Scotty,
Knowing that you are not a GM fan, I would like to know which ones might be on the acceptable list. Specifically, what are any issues you know of with the 2000-2005 GM sedans (Bonneville, LeSabre, etc.) with the 3.8L engine? Also, Chevy/GMC trucks pre-2006 without the active fuel management, and the Chevy Astro/GMC Safari vans with the 4.3L V6?
Thanks!
You're talking about decades-old vehicles. The way they've been treated and maintained over that time is going to be the determining factor and even if still in good condition you can expect to deal with age-related problems over time. In particular all the rubber parts will be deteriorating, wiring and sensors can be expected to experience problems, and pre-1996 models lack OBD2 which means many mechanics will not want to work on them. (If you're going to be working on it yourself driving a vehicle whose age is measured in decades becomes a much more feasible proposition.)
Scotty has mentioned that the GM 3.8 engine is quite good but tends to be paired with weak automatic transmissions. Be sure to have a good mechanic give any vehicle you are seriously considering a thorough inspection before purchase.
