mechanic garage and all the tools to do this themselves. So cost of parts aside, once you need to pay someone to do the work you have shown…you’d never get this for $1000. And I say “need” because if you are buying this as a winter beater so you can park your second car for months on end…you don’t NEED that beater. It’s a want.

[@lane8376]

So many comments talk about how he did a great job. He did a good job but I was looking at the comments because a “cheap” “beater” car isn’t cheap if you have to put a couple thousand dollars into it just to make it safe to drive. If someone had like 3-4 grand to invest into the car they could just buy a vehicle that cost 3-4 grand that might be in better condition.

[@YerBrwnDogAteMyRabit]

Tools are investment. If you "need" a cheap car, you need to be your own mechanic too, and odds are, you'll need those tools for other things as well, like your next $1000 car. This is def a "want/because I can" situation and should be viewed as such. It wasn't made for the bus pass/ saving for a car audience, and I don't think that was implied unless I missed something.

[@OmniMontel]

Also live in a rust belt area .. need/ want a bit of a beater... My real issue is that my main becomes the next beater candidate after about 4 or 5 years....The other problem is that in addition to the crack head muffler delete (though in my area it's the speed ball junkie) is that they have a real tendency to break into the garage/shed as well and remove tools. Nothing gets done about it either, even if on camera or held at machete point at the location. A semi-homeless junkie doesn't view 3-7 days in jail on a misdemeanor criminal trespassing as a deterrent. That's just a dry out and meals once they get past being dope sick. Have lost 5 vechiles and thousands and thousands of dollars to these assholes over the last decade. Catching one or two in the act doesn't deter the others, they sue if you beat them, and insurance claims after deductible isn't that helpful. I'm at wits end over the problem.

[@patrickzadd5215]

Scott…. always impressed by your mad skills fixing the shifter …. with no new parts!?!? well done!

[@brijohnson6660]

I loved how he got it out in 3 minutes and knew the attachments were easier in this model than an '02. (mentioned the seats were removed before that) Fixing was kinda "look-see, and straighten the bent piece". If it were cracked housing etc he was prepared to swap it, but lucky this time.

[@Whatchamawhozit]

I had a few Beater Grand Am GT's they are decent little beaters... also got some Zip considering, but also have the known Lower Intake gasket issue

[@boxxdrmtb]

I never get tired of watching you fix Pontiacs. That's a good looking car for what you've got into it that's for sure.

[@n84434]

Absolutely love these last gen Pontiacs. Had a 2002 Bonneville that was bulletproof, until it got rear ended...

[@brijohnson6660]

G6 replaced this and is great in 4-cyl auto form (so far).

[@waterloo123100]

@@brijohnson6660those ecotechs are junk

[@KSCuberOfficial]

I bought a 96 4wd grand cherokee for $800 earlier in the year. Needed a set of battery cables and a door pin adjustment to fix the random electrical issues and Bob's your uncle. Has one cylinder that has a tad low compression that I'll fix later if possible but everything else works, 245k miles, no rust, nice paint. They still exist:)

[@samwisegamgee289]

well as I have been watching Mr. Scott for a while now and always appreciated his dry humour and talent as a mechanic this video by far shows how much and how many times he has done all of it before making it look simple enough for us cretins , like myself , who know squat about it all but enjoy learning from a master I salute you sir.

[@brijohnson6660]

some people are moved by car ads that look like perfume/jewelry ads. some people are moved by car ads that tell you how TOUGH you are. some people are moved by this video and want one of these Grand AMs. He cracked about 10 yolks in there iirc. About as dry as Sam Spade's martinis.

[@Unclejake]

Genius! I’ll coat myself in salt to keep away the snowflakes!

[@sonnyblazer5504]

FOR ALL: NOTE if you paid attention (around 23minutes) you saw Scot test the rear lights. We SAW the LOWER RIGHT bulb blinking fast which tells us we have a bulb out (usually in the front) or as we learned here, this one was out in the REAR. SO, if you have ONE FASTER bulb blinking you have a BULB OUT! See all you save watching "VEHCOR"!

[@TheZyloSphere]

It's sad that the destiny that this grand am has is just being a winter beater, might feel like that cause I just got a 2000 gt as first car, even so, glad to see that someone is helping the poor ams! Cheers!

[@jimwiskus8862]

That shifter fix was total experience and natural wisdom. I need to go back and rewatch the first part. I missed what was wrong on the tail light. Have a great weekend! See you when the next episode drops!

[@LAactor]

They are cop magnets when broken. Even moreso when on a red car. It's like a spanish bull and a cape

[@ryans413]

I know from experience you can oddly shut the car off in gear but the keys will not remove from the ignition unless the shifter is in park or neutral. So I’m not 100% sure what happened here but it was almost seems like someone tried to force the car out of park and into gear.

