I've been thinking about selling my car and buying an LS1 but I'm not sure, I really love my car. My car is a Maroon 1989 Trans Am GTA with 58,000 miles, it came with the L98 350, 700R4 tranny, 9-bolt rear-end with 3.27 gears, WS6 suspension, T-tops, Tan Leather interior, pw, pl, pm, ac, AM/FM cassette, it is in awsome condition, no dents and not even a hint of rust, it's been stored in a heated garage during the winters. I have built the engine into a 383 stroker with all forged internals, 6" rods, roller rockers, top of the line everything, true dual exhaust, rebuilt tranny with performance parts, I have over $8500 into it, and it is very fast. I have seen cars like mine on e-bay with around the same milage and condition but without the performance upgrades go for $10,000. What would you do if you were me? I know it's hard to say without seeing the car but what do you think it's worth?

 

3-5k Probrably.

Probrbly sell for more, if you hadnt of fu(ked with it.

Selling car's is all about Visual. Paint and interior. Noone wants to buy someoen elses Old project. You never know what's been done to it.

 

3-5K, you must be nuts, a dealer was going to give me 7K for it on a trade in. I have all receipts and the work was done by a very well know performance shop in my area.

 

7k ? well sounds like the area you live in fetches alot More than around here.

I can pick up a used lt1 4thgen Here for under 10.

people are very superficial In these parts

 

WOW, I wish I could have got an LT1 for under 10K.

 

LT-1 under 10k?? Hehe...that ain't hard!! I'm a salesperson, and I watch the auto hunters religiously. Dealers and private sales often have these for 10k and under...I just sold a '95 Formula with t-tops, a 6 speed and 61k on it for $9,800 in mint shape.

I'd say 5-6k realistic, 7k max. Like he said, if you hadn't changed the motor, I think 8k would most certainly be realistic. I watch eBay too...the only ones going for 10k and over have super-low (aka under 35k or so) miles on them. 58k is still very good, but not super low. I'm sure its a nice car...but the problem is, people looking in the price range you want normally want a car that is, again, not "someone else's project"...

As for the dealer giving you 7k, so what?? When I sold the lady with the Formula her new Firehawk, I showed her a $10,400 trade in!! So how did I sell it for $9,800 and still make almost $2,000 on the deal for the dealership you ask?

Simple. Depending on the new car you want, there can be a small or a huge markup in the car. Depending on the markup, the trade value can be either a little low or artificially high. Yours is most certainly artificially high. Ever see a commercial for one of those places that does the "$3,000 push pull or tow" trade in?? All those places do is mark the car up $2,500 over NADA, then take the $3,000 off...effectively giving you $500 for your car. But people think this is a deal...it ain't.

Case in point: When I bought my Z28 last spring, I went in and told them I had no trade. My car was $17,995, then I would get that 3k trade bull****. Well, not only did they knock off the 3k trade, they also gave me another 500 off!! If I had gone in their with some POS Cavalier or something, I may have thought I was getting a deal, if I didn't know what I was doing.

Sorry for the novel here...but don't be misled by dealer trade in values. Go to the same dealer that offered you 7k for your car. Pick out a car. Ask him what bottom dollar on that car would be, with no trade. Then ask what he'd sell you the car for WITH your trade. The difference is ACV, or actual cash value, for your trade...

Sorry man, but it ain't gonna be a 7k difference. Hope some of this helped.

 

Thanks for your input guys.

Jason E
I know the dealer tricks with trade-ins, the car I was thinking of trading it in on was a 1997 Trans Am, auto, T-tops, power everything, and chrome rims, with 67k on it, the sticker was 16,995. They said my GTA and 5,000, it was fall and the car had been there for a while because it was a Dodge dealer and the car was not visable from the road. I turned them down because I just couldn't get rid of my car. I think I'm going to keep it because I'm only 19 and I know I would regret it later on in life if I sold it.

 

All i can do is back up what those guys said. Selling a project car is basically impossible. 58k in great condition could have fetched some big coin. Your forged 6" rod 383 and beefed tranny detract from the value to anybody but a complete sucker or a good friend who trusts you. They simply advertise that the car has been well used / beaten, and since they are not factory parts, how would the potential buyer have any faith that they were any good.
Unless you're just looking for a fresh start you will come out way behind if you try to sell it IMO

 

Agreed...

I will not now, nor ever buy a modified car. All that is is a sign the car has been run hard. While I'm sure you have a nice car, a 58k mile GTA that's original will have far more value to the general public...

I bought my Formula after it was traded in at work, just last week. It was owned by a lady in her mid 50s, who bought it new. The interior is clean, the body has some rust, but the undercarriage is great. Its bone stock with 103k on it. Sure, I'd rather have a 350 TPI IROC...but this car I know was never beaten on, and is absolutely bone stock.

Sure, it helps I only paid 1g for it. But side by side, I would take a slightly rough, but cared for original over a modded, cleaner, more desirable F body any day of the week. There's something about knowing the car you owned was never beaten, or never hammered on. I may be the minority here, but that appeals to me...

 

Thanks guys, I understand what your saying. It doesn't matter anyways because I have decided to keep it.

 

sell it to me for $2000.

 

I think I'll pass.