That's one reason to like the heavy doors! I like them because of the fact that it gives me the sense of security thaat air bags dont. Everytime I get in one of my friends imports I feel like I am on the edge of death with their half inch thick doors.

 

I don't know why everyone hates the lack of cup holders. That was one of my favorite parts of the car. It was built for the enjoyment of driving, not as a mobile living room to get you from A to B. While everyone else read newspapers, watched movies, shaved, drank coffee, and all manner of other bad ideas while behind the wheel, I spent my time driving my car. And it was the most enjoyable car I have ever driven.

Which brings me to my one complaint on third gens. Rust. Ultimately when the carb went, the amount of rust on the car lead to it's pronouncement as dead. The rear shocks had long ago broken through the body. Holes had opened in the floor pan, and door skin. The frame rails looked like they were brought up from the titanic wreck. It was deemed "not worth the money to fix", and so ended my camaro.

Now I am searching for a new one because after 3 years without driving mine, the desire is beginning to overpower my better judgement.

 

I agree with you Vipe. I don't even let anyone drink in my car. I will allow transporting sealed containers of sodas/water/whatever, but drinking is strictly prohibited.

I occasionally break this rule, but its my car and my responsibility if anything happens.

 

Well, I have to admit I drink coffee in my Camaros. I just pin my to go cup between my seat and my gym bag, or my brief case. Works fine. I don't miss having a glove box either. I like the dash as it is without marring the appearance with a glove box.

 

Really all that stuff is funny as hell, but so true! Thanks for the great laugh!

 

my only complaint is when doing slow sharp turns like pulling out of a parking spot, the car stops and you have to tap the gas to get it moving again..

 

Only things I don't like about my car is the lack of sub-frame connectors from the factory so when I go around the a corner and hit a pot hole my car doesn't shoot my car towards the curb. I actually like the no cup holders, as I let a certain few friends drink and eat in my car. Only like fries and a burger still halfway in the wrapper though. I don't really care for the little rattles here and there, but I don;t complain to much since the car is 23 years old lol.

 

Get narrower tires and you won't have that problem.

 

The people who try to smoke in it

 

What I don't like is how the pedals are fairly close together (Ya I have big feet). I also don't like how there isn't much leg room for the driver, which also results in no leg room for the passenger behind me (HAHA). It's hard to get into or get out of. No drink holders, so I place a closed bottle between my legs. But 1 or 2 drink holders would be nice. There a pain to work on. But I'm sure not as bad as a new vehicle, that's for sure. I think that's it.

EDIT: I hate how there is no indecator light for the gear selector. So what I do is put the car in R and slam it back to OD then click one back to D. Still a PITA though.

-Derick

 

I haven't really seen anyone mention how close to the ground these cars are! I have to slow down sooo much when pulling in or out of somewhere really steep. Not a huge problem, its just a big difference between my firebird and my trailblazer lol I love my car though And I'm sure glad I have a cupholder, I feel bad for you guys that don't

 

too many rattles and squeaks (mainly in the doors), not enought room for a good dual exhaust, cat gets in the way of my hydraulic jack, runs too hot because of the lack of a grille or a really good fan setup, can't replace door hinges without cutting and welding, and don't even get me started on the fuel pump access Other than that, I love my Camaro

 

All you ****** who buy sports cars then bitch about how they ride and handle need to understand thats how big-boy cars are supposed to ride. You want a cushy ride, get a bus pass FFS.

Bwaahhahahaha

 

to many interior panels raddling, dash shakes at high speeds over 100 mph, nothing is cheap on 91/92 TA body wise. Cant be ever get alignment perfect

 

Why would you drive around in D?

All you're doing is preventing your car from going into fourth gear, which is kind of retarded. Putting it in "OD" doesn't actually mean it's in OD, it just means it will/can go into fourth gear if it wants/needs to. In other words, "OD" is the normal gear to select for regular driving.

Driving around in D is pretty pointless and unnecessary unless you are towing something.

 

can a thirdgen TOW another thridgen???

 

Never drove a vehicle with OD before...

