Best Allante to buy?

[gkauf12447]

I just posted my 1993 Pearl Red Allante in the classifieds section. Will upload pictures this weekend.
Gary

[Catera V]

Hi, this is a great thread. I am pleased with the amount of knowledge that the many owners have. I was the Allante lead development engineer thruout the life of the car. A case can be made for selecting many variants of the car. In my mind the most collectible car is the 93 with the Northstar. It is too bad the car was stopped for economic reasons (GM was bleeding red ink at the time.) We had the 94 ready to go with power soft top, revised interior, more structure, revised chassis tuning and more overall refinement. A little known fact is that about the last 300 -93 cars were built with the structure enhancements and revised tuning because the 94 bodies were already in the line when the car was cancelled. The easiest way to tell if you have one of these is that the upper half of the body mounts were urethane (Yellow brownish in color). As a road going pleasant sport touring car my choice would be the 91-92 car because by that time most of the cars problems had been addressed as we contiued to refine the car each year. My advice would be to find a well cared for car that fits the price range that you can afford and enjoy it! Catera V

[krivon]

I just found this site and have learned a lot about my '92 Allanté already. I've had the car about 3 years, and enjoy it a lot. I joined the Allanté Owner's Assoc. shortly after buyin the car and learned that my VIN indicated the car originally came with a hardtop (has an R, not an S). After searching some on eBay, I found one the right year & colors (Black/charcoal). I think it's the original one for my car, since '92 was the lowest production year (less than 2000) due to the '93 Northstar being introduced early in the year in order to be the Indy Pace Car.
Anyone reading this thread and looking to buy an Allanté will of course have decide on their own, but I do love my Recaro seats. Besides the "Monsoon" stereo I've heard in VW Beetles, I've not heard any other factory system that sounded any better. Not to say they don't have problems, but AllantéSource.com is a GREAT resource for keeping costs down on maintaining these Italian "exotics"!!
By the way, both my glove compartment and console have locks. I do miss a place for a cup. The somewhat difficult (but very compact) top mechanism, along with the price that came from the longest production line in history, with 2 Atlantic flights involved, probably were responsible for the demise of these essentially hand built cars. Too bad that '94 didn't make it, and the retractable hardtop model I've found online would probably have saved the line.
Looking forward to more comments here.

[Bob Rich]

Stealth:

93 active struts are expensive, but still available.
The V4J 93's have a fully baffled fuel tank.
Both the painted and chrome 93 wheels have metal center caps.
93s have a fully integrated traction control.
The Allante Northstar systems are rated at 295 HP.

[rickyc]

Is Teal Green the same as Polo Green on the '93? If not, how many Polo Green?

[Allantesource]

No, teal is a different color. About 150 teal green were produced in 1993, versus 960 polo green.

[Kcryan]

Just to point out one of many things that i could in this thread, in reguards to the N* vs. the 4.5, and the bose. first the bose is an easy fix and sounds real good when working, not like todays cars, but not bad at all for the time, i replaced all 4 amps in my car last year not too hard. and as far as i know all parts you need for the 4.5 are still around and readily avaible, dont forget they may still make northstars, but there a completly different engine today than they were in 93, also from what i know they can be semi prone to oil leaks. The 4.5 had been around for many years when the allante got it, and by that time it was a trouble free engine, as was said before if you want to go over 100mph consistently id say go for the N*, but otherwise i think the 92 and earliers are the better choice, esspescially is $$ is a consideration. Just a side note, the techs at my local dealer when i first was talking to them about my car were glad it had a 4.5, because if it ever had a problem as they said those engines are way simpler to work on.

[XLRvman]

Gents thanx for all the information I was able to review on the beloved Allante--I need a summer ride & cannot find a better value--Since my daliy driver has Northstar in it, I want to stay with one so a 93 is for me! I wanted to know if a code can be found and were it is that will tell me if the car has the V4J improvements (last 300). Also do any of u know were I can find one with low miles close by-- I live north of the Windy City--I am ready to buy now and color is not that important other than no teals please!
thanx!
847-217-1976

[im20agn]

I've got a 1993 I'm getting ready to put up for sale it's polo green with tan interior and 34000 miles PM me if interested.

[XLRvman]

please email me at leb714@aol.com the specifics
the site would not let me PM u

Thanx Larry B

[FSU_Noles]

My 93 is always for sale.... 63k miles. Black. See the signature block... email darren@siddled.com for more info.

[Steve174]

Re - your V4J comment.
V4J was not limited to the last 300 cars. As far as I know, more that 1/2 of the 93's have the V4J update. To find out, look under the spare tire in the trunk well at the RPO sticker. If the car is V4J, that's where it will be noted.

I've read a few comments that there were other, mostly suspension related, changes in the last 300 or so cars. Those were buildouts, so I guess it's possible that they got "improved for '94' " parts, but I've never heard of any confirmation of that as fact. I keep that one in the myth category until proven otherwise.

Steve

[Brian Bishop]

I've owned a '92 (new) and two '93's. (Down to one '93). I loved all of them, To argue about which year is 'best' is kinda like trying to decide whether to marry a blonde, brunette or redhead before you meet them! (Allante's are somewhat like women, lots of work - but lot's of fun, they can be demanding, and sometimes they won't talk to you, (or run properly).

I agree that maintenance is the issue. NOT year or miles.

I have seen some 'hanger queens' that were not driven for months, and I'd prefer one that has been driven some, (and maintained), to a low milage car that becomes your worst nightmare. (Kinda like a beauty queen without makeup).

I do track Allante prices, and in my opinion NOW, (May 2006), is the time to buy, as prices are starting to escalate rapidly. Choose the color you like in a well maintained Allante and enjoy the heck out of it. (Just don't forget to change the fluids and buy it a card on your anniversary!)

[4buyers]

93allante5.jpgI have a cheap one in san diego for you, yes, the best year, 1993, 103k miles, no accidents, needs minor tlc

[Stealth]

cant believe this thread is still running ..
suggest you read the 1st page of this thread.

so, again, better? better at what?

like Brian B. said, it is like a woman.
better in the kitchen? in bed? in socials? at sports? etc..
havent met one woman that is better at all those.


from another thread:

Originally Posted by Stealth

i guess i gotta put in my two cents ..
sell the 81 T-Top Vette? is she CRAZY?
never mind that, strike that. let her have both and see what happens.
i know for one, i wouldnt sell a vintage Vette.

buy an Allante, keep the Vette.
which model? the 1992 hands down.
even the Allantesource's Dick super mechanic has done
a turn due to the serious and expensive repairs on the '93's.
he recommends a '92 as myself and many Allante owners do.
and i own a '88.

historically, the '92 was the best of the best - fact, not opinion.

the '93 was the start of a new generation that never got
off the ground and only succeeded in introducing the Northstar.
GM punched out tons of '93's, so they are easy to find,
and lots of owners stand by them.
the '93 in a track, will only run side by side
against a '92, until they hit about 130mph and then the
'93 will move forward. if you need that, then the '93 is the one,
if not, consider the OEM package of each model, consider the
history and cost of repairs and i know which one will win.

one last comment? at 60mph, the '87s to '92s, will stop faster than
the '93s by a couple of car lengths. how much is THAT worth?

the '87s to '92s stop straighter than ANY American car
made prior to 2000.
the '93s are avg at best in stopping.
how much is any of THAT worth?










.

by Allantesource
Aug 30th, 2006

There is a definite reliability gap between the early Northstars and the 4.5's.
Now that GM is not replacing Northstars under warranty, that alone is a real
good reason to opt for a Phase 2. The head bolt problem is expensive to fix,
not to mention the oil leaks and the plenum issues.