Everyone I know, including my kids now, realize just how insane I am when it comes to my cars

So, post what you paid for your car, how many years you have had it, and how much you estimate you have spent on parts

I paid $7,000 for my 92 GTA going on 15yrs ago. I don't wish to disclose how much I have spent since purchase yet, I don't want to be committed

I'm sure these threads have been done before but with parts prices getting seriously expensive the past few years, I think that changes allot.

Alex

 

On all cars or only on Firebird.

Without the money i paid for the car I probably spent @15,000€ in total (since euro exists ...i got the car in 94).Parts are kinda cheap compared the the BS BMW sales where 90% of the price is brand name ,what makes the sum large is the shipping costs...shipping parts from US (even if you have friends who help you) costs alot .

but here is the good side of it which makes all the money and more.If you add the price of the car and all the money spent on it over time you cant buy anything as cool as it.I parked the car next to latest BMW models and when i got out from shopping people were not staring at the BMW.This means the car is really cool.

 

Yeah, certainly just the 1 3rdgen you own now and for the people who have multiples, then pick the one they have spent the most on!

If I were to include all of my cars, I'm not sure I would even want to add that up haha!

 

Paid 4700 for mine back in April. Ive since spent well over 2k just mainly replacing suspension, exhaust, wheels,and ignition components. Havent even started the cosmetic part or the new engine I want to build. I could see putting easily 5k more in it atleast. These cars can can get in to your pocket deep. Good thing about 3rd gens is you can still buy em pretty cheap.

 

Only for the next 10-15yrs I suspect tho. By that time all the kids who wanted one when they were new will be hitting their peak earning potential. I just had the owner of a high-end detail shop while cleaning my cars under-body talk me up about how these cars used to be the **** back in their day and how he plans on getting one now that he has the disposable income. Availability of quality reproduction parts and people afraid of emissions laws (here at least) seem to be what is keeping them relatively low market.

 

that "Still" won't be for much long.Pontiac is gone and that only will make these cars be more and more expensive.If you want to invest in something for when you retire buy few Trans Ams.

 

I paid $300 for my GTA roller 2 years ago, but just started work'n on it this year. I already have a fresh 355-Th350 from another project, since purchase I figured I could have it show ready for 3k total, after picking up small detail/cosmetic pieces and finding it needs brakes all the way around I'll likely be in the 4k range.

That's me do'n all aspects of the work with my own two hands......

 

Oh I agree. I also plan to have a couple more in my stable in the next few years to come. Ive made out pretty good flipping some 80s G-body cars over the last few years I see no reason the F-bodys wont go up especially the Pontiacs.

 

Haha, I have this wet dream that I'll someday have a sub 1,000 mile 91-92 GTA and then a 91-92 Formy that I totally stip and turn into a full on road race car. I'll do one or the other but most likely not both.

 

I bought my 1988 camaro in 2002 for $550.

I now have $18,700 in it, and the car is still in primer!

Very few items left on the car is still stock though.

 

SWEET! That's what I'm talking about, now I'm starting to not feel so crazy

 

Found someone that pretty much will be the thread winner here http://www.superchevy.com/features/g...tiac-trans-am/

Thats over 200,000$ and pretty sure thats the fastest road legal car in Europe.

 

I've seen that, freakin awesome.

There are quite a few cars that can go faster than 253mph tho, I believe the Koenigsegg Agera would spank it easily on the top end. Its said it could take the 270mph Hennessey Venom GT but Koenigsegg hasn't found a road in Europe they can test it on yet for top speed.

 

Should have bought a c6 z06 in 08 as my only car before doin the major builds over the years. It be paid off by now

 

I maxed the speedo in the Trans Am on Autobahn (*140 ftw ).There you can hit 320km/h (200mph) easly ,even thou most drive @100mph and the recomended speed is 80mph).The record speed there is much higher 268.8mph
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/5-fast...hn.htm#page=10


*I like stock look and parts but if one day someone will make speedometers that look like the stock ones but go higher than 140 I'll insta buy them.

 

I've been 163mph on my Ducati easy but for some reason going that fast in a car is way scarier to me, it's weird. Granted I've never been over 140mph in a car that actually had REAL downforce like a race car or super car, I'm sure that's why lol.

Honestly the Ducati is what keeps me from going nuts on making my Trans Am faster. Satisfies the speed tooth for sure and pays for its self in what its saved me from spending on the car haha!

 

I paid $7,300 for mine back in July of '99. Since then, I guestimate about $11,000 has been dropped into it. But some of that is because I'm like you Alex and don't mind paying extra to get NOS or mint parts.

Although not a question in the original post, but has been brought up in subsequent posts; I have had mine well over the speedo's max speed of 140mph. Hwy 14 is a great place for that kind of stuff, however the best place is CA hwy 167.

Here's a quote from Wikipedia describing that route: "it runs almost directly east to west, and can be seen almost 15 miles (24 km) into the distance as a straight line". Yup, dead straight with 15 miles of visibility. Best part is that it is so remote there are virtually zero cops...ever! I've driven across that road about nine or ten times, and I've seen absolutely no more than six or seven cars total.