Guess I'll be going to bed less retarded tonight.

-Derick

 

Or just buy a new sports car... they'll out-handle thirdgens with ease while providing a smooth and comfortable ride.

 

Not always, for instance I have driven my moms Mustang a couple of times (oil changes and such) and while it does deliver a good ride for a sports car it doesnt come close to the handling of my Iroc. I'm not the only one who thinks that though, even she agrees with me!

 

mustangs have a higher center of gravity, and I believe the third gen has a wider track.

 

Its rare to drive another car that out handles a third gen. The 2 click to 2 1/2 steering ratio in our gear boxes are very sensitive. I havent driven another car that handles or turns better than my TA. But im sure there a lot of cars there will.

 

I'd say It's rare to drive another car built between 1982 and 1992 that outhandles a thirdgen. However, I've had two sports cars and a sports sedan made between 2005-2008 prior to the thirdgen and they easily outhandle the car while providing a better ride.

 

Third gens were made between 82 and 92..

 

He's saying that thirdgens out handle all other cars built between '82 and '92

 

The fact that I don’t have the POS anymore, Looking for another

 

i know what you mean, but i like the dual needle speedo i though it looked cool, mine squeeks rattles and does anything but roll with a 2.8l v6 i honestly wish i had one of the "sloppy" v8s just so i could say i had a v8, the interior just seems cheap and i hate the firebird dash, four big *** gauges in a line but i do love the great handling, thank you ws6, the sleek bodylines, although the doors rattle like hell and someone rolled a shopping cart into the fender, the "hairy interior" its black and does show alot of little specs of whatever and dust and hair, which if you have a girl in the car, there will be hair on the seat later because girls lose alot of hair i guess, anyway i also hate the fact that you cant take some of the stuff of in the engine compartment, its so damn cramped in there i cant get my "tiny" hands on or around anything really not even spark plugs, i dont like the amazingly small backseat, or the way the front seats always look like the brakets are broken and the seat is leaning back, idk though maybe mine just are, but i get its was designed built and driven hard in the 80s-90s, so i'd say its held up quite well, i dont see nearly as many of them as i used to which is what i dislike the most, damn cash for clunkers

 

banging my knee on the dash and cracking it. I want to have the dash replaced, but won't because it's so easy to hit it with your knee and break it again. If I don't, the passenger might. Who says Camaros are heavy! My last one weighted 3192 with a 350, all the seats, stereo, stock body and ground effects included. I did have the air conditioning out of the car. (I remember some Mustang guy telling me my car "is fast for a big heavy car" so I took it across a scale at a scrap yard. 3192 lbs. That's less than his Mustang it turns out)

 

The fact that I still havent driven mine. but its almost there... but what can I complain about I got it for 150 bucks...

 

Oh ehm..mine's more of a project, so where do I begin? lol

- The pop-up headlights don't always like to pop up (have to twist the motors up by hand when they do this)
- The T-tops leak (Big surprise much? )
- The many squeaks and rattles it makes while driving
- It runs rich
- The 305 TBI is way underpowered (but at least it sounds nice!)
- The stock cooling system stuff is crap (good thing the radiator's been upgraded)
- The electronics and wiring are crap (doesn't help that the PO hacked up the stereo wiring harness trying to install an aftermarket tape deck. Yup)
- It needs new speakers (cracking/worn speakers just don't suit well with me while I'm trying to blast some Iron Maiden)
- The headliner sags (it's held up a bit by staples)
- It needs body work and paint
- It still needs hatch shocks
- In it's current condition, it lives up to it's infamous white trash/m*llet machine stereotype.

But you know what? It's ok, because it's slowly but surely getting the care it deserves, and my list of likes definitely outweighs the dislikes on this car. Driving it is truly a joy!

I love my third gen

P.S: Why is the word m*llet censored on here? LOL

 

Is this what you don't like about third gens, or what you don't like about an old car that has been abused and uncared for?

 

The latter!

