Crazy "Idea"

[TransAm95]

Hey guys... Well I am a junior in high school and am making enough to afford my 95 M6 TA. But left for mods tho! But the moment I graduate high school I am goign to work at aunts furniture store and make some good $$$$ and buy a 2000/newer SS M6 Camaro. .. NowI paid 6,500 for my TA and it only has 67k on it and I have been looking at 94, 95 Z28s and TAs wit just a little over 100k and have found I could get one to my likeings for about 4-4500. And that would be a good size differnce in monthly payment for me and leave me more money for headers and other boltons. I am planing on selling car next summer to so I figure this summer would be a better time to sell the TA because it will only have approx. 68k on it. So really I am asking what do you guys think I could get out of my TransAm; 1995, M6 67k T-tops. ? Any coments or suggestions are highly apperciated! Thanks

[FireFinder20]

ok, so you looked at the market to see what you could get for your TA, but you only found higher mileage models, right? Then you're gonna take the money from the TA and your job and buy a 2000 SS?

Had to clear my brain before I answered the 'how much can I get for my car' question, lol. what options does the car have, what condition is the paint in? What stereo is in the car? Leather? you can get the book value (retail, trade and private party) at kbb.com...

if it's loaded, i'm thinking anywhere from 5500-7500...depending on options, condition and how bad somebody wants a TA (you'd be surprised how much that makes a difference).

[Nightrage]

Just out of curiosity, why are you getting rid of your car for an LS1?

[Mark B]

I think he is talking about selling his low mile TA and buying a high mile TA of the same year to save on his monthly payment.

I would advise against this idea. Drive the stock low mile TA untill you can afford the new LS1. High milage sports cars can be a HUGE headache if they weren't properly taken care of. All that money you think you will have leftover for performance upgrades will be spent on repairs.

[Nightrage]

He said he wants am '00 SS. I was in a bit of a rush when I read this to be honest.

I would advise against what you're doing. 67K miles aren't a lot, plus you probably know your car by now. By switching to a higher mileage car, you're taking a big risk. You might get one that has been abused, something that has the infamous LT1 intake manifold leak (like my car has), the optispark on the next car might be just about to go when you get it, it may have been in an accident, and the list goes on. I know how you feel. I'm in my second year of college and I can barely afford mods. This is after owning my car for a year and a half. I'm dying to put headers, a new cat back and some suspension mods on my T/A. Do you really want to take a risk in buying a different, higher mileage car just so you can make it a little quicker?

My advice would be to start saving whatever you can now. WHen you graduate, you'll be happy you waited. If you spend all of your money on mods, what's going to happen if something goes on your car? I think modifying tends to expose the weakest links in cars. If you have $3000 saved and spend $2,900, what happens when your clutch goes? If anything, start with some cheap mods like a TB coolant bypass and a home made CAI. I know that just changing my shifter and shift knob made the Trans Am feel like a totally different car. Good luck.

[97LT1Z28]

Careful . . . . . . .what you save in monthly payments could be wasted in high-mileage repairs. You may just want to keep the car you've got now.

[TransAm95]

I think he is talking about selling his low mile TA and buying a high mile TA of the same year to save on his monthly payment.

I would advise against this idea. Drive the stock low mile TA untill you can afford the new LS1. High milage sports cars can be a HUGE headache if they weren't properly taken care of. All that money you think you will have leftover for performance upgrades will be spent on repairs.

Wow I need to proofread my threads more thoughorly! and make sure they make more sense,LOL. Yes my idea is to sell the TA now and get as much out it now and buy a cheaper Z28/TA. And then next year after I graduate I will buy a 00 or newer SS. (summer 07) Low miles and less of a headache is the reason i bought my low mile TA in first place. Now my friends 96 M6 Z has 110k or so on it and it runs just as good as my TA. I am aware that he is lucky and got a well maintanied car. Over the last day or two I have been thinking this whole idea came about because I am helping my friend install Lts this week and it's just giving me the itch.