 

I wrapped the 160 speedo back around to zero couple times in my old 70 Formula, I'd be more skeeerd on two wheels......

 

I've never been on the 167 but I just pulled up a map of it, looks freakin perfect! I love the hell out of the 14 tho, especially the traffic, very little of it but always seems like everyone wants to race and isn't afraid to lmao! I went top speed with a new M5 for like what must have been 10miles of road we were going so fast. They were limited to 155mph tho so I just hung beside them once they caught up and had a great time! (on my bike of course)

 

Bloody hell, that must have been a BEAST!

 

I peg my 145 by the 1000' mark just about lol my other 305 car i dont think will do 110

 

LOL, yeah it adds up fast over a 10 year time frame. Looking at the total hurts though.

 

I paid about $5,000 for my car 4 years ago, and I'm pretty sure have poured about $3,000+ more into it, and it won't stop there. She's heading back to paint in the spring for the front bumper and deck lid and some scratches here and there. That should be a pretty penny. The wife is pretty sure I love my IROC more than her, can't argue, the car is the only one that won't yell back at me...just sayin'...

 

What I PAID for the car, and what the parts are worth is different, since some stuff was traded and others I got a steal on... I will do my best:

I traded a couple Rifles for my 87 Trans Am, valued at around $1,200.

Interior Parts so far - $2,200 (Dash pad, new carpet, door panels, plastics, Seats, floor pan, Double Din Faceplate, all Stereo equipment )

Exterior Parts so Far - $2,000 without paint ( GTA Wheels, tires, fender, Door, 4th gen wing, Hood, various ground effects)

Engine Parts so Far - $2,500 (Block, Heads, Intake, Carb, Cam, Distrib, Headers,)

I am sure I am missing something.. let's call it 8K, and it's still in pieces LOL but I wanted to get EVERYTHING first.

After paint, I suspect 12K, and it will be a brand new car, literally..

EDIT: Forgot Suspension.. I will likely spend around 1-2K to replace everything here and there once running. So around 14K

 

Bought the car for $1700 just over 2 years ago.
Maybe $2200 among 2 engines and a transmission.
$500 rear end.
~$1000 wheels/tires
$500 misc. (wiring, radio, couple radiators, etc.)

So $5900 and I've had 3 engines, 3 transmissions, and 2 rearends in the car. Not all too bad.

 

Paid $1,000 for my GTA back in 2003.

Paint, Engine, Trans, suspension, steering, tires....

Less than 10k total in it so far including the most recent round of upgrades. Spent about $4,000 or so these past 3 years on parts.

Recently had the Agreed Value Insurance policy updated from its $5k value to $10,000. So if the car is totaled I actually get something decent out of the wreck.

 

Actually, Hawk's Thirdgen makes a 200 mph speedo:
http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/ca...t-be-provided/

 

Im talking about this model http://berlinetta.info/forsale/fireb...40TransAm1.jpg

You can get that to 220 but it has Km/H under it for Canada models.I want it in Miles even thou Im in Europe ...its an american car and it has to be in Miles.

 

They don't make a 200mph speedo for firebirds. Unless you go aftermarket and move to a custom dash panel.

 

they will one day ...hope never dies.Hawks makes for Camaros maybe one day there will be for Firebirds.Like i said Ill insta buy them.

 

paid 10K about 5-6 years ago now.

put a little money in it for headliner replacement (dented by daughters book back as she put it in the back...grrr New speakers and battery and tires, a extra set of rims (formula 88 powder coated black)

 

Probably just what I paid for it new, around 21k, plus other little upgrades and maintenance items..been quite lucky I guess. I think insurance costs has surpassed that figure!

Oh...and Highway 58, from Mojave to North Edwards, about 20 miles of straight highway....142MPH on digital dash.....I left off cuz I got skeered!

 

There are SOOOO many CHP on that road it's not even funny lol. Every time I drive to Vegas I see tons of them on that road.

 

Yeah, I know that. Years ago, Mr. CHP in a Mustang pulled Mr. Bob over for doing 98! I had to go to traffic school and pay the fine. I was going to work at 6AM at Edwards AFB. CHP was not happy with this Sergeant!

I calmed down since!

 

Would this include what you paid for the car??

 

Original Puchase Price in 1989 w/ dealer rustproofing--> 15,000
Since 2010:
Body & Paint--> 10,000
LS2, complete take out w/33k--> 3,500
4L65e - takeout w/34k--> 1,200
Corbeau Seats and backs re-upholstered--> 3,000
Exhaust - SW 2" primaries, 3" inter, 4" out & shop fees to fit--> 3,000
Suspension, struts, coilovers, drop spindles, a-arms,etc--> 3,000
Wilwoods, 6pot front & rear--> 3,200
Carpet & Raamat--> 700
Mark Williams 12 bolt & BMR tracpac--> 3,500
Hawk's Harness Hell--> 1,000
Nothing special stereo and stock position speakers--> 700
LSX swap stuff misc--> 1,500

$49,300

And this is not complete! It's a better car today than the day I bought it 25 years ago and 217,000 miles ago.

