88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

Hey Guys,

I'm shopping around for a new 3rd gen and looking to see what's out there. Someone contacted my ad to tell me they have a 1983 Z28 with 91,000 miles and 20,000 miles on the engine, said it runs great. It has the cross fire injection on it.

I kept thinking "91,000 original miles, this must be a clean car"

It took a couple of emails to get full pictures of the car, I explained I'm not going to drive four hours unless I know what the car looks like. I'm this way with anyone offering a car for sale and lives more than an hour from me.












He wanted $2995, but will take $2600 firm....is this worth that much, or should I offer a lower price or keep looking?? I was thinking this might be a $1200 or $1500 car max.

Help from the experts?

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

IMG]http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd180/1982corvettedude/83%20z28/all_065.jpg[/IMG]

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

I probably wouldnt pay $2600 for it... It needs a couple body parts, panel alignment, body work, paint, the interior is filthy, looks like he's goofed with the dash and added things here and there.

On the plus side, the engine compartment looks fairly unmolested...and by that I mean there are wires hanging all over and cut harnesses laying on top the motor. No way of telling what lies beneath though. I do see a harness that looks like it started to melt. Also some decent rust on the drivers side strut tower.

Its really hard to judge with just pictures. You really wont know the true condition unless you go see it. So Ide say if you arent willing to take the drive with the knowledge that you might not buy the car, then pass and find something cleaner or closer.

When I got my 86, it was in Ohio. But it was a 30k mile car, garage kept, and the pictures left nothing to the imagination. And I knew I was replacing just about everything anyway....so sight unseen was ok with me.

J.

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

That's what I was thinking, there's a guy down the road that has a fairly clean 91/92 Z28 red with white stripes going down the hood, enkei wheels. Solid roof.

He's wanting $1500 for it, but would cut me a little better deal....only thing the engine is out of it, so it would need a engine right off the bat.

But on the plus side, it's pretty clean on the interior, used...but clean and all the body panels are there.

This guy owns a salavage yard, and my wife says he's really shady....that's the only thing that's keeping me from going back....I see the car everyday and am drawn to it.

He's where my Trans Am came from, and the title was a pain to get in my name....I had to find the guy that sold it to the guy that sold it to him to get them to sign off that the car didn't have a lien at a local bank. This was before I could tag the car.

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

Yikes... If its that shady...then I dont know. That'd be enough to push me away. I like buying from private partys and Ill only do it after I talk to them and only if I have a good feeling from the seller.

On a side note...Ide much rather buy a clean car with decent paint and a clean interior with no motor, than a car with a so/so motor, crappy interior, no paint, and missing body parts. A donor motor can be found super cheap...even a TPI or something alittle nicer than the crossfire.

Is that all the other ride is missing? Just the motor? Or is it missing the trans and wiring and all that jazz.

There are plenty of good deals on these cars right now...just keep looking around the boards and on ebay. you might find the perfect car, thats alittle further away...but it might be worth it to end up with a nice car.

J.

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

That's the thing, this guy mumbled something about the previous owner try to put in the wrong computer....both of them could never tell me if it had TPI or TBI originally.

So it's hard to say if any of the wireing has been screwed with....other than that it's a clean straight car, it could use a paintjob but it is fine as is for now.

Yeah I'm going to keep looking until I find the perfect car for me.

Thanks!

1LOMARO

Just a heads up..... cross-fire injection can be tricky! They are only good for about 10 mpg....12 tops! Just looking at the pics, I would give no more than 12-1500! Plus you need to really look at that motor as it could be the 305 not the 350! JMO

iroc a 86 berli

yea thats a negative on that ghostrider. 1500 for a hacked up roller seems a bit high. i cannot see any pics or links so im just shooting from the hip here, i would hold out for a more suitable ride tho.