Sadly, that's a pretty common condition for these cars to be in though . That's why I'm glad more of them are ending up in the hands of owners like us

 

WELL IF MY OPINION 3RD GENS ARE CORRECT . Ihave had 79z.,80z 87 iroc 91 z 97ss and a few other late 80's the 3rd 91-92 with the ground affects and big spoiler 25th stripe kits Isay sure they are great , most of us missed out on the 1st run 67.8 and glorius 69's but out of our financially reach so coodels to gm's entire 3rd gens LUCKY 1

 

I have no idea what you just said.

 

Hi Krik just toting 92 and 91's seem totally kickbutt! LUCKY 1 THOUGH AT 5FT 6 AND 113LBS iTSEEMS LIKE EVERY OTHER CAR ON THE RD WOULD TAKE MY HEAD OFF in a crash Ilove my baby!buttoday have a idle problem Ineed to search

 

How the heck are you guys hitting the corner of the dash pad with your knees? Maybe this is not something I have to worry about standing 5'6", but even if I was 6' I can't see any possible way my knees could hit the corner of the dash pad on either entrance or exit?

EDIT: Also, vroom305, the LO3 doesn't put out 170 RWHP. A "net" rating means an engine dyno, with the engine's accessories hooked up, so it's 170 at the crank with the belt and accessories. RWHP is considerably less.

 

Well krik, I think he figured he would speak more clearly for you....

I also feel that way lucky 1

Am i the only one that sometimes feel like I'm going to behead myself getting into a thirdgen with the windows up? Like the window almost smashes your throat in or the ttops bash ur skull open.

 

HI fadedirock yep my neighbor was lucky, Former owner updated his to 97 seats and a power driver aswell. mine is 7 years newer silver leather or vinly and I almost need a telephone book to sit on EHBOY! can
can't find any other camaro power seat on ebay or anywhere in silver though this would bump me up to normal? figure GOD FORBID accident air bag is going to decapitate me too! LUCKY 1 but they sure are fun to drive , So many boys in MUSTANGS WANT TO RACE BUT ONLY STILL BREAKING IN ENGINE 83 ON ODEMETER NOW CAN'T RACE! LUCKY 1

 

Put me down like everyone else, the no cup holders.... i hate going from my 4th gen and getting in the 3rd run through the drive through and.... no cup holder... then your crotch gets soaked from the cup sweating or it leaking out the shatty lid. time for a 4th gen console.

 

I can't seem to think of too many things that I "dislike" about my car, but If I had to make a list it'd be:

The front bumper sags
the doors constantly need to be showered with wd40 due to creaking
lack of a cupholder
dash pad cracks no matter how much you try to keep it from happening

That's about it. All in all these are great cars and im lucky to own one

 

Try lithium grease for the doors. It last a lot longer than wd 40 which is more of a penetrating oil. As for the dash pad I ArmorAll the hell out of my dash, and I have no cracks from sun damage.

 

Actually, If you read the owners manual it says NOT to drive around the city in OD (I would assume because it lugs the engine). Im always in D unless Im on the freeway--OD stands for overdrive which was designed to drop your RPM's on the freeway.

 

Hi Guys well it''s been a while/ 91-92 Z28'S have the best rims for painting to match the car. Complemented ALWAYS ! READING MORE I SEE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OVERDRIVE or to not would love to know if better for city driving? 220 miles on mine know 92 anniversary z28.Still not broken in so every mustang that wants to race so sorry!

 

Hey, thanks for the tip. Looks like im crossing at least one thing off my list.

My dash pad is too far gone. I would armor all the hek out of it too, and it still cracked. Probably just my luck/california sun.

 

These are my favorite type of cars BUT! I dislike the fact that the Firebirds have week headlight motors, the TBI of course, and the fact that its heavy! But it levels out with how much women we get in these cars haha Im playing by the way

 

Hello to all , tested mine out last night doing 40 mph was doing 1200 rpm downshifted to d put rpms up to 1500
leaving in od less others say no .

