Ok. I know I've posted on this before and I also know that I said I had planned on keeping my car and fixing it up again. Well, lets flash foward to about 2 weeks ago. I talked to my friends cousin and asked him if he could do alittle engine work for me. The engine work consisted of dropping the 330 HO into my car and also rebuilding the trans. He told me he would do it no problem and at a excellent price. I was all ready to do all this...then yesterday (Saturday) me and my dad went to a small dealership and test drove a 93 Trans Am. I fell in love...the ride is soo smooth and the power is readily available. But, unfortunately, the price (which was at 7900), while was to my liking, just is out of my reach right now. With school and only being able to work part time, my payments a month along w/ insurance and other crap would be astronomical. But I was convinced that is what I wanted. So today me and my dad sat down and he brought to light the fact that I'm 19 and while buying a Trans Am would be very easy, I would have to live w/ the car for awhile before things were all payed off. The only real reason I would even think of getting rid of my car is b/c the engine is crap. But thats why I was going to drop a new 350 in and rebuid the trans. Father was completely cool with that but said that even tho the car would be fast, I would never get back the 4000+ that i invested into it, which is true. But that really didnt bother me. What bothers me is the fact that if i do all this work to it, something else is bound to go out on it, such as something suspension wise, break wise, or some stupid sh*t. Phew...this is getting long and confusing. Lets just get to the point...this summer I'm going to do one or the other. I love my car and I would love a Trans Am (but wouldnt be all). I know you guys arent me, but what should I do? Do i just dump money into the ol RS now or wait and spring for instant power?

 

Well, this is a matter of personal choice. I've heard my father tell me many times that I would never get the money that I'm putting in my car back when I go to resell it. I usually just roll my eyes at this for a few reasons. First, if you're a performance kind of guy the #1 priority is going fast, not selling your car for a profit. Pablo recently said that "cars are for fun" and that if you wanted to make money investing, try stocks. I agree totally. Secondly, my father once put purple racing seats in the Mini Cooper that he used to rally. Fortunatly for him, I wasn't alive at the time, or I would've smacked him.
Anyways, as for the choice between the Camaro you own, and the Firebird you test drove, I'd have to say that you shold stick with the Camaro. The Firebird is only 2 years newer! You're talking about things breaking down on the Camaro at a rate that would greatly exceed the Firebird, when in reality, you won't see that much of a difference. Unless your Camaro has hundreds of thousands more miles than the Firebird, the Firebird isn't going to make a noticable difference, breakdown-wise. With the Camaro, you'll have a fresh engine, a fresh transmission, and a platform that can be just as quick as any 4th gen F-body. I don't want to get into a pro-con debate about 3rd and 4th gens, but let's just say that 3rd gens have some distinct advantages. Like, um, being able to actually see the block without having to use your x-ray glasses on the windshield/cowl, like on the 4th gens. The engine is half-way under the cowl! I've never done a spark plug change on a 4th, but I can imagine the array of extensions and u-joints you'd have to use on your ratchet.
If you bought the Firebird, you'd probably get bored of the power it has soon enough, anyways. The LT1 puts out 275 horse, and while that's quite a bit more than our L03's, it's not enough to run say, 13's.
Put the money in the rebuilds for the Camaro, if anything breaks in the meantime, it can be replaced with something that'll help make your car faster, and can probably be fixed cheaply as parts for our cars are plentiful. Not to mention that the insurance is cheaper, and you've probably paid off the Camaro by now.

 

Yea, the car was payed off 3 years ago, actually when I bought it. Insurance payed for it cause I was in an accident and my last car (a 87 firebird) was totalled. But I totally agree w/ you on all points. I love my car a lot and have put a butt load of money into it. I'm pretty sure in the end i'll keep it only b/c i say i want to sell my car all the time but i never do More or less i was just looking for people to kind of reassure me on my decision...although that trans was mighty nice

 

Keep the car you have.

When stuff breaks, you'll fix it.

If you have to drop in a new/reman engine, you can probably pay it off in short time and with some work your 91 can be as quick as a 93.

