startercar

Hey guys, guy is selling his v6 bird for about 700 dollars, everythings sounds good except it has some minor fender damage. Car has 155,000 on it and has been maintained pretty well(or so he says).

Anyways, I was just wondering what sort of gas mileage you guys are getting with the V6 birds. Stupid question, I know, but I'm just wondering.

K-slice

iTrader: (2)

I probably get around 20mpg. I drive like a maniac, so it probably could be better.
For only $700 it must be old. Is it a 3.1, (most likley) 2.8, or 3.4?

startercar

Crap, I was thinking there was one V6 engine. I'll have to ask about that. It's a 1991 Firebird...I guess just base version. Has power locks and windows though which is nice.

Which of those V6 motors would be ideal?

K-slice

iTrader: (2)

91's gonna be a 3.1 for sure, same as I got. The 3.1 is really the 2.8 with a longer stroke and more power. Really a good V6 in my opinion.
Depending on what the rest of the cars like, it seems like a good deal!

startercar

Thanks for the reply...something I'm also worrying about is the car insurance spike...right now I'm driving a 94 Camry lol. But I just have this desire to drive something a little different...I'm sort of a new driver, but I'm not an idiot driver.

And I don't know. This is from Craigslist, haven't actually seen it in person. He says the quarter panel and fender are "smashed" which sounds sort of bad, and he says he's been driving it like that for 2 years. So it can't be...so bad. But still doesn't sound amazing. I don't know I'm waiting for some pictures and when I get them I'll let you know.

Your car is automatic right?

K-slice

iTrader: (2)

Yep, it's an auto.
I don't think insurance will be too bad. I'm 18, working part time and I figure if I can afford it most anyone can. I drove a Tracer before this, so we're kinda the same, lol. I love driving mine with the T-tops off, doin 100, it's a real fun car for me.
Yeah, see what the body looks like. If it is just the fender, those are easily had at a Jy.

startercar

Thanks man, I'll let you know. He also didn't mention T-tops, I hope it has those

2.8RS

iTrader: (5)

Its got a 3.1. Only 5 more hp than the 2.8 but plenty more torque. I probably get around 25 maybe if I had the right sized tires and only pay $85 a month for insurance with a few tickets.

startercar

Unfortunately the guy hasn't replied to my email yet, I'm going to give it a little longer and then just call. Hopefully it isn't sold yet.

Here's the craigslist description:

"I had posted up my v6 bird and no takers.I need to move this thing the price is 700 firm.AT,PS,PB,tilt PD,PW,cruise not working,AC leak in system.4 speed auto 155k miles Red with grey interior Yokohama tires with about 10k miles on them inspected till Feb 09 The bad is quarter is smashed and fender is smashed and has been like that since I bought it almost 2 years ago drives great.The car is a 50 footer which means it looks good from 50 feet away."

Sounds very...ok. I'm excited though. But hey, question: what's PB? Power...brakes?

EDIT: Thanks 2.8RS, sounds great

IROCtheThird

iTrader: (15)

Your correct, power brakes. Id look at the car see if you can test drive it, but I have a 305 IROC, and 2.8 v6 Sport Coupe and to tell you the truth I like my v6 a hell of alot more.

startercar

Haha well good, that's good to hear. Why do you like the V6 so much more?

Just got an email back from the guy, guess it's still for sale. Right now waiting to talk to the parents about it...

EDIT: That's also good to hear because it keeps running through my mind to buy this Formula V8 for sale by me...it seems a little nicer, but I probably wouldn't be able to afford it anyway. Thankss

firebird1992

well the V6 3.1l got some ***** and they last forever it you just take care of it and u can beat the hell out them engines

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/v6/4...ut-take-2.html

startercar

Haha good to know, good to know. The guy isn't being very accomodating so I'm still waiting to get to see the car...was hoping to drive by and see it today, though the guy is taking it to work since it's supposed to rain. Well..at least he cares whether or not it gets rained on.

