Im looking to buy my first car soon and I was wondering if going with a third gen camaro would be a good option. I am going to use the car as a daily driver and bring it to school. I just wanted some recomendations and general information about camaros to see if they would be an option to consider. Thanks

 

My first Car was a 1988 camaro with a rebuilt 350(thought it was a 350 for years, til i put heads on it, found the pistons all marked .030 HA!) so it's 355. Auto, ended up losing the trans a year later, (still in HS). my parents helped me buy a new one at Bowtieoverdrives and we had a GM dealer install for the warranty to be Valid. Fn cost arm and a leg... However, I put 50K on it without one breakdown.

It really depends on what your buying and who your buying it from. If i could do it over again, I'd find a stock 305 TPI 5spd with minimal mods.. Performance and Dependability are at opposite ends of the pool. But with this you got a good platform for mods later. Got standard trans setup. the 305's arent that bad, esspecially for a first car being a camaro, and swapping that 305 to a 350 is a cinch compared to other swaps.

 

Thanks alot man, I was looking at an 87 IROC-Z but decided it wasnt for me. The guy told me he just replaced the trans but couldn't prove it, he had also gotten into a couple of minor accidents and had the front bumper replaced, the weather stripping was pretty much gone and there was some rust in the wheel wells. I had a hard time looking at it and taking pictures because it was infested with bees. Also the motor was shot(it was a 350 auto). I decided I was going to sink too much money into it and walked away.

Thanks again, im still looking for any cars that are in decent shape and the right price.

 

From what i see here Its a killer Car and i'd swoop that up in a heartbeat but i dont have anywhere to do a fuel pump... and i dont have 1600 to buy another camaro lol http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3179445217.html

 

Wow thats good looking. I don't know how I would get to North Carolina though... if I could I would go pick it up but school starts very soon

 

Welcome to TGO. My first car was a 1983 Z28 that I bought in 1985. It was a very popular car in NJ during the 80s. I used to park it at the Chevy dealer service department on my way to North Hunterdon HS and walked across the street to school. It wasn't reliable back then as I had a lemon, but things have changed over the years. Today, people know how to fix these cars, so they can be fairly reliable. They are more for the fun factor though.

 

Good choice on a first car! My first car was my 87 GTA, then the 87 IROC-Z and a 88 Formula! Don't have my license yet LOL but hey only a couple more months! But if your getting one to get you to school and cruise around it will be a perfect car. Just make sure the car isn't a hackjob. You best off waiting to find a unmolested thirdgen. You will find a lot of people have the ac missing or the cooling fans wired hot or something trashy. I always have the luck of getting one where they cut a nice hole to get to the fuel pump. But the Formula I got recently is probably the nicest one I got. Also check the spare tire well and floors as those tend to rot out.

 

Hell I wish mine had a whole pre cut to change the fuel pump ahahahaha

 

scottmoyer: I go to North Hunterdon right now! That Chevy dealer your talking about is no longer there. Its now used as an overflow lot for Clinton Honda.

 

geez man if you dont have anything nice to say dont say anything!!!!! hahahahaha jk

 

Hahaha I was surprised when they just ripped everything down and all the cars left the lot. It took them about a weekend to clear the place out. Now on the building it says Clinton Honda but behind that I can still see where it says Chevrolet

 

Well the problem with doing that is you have to cut the sending unit and people put the rubber hose over it and thats incorrect for a high pressure fuel line

 

You'll probably shreek when i say this. but ive used them on High Pressure systems without any issues. but uh Compression fitting's Before i used Rubber.

 

Well, if it's going to be a daily driver, I would suggest anything with the 305 TBI (in good condition). It’s a bullet proof engine that gets excellent mpg and delivers adequate performance for a good price with minimal mods. It's not the optimal engine for street racing, but it's an excellent engine for just a day to day grocery getter. Just my PO. Have a good one.

 

My first Camaro was an '87 Iroc-Z with the 5.0 Carbureted engine otherwise known as the LG4 Code engine, Auto and it was a hardtop, the paint color looked exactly like Scottmoyers. sold it and regretted it. it had nice power to get me to and from work.

 

I've bought 4 brand new Edelbrock 1406's in my lifetime(24) for 4 different cars/trucks. and after owning a TBI motor. I'll never buy another Carburetor or car with a Carb... Those edelrocks are 100% improvement over the Original and rebuilt quadrajets but I'll always go for the EFI. Were those 87's CCCarbs?

 

It's probably a good idea to keep in mind that one's first car could be something of a sacrificial lamb. My first car was a '93 Thunderbird and because I was young and ignorant in the ways of auto repair and maintenance, it didn't last as long as it should have through my poor choices.

Whatever you buy, you should probably budget to spend half-again its purchase price in the first couple of years, especially if it's an older car. You should also keep in mind where you'll likely live and what that could mean for things like vandalism from those around you. Part of what lead to the demise of my Tbird was the crappy apartment complex I lived in and how residents and visitors treated each others' property. I probably wouldn't be quite as sour on those if I had not had the experiences that I did.

 

I believe so, 4 barrel Rochester Quad.