Ok so I am selling my fourth gen Trans Am so I can buy a gta. I have found one in the color I want (1989 L98 black) with t-tops. The guy will take $3500 and its about 3 hours from me.

The GTA has about 170k miles with a rebuild at 100k, the interior looks descent but, always a but right! It was a Indiana car and has some surface rust now living in Texas I dont see alot of rusty cars so I need some of your opinions on whether it looks bad or not.

I dont have the best pics only what he has sent me so take a look and give me some pointers on what to look for and does having a 170k miles a bad thing? Most cars I have owned have been in the 100k or less range.

Hope this is the right section to post in since it does pertain to bodywork .

Thanks,
-Buddy-

 

The rust, forgot to mention there is a small spot on one of the doors that has a bit of rust.

 

couple more pics.

 

My opinion is that the rust is pretty mild and underneath the car, so easy to refinish without needing a perfect finish.

Doesn't necessarily look like a $3,500 car to me, maybe a little high. But as always, worth is personal and it does look like it is in decent shape based on photos.

 

Thank you for your quick reply, based on just the pics how much would you say I offer?

-Buddy-

 

doesnt look like a 3500 dollar car looks like its going to need interior work soon all the fabric is getting really loose. mask also warped doesnt look line the norm the since its only on one side. hood doesnt line up with the mask

 

How much should i offer him?

-Buddy-

 

Looks to me based on the shopping I have done, ebay, craigs list and here about a $2, 500 or so car.

 

It's kinda hard to say since the pictures that are posted doesn't really tell much. How's the paint and the body? Any dents? What about the wheels and tires? Does it have the factory foam spoiler or has it already been replaced with the fiberglass version? Does the car even run?!?! Someone that's trying to sell a car should be able to provide waaaaay better pictures of the exterior. All of the pictures posted here are of a car parked in a cramped garage where you can't get any decent photo angles. RED FLAG!!!

 

As mentioned above,if there's any problem with the paint and body and if there's even a small amount of pealing/etc.than right there hes asking to much.
Its nicer to read these threads when its not stretched like this. If you only stack your photos it wont do that.

 

also odd how theres only 1 exterior photo

 

I wouldn't consider any northern car. That rust damage in your photos will cost more to fix than if you just spent more and bought a nicer southern car. If you can see rust, there is three times as much you can't see.

I would keep shopping my friend.

 

Hey Carlos, the car does run I have seen better pics when it was on craigslist but I didnt keep the pics because it was back when I bought my 4th gen. The starter went out on it and hes replacing it so he can take it out of the garage for better pics. The paint and body are in pretty good condition from what I remember.

Found another one in houston but it has 250k miles!! Here is the craigslist add.

1989 Pontiac Trans Am GTA. 5.7 L98. Stock. Rebuilt 350 Turbo Race Transmission w/3500 Stall. Tuned Port Ignition. White. Good Paint. Good Body. Good Tires. Original GTA Emblems, GTA Hood. Original Gold/Chrome Honeycomb Wheels. Runs and Drives Good. T-Tops w/Locks. Spoiler. Interior needs work. Cold A/C. New Fuel Pump. New Computer. Brand New Kenwood Stereo, Kenwood Amp, Custom Box w/two 10 inch Kenwood Subs.

I texted him and he sent me these pics.




Since my budget is not very much now these are the only cars I have come across that have T-tops. There has been a few others with 9k price tags...

 

In regards to pics, when I was shopping last year and wound up with my RS, we visited several sellers that I had found on CL. Beautiful cars by the pics. Nice pics, good angles, close up but full car shots. Nearly every one wound up having rust bubbling the paint up, rusted through under the T Tops, then there were the hack job engine bays etc. I looked at god knows how many other cars that day. Two were nice... the one I bought (Heritage 92 RS, some oxy in the clear but rust/damage free, engine bay cleaner than my mom's '06 Saturn) and a 91 Z that had a 383 popped in but retained the TPI and ran like a scalded dog. I really really wanted the 383, the price was right, but the fact I commute 90 miles daily RT well... LOL. Point is, even a great pic does not = a great car. Pics hide a lot, even fairly close up shots of decent quality. As a result of this experience, I would never ever ever buy anything but a parts car sight unseen.

 

Yes I wouldnt buy unseen as well. I plan on going to see the car as soon as my 4th gen is sold I just wanted some opinions on the rust and how much to offer. I had one other car that had rust like this a 4th gen from MO and it ran awesome and drove good just had the surface rust like this. I had planned on fixing the rust myself but a convertible version of the car fell in my lap and I sold it lol.

Since I havent owned a 3rd gen with rust I was curious to see if anyone that had a little rust like this could give me some feed back. I know there has to be more like this running around and as someone posted above I am curious if I will find pockets of rust hiding somewhere.

-Buddy-

 

I would recommend seeing any car in person. Some people are not very honest. I looked at several that needed major engine and transmission work that the seller did not reveal. It was only by showing up to drive the car that I quickly learned of the issues and walked away from them. If a car is cheap but needs a transmission rebuild add another $1200 +. If it needs major engine work that could be a few thousand more. It can be more cost effective to get one in the 5k to 6K range that is in really good condition, if money is a driving factor. If you are a mechanic and a body man then it could pay to fix one up because then you are just spending your time more than your money. The white one likely needs headlight motors rebuilt. The nylon bushings are probably bad and that is why the headlights are up. Test everything. Mirrors, switches, windows etc. all of the things that are wrong add up fast. A paint job will be a few thousand also for a nice paint job where they take everything off and paint it. So, the paint matters too.

 

I agree that you need to see the car in person. I wish people would remember to wipe the fingerprints off the lenses of their cameras or mobile phones when they take photos of the cars, it's like looking through fog. From what I can see in the photos, the black GTA looks to be in fairly good shape. The rust he shows under the car would not concern me too much, but as others have pointed out it's stuff he might not be showing that may be a deal killer. When you go look at it, check the bottoms of the doors for rust. Also check the wheel wells on the fenders for rust, especially the lower rear area, that's where it generally starts to show first.
Also check the engine bay, especially the strut towers for rust, and the T-top roof opening and rail. If the car is no worse than it appears in the photos and is mechanically sound, I would say it's worth between $2500 and $3000 depending on the details of the condition. If you get the car, maybe I'll get to see it at the South Central 3rd Gen gathering this spring, I hope I can get my Formula 350 to make the trip.

 

Excellent! Thanks for the tips on where to look. Its looking to me like I might have to find another option but my car hasnt sold yet either. Just like craigslist lots of text/emails but no one really serious yet.

-Buddy-

 

I did not think the floors were bad at all but the pix, but with 170k on the clock I feel $3500 is too much-like said maybe $2500 if it runs and drives good, the tires and brakes are good.

 

Here is alittle food for thought for you. I sold a gta with the same options same milage as this one your looking at for 2100 dollars that had a rebuilt tranny in it. I advertised it at 2600. But it had some rust on lower panels were the ground effects meet the body. I agree needs better pixs. Does he have receipts on that rebuild? Check the areas this things rust in. Its a t-top so most likley rust under carpet.

 

Ugh, where are these deals! lol He texted me today said hes having it towed to a mechanic shop to fix the starter and have the mechanic check over the car. Should I be care about the mileage? Does high mileage bring the value of a car down alot? It has 40k more miles then my 87 Trans Am did and I sold that one for 5k and it was just a regular trans am not a gta.

-Buddy-

 

Miles sure do bring the price down. Check to see if that motor burns oil also. Remember its not just miles on the motor its also miles on everything else, body, suspension, trans,