Let me start by saying I am 17 years old. I'm looking to get my first car when I'm 18. I'd like comments on the car and not the insurance and all of other things because I've researched them. I'm able to price it.

What I've been looking at here is a 1986 Camaro Z28 with 108,000 miles on it. Its a maroon color with a little bit of paint wear on the front, AC is not yet confirmed (its cold outside, can't tell), and the inside is so very clean. I'm looking for people who have made a similar purchase and can give me advice on this type of model. I really like the design and sound of it, but I've been told by my uncle (who is a mechanic) that I shouldn't buy an older car because I'd be risking having it break down, etc. I'm wondering how reliable they are and if any common problems have been happening on these models. I appreciate any advice you can give me. I'm going for the test drive tomorrow and the posts here are going to majorly influence my decision. If they all go well, I will go and pick the car up on Monday. Thanks a lot guys for your help!

i have had older cars i trust more than new cars, what im getting at is its only as good as the person who had it before you is, if it had good maint. done to it and was well taken care of than 108k is just breaking it in, but is it was rode hard and hung up wet than it may not be a good idea to buy it .... if you are buying it from an older fellow than you are normaly better off.... ask for maint records, and see if you cant have your uncle drive it and check out everything in it, charging system, brakes, trans, make sure all the lights and all work.... if the owner cared about it more than likely all the things i mentioned will be ok

car looks nice from the pic, but i would have to see more to say anymore than that

Thanks for the advice. I'm going tomorrow with my uncle to check it out and he's going to drive it with me for a bit. The person who is selling it is said to be about 40 years old and he literally parked the car at my uncles shop, went inside, bought selling space, and left it there for about 2 weeks before my uncle mentioned it too me. The guy mentioned its being sold for $3,000 because he needs money immediately for personal payments. So I'm thinking he wanted to keep it and then sell it. I think I'm going to take a shot at it. Either way I have an '98 beamer to drive that belongs to my parents, but I definitely prefer to have my own car considering I've worked for one since I was 16 years old.

If you have natural intuition for working on cars, I wouldn't even consider something like that in the decision making process. My '88 firebird is the newest car I've owned, and I also once owned a 1970 datsun. Personally I find older vehicles much easier to work on. My datsun's electrical system, for example, consisted of like 10 wires and a few fuses. Easy as heck to fix the one issue it had (headlight fuse blew). I find a pre-1990 third gen is fairly easy to work on without any prior knowledge. I'm formerly a honda guy, and I've started working on my chevy engine without ever touching one before.

If your uncle is a mechanic ask him to do a compression check, that tells you the ring are good or bad. if the oil pressure is good that the bearing are ok. If you can remove a valve cover you see if the oil has been changed or not, if not slug will form around the valve springs. I've looked at a few the last week or so and caught the car owners no telling the truth to me ...just walk away. If the history check out and the car is sound, well it's hard to find a good one.

I'm probably going to pick it up. My uncle says the car was treated extremly well engine wise from his observations. He said you could probably take off as much as 30,000 miles to get its real mileage from the work thats been done and its condition. I enjoy working on cars, but I'm trying not to pay so much. I've provided links to more pictures below to prevent this thread from becoming a 56k warning thread...


http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/9...ckrightnr5.jpg
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/5305/interiorzj3.jpg
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/6669/engineki6.jpg
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/5...tsmudgeel2.jpg

[1] Back Right View
[2] Interior from Drivers Seat View
[3] Engine View
[4] The only flaw in the vehicle so far

looks like a nice clean car i would pick it up in a heartbeat

dang its in good shape, just need a little TLC, but not much

in my area 3k for that car would be pretty reasonable, good luck with the purchase!

I'm 95% of the way I'm sure I'll pick it up. My uncle says if I didn't call it he'd be getting it for his daughter. Luckily I called it. All I'm waiting to confirm is that the Air Conditioning works, which might not even be a big deal. I can deal with them T-Tops in the Summer. =). I'm only 18 (in 1 week and 5 days) so I'm trying to get it most of the way working. Paint isn't big, the grill isn't a big deal either, replacing the AC unit will cost a lot for me at my budget.

