I'm sure this is the wrong forum, but I'm going to ask anyway.

I'm having constant wiring problems and crap with my 'maro and I'm seriously considering selling it and buying a '95 Trans Am convertible. The Trans is black w/grey stripes and a black interior. The top needs new weatherstripping, there are three fingernail sized chips in the paint on the front bumper, and it was a daily driver so the interior has had a good beating, (and smells like a tobacco processing plant). The exhaust has been replaced, now has flomasters and no cats.

It belongs to a friend of my mother's, and this woman's husband is a car fanatic, he has a 1940 ford stepside and a 70-something trans am, both in excellent condition. So although they both drive the hell out of this car, he has kept the motor and tranny quite healthy. She let me drive it, and I made him come along, (she was running their tanning parlor or I would have asked her), we took it out on the freeway and he told me to rag it out a few times. spit those things are throttle-responsive, and the tight-ratio power steering box is hella sexy. Well unlike my abused camaro, it runs like a charm. (Although, like I said, the interior is crap). They want $3,600 for it. I thought about $600 to fix the leaky top.

Would this be a mistake? I can live with chipped paint and a crap interior, i just need something to get me to and fro from college without shutting off along the way.... (and having a 350 instead of a 305 is appealing too).

 

sounds like a good price, how many miles on it?

the only thing i dont like is that its an convertible.

 

yea, I'm not a real big convertible fan either, but is it a good deal?? With the neccesary top work and all??

 

whoops, didn't see the first line of your post. Sorry bout that.

Miles... dunno, prolly heckuva lot. The woman got it new, and its been their daily driver ever since.

 

The average person drives around 32,000 KM a year. So if its a 95 you have 7(32,000) which is 224,000 KM. In miles that would be around 139,000 (224,000 *.621). Even if it is a 95 if the mileage is anywhere near accurate that is quite a bit for the mechanical components of the car. It means that long term you'll have to look at repairs. I'm going to guess that you'd have to take a very good look at the inner & outer tie rod ends, ball joints, wheel bearings and suspension components to start with. Then I'd look at regular maintenance items like the serpentine & timing belts, tuneups etc. If the car has anywhere near that mileage it should have had the timing belt replaced by now. (Its actually recommended about every 100Km's). If it hasn't thats probably one of the first things you'll have to do and it isn't cheap. Usually 4-6 hours labor depending on the engine plus the belt itself. I'd suggest having a mechanic check over the car for you before you buy it and insist on seeing maintenance receipts. If it hasn't been done regularly it will cost you more than its worth.

[edit - just reread the fact that this guy is a car fanatic and has kept it in good shape. I'd still ask to see receipts and ask him what has been done on the car.]