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Found an 88 Formula 305TPI, do you think it's a good deal?

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Old May 30, 2003 | 06:55 PM
  #1  
Zepher's Avatar
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From: Norfolk, VA. USA
Car: 86 Trans Am, 88 Formula
Engine: 95LT4, 305TPI
Transmission: T56, T5
Found an 88 Formula 305TPI, do you think it's a good deal?

Down the street from my house is a red 88 Formula 305TPI A4.
Has the 16" wheels, it's red, but fading. Spoiler is in decent condition, power hatch works, but needs to be bolted up.
Has t-tops, seats are probably tore up, had covers on them but I am not concerned about that. Runs pretty damn good.
$1700 is what I am paying. this will be a daily driver.
I'll post some pics tomorrow when I pick it up.
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Old May 30, 2003 | 07:11 PM
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From: Someone owes me 10,000 posts
Car: 99 Formula
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 342
depening on driving condition sounds good to me. I paid $1700 for my car the way it looks, minus the polished rims.

Plus, either tonite or tomorrow, I'll be sending you some cash via paypal
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Old May 30, 2003 | 07:19 PM
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From: Norfolk, VA. USA
Car: 86 Trans Am, 88 Formula
Engine: 95LT4, 305TPI
Transmission: T56, T5
Thanks Mark.
It's going to be nice to be driving again.
Actually I should re-prrase that to "It's going to be nice to be driving a car that I own."
Last time my car ran was March of 2002.
I just hope I am not paying too much. I am not worried about it breaking down since I have gathered so much info from the members of this site that I should be able to fix it or the members here will help me out.
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Old May 30, 2003 | 07:23 PM
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Car: 99 Formula
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 342
best thing to do is to take someone that isn't in to 3rd Gens, they'll be a little more partial and may catch things you miss.

I'd check the oil, see if it's low, or make sure it looks ok. Be sure to inspect the car, ask about past maintenance on it.
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Old May 30, 2003 | 07:28 PM
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From: Norfolk, VA. USA
Car: 86 Trans Am, 88 Formula
Engine: 95LT4, 305TPI
Transmission: T56, T5
The guy that has it bought it from his work. He works for a towing company and the car was towed for illegal parking and the storage/towing fees came up to $800 or so. The guy that owned the car told his wife to let it go, so this guy paid the fees and got the car. has 105K miles on it. When I go tomorrow I'll check it over again.
What else should I look for? I'd like to get the price down to $1500 or less. He was asking $2500, which he didn't expect to get, just start high and work your way down.
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Old May 30, 2003 | 07:33 PM
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From: Pittsfield, MA
I'd bring 1,400 cash.


Look at the usual stuff, oil, check the tires for any unsual wear. Swing it around a couple corners, hit it from a light...make sure the suspension is working

Whenever I test drive a car, I literally drive it like I stole it..
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Old May 30, 2003 | 07:35 PM
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From: Norfolk, VA. USA
Car: 86 Trans Am, 88 Formula
Engine: 95LT4, 305TPI
Transmission: T56, T5
Originally posted by Dan88IrocZ
Swing it around a couple corners, hit it from a light...make sure the suspension is working

Whenever I test drive a car, I literally drive it like I stole it..
We both did that, the guy that has it and myself.
It smokes the tires pretty good, tires are in decent condition too.
I don't know if it has the 3.23 or 2.73 gears, but it feels like 3.23's.
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Old May 30, 2003 | 08:36 PM
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From: chesapeake va
Car: 08 Sierra, 08 Silverado, 91 z28
Engine: 5.3, 4.3, 5.7
Transmission: autos
zeph, was it forsale in the classifieds in the paper? I called some guy about a 88 firibird red with t tops,he said he'd call me back the next day to tell me if he sold it or not and never heard back..so instead i bought this 4th gen that stuoid dmv didnt believei paid $2000 for it, (even with the canceled check) so i had to pay $112 sales tax...grr...ok im done, as far as u gettin the car, sounds like a good deal, id go for $1500, if he says no then go up $100's from there
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Old May 30, 2003 | 08:43 PM
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From: Norfolk, VA. USA
Car: 86 Trans Am, 88 Formula
Engine: 95LT4, 305TPI
Transmission: T56, T5
It was probably in the paper. I saw it a few days ago about 1/2 mile away from my house with a for sale sign in the window and stopped by today and checked it out.
I'll see if I can haggle with him some more since I'll have cash in hand.

Do you want a 97+ camaro dash for your 94? my friend has the complete dash and I have a 97+ V6 Cluster.
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Old May 30, 2003 | 08:46 PM
  #10  
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From: chesapeake va
Car: 08 Sierra, 08 Silverado, 91 z28
Engine: 5.3, 4.3, 5.7
Transmission: autos
naw, i had got enough goin on without messin with that lol, i had to work on it for 4 hours to get my drive side window back out of the door today..not fun at all, next is to get my key made for the door before someone steals everything out of my car at school and then fix my pwr window/lock buttons
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Old May 30, 2003 | 08:47 PM
  #11  
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From: Huber Heights, OH
Car: 00 TA, 91 Formula, 89 RS
Engine: LS1 / 305 / 2.8, respectively
Transmission: T-56 / auto / auto
Sounds good to me, I paid 1700 for my 91 Formula in worse condition and probably higher mileage than that one...
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