I'm not planning on abusing the car, probably babying it, although it'll be fun to mess around every now and then. I'll probably Seafoam it when/if I get it and possibly run Royal Purple through it? I dunno I hear that's a good thing to do.

IROCtheThird

iTrader: (15)

My V6 is just a nice car, its got 50,000 granny miles on it, I paid $350 for it. I drove it for a good 8 months before I took it off the road to rebuild it, and it never gave me any problems, I drove that car through a New England winter and never got stuck, I was crusin past fwd and 4wd vehicles left and right, with bald tires. Its just a great all around car. Use GM Top End cleaner, you get it at your GM dealer and its AMAZING how the stuff works.

startercar

GM Top End Cleaner, got it, thanks

IROCtheThird

iTrader: (15)

Np, it works for anything, even if you dont end up with the bird. Its great stuff. If you dont get the bird keep looking, trust me, you cant be happy if you dont have an F-body in your life

startercar

Is that basically like a Seafoam sort of thing?

Still waiting for this guy to get back to me..

IROCtheThird

iTrader: (15)

Ive never used seafoam, but from what I've been told top end cleaner works a hell of alot better, and when you use it youll understand.

startercar

Haha alright, thank you very much. What sort of oil do you use? Do you think full synthetics are worth it? Sorry if this is turning into sort of a multipurpose thread...

K-slice

iTrader: (2)

Oil is oil, thats what I say. I use the 5W30 they say to use. Synthetics are alot more money with not noticable advantages. Castrol GTX is the way to go, with a non-fram filter.
I love when people bring their Ranger in and want diesel oil in it. You can try to talk them out of it, but they think they know more than the people who desgnied the car...

startercar

Alright sounds good..the last thing I want to do is spend more money than I need to. But yeah I definitely have heard not to use Fram lately.

startercar

Ok, well I'm pretty happy right now. I stopped in at the insurance agency and the lady there was happy to explain all of the things I was a little...clueless about. Afterwards I asked her for a price estimate on the car...keep in mind I sort of have the base insurance:

To insure my current 94 Camry we are paying $1050 a year before all the service fees and things.

To insure the 91 Bird, IT'D BE ABOUT $830!!!!!!!

In all the times I've run this through my head, I thought insurance would be 3-400 more than what I'm paying now, not 200 less! Apparently if it was a v8, it would be a lot more, but for the v6 model it isn't bad. They just want the VIN so they can verify the price estimate.

Whoo hoo

K-slice

iTrader: (2)

Yep, V6's will save lots of money. Gas, insurance, parts...
And with the right exhaust it can sound just like a V8 anyway.

startercar

Sounds like a great deal to me man. I'll keep you posted!

firebird1992

well i had my firebird for 5 years now it was my frist car i use mobil 1 full syn 10-w40(idk why but it last for 5000 miles on the dot before turning brown) and a can of RESTSORE every now and then with a mobil 1 high performance filter and the car has been good to me

startercar

Restsore? Ok thanks. Still waiting on the guy to get back to me....I don't know how much he really wants to sell this car..

IROCtheThird

iTrader: (15)

I say go to the guys house and say, "SELL ME THIS CAR!!"

startercar

I'm thinking about it. You know I'm starting to wonder if this is worth it this guy wonders why no ones bought his car. Hmm. Well I still do want to see it in person and see how bad the damage is...I'll probably post pictures up here then and ask you guys if it's really worth it or not..

startercar

Hey, question. Are these engines just...inneficient or something? According to KBB the V6 Firebird only has 15 horsepower more than my Camry. I guess that's not the only thing you can look at, but I expected a bit more of a difference there? I dunno.

Guy still...not responding...

2.8RS

iTrader: (5)

How old is the Camry? Remember that these cars are around 20+ years old now. The motors were awesome back in the day according to that days technology. Now with better technology and designs its easier to get more power out of a smaller motor. The stock heads on these motors aren't that great, if you look at threads with the aluminum heads swapped on there is quite a difference in power.

startercar

It's a 94 Camry LE 4cyl. And I'll look into those threads, thanks man.

