Inpheksion

So, I have been looking at an 89 Turbo Trans Am, and am going to start negotiating a price soon, but I am not sure where I should start, so I felt I would ask you guys what you thought it would be worth:

The car is NOT a pace car edition.
Cloth interior, well worn. Some stains on the floors and tears in the driver's seat. Dash is cracked, sun faded
50k+ Miles
Paint is not great, some clear coat peel, some imperfections.
Some of the trim is chipped, and the spoiler is cracked.
It does not run. It was claimed to run when it was parked, but it has been sitting for 5 years.
Obviously needs new tires and brakes and what not. Has a very small amount of rust (a little on the exhaust, and some starting on the heatshields, but nothing major.)

Any price ranges for where I would start?

I've seen cherry ones go for anywhere from `10-20k, but this one is far from cherry. It's more of a "get it running and drive it" type car.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank You.

TPI-Formula350-

pictures would help

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

A 89 TTA is a pace car edition, they all have a turbo V6.
What are you looking at? A clone?
Pix would help us.
Is it just a 89 Trans Am or GTA?

TPI-Formula350-

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

If the car is ALL THERE, all installed and operating (at least to the point that everything turns), then it's worth working with.

If the WHOLE CAR is not there, i.e. if the A/C is not installed or the exhaust is not hooked up, then it's NOT a TTA; it's a clone. In that case, it's almost not worth taking, even as a gift, because the parts that cannot readily be found, substituted or replaced, are missing.

Condition is the main important thing here; and avoiding the starry-eyed "OMG it's a TTA and it's about to be MINE" kind of mental fog. First thing you gotta keep in mind, after you get your feet back planted firmly on the ground, is that it's for sale FOR A REASON, and the reason is NOT because it's so .... perfect. Once you get past that, and find what's missing, incomplete, broken, whatever, and determine whether it's something you can actually deal with, and it won't just turn into a long-term garage ornament that you'll turn around and re-sell in a decade or 2 at a further loss.

Inpheksion

What I meant by not a pace car edition, is that it does not have the door graphics. I do not believe it is a clone, as the 8th VIN digit is 7 (for the SFI V6T). I went to check it out today, and with a fresh battery it started right up, but runs extremely rough. This could be down to the fact that it has 5 year old gas in it, or there could be something such as a vac leak or something. I ran a diagnostic tool on it and it was running lean.

It has 77k miles, and some bad points besides the rough running is:
1 wheel stud is snapped on the rear axle (I am guessing somewhere along the way, someone stripped the keyed-lug), one headlight is stuck down (not a surprise), the spoiler is cracked all to hell, the driver's seat is pretty much destroyed, the headliner is peeling, the passenger visor is missing. (It is a leather interior actually, thought it was cloth from a picture I was sent a while ago, due to the seat cover).
It also has an aftermarket Sony stereo installed, but it doesn't look like the damaged the dash at all when it was installed. (I did not check to see if the steering wheel buttons still operated the radio, I assumed they did not). It also has some cheap looking fog light replacements.

They guy is selling it because he's a friend of my cousin, and he ran into some hard times, and can no longer keep the car.


Any new opinions?

Inpheksion

Sorry, this picture wouldn't work with the attachment manager:

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

The door decals were in the box with other items and not installed on the cars. That was left to the buyer. You have a TTA pace car weather you want it or not lol.
If its a decent price and you have the extra cash, go for it. Sounds like it has most of the normal 20yr old plus 3rdgen problems.
If you haven't found it there is a good TTA website thats very helpful.

kymmee

A cracked rear spoiler, cracked leather seats, torn headliner, and headlight bucket issues are all common problems on these cars. All of that stuff can be replaced or fixed. Do they have the owners kit? The door decals are in the kit. The fact that it is running rough could be a fuel pump problem, you could check the fuel pressure. We all know that is a big job replacing the fuel pump. As for the radio, my TTA came with an aftermarket unit, I just bought an OEM one and have it with my extra parts.

Sounds like the car is all there, if the price is right, could be a great opportunity to own one of these cars.

Inpheksion

Sadly, I highly doubt the owner's kit is with it.

Javier87z28

iTrader: (1)

how much is he wanting to get out of it?

Inpheksion

We have not yet begun to discuss price. I am going to make an offer some time tomorrow if I can get a hold of him.

I was going to start somewhere around 2000-3000 and work up from there, what are your opinions?

eseibel67

This car has spent a long time parked outdoors. Personally, that would turn me off right away.

However, the exclusiveness of a TTA would make it worth restoring.

Javier87z28

iTrader: (1)

As one of the other members had mentioned a majority of the issues are common wear issues with third gens, If you can get it under around 3500 id be a good deal having that not many of these were made and when in good state still command a fair amount of money. There was one down here in Texas about an year ago around similiar condition as the one you are looking at asking price was 3000 obo it had been up for sale for several days before i contact the seller, once i had it was sold if not i would have bought it in a heartbeat lol

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

I agree with the above analysis. The stuff you're describing is pretty much just the typical age- and use-related wear and tear these cars accumulate.

Personally I have no idea what those cars are "worth", since that's a pretty subjective matter between buyer and seller, and is not driven by "blue book" or similar standards. It's one of the most "desirable" of all these cars, so in terms of being "worth" putting money into restoration, it's one of those that's most likely to pay back what it takes to restore it. Not saying you can turn a profit, only, that your odds of at least coming close ar ebetter with that car than about any other.

So yeah, start out low, and be reasonable when he negotiates. Find out before you start what some of that stuff would cost to put back right again, so you don't end up upside-down in it before you even start.

Inpheksion

Just for information, if I do purchase this vehicle, I do not plan on doing a full restoration. My plan is to get it running, fix the major issues, and then drive it. Most of these TTA's spend their lives in a climate controlled garage and then get trailered somewhere... I feel at least one should be able to roam free, and not have to worry about a drop of rain on the windshield

Javier87z28

iTrader: (1)

Id say take a thorough look at it, see more or less what is needed to get it to being a dd, find out cost for necessary parts and if your willing to invest the money and time go for it, just be open to the concept of labor of love lol

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

True dat; but OTOH, there's no ... whatever ... in driving around a steaming bucket of excrement that used to be something really nice. Makes you look a bit like those people that drive around a 25-yr-old Cadillac that's beat to a pulp, have 4 mismatched tires (at least one a temp-a-spare) on 4 mismatched wheels, sags so low it almost scrapes, smokes like a freight train, trim held on w duct tape, used pallets stacked 12' high in the trunk, etc. But hey it's a Cadillac, right?

kymmee

Mine has 52k and I do drive it. In fact, I drove it home, when I bought it (2 hr drive). I dont drive it in the winter and try to avoid rain, but its a local cruise in/show car. Pampered somewhat, but not excessively. Once you drive one, it is very hard to make it a trailer queen.

eseibel67

Speaking of a drop of rain, make sure the carpet is dry. If the T tops leak you could be in for a floor repair - which is something you would have to fix even if it's just a driver.

Javier87z28

iTrader: (1)

Put a set of 22's on that caddy and it demands 10k easily lol

Inpheksion

It was raining pretty good today, and I ran my fingers along the edges of the headliner where the T-Tops seal up, and that all seemed pretty dry, but I did forget to check the floors.

antares57

iTrader: (8)

This is where I go to check out my classics. Hope it helps a little.

http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Ca...e-Car-+/Values