 

$6,000 and the gas to get it home.

By the time I'm done I might have 15k into it total including the purchase price, but it won't matter to me - the smiles will be priceless!

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...ine-again.html

 

Good thread- I own a GTA and a Vert Iroc- the words "Stupid Money" tends to occupy my mind, but it is fun working

I have at least $12K(Purch $3800+8000+) in the GTA, painted & engine work, but insurance paid for $6200 of it. When I bought the car - carrier dropped it off the trailer while delivering from FL to NJ and banged up the rear end pretty good. But at least I didn't have to pay for it. Just did injectors, egr valve, new gaskets, IAT, Egr temp sensor - few other parts ...$500 - adds up fast.

Iroc Vert: I'm at around $5 now and heading fast towards another 4K with paint and a few more fixes.

Having fun tho, that's what helps when spending stupid money

 

What would it sell for today?

 

I'm guessing it's market price is 27-30k.
It will not sell today, for it will not be for sale.
Happiness is wanting what you already possess - I could preach this.

 

Yea I said my last GTA wouldn't ever be for sale. After a costly surgery a car I had probably 10k in I had to settle for around 4k I think. We never know whats around the corner.

 

Well I added it all up, including the $7,000 for buying my GTA, I'm all in for about $37,000 give or take a couple thousand. That includes all major repairs and parts like $5,000 just in 2 transmission rebuilds, and all of my current aftermarket parts and NOS parts I've put on over the years. Also the car was in an accident (rock slide) which totaled it (salvage title) and I repaired all of that damage to the point you could never tell. Over hauled the AC system twice, blah blah blah. Over the years I've replaced literally everything tho, every single engine sensor at least once, the injectors twice now, fuel pump, you name it. The car runs as good as new and has never let me down.

Not bad considering the window sticker on my car was $27,380K plus the SLP package, then about $3,000 in various engine mods, $4,500 for the brakes, suspension, rear end mods. That's about $39,000 if I had bought it new and done that stuff.

I've spent AT LEAST $12,000 just on parts for my current cosmetic restoration. A complete paint job someday will run me north of $6-7K easy. This next year I plan on a heads/cam upgrade and a ProCharger setup w/cog belt and dual intercooler setup, that will run $8-9K easy.

I'll end up with about $55,000 total into her by end of 2015. That doesn't even include things like sets of tires and other maintenance over the past 15yrs either.

Plus I still need another set of Tri-Y headers because of the accident, and a full top notch engine rebuild not soon after installing that ProCharger. That will be another $7K between those two easy. Oh and the 17" GTA rims with Toyo R888 tires, that's another $2,100. Dammit lol.

Wow

 

The only way that I justify the expense, is to drive the dollars out of the car. I could spend what I have in it on another car, but not get the same performance - and I would have paid interest on something new (plus higher insurance). I can do upgrades on my own time/$$ schedule.
A good bit of my justification, and pride, is that no one else has ever owned the car. I might not have gone this route if I had bought it used. No one has driven the car out of my sight, with the exception of my brother (once).

 

Agreed. I drive the heck out of my car, got it with 69,000 miles and now I have more than 237,000 and I'm sure I'll hit 500,000 before I die in this car.

 

I've sold my first born child to fund my car......

But in all seriousness, I'm just getting started.
Engine-1900
Dizzy-250ish?
Carb-300ish?
Transmission-800
Bellhousing-670
Trans Crossmember- 220
Clutch-300ish?
Flywheel-200ish?
Engine mount brackets-100
Carpet-300ish
Still have lots to get going

 

I'm approaching $40k, but around $10k of that was KR Dash, Nose, Scanner, and other KR stuff....

And parts in the closet, plus some labor.... I bought the car in 2005.... All the suspension has been redone, drive train, etc.... still fun 305 TPI 5 speed

Rafael

 

I payed $ 500.00 for it and have about 10,000 into it with about 1,000 to go. I will call that just about done until the 5.0 blows. Then a built 350 with around 400 hp will do.

I must have done something right, it made it into a magazine.
($ 3,000.00 in the paint.)

I don't race it, its my DD.....

 

Ron, your car looks great from any angle!

I got all the "stuff" n parts I need now...
Gotta save up for Paint....

PPG 9300 Single Stage Triple Black

Rafael

 

Thank you,

I "very" rarely post the car in the magazine.
I was more than surprised it was picked.
Its not an article about my car,
its just about the hood.

I'm just proud of it because its my first build ever.........

I finally found 4th gen seats and am now saving up to order new upholstery skins to recover them from Princess at Lethal Interiors.

Link = http://www.lethalinteriors.com/

 

I spent another $150 yesterday picking up a set of the wrong color 87 seats (plus a ton of interior plastic panels) and then dropped them off at the local detailing shop to be steamed cleaned for an extra $50.

I won't be using them in my car but at least now I've got a complete black interior that I can put in whatever donor car I buy to pull my correct interior out of. Ideally when I'm done with the donor I can sell it for what I paid for it & get my correct interior for FREE!