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

Yeah i had crossifre on my 82 vette, previous owner removed it. I would rather get something with TBI or TPI.

red/white04

Paid 3grand for my 88 iroc in near mint condition...i wouldn't mess with it

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

Thanks, I just emailed him and told him I will pass. It needs more work than I want to put into one right now...especially at that price.

I've seen better interiors at the local pull a parts I frequent.

L695speed

I was gonna say it looks like it is 191,000 miles and the odo rolled over. I don't see an engine being rebuilt at 70,000 miles if it was then thats a serious red flag. Good to see you looking for a better deal. (the guy probably thinks that he can get more for it because its a classic now....)

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

Thanks, when he first contacted me about the car all he said was a z28 w/ 91,000 original miles and he was asking 2995 but will take 2600 cash for it.

Never sent pictures.....so I asked for some and he sent these







I mean what am I supposed to do with these?? I emailed back and asked for wider shots and pictures of the whole car. Didn't look like the low miles car I pictured.

Now imagine if I made a four hour trip and pulled up to that?? I don't think I would have stopped.

I have around $3000 to spend but once I buy the car, I won't have any extra cash to put into it....so I'm trying to get the best bang for the buck right now.

sonjaab

Thats a lot of coin for what looks like a **** poor looking car thats gonna
need THOUSANDS of dollars to even be presentable ! Let alone any mechanical
issues.

I scored a 84 Z 305 ho auto with every option, mint body, paint and interior
for $1500 bucks! Only needed a new headliner and speaker panels (that cost
$150). Sure it had 120k miles but it ran and drives excellent !

Keep looking!

Dens71TA

iTrader: (5)

That guy is going to be the owner of this car for quite some time for what he is asking. It looks pretty rough and must have been a hard '91,000 miles it was driven! I think he would be lucky to get much over $1000 for it.

iroc a 86 berli

there are always deals out there, just keep looking, i picked up my 86 berli for 400$ with a seized 2.8. only one rust spot on it, and no bondo to be found. body is in great shape. it has 90k on the odometer.

91chevywt

Keep looking. Theres a lot better deals than that out there...especially if you're willing to travel.

The only reason I can imagine he would want that much is if he paid that much himself or more, and is trying to get money back. Thats a $1500 car at best. You wouldn't have to travel 4 hours to get that.

Mark in Maine

Yah, that's a wee bit rough for the money - Those pics show a car that'll take a fair amount of work (and dollars) to make into anything like a nice car - lot of folks on here agree that there's better examples to be had for close to rhe same price.

mpb74

that car looks very rough! i would keep looking. not sure what these cars bring in your area but around here, it would bring 900 bucks or less. just my 2 cents

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

I agree, but why would someone ask that much? Because right off the bat it would need new carpet, dashpad, seats covers, and headliner headliner...so you looking at over $1000 you would have spend just to start.

I know when i'm looking at cars right now I'm looking at the big picture, when someone send me a picture of an interior I look at the dash, seats, carpet, headliner and door panels.....if one thing is damaged or could use replacing I'm cool with that.

But if I have to replace everything mentioned that influences my decison if I want the car....or will be willing to pay more than $2500 for the car.

Another factor is body vs interior....if it has a perfect interior and needs paint I'm cool with paying $2500 for the car. But if it needs paint AND interior....I don't think so. That's a $1000 car to me.

I know I seem picky, but hey it's my hard earned cash and once I lay out the cash, that's all I'll have for a while. I want the best car for my money.

Honestly that 83 z28 looks like it had been sitting up outside for a long time, look at the rust on the steering wheel. I bet this car was in a barn or backyard for the most of the late ninties.

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

Your car is a good example of the price / car I'm shopping around for. I hope I can score something like that.

Because at $2800 I wouldn't use all my taxes, put some cash in savings, have a good car I can drive and enjoy, and keep the wife happy.

I've had several offers of $3000 - 3500 , but unless they come off the price, it's going to be hard to get me to bite. I find myself being a little pickier when I look at these "$3500" cars. Now on some of those, if they come down to $2500....it might already be sold.