I would just like to thank you all for your advice. You really helped my decision. Most of my decision-making on this car was based on you guys. I'll be sure to stick around and post new pics after I wash it and everything and any new stuff I do. Thanks again!

I bought it today. I'm going to have it at my house by Wednesday. The A/C does in fact work. We brought it into a heated room in my uncles shop and it blows cold just may need some freeon (or however its spelled). I actually got it for $2600. The battery went dead, luckily my uncle had a spare one ready to put into it right after I got it for free. =] I lucked out. Thanks again for the advice guys. I can use that extra bit to get a good paint job.

Make sure you do not have a electrical problem...battery runs down after sittng a few days or even a couple of weeks. Have you uncle check to see if there is a draw on the battery when everything is off. If there is start pulling fuses untill the draw stops, then you know what curcuit to inspect. Seams that when a battery, alternater or started go's out the others follow within a year.

Sorry I didnt get here soon enough to mention this, but it might not be a big deal.

Use a fridge magnet with a piece of fabric, or even just knock with your hand. But check the passenger rear quarter panel for bondo. It looks like it might have been hit at one point.

Notice that the sticker stripes are missing between the wheel well and the rear bumper? Also, the paint looks brand new there. My best guess is that they had to repair that area at some point in time, and just faded the paint in, but didnt invest in a new decal kit from phoenix because the rest were saved.

Other than that, looks like a good purchase. You should enjoy driving it, these are fun cars. Just be careful. I am only 19, but luckily I had all my stupid "near death experiences" in a FWD v6 that was nowhere near a volatile as these cars. F-bodys will snap around when you least expect it, even if you arent trying to drift. Especially in the snow and the rain. Here is a good video to show what I am talking about:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rOhhUFSB_2o

I know about the drift issue.

And yes, it apparently did get hit in the rear. I'm going to work on it. I saved good money that i'll be able to spend on it.

As for the battery... The seller actually took the one out and put an older one in before putting it up for sale. So electric is fine. I had my uncle check it.

I was thinking that it was hit when I was looking at the pictures. Isnt that hatch from an 86??? The third brake light is on the outside. The sticker is missing from a common spot if it has been rearended and then fixed. It might not have been a serious accident, even slow speed parking lot accidents could have done that. Regardless. Nice car and goodluck.

EDIT: I didnt see your post where you said it was hit till now.

Well, it looks like they did a good job on the paint when they repaired it. That usually says something about how they did on the repair.

Some shops will just lay bondo in the dent, even if it takes alot. Then they will usually use a single stage basecoat with no clear. My buddies maxima has that done to it, it sucks.

Yeah '86 was the only year with the 3rd brake light on the outside of the window. The years after that it was on the inside.

dude sweet buy sounds like a good car

Hope you enjoy it. Does it have a 350 or 305? Mine has a 305 (with some mods, in my sig...but that's not all of them) and it's pretty quick. I haven't really gotten to see what all it can do, because i bought it in September and could only drive it for a few months before i stored it for the winter! RWD V8+Snow and Ice=NOT GOOD! But I love my car! And i'm only 16! I lucked out when i found my car!!

Man, now I have to wait another day. My dad didn't get it to the MVA before it closed while I was in school. Either way I'll drive it a lot tomorrow when I bring it home.

It's probably a 305. I'm going to say that just to be save.

Have fun with her. I'm still waiting to insure, register, and inspect my 86'.

I love my 86 and from the looks of that car I think you'll love yours as well.

EDIT: Whoops...didn't realize how old this thread was

Ah yes, I remember this thread. I thank you guys for your kind words here at thirdgen.org. Every question I've had has helped me from a little to a lot, but it helps! I might not have went with this car if it wasn't for the good advice. Thanks again.

(I'm still subscribed to this thread! haha!)