I found a 1989 Camaro RS with a 305 TBI for sale. The owner wants 1600 for the car. The interior is nice with only a few rough spots. There is no stereo or speakers although the whole car has been wired for stereo. The engine knocks constantly, sounds like a bent exhaust valve on the right side. The engine has a miss during low rpms. The exhaust is a little smokey and smells like not all the fuel is burning. The front end is out or line, almost like it has rear ended someone.
A good friend says checked out the car, and suggested paying no more than 1200 for the car.
Im wondering if it is worth the effort. I figure it would take about 1200 to get the car in good running condition.

 

Sounds like there's too much to do on that car for such a high price... Unless you can get it for $500 don't bother. Once a unibody car is in an accident and something structural is bent it never is the same, no matter what the body man tries to tell you. Also, it has a 305 and TBI... Run away.

 

I'd be inclined to agree.... too many good cars out there to be paying top dollar like that for some bottom-of-the-line TBI car with a bent body.

Keep looking. You can do better.

 

i'd say its only worth buying if you can talk him into dropping the price considerably and if the body is in really good shape, no dents, rust, decent paint, etc.. remember unless you paint it yourself a good paint job costs a few grand.

 

the paint is fine, no body rust or anything like that.

U suggested a price drop, like how low?

 

I wouldn't pay over $750 for it, in Cincinnati.

The value of a wrecked car varies greatly with locality. I'd bet that in Denver, it isn't too hard to find cars with no rust. So its value is going to be lower than, say, in Minneapolis or Buffalo; maybe not as low as San Diego though. It would be damn near worthless anywhere that cars don't rust at all. You'd have to pay somebody to come get it.

Keep looking. It sounds like somebody wants to pass along their headaches and upside-down finances to you, and it's not in your best interest to go there. You can do better. Find a car that hasn't been wrecked. There's too may good ones out there to buy "a pig in a poke", as they say.

 

Agreed. Leave and don't look back. Not worth your time and money.

I'd buy a foxbody mustang before I'd buy that heap

Hehe.

 

Save your money and try looking elsewhere. Try the auto trader, Ebay, local papers. For $1,600 you should be able to buy a nice 1989 f-body or even a 1990 F-body. Being that you are from the North, (F-bodies are really bad in snow) don' t be in a rush to buy a car especially the one you posted. Last thing you want to do is pay the guy $1,600 and pay another $2,000.00 to rebuild motor and fix the other miscellaneous problems. Good deals can be had, just have to keep looking.

 

i thank all of you very much. I thought it wasnt worth it, but i wanted opinions of those who have these cars.