 

Right, but you realize if you put it in "OD", that doesn't put it in fourth gear and fourth gear only, right? Think about it--you still start in first gear, then it shifts to second, then it shifts to third, then if/when it needs to, it shifts to fourth, or OD. Putting the shifter in OD allows the engine to engage fourth gear (OD) if needed. If you drive it in D, all you're doing is driving it like it's a three speed auto without OD from 40 years ago. Your tranny shouldn't put the car in a position to "lug" the engine if the tranny works right; if it goes into 4th, the car is doing it intentionally and for a reason--the tranny knows what it's doing.

D does not let the car go into overdrive. OD does, if it's needed. Through gear 3, it's identical to D so there is zero reason to deny the car its ability to go into fourth gear if the car would otherwise want to.

You should never be driving in D unless you're towing, which you should never be doing with an F-body anyway.

 

or racing

 

Hi Puma thanks mine sat for 24 years, Just breaking in now.Nice to know od IS WHAT I PICKED and correct
hellzwing like how you refered to r camaros

 

:-) I'm glad I found this thread. I've been looking for a way to b1tch about my car without having my friends or family respond with, "Why don't you just sell it?"

1. The trunk motor. I few this in the same way that I think about the pop-up head-light motors for the TransAm/Firebird line. Cheap pieces of junk.
2. The structural integrity of the car. I can tell mine has been driven for 200k miles because of the cracks right above the windows (in the corner). Nothing some sfc's wouldn't fix but still.
3. The overall stigma of it being a "mull3t-mobile" or white trash car. I hate that because even if you dropped $40k into your car people are still going to look at it and you as though it's a piece of ****. (Until you stomp them on the road. lol)
4. Yes, the doors are way too heavy and I don't like the rattling that other people have talked about when the windows are down. I always worry that my windows are going to break inside my doors. lol I know they won't but still....
5. Rattles in general. I too have the rattle/squeak that seems to jump around the car.
6. The suspension could have been designed a lot better imo. It is just a rough ride.
7. Poor interior lighting.
8. My car was built in Van Nuys. So, I have the issue with the paint fading on the top of my car. The sides are beautiful. It's just the top that looks bad.
9. The coolant system. Why they set these cars up to not turn on the fans until 200+ degrees I'll never know. But I can't keep my engine cool enough without running the heater. And let me tell ya, the stop-n-go traffic in the texas summers, is not fun.
10. Lack of a cup holder.
11. The hatch glass is a pain when it gets even the slightest amount of grime on it. When my camaro was my daily driver, I was constantly stopping at gas stations just to clean off the hatch glass. I've never had a car that was so hard to see out of the rear window as my 3rd gen is.
12. The overall lack of power. I have a 2000 honda accord 4-cyl, 5-speed that keeps up with my camaro. Granted, I know there's a weight difference but I just wish the 3rd gen f-body's had more nutz than they did coming off the line.
13. Too much play in the steering. Since the ride is bumpy and the steering in my car has a lot of play in it, I worry all the time about not being able to control the car. I don't know if they're all like that but I have had two 3rd gens and both of them had a lot of play in the steering.


I guess the easiest way to go about this would have been to describe what I do like about the car and start there. lol

Basically, the things that I do like about my car are the overall look of the car. The stance. For the lack of a better way of saying this, it commands respect. People will get out of the way just because of the look of the car. Since my daily driver is just as fast as my camaro, I kinda notice how people will get out of the way for me when I'm in the camaro where that's not the case in my honda. lol And you know the other guy is thinking, "Oh it's just a honda."

I like the way the drivers seat/position kinda envelopes the driver. Kinda like what you would think a ****-pit would feel like.

I like the way music sounds from the well boxes.

In spite of all of the things that I don't like about my car, I do still love it though. I will fix as many of the problems as I can when/if I actually get to start my restoration though.

Anyway, that's all I've got for now.

 

2 things, somewhat related to each other.

1. That it's not coming together fast enough.

2. Every part I get for it, doesn't fit or is broken and has to be taken back and replaced or fixed. If there's a 50 parts on a shelf and only 1 of them has something wrong with it, I'll get it, without fail. From bellhousings, to harmonic balancers, strut mounts, power steering pumps, rocker arms, timing chain covers, fuel lines, you name it. Everything becomes custom fitted part at the end of the day haha