Well here is the deal guys. I just bought my 91 GTA like 6 weeks ago and I love it I really do...but...the same dealership I bought the GTA at has a 87 Corvette with 48k miles for 7k.... . So I already checked insurance...its affordable (30 bucks a month more) but I have some cash ($1500) in this GTA already that I doubt I will get back, and hell ITS A GTA! But I bought the GTA because I love the TPI setup. But damn im going back and forth on this one. I have this...

GTA PROS: L98, Collectable, Great Condition
GTA CONS: Collectable, Needs paint and a engine rebuild

Vette PROS: ?Aluminum? L98, Tilt front end, Low Miles, Ripe for Modding
Vette CONS: Loose money, Loose nice GTA, 5 BHP less than the GTA

I just cant afford both ya know so im stuck here. Anyone have any info on weather or not the Vette would be faster other than the 500lbs less? That and I dont remember seeing smog equipment on it (doesnt mean its not there). And this would be an aluminum headed L98 right? Other than that are there any other reasons it would be good or bad?

Help!

 

Cant decide for you but, before you make plung into vette ownership consider and check into the cost of replacement parts and or upgrades. Dont be surprised to find that vette ownership isnt quite as affordable as f-bodies. Not trying to talk you out of it but, I own a C3 and a couple of 3rd gens

 

Two Vette stories:
1) Nephew, '86 Vette. Loved the car. Spent a bunch of money getting it up to snuff after buying it (engine, AC, suspension, etc.). AC kept quitting. Little things kept going wrong. Finally got tired of ~$700/month in repairs, sold it, bought an '88 IROC. Figured it was a poor man's Vette. Was so disappointed in the rougher ride, poorer handling, rattles, etc., sold it. Now driving a VW bug.

2) Engineering director, '88 Vette. Loved the car. Got tired of electricals failing under the hood. Ordered a C6, loves it.

Moral of the story: There ain't no free lunch.

 

The emissions equipment should be there unless someone removed it. My 86 came with everything an f body did, hell mine even had factory cast iron heads..
The GTA needs a rebuild and paint? Those two things alone arnt exactly cheap fixes if you want em done right. How the vette body wise and mechanically? I think 57 said it best.. it's your decision in the end. Choose the one that makes you happy.

 

Vettes are cool, and you get a lot of neat stuff on a vette, stuff that would cost a fortune to duplicate on an f-body.

Just as significantly, you also get in on the corvette culture which is more together than f-body culture (with the exception of thirdgen.org) Vette guys even wave to each other on the street. You might get that in an f-body, but the vette owners do it all the time.

I've had both, one corvette that I really liked a lot, and 5 camaros. I could drive a vette again if I wanted, but I have 2 camaros instead, a 69 and an 89, and like it that way for now. I guess I just prefer the working man muscle, sweat, and ***** image of the f-body. Camaro owners tend to be more interested in the machine, while the vette guys like to socialize.

Another interesting thing, have you ever noticed that corvette guys like to put on their own shows that feature only vettes? It's because a vette seldom wins an open show. People tend to walk right by them. Camaros get tons more attention. Not sure why, but it's the truth.

One last thing, the vette guys, on the whole, are complete ***holes about their cars being perfect as is, and modifications are considered bad sport by most. To them, if the numbers don't match, it's crap, and I got a little tired of that.

No offense to the Firebird guys.

Sorry for babbling on.

BTW, vette parts DO cost more. They'll pull a distributor cap out of a camaro box, stick it in a vette box, and double the price.

 

If I were in your shoes I'd go with the gta. Mainly because you don't see alot of them especially if they are nice looking. And I see it as your really getting that powerful vette motor in something cheaper that is basically just as fast as a vette, but has more style(I think anyway). And that extra money you would spend on the vette you could spend on performance parts for the gta and make it way faster. That extra $1500 could go into something like a t-56 6 speed and help your gas mileage as well as put your car into 13's in the 1/4 mile with a few more bolt-ons. But in the end its your choice.

 

I vote keep your GTA.

While a thirdgen will never carry the "status" of a 'Vette, a nice thirdgen will always get plenty of attention. And you'll still have the TPI that you like--an even better, faster one than the '87 'Vette has.

And you're young, so maybe one day you'll own a 'Vette. You might even have the opportunity to buy a brand new one. But you'll be lucky to find a nice thirdgen again, and you'll NEVER be able to buy a brand new GTA/thirdgen again--EVER.

So I'd say hang onto your soon-to-be-classic thirdgen. Then someday buy yourself a brand new 'Vette and keep 'em both.