EDIT: Hey, question, how exclusive was the T-Tops option? Is there any chance this base bird v6 might have them? I've never had T-Tops before, but I hear they're sort of fun...when they aren't leaking. The guy didn't mention anything about T-Tops, so I don't know.

2.8RS

iTrader: (5)

T-tops are on all models as an option. The aluminum head swap isn't just plug n' play, you will need sensors, wiring, pistons, intake, heads.

startercar

Well the guy just sold it out from under me...

IROCtheThird

iTrader: (15)

Keep looking man, there are everywhere for cheap with the way gas is, even if you go for an 8, just stay away from carbed motors, TPI is a nice option, I get 20+mpg with a 305TPI and 2.73 rear end gears. But dont give up youll be dissapointed if you dont buy an f-body. There going up in value everyday, ****** one up while you can.

startercar

I'll keep looking for the v6...I don't think I'd be able to afford insurance on an 8...though if I can...there's a niceish one for sale near me...poor neglected Formula that probably hasn't been started since last summer..

EDIT: Well thanks for all the help everyone, even if the sale didn't go through.

startercar

Ok, update. I found another one, this ones in much better condition(or sounds like it). It's a 92 red Firebird V6, no damage and no rust, only thing it needs is a new motor for the headlights. It's also already inspected. Sounds like it's been repainted recently, not the right way, but by Maaco or something. So the color may not be amazing, but it won't be faded either. Car has about 112,000 on it, and the guy wants $950 which sounds very fair to me.

ALSO ALSO ALSO

Insurance on THIS ONE is only $730 a year! That's crazy that's over $300 cheaper than my 94 Camry, which makes no sense to me.

But seriously...guys. Help. I'm 16 with 2,000 dollars to spend and I want a bird. Are these cars reliable? If they aren't, I can't get one, as much as I want to. I need a dependable car, which I have with my Camry. I also just want to have some fun.

Thanks for your opinions.

EDIT: Also the car has non leaking t-tops. And the guy is being extremely accomodating, unlike the other guy. That makes me happy, but also worries me because the car is likely to be sold soon. He wants me to come down and test drive it, and if I do, I'll let you guys know. Right now the problem is what to do with my current car...

Gumby

Of course they are, why we all own one.

Paid $795 for mine in 99 with 165,000 and it now has 223,000 and still runs strong.

You can drive a 6 like you stole it and still get good MPG.
SOme claim good MPG on a 305 but you gotta drive like a granny.

Oh and the seats fold all the way down, and girls love 3rd gens.
Add that one up.

gcgarner

Pull the trigger on it. You can't beat that deal.

K-slice

iTrader: (2)

got any pics of it? Red 3rd gens are a cop magnet, probably the only thing bad about it.
I paid 2K for mine with 89K on the odo :\ for that cheap if it runs and drives I'd take it in a heartbeat.

I dunno where you live, but I'd pick up a beater Ranger or something for the winter with the money you got leftover. I don't want my bird to see the salt, so that's what I'm doin.

Gumby

Id piant mine red if that wasn't true, I keep it all black as its hard to judge the speed of a black car from even a close distance. An all chrome car would be near invisable.

Arrest me yellow and red make ya look like your flying standing still.

startercar

Mmm, that's true. I'd prefer a black one for more reasons than just the cop magnet thing. But eh. Unfortunately I'm busy from now until Monday...I doubt the car will still be for sale then, especially at that price, but there isn't much I can do about it now I guess...

The way you guys are talking, though, it does sound like a smokin' hot deal.

Hmmmmm

RSFreak

One of the great things about the V6 3rdgens is they're cheap! I got mine for $400! Straight body, no rust, bone stock; perfect! Keep looking, there are deals out there...