[@CarswithNash]

I've done this a few times with PT Cruisers.

[@clutch5sp989]

What I did needing a spare car was first search the more popular and mass produced interchangeable parts vehicle there is. Of course from an automaker I've chosen to stick with for many years knowing the systems & other functions etc. A 2001 F150 5.4L 2v 4x4 truck was the winner found on CL for $600 that had not been messed with in any way. I was amazed how many parts are available for these and endless supply of anything you would ever need in the junk yards to pick from there.

[@billymasoner3735]

The 5.4L Triton engine is also Ford’s biggest lemon and problem engine from a reliability standpoint.

[@stoneshrink]

You might be the only person that has ever said the word "winner" in the same sentence as "Triton".... that said, if it works for you, you're winning... I just don't have that kind of willingness to take that level of risk.

[@LAactor]

There is a reason the monniker Furd is given since it's a tu*d. Especially with that 5.4 and why they're Found On Road De*d

[@clutch5sp989]

@@stoneshrink Mine is a 2001 5.4 2valve. It seems to be very reliable with 80k and LTFT hover around +-2%. If it breaks, I'll know how to repair it.

[@JooshDontKnow]

around the time this video was released, i picked myself up a 2001 Toyota Celica GT for $600 that only had a few misfires. Is currently my daily with me just topping off the oil every once and a while and after changing coil packs & spark plugs

[@Hakkapell]

There are still $1000 beaters, or even less... But you have to be VERY picky, and they'll almost certainly have some mechanical issues that need to be dealt with. Just this year I've purchased two, one that I sold and one that I've keep as a permanent hooptie.

[@HAL-dm1eh]

This is great for the video and all but something like this would have to be towed home which would be up to $500 even if it was local. From what I've also learned is this kinda deal is if you know someone who knows someone who hasn't advertised it yet and you get it before they do. Not knocking your videos though they are great.

[@johnmccree8941]

You do good work. Learnt working on cars for the like of doing it... and love of cars/vehicles. Don't know it all but... maintained my own and helped others. LOL 😁...I myself would have replaced the fuel pump... while it was looking at me. Live in Mt Vernon Illinois... salt just as bad.

[@jeffreyevens2033]

Great find, nice work. It is criminal when you see the damage salt and calcium chloride cause. New vehicle see em out all winter. Not for me, 95 s10, $650. in 2014. Cool channel, new sub.

[@theredscourge]

Now it just needs a giant airbrushed head of Jean Claude Van Damme on the hood and some stenciling on the back reading "Jean Claude" just above the "Grand Am" emblem.

[@tjnucnuc]

Funny growing up in Indiana these Pontiacs were EVERYWHERE. I’ve yet to see ANY on the west coast. Maybe in my five years on the west coast I’ve seen 3. You still see them chooching in the north east and Midwest and you know they are held together by rust.

[@laboye]

My first car was a beater 93 Camry 2.2L. Had a ton of little things like this that I actually *loved* solving. Window regulators, lights, switches, distributor, radiator, alternator among other things. Everything was pretty decent until some rear-ended the hell out of it. :(

[@7eis]

Pretty neat how they put plastic beautipanels on the rockers so they can be rebuilt with angle iron and self tappers (not that I'd ever do something like that😅) without showing your fix to other motorists.

[@moderate3]

You made this big job look very easy. Shop for fuel line replacement probably would charge 1500 just for the labor.

[@redneckbryon]

Too bad it’s not the 3.8 Supercharged Engine. Be cool to take a clean Grand Am, LS it and make it a sleeper. Where was the supposed fire damage??

[@vee5222]

Yea this video is not for a dyi home guy at all. Not many have spare parts everywhere or a garage to work on this which mean there is no reliable cars for less than 1000$- getting this done by a shop even if purchased at 500$ would increase the cost way above 1000$

[@Jonathan11225]

Hahah funny Video, on sunday i will pick up a beater also,A 2012 Chevy Sonic for a 1000$ CAD, the car haven't move for the past 2 years and mice jave been living in it 😅 the car runs but rear drums are locked solid,need brakes all around,battery exhaust, a good cleaning and so on, i just bought a brand new 2024 Trax ang i want to keep it for a really long time so a beater for the winter os the way to go

[@ApolloTheDerg]

Never watched you before but I’m glad I found this video. Love the humor, oem dirt had me dying.

[@2koolchris291]

I can say yes. I have around 1000 in my ford ranger 1200 if you count the fluid change after a motor swap and the ball joints after I drove it awhile. I don’t have really much into it