Big&BadGTA

iTrader: (1)

Not my car, but WOW... Nice shape for one looking for something that appears original.

https://annapolis.craigslist.org/cto...993129599.html

topduarte

iTrader: (8)

That would be a neat daily driver down here in Texas.

Jenkins

Looks clean. Nice low mileage early 3rd gen. I had an 82 with around 40k miles on it a few years back. It was also super clean, but, the 3 speed auto and 14 in wheels did not make for a fun ride. Comfortable, but, not fun. lol

swamp2

It's depressing to see something so clean be so cheap. Seems like any clean original 3rd gen with 39k should be worth a lot more than $4200. I'm original owner of a red '83 TA 5 speed LG4 with 61k and there's no way I'd let it go for anywhere close to that.

ray jr

iTrader: (2)

i just sold this 83 trans am with 33k miles this year for around 6,000 and let me tell you they are a hard sell .. car was in excellent condition and had the 305 with the 5 speed and 3.73 gears ..

swamp2

Pretty discouraging. Mine looks exactly like that with 2x the miles. I'm not really in that big of a hurry to get rid of it, having owned it from new - but my 92 year old dad recently gave his original owner '84 Vette, and I really don't need 2 old impractical cars. I'd mentally set a threshold of 6,500 to sell it - based on what I'm seeing I'm not even going to try for now. Doesn't cost me much to hang on to it, maybe values will creep up. I'd read something on Hagerty within the last year suggesting 3rd gen Firebirds would be a good investment, but I guess nobody else read the article!

I still like the clean uncluttered lines of the early ones better than anything that followed. Yeah, so it's a bit of a dog. That could be easily fixed if I really cared, but at this point I thought it would be better to leave it as an original survivor.

ksr

Still a great looking car. But the 3rd gens improved so much over time, both in performance and build quality.

Still, you'd think an '82 would go for more. A pretty historic piece.

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

I love the early Thirdgen Camaros and I like Firebirds as a whole more than I do Camaros. But... 82-84 weren't their best years, never cared a lot for em. The cars got much better looking in 85 with the new rear spoiler. The nose on the 82-84s just never looked as good to me either. Combine that with TPI cars coming on in 85 and I suppose that's the reason the early Firebird weren't as popular. That's kind of my take on it. In saying that the car Ray Jr had for sale here a while back was such a clean example and combo of red and black stick car.. I would have loved to have it. Just not a good looking model as 85-91 though for sure.

swamp2

I'm seeing the same story with the '84 C4 Corvette I inherited. It's regarded as pond scum as far as Vette's go, despite being first year of the first major redesign of the car. Most Vette people say to stay away - they don't like the Crossfire injection, lots of build quality problems. The 4+3 transmission is wonky. Whatever. Handles great and even though it's rated at only 205 HP, it's pretty fun to drive due to the torque. Since it was dad's car, I'm just going to hang on to it and enjoy it. Although I must profess I am planning a few "easy" performance mods to it (timing, manifold porting, 1.6 rockers).

Jenkins

That's true about the 82 thirdgens and the 84 Vette being first year models after a major redesign. I think early thirdgens get more support than the 84 Vette. I have a 91 Vette and can vouch that nearly everyone in the Corvette community feels that's the one year to avoid. I agree that they don't like the Crossfire engines and that being the main reason to stay away from the 84s.

swamp2

It just seems a little harsh to damn the car primarily on it's intake system - given that upon release, the 84 Vette was world class in handling, braking, and yes - performance. My dad's Crossfire system has been problem-free throughout it's 35 years and 85k miles. Still works perfectly fine today. The performance restrictions with the intake are well understood and easily correctable for very modest cost. Personally, I think it's kinda cool to have a "one year only" model.

Are crossfire 3rd gens looked upon with the same contempt?

ksr

I see a lot of criticism of the C4 overall, the entire model run. Maybe it's just a bit too new for some collectors. Personally it's one of my favorite Corvettes. That and the C7. The C4 was revolutionary and still looks fresh.

I'm also just not an old Vette guy. For me, I can appreciate some of the older ones, but they really begin in 1984 for me.

topduarte

iTrader: (8)

The one vette I would consider buying is a 90-95 ZR1 or a 96 LT4.

swamp2

Honestly, I never lusted after them. But now that I have one, I have to say it's pretty fun. And I have to admit, the relatively subtle lines of the C4 have grown on me, and I think have aged well. I had put a set of 18" TSW wheels on the Trans Am but when I was considering selling it, I put the stock 14" wheels back on - and I've moved the 18's on to the Vette. It almost looks modern with those wheels on it. And it's nice to see the bowling ***** back on the TA!

