LTL_DMON

iTrader: (1)

It was a few months after my 22nd birthday when I got my 86 T/A.... I still have it, trying to get it ready for the road.

CamaroHawke

23. My first and to date, only car. I got mine in Hickory, NC, where it had spent most of its life. Paid $1700 for it with bald tires. That was knocked down from $1800. "Fun" story behind that...the lot had literally just gotten the car the day before I test drove it, so they hadn't had time to put new tires on or new tailpipes. Well, I loved the car and its "issues" seemed fairly benign (broken mount and it died sometimes at intersections)...I can't really explain it. I'd test-driven several others and just "knew" it was the "one" for me.

So, I put money down and the salesman said to come back in two days, after he'd replaced the pipes and gotten new tires. I showed up two days later with cash in hand. The new pipes were there and gleaming, but the tires were still bald. The salesman gave me this line of "Oh, we got swamped with business and didn't have time to get the right tires, so we'll knock $100 more off. How's that?" Me being naive at the time, I accepted.

That's when I learned the harsh lesson of custom aluminum wheels. I love my wheels (part of what sold me on this particular Camaro), but the tires that will fit are WIDE and cost around $400-$600 for 4, depending on the brand. Not hard to guess why the salesman was so eager to just knock $100 off....live and learn.

G-reg

iTrader: (3)

28. When they were new and I was 8 or 9 years old there was a guy up the road that had a dark blue 85-90 that I told my parents I wanted someday. Don't know the exact year, just the shade of blue and that it had "iroc-z" on the side! 10 years later, I was 17 and buying my first car, I found a teal RS that I really wanted to buy, but since I was living at home my parents had the final say, and their word was "no sports cars with big V8 engines". So that ended that. Then last year I was looking through some ads and saw the blue camaro I wanted years ago, had some extra space in the garage so I got it. I've only driven it once though (home!), pulled it in the garage and stripped it completely apart. I should be done by next spring.

On a side note.. I still haven't told my parents about it I want to just show up with it at their house when its done. I had to bite my lip earlier this year, I took a trip with my dad and we drove past a chevy dealer that had a new 2010 dark blue camaro, almost the same color sitting up on one of those display pedestals and he said "I remember when you always talked about getting a camaro that color." I LNOL'd. (laughed not out loud.)

JTNKTZ

iTrader: (10)

First real thing I bought with my money was a 1991 Camaro RS with a 350. Paid 1500 for it than 6 months later pulled a loan from my dad for a 89 convertible for 2500. All my cars are now paid off. And who ever asked about insurance, I pay 125 a month with highest liability but no comp and collision. That's with both my camaros.

bakes85

I got my 1985 trans am 3 days after my 14th bday, payed with all my own money and have been working on it since. I am now 15 and a half. someone said about a lot of us being young when we first got our thirdgens, and i think its the greatest thing i have ever done. because before I got the car, i was clueless on how to work on cars and stuff. now im doing engine, electrical and body work on it, mostly by myself. so its quite an accomplishment.

ecalderon

I Got mine wen i just turned 19! i bought it a week after new years eve and for only 2000.00! i was so happy, it was love at first sight lol. 9 months later its running strong with new upgrades and a mean look!

wesley_pontiac

i was 20 and in tech school wen i bought my 86 firebird.

goomaan

iTrader: (2)

I was 20 when I got my1983 Berlinetta in 1989 and then 21 when I bought my 1990 RS brand new. (Traded the Berlinetta in) RS was stolen and destroyed in 1995.

BlueMagicSS

I got my first thirdgen when I was 15, and my second at 18, sold both of them when I bought my 2000 a month before I turned 19. Got my third a couple months ago at 22

jdrs89

worked four long summers building fence and got mine bak in febuary of this year im 16 now bin workin for 1 since i was 12 lol jst took the 305 out now and finishing the 355

P-ROC

iTrader: (2)

I was 23. My brother bought a 84 Z28 that caught fire and I wanted it as soon as I saw it so I traded him my toolbox for it. A week later I bought an 84 Z28 HO that was totaled and combined the two cars to build my beast. I drove it daily and loved it. The sad thing is, I worked at a body shop as a parts changer and never painted my own ride because I never felt like working on cars after I got done with everyone else's rides.

MotorMouth

I bought my '92 when I was 29 also in Hickory, NC. I've had this car longer than any car I've ever owned, going on 11 years.

theimpaler68

iTrader: (1)

i got my 88 at 21 years old for $300 in running condition. got the 86(wifey's car she was 22) at 24 traded a 02 cougar and some extra money. insurance both cars full coverage both drivers with comp and collision $98 a month. i am 28 now. i also had a 84ta parts car a few months a go that i got for $300 no drivetrain. parts going to better the 88.

puma1552

iTrader: (1)

got mine a few months after I turned 15, still have it at 26. Love it to death.

Maverick H1L

iTrader: (8)

Paid $800 for my 194,676 mi 87, with bad front tires and an SES light that wouldn't shut off, getting about 12 MPG, 12 hours before my 18th. I should have known at the time I got ripped off, but I ended up paying the schmuck another $200 two months later. Anyways, got a tool set for my birthday and ended up going outside to replace the heater control valve that had broke on the way home . That was 1. Six months later, the engine blew, that was 2. My dad had the engine replaced for my 19th (195,239.7), and found out six months later the trans was on it's way out, that was 3. Dropped the T5 in at 21 and 213,831, and now she's sitting, an almost completely empty shell (only engine, trans, and front suspension left), me at 25, and the car at 247K, because the schmuck described above messed up body work. Got to keep her going another 2 years so she can have her 25th... Gets 30 MPG highway with a code 45, though... Over the last 7 years, I had one other car I actually owned, a 93 Grand Prix, and had possession of a 93 Daytona ES with the 3.0. I miss the GP for the winter, but I wouldn't trade the Raven for either one. She's keeping me sane, making me insane, keeping me outside and busy, teaching me new things, and draining my wallet.

As for insurance, I started out paying $142 a month for just above minimum coverage, and when I turned the plates in last year to pay for the body work, I was paying $70 a month for bare minimum coverage (and 2 tickets, neither in the 87). Ought to be interesting to find out how much the insurance is going to hose me for when I'm done with the restomod and I want as much coverage as I can get .

boston_waterpro

I got my 1986 TA when i was 19 in 1985 18,500 new still have it getting painted now

'87IROCZOWNER69

iTrader: (1)

Got mine two months before I turned 16. I bought it on Februaury 22 of this year. I found it at a dealership in Missouri Valley where some guy had traded it in as a down payment on a new mustang. What is even wierder is the camaro is a 350 and the stang is a V6. So anyway spent over a year looking for cars and only test drove two (the one I purchased being the second one to drive) and I knew I found the car I wanted to keep for as long as I live. Oh and the first was a 92 RS V6 with a rebuilt motor and magnaflow exhaust. He wanted $2500 and I only spent $2200 on my IROC.

Travas

I just recently got my first third gen a few days ago. As soon as I saw I new I would be driving it home. It's an 83 Z28 with the L69 engine and only 76k miles on her. I love this car

90t/aguy

15 and a sophomore i got my 90 trans am, now im 17 and a senior and still own it

SeriousGearhead

This is to you and all the other first time third gen owners out there. Hang on to that car. Even if you gotta buy a $1500 beater to run as a daily driver, you're better off. The regret of selling it just isn't worth it. Third gens specifically have a unique appeal all their own and there really isn't any other car on the road that can compare to them. Just some food for thought.

bdle

I was 15 years old when i bought my 1987 Camaro IROC-Z28 which was two years ago. Now im 17 years old, with a full license since Feb. and im loving it

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

it became my car this year as im 17, but ive technically had it my whole life and it was intended to be mine since i was born

87rocred

I was 19 when I traded a Mitsubishi pickup truck for an 82 z28 with a crossfire fuel injected 305. I loved that car real dissapointed with myself when I got rid of that.I am 42 now and have an 87 IROC all original and but needs a paintjob.I will never get rid of this one.

jharrison5

I was 19 and it was the first car where only my name was on the title. Seems stupid now but it was a big deal to me back then. Drove it for two years until it got rear ended.

transaman84

I was 16 and i bought my 84 T/A from my dad for 800 and since then i got the body repainted and got the front end fixed up real nice since it was smashed when i bout it and i am 20 now i dont think i will ever get rid of it unless i buy the exact same thing but with t tops

Manic Z

iTrader: (1)

Got mine about 11 years ago, when I turned 20. Car got me through college.
Bought it off a guy for $3000. He was selling it cause he needed the money to fight his wife during the divorce, plus he didn't want to see the car end up in her hands.

///DAN///

iTrader: (1)

my grandmother bought a 84 z28 new in 84 when i was 6 I loved it since she brought it home I bought it from her a year and a half ago.

ian1320

My first 3rd gen was a white 85 firebird with a 305 and a 700R4. I was 19 and i payed $500 for it.

Brendan91Z

True that.. I got rid of my first third gen which was a 87 Bird which I had in my family since I was very little, I loved that car to death and I had to get rid of it.. I have a 91 Z28 now and I'm keeping this one forever...

z28maro91

I got my '83 z28 and the beginning of my senior year, then after graduation I traded my beat monte carlo for an '85 iroc. Im 20 now and still have both, but only the '85 is on the road.

1988CamaroSC

iTrader: (2)

i bought my 85 ta when i was 14 for 3000 dollars and about 82k....fixed it all up and had a killer ride when i turned 16. worked many hard summers for that ride....then i was stupid and sold it to a mature man who stuffed it into a tree a week later and i was in tears.....went about a year without one then saw this 88 camaro sitting on the side of the road for about 2 or 3 months, finally i stopped it was a fully loaded sport coupe gfx etc beautiful car NO rust 70kmi only problem was the 2.8. got it for 2000 fixed that all up drove it for 2 years as a toy car so to speak....dumped it for a sled. regretted it....about 3 weeks ago i was at the adirondack nationals in lake george and saw the maro all done up with a 350, BEAUTIFUL glad she went to a good home. i got the itch and bought the 88 firebird i currently have now about 2 weeks ago. i am not getting rid of this one this time....i regretted it both times lol...btw im 24 now

1sckrs

i was 16 when i got my 84 camaro berlinetta needed alot of work. fixed it up but never got chance to put it on the road bc when i was 17 i got my 91 rs that i currently still have at 22 and plan on fully restoring when i get the money

jayjay23

i was 15 i had a 92 rs v6 with a bad trans. put lt1 with new trans and it was the most fun i had in a car till i got the 67. and really the 92 was cheaper and so was parts so it was still more fun. i could drive fast, be stupid, and not worry about anything

flrtin1

First and still current one lol I was 23...... factory ordered it in in Nov 84, was delivered to the dealership on the 21st of April 85.

Bobby Suth

iTrader: (2)

I was 52 when I got a 86 bird but 21 when I gave 500.00$ for a 1970 rs camaro with a built 350 4 speed hurst comp shifter,4:11 rearend and holly 4 barrel

thatolthing

I was 26,(1990) when I bought my 1986 Trans Am, My wife and I went on our first date in it in 1997, we drove it home from our wedding in 2004, and I won my 2nd
trophy in a car show last year. She's all original except the paint......

TMFK

My 85 Z-28 was bought new for my older brother in nov 1984. It was passed down to me 9 years later (when i was 15). When I got it, it was a bone stock tpi 305- been modding it ever since.

Tobias05

My 87 was my first car almost 7 yrs ago. i've put too much time and money into the rusty old thing.

Then I got smart and bought a low miles 99 z28.

Now, I don't know what to do with myself. haha...

RSFreak

Got my first 3rdgen in '90 when I was 20. It was a very well maintaned '82 SC. I've had 10 Camaros since then and one Firebird.

FelixKrull

In 1990, when I was 14, my father bought a 1986 black and gold Trans Am to give to my brother as a first car. Well, my brother is crazy and didn't want it but I loved it so my father kept it for me when I became old enough to drive when I turned 16 in '92. Well, I loved this car but I was a very inexperienced driver, particularly with a V8 rear-wheel drive car.

Fast forward to a late summer day in 1992. I was driving along US 19 in Pinellas County, Florida and decided to pull a U-turn. Well, it was a pretty gray day and it had been raining lightly all morning long. I was sitting in the turn lane when I saw an opening in the oncoming traffic and hit the gas. As I attempted to straighten out the car and put some distance between myself and the oncoming cars, the rear end lost traction and I spun around like a top 180 degrees and took a head on collision from an oncoming car at 55 mph.

I am lucky to be alive because I wasn't wearing my seatbelt. The right front end of the car took the brunt of the impact. The collision spun the car around again until it came to a rest in the median. The insurance company decided to total the car. The last time I saw it was in some lot where the tow-truck had taken it. I think we went down there to get some stuff out of it, but can't remember.

Anyway, I have regretted losing that car for the past 18 years. There was just something about it that I've never been able to re-capture in any other car I've owned. One of these days I'm going to own another '86 Trans Am. If for no other reason than to re-capture that little piece of being 16 that these cars will always hold for me.

VasQuez9

I was 15 when my dad gave me my 82 berlinetta camaro, its really cool because im the second owner.

Z2887

I think I was 21 when I got my 87 GTA. Then at 23 I got a 82 pace car. Then at 26 I got a 84 Z. Then I was I believe about 31 when I built my reg brown '86 V6 into an 11 second daily driven 383. Loved that car. Now I have a 87 Z28. Im building a 355 for it as we speak.

FelixKrull

Tell me about it, I've regretted wrecking my '86 Trans Am for 18 years.

watajob

iTrader: (29)

43

89_iroc_z

My first car I bought myself was an 89 iroc-z with the 350 tpi in it when I was 18

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

Two years ago in July 4th that day i celebrated by doing a burnout with it since there was a lot of smoke already because of the fireworks and got it for $1000 with $500 in audio system and new spare tires.

iluvmy91camaro

13. Bought the car off ebay. Picked it up from the guy in detroit for 900. v6 with a knock and didnt run. Put a battery and relay in it and it fired right up. Started the restoration (which originally was a 350, t-5 conversion) pulled the carpet and i could put my boot through the floor! Just turned 16 and its a bare shell with an 8 point cage in it and a custom 4 link

Brennan

my truck dont slow me down at all, in fact my truck could probably kick the maros *** towin a trailer!
i was 17 when i got my z. im 21 now and i still own it and plan on being buried in it.

johnnyride

iTrader: (3)

I was 23 when I bought a new 1986 IrocZ in January, 1986. I remember test driving it in the snow in Pittsfield, MA. Since then, I've owned a Contempo, an Autoform Convertible Z28 and my current Contempo Cantara GT.

GREEK BANDIT

My dad gave me his 86 firebird when i turned 16, pretty much the greatest day of my life until last week when i bought an 87 iroc. im 18 now and i got two beautiful rides and i plan on adding to the collection