cwb90

Just wondering if you came across a 92 Z or earlier year Irocs what would be the better purchase if they were similar optioned, condition, etc?

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

Iroc-Z... The stickers bring the $$$$$.

topduarte

iTrader: (8)

92 z28 because they are faster and much cooler looking than a damn IROC.

If I had to buy an IROC, choice #1 would be a 90 hardtop then and 87 would be choice #1.

Lately I do like the 82-84 z28's.

Komet

Monetarily speaking, the IROC-Z is always going to take top billing as it's the iconic model for the generation. I'd say you should pick the car you like better. The '92 has a different cluster, all the tweaks and mods for noise reduction and build quality improvements, and the benefit of the most modern options available.

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

...faster???

QwkTrip

iTrader: (22)

The one you like.

The 92 has a better chassis with all the seams bonded. Anything else you can modify and make one as good as the other. But the chassis.... That's a lot of work to make an earlier car equivalent.

cwb90

Thanks everyone for the comments. I was thinking the 92 z may appreciate more in value because of the lower production numbers and rarity from what I have been told.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

The later model is the better car. The last couple of years had some additional chassis stiffening.

Very few IROCs got the better disc brakes, which appeared in 89.

Even fewer IROCs got the 28-spline axles, which appeared in 89 also, but were by no means "universal" until well into 90 production.

IROC was, for the most part, STICKERZZZZ!!!! in the later years most especially, although in the 1st couple of years, it meant some chassis improvements. Plus, it was more likely that one of those would have had the top of the line drive trains, for a few years. Some though, were never anything but STICKERZZZZZZZZZZ!!!! especially the earlier ones with LG4 and the later ones with TBI. AFAIK however, 91 & 92 were, at least, TPI only, although by then TPI was severely outdated and outclassed by any and every thing it was up against. GM held onto that obsolete system for WWWWWWWAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY too long. Corporate laziness at its finest.

"Value", "appreciate", "numbers", ... I know NOTHING WHATSOEVER about that sort of thing, except that most of it is raw unadulterated unmodified unvarnished unalloyed MONKEY SPANK. That's Firebird owner talk, anyway; Camaro owners are supposed to be more sensible in that way. These cars (including the Firebirds) never have had, do not now have, and never will have, the kind of "value" and "appreciation" we are familiar with in 60s and early 70s "muscle cars". Not for any reason about the CAR itself; rather, the TIMES, and CULTURE, they were born into. That goes DOUBLE, maybe even TRIPLE, for any of them that have enjoyed the typical life of a "muscle car"; driven hard, wrecked, tore up, a million miles, no longer the original motor, needs paint, interior all wore out, AC doesn't work, car smells like BO, can't drive it more than halfway round the block without something that somebody half-assed somewhere along the way (usually electrical or the cooling system) breaking, ... in a word, Barrett-Jackson is NOT an accurate gauge of "value" for most of these cars that are sitting in people's driveways today.

All that said, ceteris paribus, I'd buy the later model car.

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

The biggest thing driving any perceived value is nostalgia, and I think that tips the scale in favor of the IROC. I think objectively you could say the later cars are better than earlier cars, but that's often the case with every car, as manufacturers are always upgrading and updating from year to year, and I don't think it really adds value to most buyers looking for 30 year old cars. As with any car, very low mileage in exceptional shape, all original, very well optioned cars do get the attention of a different type of buyer. In that case, sure, rarity, options, production numbers do play a part, but that's really only the 1% of these cars.

What are the details of YOUR car? I wouldn't cut up a good condition 92z, because it obviously hold more value than just a run of the mill sport coupe or something, but I also wouldn't hold onto it for "financial reasons". The overwhelming majority of these cars, and all cars for that matter, will never appreciate enough to make them good investments. Drive 'em, mod 'em, show em, enjoy 'em. They're just cars.

navy02ws6

IROCs are much more recognizable, and lots of folks (myself included) don't care for the F40 style 1991-92 Z28 rear spoiler, or the 1991-92 wheels. Yes, the later cars are built better, and didn't offer any of the lower spec (non-TPI) engines that were available in the IROC, so that's certainly something to consider, but I think it really comes down to personal preference. While we're at it, I also don't care for the instrument cluster used on the 1990-92 cars, compared to the earlier cars.

As far as a value standpoint, I don't see the 1991-92 Z28s ever being worth as much as a 1985-90 IROC. The market is driven by nostalgia, performance (which is negligible in this case as there wasn't ever a great/rare/high horsepower engine available in any third gen), and what people recognize. I've had plenty of pleebs say "nice IROC" in reference to my '91 RS, at which point I have to tell them it's a base model, and they didn't even make IROCs that year. On the other hand, not a single person has called it a Z28. The name/model just isn't nearly as recognizable as the IROCs were.

Bottom line: buy the car that you prefer.

erik69&85

iTrader: (1)

I have both a 92 Z28 and an 88 IROC... The IROC will always be more valuable....

But I MUCH prefer the 92 Z... I prefer the styling AND the wheels over the earlier cars... It drives better, is more efficient... And just LOOKS better... But obviously others disagree... Oh well...

As others say... The sticker gets more money... The IROC is the quintessential car of the era... And they have really jumped in price recently... It's a popularity contest... Not about which car is actually better...

I will NEVER sell my 92Z... But I will sell the IROC...

George Klass

I don't dislike 91-92 Z28 but to me the 85-90s look much cleaner. The GFX and spoiler on 91-92 are like "preservatives" for me.

LeonardS

I’m a little partial to the 92 Z’s, but I’ve always liked the entire Thirdgen car series of Z28’s and IROC’s. Buy what you like and “never” buy these cars as an investment.

erik69&85

iTrader: (1)

if you can't decide... Get both....lol
To what Leonard said... I just love that poster of the red 92 heritage edition that have from back in the day... I sold my 85 to get my 92... But I sold my 89 IROC for almost double what I had into it..

.a good car is a good car... A bad condition IROC will kill you faster than a good condition 92Z...

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

They just about ruined the look of the 91-92 Z28s with that stupid wing.