Jenkins

The C4 is at the bottom of the totem pole in the Vette community. With the 84 it's not only the CrossFire, it's also the 4+3 tranny that is, for most, not the combo to look for. The 91 was the last year of the TPI, which is one of the reasons I chose it. With the performance 3.07 rear, it can more than handle itself from stoplight to stoplight. I don't street race, but, have no problem with even most modern cars, given how the torque kicks in at such low rpms. I've driven ones with the lt1 and for the street, they are equal. It really comes down to the rear gears. I've driven some lt1 cars with the base 2.57 rear, and it was not as impressive. The difference is similar thridgens. I've had many TPI cars, both 305 and 350s and with the ecomony rear gears, it doesn't allow the car's potential to come through.

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

I like the C4s but buying a 245 HP L98 or 300? HP LT1 is the way to go. The CFI are only 205HP and have 76cc heads. CFI can be a pain in the butt when things start to go south on them. I've pulled several of these systems off cars back in the day for being headaches.

Jenkins

You're only looking at hp. The l98 with the performance rear had 350ft/lb at low rpms. On the street, it will be at least the lt1's equal. I have driven both and the l98 is a very fun street car and it does not have the opti issue to deal with. Again I'm only speaking of street driving, not quarter mile runs.

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

No argument on the L98s power. The CFI is another story. Ive driven them all and have always thought the L98s had plenty of power but those CFI cars weren't any stronger than a 305 HO car. Ive outran them numerous times in 305 F-bodys.

swamp2

Well, all i know is my CFI Vette is A LOT stronger than my LG4 Trans Am.

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

Yep im sure. LB9 or L69 s are Apples and Oranges compared to the LG4s also. Mid 14 sec cars vs 17 sec cars. Im not gona bash CFI cars here, there are folks it works for and it looks cool. I just think most people pass them by for the later LT1s and L98s and understandably so.

dagwood

iTrader: (5)

Oh yeah, I'm sure it is! The CFI got a bad name due to people not knowing how to make them run right when there were troubles. I've ridden in a few CFI cars that seemed to run REALLY, REALLY strong!

Jenkins

Years ago I knew a guy who had an 84 Vette with the CFI and his ran strong. Mainly stock with rebuilt engine.

swamp2

My '83 TA with LG4 is mostly original. But rummaging through old files, it jogged my memory on a couple things. Per the window sticker, it has 3.73 gears. Also I found an advertising brochure for the "Banks Power Pack Exhaust System" I installed decades ago. It included quotes from Hot Rod "37 1/2% more horsepower and 0-60 times are 1.2 seconds faster!". And from Turbo Magazine "Bolting on this system to a stock LG4 Camaro as shown puts the standard Firebird or Camaro in a performance league with or above the higher priced Trans-Ams and IROCs". I also chipped it back then, maybe was an ADS Super Chip?

Anyway, so my LG4 probably isn't as doggy as a completely stock one. But my lowly CFI Vette will still leave it for dead...

Jenkins

The LG4 in my 84 TA is stock with 3.27 or 3.23 gears, whichever they came with. The engine feels like a regular passenger car engine, which it basically is, from back then. The our Vette's are lighter and have 350s in them. I'm not surprised your 84 will easily outrun a LG4, even one lightly modded.

swamp2

I have to say, I'm enjoying my TA lately. It's been sick for a while, had a mouse nest in the snorkel, bad TPS, bad MAP, stuck open thermostat. All fixed now and running great. It is kinda cushy riding compared to the Corvette and certainly doesn't handle as well, but it's a comfortable ride and I like the shifting of the 5 speed in the TA over the 4+3 in the Vette.

Jenkins

I just replaced my thermostat because mine was stuck closed. I hear you. My TA is much more easier to drive than my Vette. The Vette feels like a powerful go-cart. Makes it super fun, but, nowhere near as comfortable.

92GTA

iTrader: (11)

I've been lusting after an all original CFI '82 Recaro Trans Am for 20 years. I also have a thing for the '84 15th Anniv cars, I had one but sold it because it was an auto, wanted a manual.

Someday when the right ones come around for the right price in the next couple of years I may buy them.

Other than that, lessor models/trims on 82-84 cars can be very difficult to move for a good price.