I am selling my once agian not running Fiero and taking my income tax returns to buy a thirdgen. I used to have 92 3.1l Firebird which I bought for 5k 3-4 years ago. I won't have nearly as much cash this time. I should have about 1,700 dollars. I was hoping to get a 1987-1992 Firebird, Formula, or Trans AM. I want a V8 and and T-Tops. Mileage isn't very important to me as long as the vehicle runs well. Do you think I will be able to find a car in decent condition in my price range? Should I just save for a few more years and pray something doesn't come up that cuts into my savings? Thanks for your advice.

 

i got mine w/ 87,000 miles, 88 trans am t-top w/ 5.0 TPI for 3 grand....car was in good shape..hope this helps

 

It helps, but not the way I was hoping.

 

Nah, not for that price.

 

I just found an 88 TA with T-Tops for 1900 dollars. If it is still there when my income taxes are back. I am going to be one happy critter.

 

Maybe come into canada, your dollar goes further here. check www.autotrader.ca

 

Got ahold of the guy the 88 TA is sold.

As for Canada. Customs and such would eat me alive if I tried to buy a car there and bring it south. Thanks anyhow.

 

really? have you checked into that?

 

If your willing to wait, bargain, and lowball offer some people...I think you can get what your asking for...but you'll need to figure out how much your wiling to spend in repair work as well.

There are some real good deals out there...just keep your eyes open and one will pop up eventually.

I have seen quite a few like that in your price range around here lately...but this is Florida where I'm at.

 

On the Fiero forum many people had looked into getting Canadian vehicles and reported there were a lot of fees associated with bringing a car across the border.
Thanks everyone for the advice. I think I will wait on the right deal. Like the Heinz commercials said. Good things come to people who wait.

 

Yup they do.. look at my signature

I'll keep my eyes peeled....

Have you tried e-bay?

 

here are some

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cg...tem=1806611211

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cg...tem=1805245269

 

nblanchard - I love the GTA in your sig. I also like the 86 TA on ebay. Thanks for pointing me that direction.

 

my pleasure.. always nice to get a guy into a 3rd gen firebird

I'll still keep my eyes peeled for anything else

 

I payed 2500 in '95 mine was a 305 tpi with t-tops and 100,000miles just turned with in 5 or so, pretty clean though. they wanted 3500

 

Thanks everyone. So far I am winning the auction on the 86 TA. If it doesn't go much past the sellers reserve. I should have myself a nice 86 Trans AM. Thanks to nblanchard!

 

ahhh... and that one has t-roof too

where abouts do you live?

 

took a closer look at the other pics... little bit of rust, not too bad. Has the TPI, so thats cool Needs a little TLC and she'll look nice. I noticed you are in Ohio... In august, I am going to the TransAM nationals in Ohio, if you get the car, I'd like to check it out, maybe help you detail the engine or something. Are you going to check out the TransAM nationals?

 

If I get the Trans Am. I will be at the nationals.

 

cool.... are you good at body work and detailing and stufF?

 

I wish. LOL.

I might just hold off. I found some very interesting prospects elsewhere.

1986, PONTIAC, TRANS AM, $2450, auto, V8, air, t-tops, SPECIAL EDITION CAR, tpi, 5.7L

 

that sounds decent.. have you tried www.classifieds2000.com yet? lots of cars there... I wish I lived in the states, its sooo easy to find cars

 

Special edition? maybe. 5.7L TPI engine? No, not stock at least.
But don't worry, you CAN get a decent trans am for that kind money if you wait a little while and look. I have a few friends at Kragen who like f-bodies, who found me a few hook-ups and thats how i landed my corvette for $3500.

 

Thanks everyone.

I wondered about the special edition too. I just was going to ignore that. I figured that was similar to people on ebay listing V6 Fieros as rare. Just a marketing scam. Otherwise the car sounded great. I am going to watch and wait. The 86 TA has alot more rust than shown on ebay. The guy sent me some pics. So with cleaner cars around the same price, I think I will just watch and wait.

 

I drove up and took a look at that car myself the other day. It's in good condition overall, just some rust and a few minor quirks here and there. The interior is almost spotless. Seller seems like an honest guy.

I considered buying the car myself, but I decided to hold off and take care of some other expenses first.

-- David
Chicago, IL

 

I've done a rediculous amount of car shopping in the past few years, and I have to warn you not to buy a car you have not seen in person. Even if the seller is straight up about the car and tells you everything that's wrong with it, you still might not realize the severity unless you see it. Just be patient and you'll find a clean Firebird that's close enough for you to look at it first. Ebay is great, but use it as a way to find a car, not as a way to buy a car. Email the seller at the beginning of the action and set up a meeting so you can see what you're buying. Most people will just sell you the car and skip the Ebay BS. Good luck, and be patient.

Larry

 

David - He said it needed a new front fender. The car has plenty of rust on the quarter panels and it has 150,000 miles on it. I would have been interested if the car didn't make its reserve and I had plenty of time to really check it out.

Larry - I plan on waiting and hoping something within 200 miles shows up, so I have the time to really examine the car inside and out.

 

I got my 90 Iroc off ebay for 5150. I didn't look at it first but I kept the majority of the cash until I went to go get it.

So now I have 2000 invested in repairs on it and it's been 3 months. =( Of course, I could have put stock parts in, but what fun is that?

My Ebay experience was sobering, but I don't regret it. I would recommend waiting for a car in your area, though. I'm impatient and couldn't find any 88-90 Irocs within 250 miles of Tucson.

 

Here is a pic of the Fiero that I sold. It was Pontiac and it turned better than any car I have ever drove before. Just not very fast and the aging engine was unreliable at best. A V8 conversion would have cost over 6 grand if I performed it myself. So that is why I want a Trans AM.
-1986 SE
-2.8 V6
-Automatic
-Sunroof
-Aero Package

 

Thanks again everyone for the advice.

 

It's not what they look like, but the potential they posess:

 

One in Hemmings Motor news for 1300...check it out. The book

 

Found another one.. but its only a 2.8V6

nice car though, some minor damage on passengers door

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cg...tem=1808078186

this one is sweeeeeeet

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cg...tem=1808675292