I guess it depends on how bad the seller needs sell it, and get out from under it.


This is a good example of a car I would jump in and pay $3500 in a heartbeat for

1990 Camaro RS

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

This guy wants $3800 for this Camaro, I figure with all the work needed it's a 1500 car...2000 max.

He made a comment in his ad that cars like this go for over 6 grand....I would like to know who's paying it?

1986 Camaro

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

Too bad you aren't in Cali, I can get those cars for around 2k in better condition all day long! Shipping a possibility?

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

Thanks for the offer, I'm going to try and span out a 400 or so mile radius and see if I can find one.

iroc a 86 berli

this is really close to my house. i know the guy to. i donno how far you are from kansas but the vert is in good shape for 2k

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/pts/1014917214.html

IROCKET4U

Look into having the car shipped and get yourself a better deal than this. I was recently in the market and found I could have a car shipped all the way across the country for $550-$700 (New york to Seattle).
I just found a car on craigslist that appears to be a steal and if I didnt just buy an IROC I would be all over this deal. You should call him and get some high res pics emailed if your interested.

http://eugene.craigslist.org/cto/1024318789.html

Jim
relocation consultant
PROFESSIONAL MOVING SOLUTIONS INC.
866.466.1145
jim@promovingsolutions.com
www.professionalmovingsolutions.com

Lea
Shipping Coordinator
A OK Auto Transport LLC
Phone: 954-695-2877
lealerario@aokautotransport.com
www.aokautotransport.com

These two were the cheapest I found after getting 20-30 phone calls and emails from multiple companies.

L695speed

body (as far as cracks and paint etc) could be comparable to my car work wise, the interior...despite my need for a headliner, mines in much better shape. 172K miles trying to get it running again though.....

1LOMARO

If I were looking for the 82-84 Z28's I would purchase this one ....... a little far from you but a nice ride!!!

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/1025595094.html

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

That's the way I am, right now I'm torn between a 84-86 Corvette or a 86-92 Camaro. I have the opportunity to buy either on of them.

The only thing is, I can get a better Camaro needing less work than the Corvettes in my price range. I keep going back and forth....

I guess when I can actually put my hands on the cars I'm looking at it might be different.

kizz

iTrader: (1)

since you brought it up, I'd go with the vette, preferably an '84 CFI. Those are on my shortlist of cars I want to own. Hard to beat the timeless style of the early C4. '84 was a high production year and a lot of people abhor the CFI so they're just about the cheapest Vettes to be had from any year. I probably just pissed off all the TPI people, but oh well. good luck with it.

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

Yeah, I have a few vettes in my neighborhood / price range to go look at. Honestly, I'm leaning towards purchasing one of those over a F-body.

There is a guy about four hours from me with a stock 84 that still has the cross fire on it and he says runs great, just cosmetic issues. He wants $3800 for it.

Guy emailed me last night with a 86, that has a 94 update done to it. He hasn't replied with a price yet but I remember seeing this ad before when i wasn't looking at it seems like he wanted in the $4k range.

I also looked at a 90 RS V8 this weekend, white w/T-tops at a car lot. The windows were tinted so dark I could see inside. The owner wasn't there so I didn't get to test drive it. My wife called him and he said he would take $2,000 cash for it, but unsure how it runs.

But I'm leaning very close to a C4 Corvette.

99b4c

That $2600 Z has some rusty strut towers. I just picked up a 100% rust free 89 RS 2.8/T5 off Phoenix craigslist for $200 because the owner lost the keys, and will be shipping it back to Chicago.

You can easily find a running very clean 3rd gen in the $1-2K range.

iroc a 86 berli

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...6161&viewitem=

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

Just bought a 88 Trans Am this weekend from one of our members in Sikeston, MO. Pretty clean car.

I'll post pics when it warms up a bit.