Also remember that if you get a 93, engine work will be tougher, and that you will still want to modify the LT1, and that parts for the LT1 are much more expensive than for your present car. A water pump from GM is over $200 for the LT1 and the optispark is the same, or more, in cost.

Yes, you'll never get back the money you sink into the 91, but the same can be said for the 93 as well. Cars that you drive are not an investment.
Save your money, keep the car you have, and enjoy modding it. Don't make the mistake of owing a lot of money to a bank when you are only 19.

FYI, IMO, HTH. - Ken

 

Even though it is a newer car, your other car is paid off. The only thing you pay for is gas and Insurence. I think the 3rd gen is more user friendly, and like it has been said mods cost alot for them. Not to mention if you have a problem with your dist. it will be an arm and a leg. It is fiber-optic. $$$$ Cars are grownup toys. And besides do you like to trouble shoot your cars problems with a laptop??? LOL Keep the older car, you will be happier in the long run.

 

Well here's my two cents. I had a 94 firebird that I worked on and did a lot to until last year. I sold mine for my 91 Camaro. i love my third gen. Its a fun car, parts are easy to come by, its easy to work on, and you can make it quick for half the money. I liked my fourth gen, but now that i've had both, I don't know that i'll ever get rid of my camaro: it'll probably be the hot rod project in years to come. And for what its worth, I too am a 19 yr old student, so i know what its like to have such expenses. Just do whats gonna make you the happiest in the long run.

Rhoadster-

 

keep the car and get a loan for say 4 or 5 grand..alot less than youd pay for the newer car, insurance should be cheaper......and hell i know i could make my car smoke with 4 or 5 grand and i only have a 305 , problem is i cant afford 1500 for heads and an intake when im tryin to buy a house.............i know it sucks but sometimes you just have to get by with what ya have...my goal is a top of the line vette but when its time its time cant rush into things.........

 

I really appreciate all the advice you guys gave or will be giving me. I know that I'll probably never sell my car unless I'm absolutely forced too and even then it would be hard. I'm calling up my friends cousin today and i'm gonna try to get the ball rolling on all this stuff. With any luck, I will have myself a hell of a car by the end of the summer. Now all I have to do is wait for my father to come home from work tonight and have a little chat w/ him I'll set him straight on what i'm doing..hehe Thanx again guys

 

The 93's were a lot of problems too. It wasn't until 1994-1995 that they sorted out all the problems with the 4th gens. I still get great compliments on my car, and I love it for what it is! I went through the pain and agony of a motor swap that almost had me convinced I was throwing my money in the toilet.
Now that all the bugs are worked out, and the car is running beautiful, it goes to show that in the long run, you'll be a lot happier with your 91 and not regret trading it or selling it in the future.
The only person you have to convince is yourself. It's not us at thirdgen.org that are going to make that choice for you. It's your car.
Like I said, there were times I just wanted to throw it all in and give completely up on it. I'm glad I stuck it through. Now I have a car I'm totally happy with.

 

8000 dollars for a 93 trans am!!?!?!?! Are you out of your mind!?

those cars are a dime a dozen!

 

Haha, go easy on me Pablo I realize T/A's are a dime a dozen and I wasnt planning on purchasing the one I told you guys about, just a Trans in general. But I've come to my senses, again , and am sticking w/ the camaro

 

yeah dude......i say DEFINITELY keep the camaro.

 

I was faced with the same choice except with a 02 LS1 (which I could afford) but I chose to stay with my RS, I kept it because I think it looks better and because ill be done paying for it way befor the 02, So far ive freshioned up the trany, new engine and so on, A new fresh coat of paint is going on in Nov. so in a sense it will be a new car. Your young and have all the time in the world to get what you want done but focus on what you need done first, (like school) then in the short future you can get that 4th gen, or even a 5thgen if there is ever to be one.

 

i woudl keep the thirdgen. for the price of the 4th gen and the insurance you can do a ton of mods adn be faster than the 4th gen. it is really a matter of instant gratification vs. faster a little later.

later
tim

 

yeah....keep it! and paint that hood!!