[TransAm95]

ok, so you looked at the market to see what you could get for your TA, but you only found higher mileage models, right? Then you're gonna take the money from the TA and your job and buy a 2000 SS?

Had to clear my brain before I answered the 'how much can I get for my car' question, lol. what options does the car have, what condition is the paint in? What stereo is in the car? Leather? you can get the book value (retail, trade and private party) at kbb.com...

if it's loaded, i'm thinking anywhere from 5500-7500...depending on options, condition and how bad somebody wants a TA (you'd be surprised how much that makes a difference).

Well my idea is to sell the TA now and get as much out it now and buy a cheaper Z28/TA. And then next year after I graduate I will buy a 00 or newer SS. (summer 07) Well the paint has a few minor chips, I got a pretty new Pioneer CD/Mp3 with a bit of a custom speaker set up. Kickers in the doors and in the back seat area and then a Q-logic Sub box wit two 10inch kickers; However the the sub box and the subs will stay with me, plan on having atleast the box with me in the SS someday. The car is loaded and does have leather.

[Mark B]

Like I said above... Keep the one you have untill you are ready to step up to a newer one.

In addition to the worries of the new/cheaper one breaking down... Remember that everytime you buy/sell a car you loose money. Sales Taxes, dealer profit, registering, etc.

If the itch is really hitting you, try doing the free/cheap mods to your current car. Or, you can concentrate on the appearance. Go buy some nice wax/polish and cleaning supplies and put lots of time into the finish.

[TransAm95]

Like I said above... Keep the one you have untill you are ready to step up to a newer one.

In addition to the worries of the new/cheaper one breaking down... Remember that everytime you buy/sell a car you loose money. Sales Taxes, dealer profit, registering, etc.

If the itch is really hitting you, try doing the free/cheap mods to your current car. Or, you can concentrate on the appearance. Go buy some nice wax/polish and cleaning supplies and put lots of time into the finish.

Yeah I have a couple small things I got to do before April 7th, which is the first night we can run our cars at the local track; TB bypass, 160-T-stat, maybe a fan switch.
Thanks to everyone for the input on my idea!

[joe ws6]

Im doing the same thing, selling my car and buying a much cheaper one to have modding money. It depends on what kind of options your car has. Leather, t-tops, etc. One of my best freinds just bought a 97 t/a for 8000 grand fully optioned besides the ws6 with 80,000 thousand miles. Best thing would be to look at the car market in the area real well and come up with a price. Though theirs always rich people that do stupid things with their money and you might get lucky. Advertise in as many places as possible. Yea i would agree about the repairing the high miliage car, it adds up. But if your real serious about the modding you will probbly end up replacing it anyway.

[Steel2686]

Just out of curiosity, why are you getting rid of your car for an LS1?

What's wrong with an LS1?

[fastTa]

Just out of curiosity, why are you getting rid of your car for an LS1?

A motor that makes 355-360 HP from the factory and gets 30 MPG on the highway. What's not to like?

[raroZ28]

What's wrong with an LS1?

Nothing, it's a masterpiece. I think the point that people try to make is this. The extra money you spend on the LS1 could be put into the LT1 and be twice as powerful. I would have paid an extra 6-7 grand for an LS1 car. Put 6 or 7 into the LT1 and you have a 10 second machine. And aren't performance parts for the LS1 cars a lot more pricey?

[Steel2686]

Nothing, it's a masterpiece. I think the point that people try to make is this. The extra money you spend on the LS1 could be put into the LT1 and be twice as powerful. I would have paid an extra 6-7 grand for an LS1 car. Put 6 or 7 into the LT1 and you have a 10 second machine. And aren't performance parts for the LS1 cars a lot more pricey?

I didn't think any of the "bolt-on" parts were more expensive. I'm not sure about internals, however. That could be a whole other story.

I was just messin' with him. I've been around both (my buddy has a '94 Z28 and I have an LS1). I actually prefer the sound of the LT1 a little more, but enjoy the refinement of the LS1 (seems a bit smoother to me). They are both incredible engines.