Grand National or Sy/Ty?

[TandTy]

Hi all:

Not sure where to post this, but looking for ideas/advice.

I have a Grand National, but lately have been hankering for a Sy/Ty. I know there are a lot of you out there that have/had both. Just curious what the general consensus is. Which is more reliable? Which costs more to maintain/repair? What are the pros/cons of each? What else can you tell me?

I would like to hear it from some veterans. I am only familiar with the Buicks, but I understand the 4.3 is a different animal. The Buick is my daily driver, as would the Sy/Ty that replaces it if I go that route. Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated. What am I looking at here, should I stick with the Buick, or sell it for a Sy/Ty?

Thanks all.

 

[warmpancakes]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

. Which is more reliable? Buick
Which costs more to maintain/repair? sy/ty
What are the pros/cons of each? see above


. The Buick is my daily driver, as would the Sy/Ty that replaces it if I go that route. good luck very few people have had luck with them as daily drivers

 

[blk00z28]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

For a daily driver, stick with your GN/TT. Our trucks are ok as a daily driver, but if you have little problems with the truck then it gets worse. You actually have a trunk to put stuff in, and have more roon in the car vs a single cab truck. Unless you look at a Ty.

I have never owned a GN/TT. But I have friends who have/do, and I've helped work on and build one with a good friend. GN/TT's are easier to work on, and take care of. They make more power cheaper and can run faster with less money involved. :2cents:

 

[JSM]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

stock syty can do ok as a daily. Sys are not as comfortable IMO.

Buick will be more reliable. Different animals really. Stop light to stop light nothing like a syty, but a buick pulls so much different.

Just different cars really.

 

[Wallace]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

Well the way things have been going this year you can pick up a sy/ty cheap.
In my opinion your Buick is cheaper to run and maintain.
I have a GN,TY and just got a SY.
I don't drive my stuff but a had full of times ( had my GN for 14 years and put 3k on it)
I'm not sure why the GN's hold their value more than the sy ty with the GN production numbers being tons more.
If you looking for a daily driver I would stick with the GN JMO

 

[TandTy]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

I would probably be looking for a Ty, because I do like to have a place for things, and I have a couple hoodlums (kids) that may want to venture with me every now and then.

One of the reasons I got thinking about the Ty is the AWD. I live where it snows, and the Buick is just no good in the snow. If I stick with that, I guess I will be wheel/snow tire shopping this year.

Anything specific that makes the Sy/Tys more expensive to maintain? It seems that being newer and with so many S10s available for parts that it would be cheaper.

Also, another newbie question: why do these forums always read from bottom to top? Is there any way to sort them so the oldest post is first?

 

[SYO237]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

Anything specific that makes the Sy/Tys more expensive to maintain? It seems that being newer and with so many S10s available for parts that it would be cheaper.

Also, another newbie question: why do these forums always read from bottom to top? Is there any way to sort them so the oldest post is first?

Cladding, specific engine parts, specific interior parts, ignition, premium fuel, synthetic oil, tuning tools (laptop with tuning program) just to name a few reasons why they are expensive to maintain.

You need to change your settings in your User CP.

Under Setting and Options, click Edit Options. Scroll down to Thread Display Mode and select Linear - Oldest First.

 

[Baythan]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

I would probably be looking for a Ty, because I do like to have a place for things, and I have a couple hoodlums (kids) that may want to venture with me every now and then.

One of the reasons I got thinking about the Ty is the AWD. I live where it snows, and the Buick is just no good in the snow. If I stick with that, I guess I will be wheel/snow tire shopping this year.

Anything specific that makes the Sy/Tys more expensive to maintain? It seems that being newer and with so many S10s available for parts that it would be cheaper.

Also, another newbie question: why do these forums always read from bottom to top? Is there any way to sort them so the oldest post is first?

1. Yep, works for me. It's one reason I got rid of the Sy and bought a Ty.

2. Get it wet and add road salt and it's very likely to rust. Like any other GMC truck from that era. And then it will be ruined.

3. It's not the S10 parts that make them expensive, it's the SyTy specific things and long list of "gonna happen" repairs. Trannies are notoriously weak, cladding is outrageously expensive, turbos can go, suspension will, seals, hoses, etc + what Adam says above. GN's have a list too (rear main seals, o-ring on oil filler, master cylinder, etc.) but not nearly as long a list.

4. see adam above

 

[Wallace]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

Don't buy one if you plan on running it in the winter as a 4 wheel drive truck :banghead:they were not intended for that use.
Buy a pos front wheel drive car for the winter and get the ty for a summer ride.

 

[43t_ftw]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

no wonder the price of these trucks keeps dropping, any time a new person comes on the forum looking to buy one everyone makes it sound like they are the worst trucks in the world and they will blow up the first time you drive them...

on a totaly unrelated note... i wouldn't want one as a daily driver either :lol:

 

[TandTy]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

Thanks, got my threads reading right now (at least for me).

