Hey... not sure if this is where i should post this but i need some opinions....

I have an 87 trans am, 98,000 miles, 305 5speed t-tops. dealer wants to give me 1200 for a trade in, which i think is crap but my car does have a lot of problems. the paint is mostly good and shiny but there are bubbles on the front of the hood from a bra the previous owner had, there's some rust behind the passenger side rear wheel, and the spoiler and rear bumper cover are pretty ugly too, and there are a few scratches here and there. The transmission leaks like crazy, and the engine idles at 1500 rpm. with these problems do you think i could get much more than 1200, or shoudl i jsut trade it in?

thanks
Jeff

 

When I was goin to trade in my 91 z28 they offered to give me 1400 so yes i'd say 1200 is very good for an 87.

 

dude, what we have here is a typical case of dealer rape. i dunno how old you are, but NEVER EVER sell your car to a dealer. under no circumstances. when i was going to sell my 89 honda accord, i looked at the online kelly bluebook, and it said i should expect about 1500 from a dealer, but 3500 if i sold it directly to another person.. see a problem here? thought so. gawd i hate dealerships with a terrible passion (insert sounds of pitbulls growling and much froth comming from mouth here)

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• 83 Z28-- not a pretty site to look at, 200k miles and im sure it was treated like a rental car every day of its sad life(before i got it).. sold, thank the lord
• 74 Z28-- 383/400, green on black. pretty clean. FOR SALE!!!

 

Understand that a dealer is always going to work out a price that is good for him, not you. Put a FOR SALE sign on the car and see what type of offers you get. Also check the blue book value of the car. If the prices are close, then you are getting a good deal. A dealer will factor in the cost to refurbish or repair the car in order to sell it for a profit. A separate buyer would also factor in cost, but usually doesn't plan to resell.
Personally, with the 2 major flaws your car has (rust & drive-train probs) I wouldn't offer you much more than the dealer

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92 Camaro RS, LO3, 5-spd, T-tops

Performance:
K&N Open Air Filter, Edelbrock performer TBI intake, Fastchip Prom, Timing +4 degrees, Centerforce clutch, Xact 8mm wires, SLP 1 3/4" Headers (coated), Flowmaster Catback Exhaust, Z28 Grille w/aftmkt fog lamps, MacEwen white-face guages
Electronics:
Alpine 8030 Alarm System, Valentine One Radar Detector (How did I ever drive without one?), Pioneer DEH 7450 Head Unit w/6-pack CD changer, Pioneer DEQ 7600 Sound Processor, 2 Kenwood KAC-846 Amps powering 2 12" Pro Red subs, 2 Pioneer 6x9 and 2 MTX 4x6 speakers.
NEXT UP: TBI mods, 3.42 gears w/Torsen posi

 

Hard too say how much your car is worth without seeing it, but Dealers for the most part will try to take advantage of you. Don't give the car away man. Good luck
Take care
Mike

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Smokin 1989 GTA- Bone stock except for exhaust. (no catalytic-stainless pipe into Flowmaster 2 chamber).

 

I sell cars, and I would say the same thing TRY to sell it outright. The thing is you cant always just sell your car quickly, so you trade it in and get rid of it. I agree that the trade-in value isn't the best. When I have a deal that needs to be done sometimes we put more into the car and it is A LOT! harder to resell or auction. thats one of many reasons why dealers don't give what we want on trades.

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1988 Trans am GTA
stock, only mods:
flowmaster exaust.
in process of getting more