Hey all. Just managed to find this great little site, and I thought I'd post to get some opinions. Kinda got a rough situation, but in a good way Warning: Much Rambling Ahead

Looking at picking myself up my first sports car (love my nice practical 98 Sunfire, but want something with some style to turn a few heads). Had been mainly looking into the late 70s Corvette as main candidate. However, friend of mine has decided to part with his 87 GTA. I've drooled over this car pretty much since he got it. He managed to pick it up pretty cheap, but has done a lotta work on it to get it right up to new condition.

1. New 350 TPI engine
2. New paint (stripped the old paint right down to the metal on the whole car, fixed up any and all rust that was happening and that wasn't much, and did a snazzy custom paint job on it)
3. New tires. Not sure exactly what brand, but nothing super high end ($700 for the set)
4. Bunch of smaller goodies, like new alarm, stereo, fixed up some minor probs like leaky weather stripping on the T-tops, etc.

Car is pretty much loaded with options (of course, GTAs pretty much came standard with every option under the sun).

Main reasons I'm looking to pick up a second car is as a head turner, for some fun (got that need for speed), and also as an investment (hey, I can at least DREAM of getting back my money in 5 years, can't I?)

I know of course since this is a Trans Am/Firebird board, things might be a little skewed, but what do ya think. Would I be better off getting the GTA (87 was first year of GTA, so little extra collectibility there) or stick with the original idea of a late 70s Vette?

Main thing that's really holding me back I guess is the custom paint job I mentioned. He did it because he loved it. I drool over it because I love it. However, most people wouldn't, so to ever sell the car again, I'd have to repaint it. He's asking $10,000 (Canadian) on it, which seems a little high, but I do know that he's only owned it for about 2 years and he's put about $12,000 into it. Thoughts? Ideas? Flames?

Thanks for reading and responding.

 

As an investment a GTA would be pointless. If you're looking for a lot of performance, the GTA would be better off than a mid-late 70's vette, but again its not very much performance. $10,000 is a rip off for a 87 GTA unless its in perfect condition with less than 40,000 miles.

 

Well this board is all about opinions, so here is mine. The Vettes are nice, if that is what you like. The GTA you are looking at is well over priced. But probably is a nice car also. However I do think the GTA's are going to go up in value within the next few years. It may take a while, but I think they will. They are getting more & more hard to come by in excellent shape. (This one of the reasons why I purchased my 89 GTA) But I payed $3000 so I really had nothing to lose. Just look at the prices of some of the second Gen T/A's,(77's, 78's, 79's etc) a few years ago you could pic them up pretty cheap, but now if you find one in mint condition, you will pay big dollars. I have seen some of them with decent mileage and in mint shape from $10000 & up. Like I said, just my opinion here. Good luck on your choice.
Later
Mike

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Gran Turismo Americano "The Ultimate Firebird"
Smokin 1989 GTA- Bone stock except for exhaust. (no catalytic-stainless pipe into Flowmaster 2 chamber) & AC Delco Rapid Fire Plugs