1997 3000 GT VR4

My new car of choice. I recently traded my '94 3000 GT for this '97 3000 GT VR4. One awesome car. Plenty of horsepower, a great shifting 6 speed transmission, loaded with all the luxuries but a power top. Below I will detail what this car is. Definitely a keeper. 

I was at my dealership getting my 1994 3000 GT serviced. I wondered onto the lot to look at a new 2000 Eclipse. One of the sales guys came out and started talking with me. One thing lead to another, and he said they had a low mileage '97 VR4 on the lot, he asked if I'd ever driven one? I'd never even sat in one. I figured a 220 hp 3000 GT was all the car I needed.  If I drove a VR4 I would know what I was missing, or something like that. Anyway, he got the keys and off we went. I was real impressed with the car and the difference in the handling. The leather interior was real nice, too, with the 10 CD Infiniti player. We got back to the dealer ship and he asked me what I thought. I said "make me an offer." My car and what? How about replacing the pitted chrome wheels, new all weather tires, the 30,000 mile service, fix the single-play CD, & detail it with new floor mats. He got the ok and I was the proud owner of a VR4. Click here for more pictures. 

So how fast is this car? Its fast. They tell me it will do 110 mph is third gear. Let's just say it will throw you back in the seat when you step on it regardless of the gear. One of my wife's teacher friends asked me for a ride at a birthday party the day after I got the car. I asked her if she wanted the "grandmother ride" or the "Oh my God" one. She laughed. I took her down the street a few blocks. At a stop sign, I took off in first gear and hit second. She squealed like a little girl. Yeah, its fast, real fast.

3000 GT - BASE:

Interior:

 4-passenger seating capacity
 6-way adjustable front bucket seats with memory recline
Sport knit upholstery with knit bolster
Leather-wrapped steering wheel/manual transmission shift knob/parking brake lever
Passenger area cut pile carpeting
Cargo area carpeting
Cloth insert door trim with carpeted lower section, carpeted floor mats Dual bi-level heater/defroster with variable speed fan
CFC-free refrigerant air conditioning with manual controls
Power windows with one-touch driver's auto-down feature
Power door locks with one-touch keyless locking
Electric rear window defroster with timer
Height adjustable steering column
Full-function cruise control
Courtesy lamps for: dome/trunk/map/doors/glove compartment
Rear cargo cover
Center console with storage areas/cup holders/coin holder/armrest Remote hood latch release & remote fuel door and trunk lid releases, Dual sun visors with vanity mirrors
Driver and front passenger air bags
3-point seat belts for all passengers
Full instrumentation (includes 160-mph speedometer, 7000 RPM redline tachometer, fuel level gauge, oil pressure gauge, coolant temperature gauge, trip meter, voltmeter)
Warning lights (includes engine check, brake system, low oil pressure, low fuel, door/trunk ajar, charging system, low coolant, warning chime [ignition key])
4-spoke sport steering wheel
Steering column mounted controls (includes headlamps, high/low beam, flash-to-pass, turn signals, windshield wipers, cruise control)
Rear window wiper/washer
Instrument panel controls (includes panel lamps dimmer, trip meter reset, hazard flasher, heater ventilation, fog lamps, rear window defroster), Digital quartz clock in stereo

Mitsubishi/Infinity audio system (includes AM/FM cassette with graphic equalizer, 8 speakers, separate amplifier) Power and diversity antenna ETACS IV (includes variable intermittent wipers, flash-to-pass, anti-theft system [if equipped], fade-out dome lamp, ignition key lock-out, seat belt warning timer, rear window defogger timer, 30-second delay power window, exterior lights auto-off),  Side- impact door beams

Exterior

Color-keyed bumpers
Color-keyed rear spoiler with high mounted stop lamp
Bright sport dual exhaust outlets
Tinted glass, halogen headlamps with auto-off and flash-to-pass, Projector fog lamps
Power remote side view mirrors (dual aero-type)
Convex right side view mirror
Upper windshield shade band, 

4-wheel ventilated disc brakes
16 x 8 aluminum alloy wheels with locks
 225/55R16 V-rated steel belted performance radial tires

Engine

3.0 liter SOHC V6 engine with MVIC
Electronic multi-point fuel injection
Automatic valve lash adjusters
Roller-type cam followers, 

Stainless steel dual exhaust system
5-speed manual transmission with overdrive
Strut-type independent front suspension
Multi-link independent rear suspension
Power assist rack and pinion steering
On-board diagnostic system (OBD II)
Color-coded under hood service item identification.

3000 GT SL (in addition to or instead of 3000 GT equipment):
7- way adjustable driver seat with 5-way power adjustments
Leather front seating surfaces
Cloth insert door trim with lower carpeting deleted
Auxiliary 12-volt power outlet
Steering wheel mounted audio controls
Anti-theft system
Remote keyless entry with Panic
Dual sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Security system with panic feature
Electric side view mirror defroster.

3000 GT VR-4 (in addition to or instead of 3000 GT SL equipment):
Automatic climate control with CFC-free refrigerant and electric pictograph display
180-mph speedometer
Turbocharged boost gauge replaces voltmeter
Active aero system front air dam extension and rear spoiler
18 x 8.5 chrome plated aluminum alloy wheels with locks
245/40R18 Z-rated steel belted performance radial tires

VR4 Twin Turbo V6 Double over head cam engine

3.0 liter DOHC V6 engine with twin turbochargers and twin intercoolers rated at 320 horsepower Engine oil cooler Getrag 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive Double wishbone type rear suspension Four-wheel steering (4WS) Limited slip rear differential Full-time AWD with VCU and center differential.

This particular VR4 has a DIS low restriction  air cleaner that increases the air flow and the horsepower by another 15 for a total of 335 hp. It has a state of the art alarm system.

The speedometer goes to 180 mph. Even though I have not tried to see if I can bury the needle, it will do 110 mph in third gear with 3 more gears to go. Wonders what a couple of turbo chargers will do.

What's a 1997 GT 3000 VR4 cost new?

GT24-T Hatchback VR-4 2-Dr 6-speed Manual
Invoice = $37,371
MSRP = $45,580
Destination Charge: $470

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