Ok so first of all, I'm 16 and I turn 17 in September and I'm getting a third gen which is why I joined the site. Up until now I was sure I was getting the camaro, preferably a 91-92 but now that I've been on this website for a while and I have seen the firebirds and all of the nice cars here I'm starting to have my doubts on which car is better. At first I didn't like the design of the firebirds but what can I say they've grew on me. So what I'm asking here is for you owners of firebirds and camaro to help me in choosing because Im really stuck. What are the pros and cons of both and which one is better for a young driver. Now I'm not some extreme noob but I would like an opinion. Thanks in advance

I own both models so i cant say

Both cars are roughly equal in handling since both share the same drivetrain components and sizes.

Since most of these cars are between 20 and 30 years old, there wil be very few left that have the original tires and shocks/springs and provided you find a car which is 100% stock, tires shocks and springs will be worn out.

After replacing those the differences between the two car lines lies mainly in weight.
I thought the Camaros were slightly lighter then the Firebirds due to the GFX used.

If you have not decided on either one, like me when I was searching for a thirdgen, enjoy the luxury and go look at as many thirdgens as you can and pick the best one when buying.

I ended up with a Camaro and have not regretted buying it.

Thanks man^^. there's a couple of camaros for sell around here but no 91-92's which I really want. And I want a z28. Would it be bad if I settled for a 91 rs there's one right around the corner, its a plum color with a 305, also is that a good engine

The 305 isn't a horrible motor, but it's not the best place to start if you want to go fast. Check for rust, and any problems with the body or motor. Also, check the coolant in the rad, if it's nasty it's a sign the motor has seen better days.

I'd take a rust free v6 car over a rotten Z28/Iroc/GTA any day...

I suppose it all depends on what your goals are!

i have had both and in my opinion i like the firebird better...to me it feels like it handles a touch better, its a little more comfortable, and i love the gauges and the looks of the firebird.....needless to say i am trading my 91 Z28 for a 92 Formula

I have had both (85 Z28, 86 IROC, 88 GTA, 90 GTA) and have found that the parts are easier to find for my Camaro then my Birds, at least here in Nebraska. The birds are notorious for having broken or crappy wrap around spoilers, consoles, and headlight motors. On the other hand camaros have bad hood louvers (90 on down) and the look of the gauges is not as appealing.

I plan on buying another bird so I am not biased on either model so buy what ever you like more. Both have the same running gear and most of the parts are interchangeable so you will be safe either way.

whatever you get, make sure its not rotted. these cars rot BADLY!!!! check all the floors, under the front and under the back of the car. if anything thats not a suspension part or axle is heavily rusted, forget it. if you can see bad rust, chances are there is more hiding elsewhere.

Also, like said earlier, these cars are getting old, so if they have not been maintained, they can be a money pit. you can usually tell how well the car has been cared for by the overall cleanliness inside out and under the hood.

as for camaro or firebird, performance wise, they are about the same, no huge difference, but the birds have a much more refined interior from 85-92. Just have to watch out for the damn headlight motors crapping out. they are fixable, but can be annoying. i have been lucky to never have a problem with them on either of my cars.

Hate to mention this, and im sure people will hate me for it, but the prices of 4th gens are coming down a lot, and they are newer....

Just from my personal experience, camaros seem a lot more plentiful (ie cheaper).

The main thing is to start with a good base, can't stress that enough. Just don't rush into buying one, if you have questions or need an opinion we're here to help, might get 5 different opinions, but oh well LOL. You can't go wrong either way, just make sure you're happy with it. The 1 you can get inspected/ pass emissions should be the 1 you buy.

What he said! ^

I've had a few before this one, and they were both roaches.

Thanks guys. What I've gotten is that I should go around looking at the cars examining which one is better and then pick the one that's the best for me. I live in Louisiana and I can go as far as Texas and Georgia looking for these cars. What is the highest amount I should be looking to spend

That plum '91 RS 305 around the corner is the look you originally wanted. And it's already a V8, making it much easier to end up wherever you were hoping to end up.
Structural rust is a primary consideration, but get it checked for past collision repairs, too. Get a car with a clean title.
Getting a real Z28 or IROC-Z will mean a greater likelihood that the car has been abused all it's life.
Ideally, get a car with maintenance records and receipts, from an older person. That RS might be such a car.
But do your research. Don't buy on impulse. Take your dad, uncle, grandpa, or best friend's dad with you. That'll help you not get scammed, and they can play devil's advocate.
It's too easy to buy what we think we want, then rationalize it.

Just to add my two cents...
Like the others have said, make sure that its not rotted and youre off to a good start. I wouldnt necessarily agree with the theory of the uplevel trims being beaten more, I looked at dozens of thirdgens and even the base level ones were beat to death. it just depends on the person. The T/A I own WAS in fact beaten to hell and back, BUT not one spot of rust on it, its at paint now, and I had to replace the motor, but I bought this as a project. Set out your goals and intentions and go from there. If you want a good daily over a good project, then be a little bit more picky about what you buy. I bought mine at 17 and I did rush into it. Were I to go back, I would probably have waited and found something better, but I digress. Good luck in your hunt and dont get discouraged by a few let-downs, its all part of the game.
Will

firebirds have nicer interiors imo(and most will agree) but camaros are lighter, beyond that its really a matter of body style preference, headlight motors are a consideration though, one of the bigger things I can say is look out for rot, esp on driverside floorpan.
And buy what you want, if you want t-tops get t-tops(they are heavier though fyi) and if you want a v8 get a v8, swapping things out doesn't always work out the way you think it might, ie. if something breaks you have new priorities for the car, also, don't expect all that much reliability out of a 2 decade old car, imo the guy who suggested a 4th gen had a point, would definitely be more reliable, and is more or less the same car underneath, so if you like the body style its worth considering, slightly wider rear diff, and rack and pinion steering, front suspension got changed a little, and some of the body panels are SMC instead of sheet metal, and engines drop from underneath with the whole k-member, otherwise more or less the same car aside from interior and body.

Well I just found out that the plum color car is a purple haze 92 rs. It doesn't have any rust. Is that a good buy. Can I convert that into a z28