ChevyLuva3

Hey all, first off I would like to say that all of your responces to my questions have been very helpful! This is the best message board I've ever been to, people actually respond, and have interesting things to say.

Right now I have now dropped the thought of getting an LX. I now am thinking of going for the 91 Camaro RS 305 Auto. The car is around $4k. See but I like to keep my options open, earlier in the year I looked at an 87 IROC-Z 350 Auto. It was very nice, but it needed work. For example, tires, struts, liftgate struts, A/C (cooling), paint job (etc). It needs a lot of other things, I never test drove it so it may need more things that I don't know of. And I have not seen the RS in person at all.

See the thing is that the RS is around $4k, and the Iroc is around $2k, and to restore it would probably equal $4k. So either way I'm spending the same amount of money. So the question is, should i get the '91 305 RS that needs no work (that I know of), or the '87 350 IROC that needs a lot of work? Or once again should I keep waiting for a better car? Any help, advice, opinions, etc, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Tom

Drew

iTrader: (58)

What you're running into is typical for thirdgens. Sadly there are two types of thirdgens on the roads and on dealership lots today. Well actually three, but we'll touch on the third in a few moments. The first type is the Iroc/Formula/Z28/GTA with all the go-fast stuff. The previous owners wanted to go fast and they did. The result of this "go-fast mentality" is that the car gets trashed. The second type is the RS/Berlinetta/Sport Coupe/LG4/L03/V6 with none of the go-fast hardware. The owners bought it because it looked cool, it never got beat on, so its in better shape. The third type is the all encompassing Garage Queen with less than 50,000 miles thats been pampered since birth.

Each of these three types has its advantages and disadvantages. Type 1 will usually be nicely equipped, nicely priced, but will require a good amount of fiddling and parts replacement for the car to ever work right. They don't really make good restoration projects, or even daily drivers.
Type 2 are usually equally priced, sometimes a little more than type 1, but will never be as fast as type 1, unless you do a good amount of fiddling and replacing parts with high output parts.
Type 3 are usually high priced, in really good condition, and are essentially a new car. If you can afford them they're worth every penny. But, I wouldn't suggest them as daily drivers since its a crime against humanity to put these cars to abuse of daily use.

So in conclusion, type 1 and type 2 are virtually identical from a pro/con basis. Type 3 is unique to itself. What you need to do is decide what you really want, if you want a car that looks good but is slow, go with a type 2, if you want a car that may or may not go like stink get a type 1. If you want a car to park in your garage to drive only to car shows, cruisenights, and sunday drives then get a type 3.

Personally I prefer type 1's and 3's, because I can handle having a car rough around the edges that performs well, and I like cars that don't need anything but general maintenance.

PS: When car shopping, (especially thirdgens) never convince yourself to buy a car by thinking you'll just spend this or that on this part that will make it all better. What happens is that part(s) is ALWAYS unavailable, highly priced, or never happens. If you don't like the car just the way it is as you drive it on the test drive, you'll never be content with it.

89REDGTA

Drew, that was a great response and people really need to think about this before settling on a car. I used to run out and by the number 1s all the time that needed work. I was never interested in driving very fast but I wanted to know that the car would perform if I wanted it to. Now I settled for a number 3 and I am sooo happy about it. Because it is in such great shape with only 21K miles, I don't have to buy anything for it and I want to keep it all original. When I have bought number 1s I have spent hundreds of thousands trying to make it look good and by the time I'm done, I could have bought a number 3 for less money. This time I did. Maybe someday I'll be able to sell it and make enough money for a good down payment on a new Vette.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

It took me awhile to figure it out also. Currently I have two #1's that have been turned into #3's, a #1.5 thats going to be a #3 when its all done, and a #3 that I couldn't live without.

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Drew
predatorman@hotmail.com
83 Camaro 5.0L *1995-98*
87 Iroc 5.7L
91 Formula 5.7L 14.3@98mph
91 RS Convertible 5.0L
91 Firebird 3.1L 17.00@82mph *Gtech*
92 S10 2.8L For Sale!
98 Grand Am GT 3.1L

91z4me

Well you could be like me and buy a 1 and 6 months later still find stuff wrong with it. But I still love the car and one day it will be fixed.

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91 z-28 305 700R4
3.73 gears out back
T-Tops and Black all over.

topduarte

iTrader: (8)

Drew,

Great response!!! When I was searching for a thridgen, I decided to look high and low and find a #3. It took awhile and a little more money but I am extremely happy with my z.

Only sometimes I want to drive it more. I will probably by a #2 in the next year so I can have one to drive it more often!!!

Manny

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92 Bright Red z28, 350, 47k miles, pw, pl, power mirrors, power drivers seat, rear defroster, limited slip performance axle, 4 wheel discs, red leather interior and the Heritage Package!!

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Amazing, all replies are positive. I actually enjoy driving my ragged out V6 thirdgen just as much as my other cars. I'd classify it as a 1.5 because its well beat, but a V6. Its not as fast, and it looks like *** , but it gets me around town and I dont have to worry about someone hitting it since its easily replacable. I can do anything I want to it or with it because it is disposable and has no historical value. By the time I'm done with it the only original parts will be the sub-frame.

On the other hand my other cars can't be driven when the weather is bad, can't be parked in parking lots, can't really be replaced, and have more value than I can afford. Can't forget the way the others make me nervous when I'm in traffic.

They all have their own values.

[This message has been edited by Drew (edited October 05, 2001).]

Kandied91z

iTrader: (7)

decide what you want and then test drive..... you'll know what's right when you drive it.

remember, you get what you pay for. at least in most instances.

Jason E

I too agree with Drew. Watching my friend restore his '83 L69 Z28 has been an experience, and in the process he has saved a car that was junkyard-destined.

But at the same time, I learned I would NOT wish to repeat what he is doing now. As much as I love to see people restoring third gens to their former glory, for my $$ and experience level I would far rather buy a #3. Why?? A 150k mile car is a 150k mile car...its been well-driven, potentially well-abused, and lacks the factory-fresh appeal I am after. Also, I do not have the knowledge or resources to properly restore a car the way I would want it.

I currently have my own version of a #3...I bought my Z28 because I wanted to enjoy a Camaro while it was still fairly new, and nurse it to a ripe old age This car will never be raced or abused, and I am proud to say that after spending about $700 replacing white leather surfaces, the car is absolutely factory-fresh.

I have never been one to abuse or modify cars, and therefore I hope to buy the 350 IROC I have lusted after since I was in elementary school shortly after graudating college. I ended up going the 4th gen route for another reason...to get the IROC I want will set me back probably $9-11 thousand. Ever try to get a bank loan that big on a 12-15 year old car??

I love my RS too...it was (and still is) a fantastic #2 car that has served my family well for the past 12 years. But as Drew said, there is no historical value to the car, and as soon as the IROC is achieved, I know the car will become nothing more than a daily driver...I too get nervous every time the Z28 is in rush-hour traffic

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Jason E

'89 Camaro RS
-Medium Grey Metallic
-2.8, A4, T-tops, 94k miles
-Hypertech chip, Accel wires/coil/K&Ns
-Alpine 60x4 and Bostons

'97 Z28
-30th Anniversary package (white with orange stripes)
-LT1, M6, t-tops, 45k miles
-Eclipse CD and 10" Aluminum sub in JL Audio Stealth box, Boston RM speakers, Xtant 403a amp

Speed Kills...Wanna live forever? Drive a Ford.
Long Live #3...