Hey everyone,

I'm seriously considering selling my thirdgen. I only paid $2,000 for it. It has a really nice interior w/ a $900 stereo system in it that was included when I bought the car. I've had lots of problems with it recently......I paid $400 for a tune-up, w/ new brake pads and an axle seal when I bought the car. I still NEVER get over 140 miles on a tank of gas and I have a v-6. I've also replaced the alternator and the battery. My air pump went out like a week ago, so I just re-routed the belt to bypass it. The t-tops leak (can be fixed easily w/ a new t-top bar) and the car needs aprox. $1200 worth of body work and a new paint job which could be as much as $2000 I hear for a good one. I went and drove a 4th gen today.....a 96 w/ a 3.8 v-6 in it. I honestly didn't like the feel as much as I do my 3rd gen. I can't quite put my finger on it though, but at least if I buy a used 4th gen from a dealer I can get some sort of warranty with it...... Please help guys. What are the advantages of a 3rd gen over a 4th gen??? Also......let's say I have $4,000-$7,000 to spend......what would be the best route to go for a Camaro that's reliable?? What about 4th gen firebirds/transams.....3rd gens??? I don't want to have to put lots of money into it each month.........so thanks for any help you might have. You guys are awesome!!!

 

The new V6s would be faster than what you have. I don't like the looks as much, unless you add gfx to the new style. Also I would think working on the 4th Gens would be a lot harder. My stepmom has a '98 Firebird and half of the motor is under the firewall. My Dad used to have trouble getting a jack under it as well.

 

Dude get rid of that car and get u a v8 model 3rd gen T/A or Camaro ( whichever one appeals to u more) then take that money that u say u have and build ur self a reliable motor. 4th gens are nice but for the price of them u can build a hell of a fast 3rd gen.

YUP

 

I have about $6000 invested in my car including labor/parts and cost of car. And basically I have a brand new '86 IROC as I like to say. New crate motor 3yr/50k mile warranty, rebuilt trans, new alternator, new aluminum radiator, and all the stuff in my signature. It used to be unreliable, but considering most of the problem areas have been reworked it's a reliable car.

 

Get a V8 Third Gen.

 

I'd have to agree with illegal. I was debating over saving for a 4th gen or buying another 3rd gen. Then along comes this 1987 IROC with Ttops and a 350 for $3500 for the extra $4000 it would have cost for the 4thgen, I'll have a near perfect condition 3rd gen that looks better and will be passing(LT1) 4thgens. Not to mention the IROC is fully loaded.

BTW-a 3.8 will kill your RS. My 91 RS(305) is almost matching performance wise to my fathers 96.

 

Just throwing my two cents in...If you decide to go with another 3rd gen..chances are your going to pump money into as you did this one..I own 2 thirdgens..just sold one..ANd when i first got them its repair after repair...if your going fourth gen great..If staying third..keep yours and invest in it..It will be cheaper in long run IMO..

 

Man, your RS sounds just like my RS. I am seriously thinking about selling it after I get the body and paint work done to it. But like LottaBallsCamaro said, we just bought a 87 IROC to replace the RS, so unless you can find a good condition thirdgen to buy, I'd say get the V-6 4th gen if you can't afford a V-8. The V-6 4th gens are pretty much as fast as my 91 305 RS.

 

in my opinion when you buy and older car(thirdgen) alot of stuff is shot, and taht is why people are sellin em. I mean the cars are like 15+years old, and most stuff hasn't been replaced on em yet. and of course when us car nuts buy em we gotta fix everything :-)

 

Hey thats half the fun .

And 90CamaroRSguy,

Don't put that kind of money into a v-6 fourth gen. First of all, those cars aren't anymore reliable than the v-8's. I've heard these cars have had a lot of build quality problems over the years so don't assume you're not going to be fixing stuff just because its newer. Second of all, you can buy a cherry top-of-the-line thirdgen (ie IROC or GTA) for less than $4000, and i've had hardly any problems in terms of reliability with the two 'birds i've owned so far. I bought my gta for $3400 and it was loaded with almost every option and it was in good working/cosmetic condition. And with the amount of money you're talking about spending, that leaves pleny left over to get a cheap econobox commuter if you're real concerned about reliability. If you want a fourthgen, buy a z28 or a trans am. You can get them for as little as $5000 and they won't leave you disappointed.

 

if u wunt a v6 buy a honda. don't deal wit all the hassle of having a low car thats breaks if u only wunna do 55 on the high way. but if u wunt a camaro or firebird get a v8. i'd rather have a slow 305 then a fast v6 or 4 anyday

 

Hey,

All of the advice really helped. I really like the 3rd gen look and feel......very few people drive them at my high school. Unlike 4th gens.....so I really don't wanna be just another camaro in the parking lot. I looked at an 89 camaro......it's weird tho. It has a 305 which appears to be very clean and sounds great. The ground effects say Z-28 and it has an IROC hood. It has t-tops, power locks, windows, etc...... but what gets me is the speedo only goes to 110mph. Wouldn't that make it an RS? or am I wrong?? Did the IROC ground effects say IROC? or Z-28?? I'll get the vin# this afternoon and post it. Any help would be greatly appreicated.

 

I'm not 100% sure but yes that could be an IROC. Does the 305 have TBI or TPI? If its TPI and stock, then yes its an IROC. Are the taillights the grid-style lights? The sure way to verify is to look at the RPO codes inside the glove box. I don't know which one is for the IROC, i'm sure someone here knows.

 

Check the RPO codes too

http://iroc.fbody.com/RPO.html

 

90Camaro,

Search the H/R board to determine what it is. Those questions have been asked so many times. ThirdGen.Org has an RPO Decoder too on the main page if u should ever need it. A few new RPO's were just added also.

 

Since it sounds like your automotive skills are lacking or you just don't care, get a newer car with fewer problems. Get the complete warranty so when things go wrong you can leave it at the dealership for them to fix.