Also, I agree with the rust and that they were not meant to be a 4x4 for the snow, but the Buick stands the same (or better because it is older) chance of rusting. Also, although not meant for that, they would sure get around better than the Buick.

Yes, I am seeing some good deals on these right now, problem is, I will be selling my Buick for less than I would like to compensate. The market on them is soft right now as well.

Also, someone mentioned ignition parts. I am guessing you mean because they need to be replaced so often on these (from what I have gather so far)? Although the Buick does not need to be replaced as often, they are more pricey. For instance, a cam sensor is now over $300 (they were $40 last year). And as far as the scan tools, synthetic oil, etc. I think would be the same between the Buick and the Sy/Ty.

Thanks for all the input. I am still weighing my options. If anyone had a tasty trade I would probably go for it. I think what is keeping me wondering is the fact that I would need to do 2 transactions (sell the Buick and buy the Ty), and I just don't really want to deal with all that right now. I do have cash without selling the Buick, but then I have the extra expense of insuring/storing the Buick.

One more thing: My agent quoted me almost double to inusre the Ty over my Buick. Is that typical for all of you that have/had both?

 

[SYO237]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

and they will blow up the first time you drive them...

There are more than a handful of us who have seen it happen more than once. :rotf:

 

[phoonTy]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

Don't buy one if you plan on running it in the winter as a 4 wheel drive truck :banghead:they were not intended for that use.
Buy a pos front wheel drive car for the winter and get the ty for a summer ride.

I disagree. I daily drove my Ty for 4 years. With a good set of all seasons, it was unstoppable in the snow. I made more than one trip over Wolf Creek pass in 6"+ of snow and never batted an eye. Of course, it doesn't snow in CO as much as people think it does, but it never slowed me down.

You just have to wash your truck as much as you possibly can. :lol:

Back on topic... SyTy's are perfectly capable of being a reliable daily driver... if you leave it alone. If you start poking around for more power, etc, you'll need to get another daily :tup:

 

[Baythan]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

Thanks for all the input. I am still weighing my options. If anyone had a tasty trade I would probably go for it. I think what is keeping me wondering is the fact that I would need to do 2 transactions (sell the Buick and buy the Ty), and I just don't really want to deal with all that right now. I do have cash without selling the Buick, but then I have the extra expense of insuring/storing the Buick.

One more thing: My agent quoted me almost double to inusre the Ty over my Buick. Is that typical for all of you that have/had both?

You might find someone willing to trade a Ty for a GN. (Not me. ) What's the story with your GN? Year, mileage, mods, condition?

Can't comment on insurance...I have had "specialty vehicle" on both and the price was very similar (based on stated value)

 

[phoonTy]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

One more thing: My agent quoted me almost double to inusre the Ty over my Buick. Is that typical for all of you that have/had both?

I have State Farm insurance. They know it's a Typhoon, and not a Jimmy, even though that's what's on the card. State Farm classifies my truck in the same category as a Corvette (ie. sports car) so the insurance is priced accordingly. It's not outrageously expensive, but it's not cheap either... even on my current limited mileage policy. :tup:

 

[vettandtyphoon]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

that picture really makes me nautious.. that ty in the snow. arrggh give me your truck

 

[95xtreme]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

I drove mine from twin cities, MN to Indy and back in a weekend. 1400 plus miles, rolled over to 150,000 on the way down. The entire time nothing happened, truck is all stock and rusty as hell. Countless boost launches, did donuts in a field of every state got home. Then drove to fargo another 250. Basically leave it stock have fun with it and enjoy it.

 

[NCTyphoon]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

One more thing: My agent quoted me almost double to inusre the Ty over my Buick. Is that typical for all of you that have/had both?

I don't see why yours was quoted so much. My Ty is listed as a 93 GMC Jimmy on my policy, the GN is listed as a 86 Buick Regal.This is how State Farm listed mine since day 1 (bought the Ty new) . I pay less than $600/yr for both (liabilty, comprehensive, Medical payments, combined uninsured/underinsured, & of course TOWING!) Unless one is financing a new car or has a appraised value, collision is a waste of $ IMO, you will pay the insurance co back many times over should you use it . Unless you are looking for stated value or appraised value policy, don't know why it would be so different. My GN was totaled in 2001, the othr driver had State Farm as well. I only had to haggle a little and show current resale values to get compensated fairly for the GN, which I bought back from insurance, had repaired and is still a dependable daily driver.
GN is more reliable daily, costs less to repair.
Ty was relaible daily driver for over 12 yrs, no major problems, but lots of normal maintenance items to repair frequently, just got done having motor rebuild and feeling out little "issues", so can't say it's reliable again yet. If you get one stock up on heater cores, starters, idler arms, front end stuff, lol,

 

[Raist103]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

gn is the way to go stay away from sytys. unless you want one of my tys for your gn

 

[Tophatjimmy]

Re: Grand National or Sy/Ty?

Dang, sports car level insurance?

I've got mine with Progressive, made sure they insured it as a Syclone, not a Sonoma and my premium is $38 a month full coverage w/$250 deductable. :tup: