Jason E

I would've thought that owning one IROC, after waiting pretty much my entire life for one, would fulfill my IROC dreams. Apparently, it hasn't I just took the IROC out this evening for the first time this year, and its made me realize how a 3rd gen IROC truly is my favorite car in the world...period. This, coming from someone who has an '11 Challenger RT as a demo, and has a wife with an '04 GTP that would probably walk the IROC 0-60...

So anyway, my new potential plan is to put aside modding the RS further at this point (recent discussions have involved everything from carbing and modding the LO3, to going all-out with a Fast Burn 385 GMPP crate motor), and sell the TA and Z28 to buy another IROC. If I sell the TA for $4,000, and the Z28 for $8,000, with the $2,000 I've set aside so far for painting the TA, I have $14,000 for another mint IROC.

OR...

I sell the Z28 for $8,000, keep the TA, and take the extra $2,000 from the paint fund and buy another IROC for $10,000. As much as I love my Z28, and feel its a better car in most respects, it just doesn't do it for me like the IROC. After 10 years with it, maybe its time to part ways.

So, a couple questions for my fellow third gen gurus...

1) How much more car can I get for the extra $4,000? Is it worth the investment, or should I be able to find a clean, under 30k mile IROC for $10,000 without having to search the ends of the earth? I want the absolute cleanest thing I can find...just like what I have right now. Since buying both the TA and IROC a year ago, I admittedly haven't kept up too much with current pricing. I keep thinking, with $14,000, maybe I can get a decent TTA instead? Never had one...been fascinated by them since they were new.

2) The above poll shows the specific combo IROC I'd like to find...vote for your favorite

And in case anyone was wondering, from my last post about buying another IROC, the guy with the '86 yellow LG4 M5 backed out from selling it...which based on the LG4, didn't make me cry much.

camarosrock1989

iTrader: (1)

Your Iroc you want is not on the list..lol
I say a yellow with black accents 86 Iroc Z28 350 TPI.
Stock, Original, Clean inside and out! That's my dream car.
I have had one just like I described 15 years ago, sold it and have been crying every seens..

puma1552

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, they never built that car...also FYI, '86 IROCs are probably the least desirable, as they were castrated compared to the '85s and then the salt in the wound was getting that ugly third brake light.

Jason, I'm a little confused about some of your choices.

I see no reason to choose the '89 over the '90, not sure why it's on the list. The '90 is more desirable in terms of production numbers, speed density, and 245 hp for the 350. And it has the 'bagged wheel and much nicer dash controls with the old, clean GFX. Everyone has '87-'89 IROCs, but how often do you see a '90? '90 is the pinnacle of thirdgens and likely will be worth a little more than other years as time passes, no bias there. Unless you prefer the older dash, then I'm not sure why the '89 is listed, or at least not without a 350 option (unless that part was an accidental omittance).

For the '85, again why a yellow '85 over a yellow '87?

The '88 could be cool, I can't remember the last time I saw an orange IROC. Post #54 should get your saliva glands going: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1541181

Personally I'd get the '90.

Also, I think you'd need to sell the T/A. You're not going to find a flawless one for $10k.

86rocjoc

Def yellow...black trim....T's a MUST....350
My dream car LOL, but i love my red.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Poor, poor Jason. I see you have the same sickness as me.
What the hell are we going to do?

1) I've always wanted a yellow IROC. My personal preference would be an '85, L-69/M5 with a tan LS Conteur interior. Or the same '85 combo, but silver over red.

2) Or an '88 - orange or gray.

3) Oh....and I've been getting into convertibles lately too.

4) Or pretty much any IROC ('85-'90) with a stick.

puma1552

iTrader: (1)

Also, one thing to keep in mind is diminishing returns; the more you have, the less you'll appreciate each one.

And also, if you have two, even two mint ones, you are constantly going to be comparing the two and finding things on one that aren't as absolutely perfect as on the other and vice-versa...

But as someone wanting very badly a low mile red '90 (my dilemma is coupe or convertible, it's awfully hard to drop that kind of money on a 305 with the 'vert, not to mention the lack of parts available which scares me, but a 'vert is just plain awesome), I understand your position all too well.

Just keep in mind, it's twice the amount of car to wax.

chazman

iTrader: (4)

Very true. I'll add another thing. Although you always want to get the nicest one you can find and afford, it's good to also own one which is very presentable, but not so mint that you'll require therapy if you're caught in a rainstorm.

camarosrock1989

iTrader: (1)

Hey Puma, i read what your saying, but believe me my Iroc was bad A**..
There weren't many cars that could take me 15 years ago. It had the finest tuned motor I have ever driven. And yes that widow light was not all that pretty but with the color and style of that year looked pretty nice! My RS seems to be the least desirable, and I love it!!!
I bet I could take you in my vet! LOL lets do it.

90 camaro cj

thats y i want a v6 firebird to turbo to go along with my TBI camaro RS xD then i wont have hardly anything to compare between the two, especially cuz i want a stick firebird and have an auto camaro

camarosrock1989

iTrader: (1)

That's funny rocjoc, The kid I sold it to said the first thing he was going to do was paint it RED.. The yellow was in perfect condition!

Jason E

Let me explain the choices

1) '89 is a sentimental year for me, as my original RS was an '89. I am NOT sold on the '90s, frankly, in terms of the dashboard. I own both styles, obviously. I always hated the "yellow dash" until I owned my RS...now I like it. But, do I like it more than the "white dash?" 5 years after buying one, I still don't know. I agree that its more modern (the first thing I thought when I got in the IROC last night was "wow, these gagues are big"), but I don't know if I like it better. I do know I think the airbag is ugly

With that said, '90 is definitely appealing from the low-production, last ones angle. The only real negative against a '90 is that I can't get a t-top 350...but seeing as how I already own one, it isn't the end of the world.

2) I picked '85 over '87 because it would be the first year IROC, however I do admit I forgot the fact that an M5 with the 305 started in '85...maybe I need to add that thought to the list?

3) I've seen 2 orange IROCs in my life...I doubt I will be able to find one that will be up to the standards I've set for this idea.

As I was driving mine last night, I kept thinking about how and why these cars were so stupidly popular. These had to be the pinnacle of a GT car for the era. The powerful, lazy torque...the smooth engine...the comfortable seats...the style.

I think I'm more hooked on them now than when I was a kid I hopped in my Challenger this morning, with the gun-slit windows and the hard seats and thought "I'd rather drive my IROC today."

The hardest part of owning it is not adding more miles onto it. I figured keeping the Trans Am would help alleviate that, which it does...but in some ways its not the same. How much more comfortable, in theory, is a GTA? I found a nice '89 with t-tops in Flame Red with grey leather and about 30k on it for $12,500.

Might be worth going to look at...but would I rather have variety, or a second IROC? I understand the theory of diminishing returns

puma1552

iTrader: (1)

The more I look at that orange one I linked, the more I want one; I've never realized they were really that orange in the sun. But, I too have never seen one in person, let alone a MINT one, let alone a 350, let alone under 20k miles, let alone with black custom cloth. If I did find one, I'm sure I'd be paying sticker...of course if you do get an orange one, then you NEED a yellow one to have the matching autumn color pair...and throw in a red one too, since that's a fall color.

Truthfully I've never been a huge fan of the yellow print, because white>>yellow, but I do like the dash design (and the bagged wheel, non-bagged wheels look like something's missing, but I guess that's because I grew up in a 'bagged wheel world) so I still much prefer the '90-'92 dash. The best would be the '90-'92 in white print. The thing I hate the most though, is that it's really hard to find yellow print switches and stuff. White lock switches can be had for a paltry $7 each (NOS), yellow ones run about $70 the times they've popped up on ebay.

Unrelated, in that thread I linked, the guy in post #72 did a great job with his seats--factory style, recovered in better-than-factory leather, without all the ugly factory crimps/wrinkles in the leather (the factory made it look cheap, not plush IMO)...if I can never get a hold of the stock seat material, that's probably a dead-ringer for what I'll end up doing with my seats when interior time comes.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Jesus dude...

Decide what you want to do, and go with it. You don't have to poll the citizens of Thirdgen.org everytime you have a whim.