haha listen to this deal i think.. 1988 firebird formula. ttops red, good paint, 58k miles.. 305 v8 automatic, A/C new tires and exhaust and someother new odds and ends... stored all the time, never driven in the winter and tried to have been kept out of the rain. 2nd owner woman driven... the lady works with my mom.. she only wants like $3500 for it or something.. ive been in it its in perfect condition, the floors have been covered with rugs to protect them.. the thing runs great.. only $3500 for it.. my parents wont let me buy it though .. oh well, im still in search for that IROC:hail: :lala:

 

why wont they let you buy it? sounds like it was well taken care of...

John

 

A car like that is sweet, if it's your money you can buy it, just park it a few blocks away j/k You might be better if you want something to work on get a z28 or iroc for around 1,500 and use the rest of the money to redo it.

 

yes thats what i want.. IROC-z and ttops

 

The expense of restoring a junk thirdgen will easily exceed the initial buy in of a NICE thirdgen.

Consider this, when dealing with your typical V8 thirdgen, you've got a car with approximately 100,000-200,000 miles. If its a V8 its probably been beaten on for most of its lifetime. It probably has shoddy paint, it most likely smokes on startup, the exhaust is rusted out, or its been replaced with no name crap pieces from a parts store. The tires are probably bald, at least on the back. The seats, carpet, dash, are all cracked, ripped, stained, beyond repair. Various sensors and guages don't operate correctly. The tranny slips, the posi is burned out, the brakes are shot. Rotors are warped, pads are worn, e-brake cables are seized up, etc.

Things start to add up VERY quickly. What I've found is that the higher the performance level of the car, the more likely it is to be trashed. By far IrocZ's are beat the worst, followed by Z28's, then the GTA's, T/A's, and lesser models.

If you find a TPI car with a straight body, servicable interior, etc that has good brakes, doesn't need an alignment, and has good tires, for less than $6,500, you're doing good.


Even the nice ones are junk... start with the best example you can afford.

 

The nice ones...JUNK?!?!?

Not the 350 Formulas and GTAs in my book. Camaros....Ok, I can agree with you there

hehehe

 

Ok, check this out. There are three kinds of thirdgens around right now.

A) The 100% original car, that's been sitting in storage all its life. The effects of sitting have flat spotted the tires, fluids have broken down and gummed up, injectors have frozen up, etc. While its a nice car, making it run right means killing the originality.

B) The daily driven, typical abused thirdgen. Its trashed. Various parts have been changed to try to keep it going, but its not accurate and it requires body work, and mechanical work, and a complete interior restoration. Junk.

C) The high mileage, clean, cared for frequently driven thirdgen. It's been well used. The owner has replaced/repaired every part that's failed, and kept the appearance up, etc. Its a nice car, but the paint, interior, and whatnot show wear. It loses its appeal in the details.

All three have their shortcomings. None of them is perfect. Its unfortunate but true. The next time you're at a car show, or even a dealership, have a good look at original, restored, and brand new cars and really look at the details. They're all junk.

 

I've seen plenty of fine 3rd gens still on the road. I'm to blame for neglecting my car to a degree but it is a daily driver and everything you mention is true of not just Camaros and Firebirds, however, I don't feel all sports cars being abused is a given. Also, people who TRULY know how to store a car properly would address all the issues you mention, or they're not thinking too clearly

Bill

 

I actually enjoy working on my cars, its kind of like a game to me.

Spending money is the same as putting quarters into a slot to me... a little more expensive.

John

 

My mechanic is having trouble fixing my current problem....so I doubt I would have much luck doing it myself. Hopefully they can figure it out. Going back in again.
I think that the real money in sport coupes is in the very exotic and expensive catagory. Few wanting the sporty models opt for affordable ones ...at least in my mind, those are the Mustang buyers who don't really care VERY much for real performance.
Looks more then anything.

I also don't have much in the way of tools, but I do plan to keep my car, even with occasional requests to sell it. It's at a low point now and I wouldn't be inclined to sell until it's desent, to say the least.
-B

 

I like to buy tools as I need them that way I do not have ONE huge bill... It just nickles & dimes me to death. Actually I like to buy tools with lifetimes warrenties, like Craftsman or Husky.

John

 

A buddy at work has spent thousands on tools and is a major DIY'er
He's got the bikes, sleds, and trucks and he tends to take everything down, clean it and build it up again. I'm guessing he spends mundo freetime working on his vehicles!
My time is mostly spent on home theater and audio/video, where most of my interest lies, however, my car needs the attention now
hehe
BILL

 

DREW has deffinately got somethin' there guys. i was going to pick up an '87 IROC 305 with a manual (i was stoked) for only $1750, but found some really shabby repair work on both of the rear quarters and after a long test drive i found the tranny was on the go. i ended up with my PRISTINE '89 305TBI RS, which was stored in a barn (i kid you not) for 90% of her life. still payed a little much for her, but starting with an esentially brand new camaro (only 30k on the clock) was much more worth than throwin' tones o money into a machine that needs 4 or 5 grand to get up to my road standards. take this into consideration guys.

 

In my recent searches for an F-body, I found many simliarities. The interiors are normally trashed and worthless. Most have been driven "spirited" and need mechanical work. The higher models are even more trashed and in need of some TLC or the junk lot. Thats why when I found my Camaro a few weeks ago I knew it was the one by the clean none torn interior and its lower model state of RS but a little high on the price. If people would just have more respect for their cars.

 

I find it odd that you take a firebird, and there pretty well taken care of, then you go to the Formula, Trans Am and GTA and there less taken care of, but when you up to a TTA or a Firehawk there all pristine like new...

John

 

I've looked in junk yards and found very little in the way of third and fourth gens here, but when I did, they were VERY well parted out leaving nothing I wanted or needed

 

... there is a killer black vert. on eBay right now with no reserve. I say THATS a deal!!
Bill