Talk me out of getting a Trans Am...

[96Firebird]

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/gillbot/Stock2.jpg

Well now what happens when he gets a flat?

 

[SparkyJJO]

Your wallet will hate you, but your local gas station owner will propose marriage.

Depends. They don't get too bad of mpg given the size of the engine. That is, if you can keep your foot out of it :twisted:

OP I say go for it. Also, LS1tech.com has a crapload of info about the cars, so that may be of use to you. Of course, some people there also like feeding the mod bug, so the half-decent mpg may go way down the drain while the HP goes way, way up

 

[DirthNader]

When i was young i could handle the terrible build quality and the rattling of the front dash but now looking back i ask myself WTF was i ever thinking. I'd never buy an LS1 F-body again but if the price was right on an LT1 SS i would in a heartbeat

I really think that the SS / WS6 contributed to the death of the F-body.

I paid ~$25K for my Z28. Brand new, signed the papers before the car was even on the lot.

Start adding the SS package ($5000+ alone), the various special edition / anniversary packages on top of that, and hell, why not make it a convertible. Now you've got a sticker coming out to damn near $40K.

I could overlook a lot of things wrong with that car considering the performance you got for $25K. You really couldn't touch that price / performance ratio back then. At $40K you're opening the car up to comparisons with vastly superior cars.

 

[IcePickFreak]

I had a 99 WS6 I bought new and it was a really fun car, also had a 97 TA... no comparison between the older LT1's (screw you opti-spark) and the LS1's IMO. Just expect the interior to get a little squeaky, although neither of mine got horribly bad I can't imagine they're better 10 years later. My biggest complaint on the WS6 was probably trying to keep the black paint clean.

Also, don't settle for anything other than the 6-speed, the 4-speed autos need to stay back in the 90s. Then I'd recommend the obvious skip-shift delete and an aftermarket shifter. Unless you find one with a factory hurst, the stock shifter tended to get caught between the gears if you're a little too firm on your shifts.

I'd check ls1tech too for cars, theres usually some nice deals to be found there.

Your wallet will hate you, but your local gas station owner will propose marriage.

I could hit 29mpg on the interstate with the 6-speed in the 99, but yeah you're right foot will feel awfully heavy a lot of the time.

 

[Gillbot]

Well now what happens when he gets a flat?

There hasn't been a spare in that car since it was new.
$50 for a tow is nothing when compared to the raw value of the smiles created by the go fast pedal anyway.

 

[96Firebird]

Found a potential candidate... Not my first choice in color, but I like it. Interior color (beige and black) is not the greatest, but I could live with it. A little overpriced for the miles, but it has fresh paint and needs nothing...

2002 Trans Am WS6
Sunset Orange Metallic
6-speed, 89k miles
$12,500

Mods all have less than 5k on them:

-MGW Shifter
-Strano Lowering Springs
-Skip Shift Eliminator
-20% tint all around
-EBC dimpled and slotted rotors
-Hawk HPS pads
-American Racing Long tube Headers 1 3/4"
-American Racing Off-Road y-pipe
-Borla Catback ( sounds sexual )
-UMI Adj. Panhard bar
-UMI Lower Control arm
-UMI 2 point Subframe Connectors
-SLP Lid
-MSD Plug Wires
-NGK Plugs
-New o2 sensors w/ extensions
-Factory LS6 intake
-SLP smooth Bellow
-!EGR
-!AIR
-Fresh Aftermarket clutch ( feels like a Comp puck clutch imo, but i do not know for sure )
-Lloyds 5 piece trans am Floor-Mats set ( real nice )
-Epco Rally Shift Knob 2 1/8

His pics exceeded bandwidth in his post, but I took a couple pictures with my phone to send to my buddy... So these pics are from my phone taking a picture of my screen:

I offered $11k and he said he is in no hurry to sell and wants to get $12k. Said its going to need new tires soon too, so I might try to leverage that. Thoughts?

 

[Gillbot]

I'm a fan of SOM. ;-)
Mine

 

[scorp00]

Seems overpriced to me but they sell for real cheap here. Fresh paint means it was wrecked, my original paint is in great shape. These cars get wrecked a LOT, insurance is more than a corvette z06. I would be glad to sell you mine for less. It's a 00 m6 with 104k with mods and a stereo. There's also a 99 ws6 for sale here for $5900 with 152k on it.

 

[96Firebird]

That car is in WV, it would be a 6.5hr drive one way for me. My roommate already said he would do the trip with me. The car sold on LS1Tech.com with ghost flames, and the new owner had a shop repaint the front of the car to get rid of them. So I guess I should have said there is some fresh paint on it, although I am going to ask for more pictures to see if they matched it correctly. And the CETA mod on the rear bumper is new. And white is low on my list of color choices, with pewter being on the bottom. I might be able to do silver, red is ok, SOM is better, and black or NBM are my top choices.

 

[sdifox]

Smokey?

 

[RavenSEAL]

Looks like a nice deal with all the mods!

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

I have an LT1 and when you have an electrical problem, don't expect to be able to fix it.

Stereo shops turn me away when I ask them to fix my alarm.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Fresh paint means it was wrecked,

Not always. I know of a few guys who have some nice fbodies who have fresh paint because some stupid jealous lowlifes keyed the crap out of it.

I have an LT1 and when you have an electrical problem, don't expect to be able to fix it.

Stereo shops turn me away when I ask them to fix my alarm.

The electrical systems on these cars aren't too bad. I've seen worse. Such as VW

 

[Squisher]

I really think that the SS / WS6 contributed to the death of the F-body.

I paid ~$25K for my Z28. Brand new, signed the papers before the car was even on the lot.

Start adding the SS package ($5000+ alone), the various special edition / anniversary packages on top of that, and hell, why not make it a convertible. Now you've got a sticker coming out to damn near $40K.

I could overlook a lot of things wrong with that car considering the performance you got for $25K. You really couldn't touch that price / performance ratio back then. At $40K you're opening the car up to comparisons with vastly superior cars.

That is a chunk of change. I got a GM discount on my '02 Z28 along with that ungodly 5% discount on spending with the GM Card credit card which added up to $3600. I think I walked out of the dealership paying just under $21K and that was with leather, t-tops, and chrome wheel upgrades. I figure I could sell it for $12K with 37K mi. on it now 10 years later. Not bad for a domestic.

http://i.imgur.com/blJ08.jpg

 

[railer]

I can't believe how expensive those things are. I had a 96 LT1 slushbox Firebird for a while. I thought that thing was doggy, and the ergos were terrible. LS1's are obviously very fast.

Here's one not too far away:

http://poconos.craigslist.org/cto/2875163077.html

 

[Throckmorton]

I don't get how they hold their value so well considering how much better the modern musclecars are. I mean it's a platform that dates back to 1982!

 

[SparkyJJO]

Platform maybe but the powertrain certainly doesn't. And that's what most people buy the cars for is the powertrain.

 

[Throckmorton]

Platform maybe but the powertrain certainly doesn't. And that's what most people buy the cars for is the powertrain.

Even the LS1 isn't that great. It only puts out 50 more horsepower than a new Camaro or Mustang's V6.

 

[jlee]

Even the LS1 isn't that great. It only puts out 50 more horsepower than a new Camaro or Mustang's V6.

What's an affordable "great" motor, then, in your opinion?

BTW, '02 WS6 quarter mile, 13.1 seconds. '12 Mustang V6, 13.9. '12 Camaro V6, 14.3.

I also doubt the new V6's respond as well to mods as the LS motors do (like 66rwhp from a cam).

 

[Gillbot]

Even the LS1 isn't that great. It only puts out 50 more horsepower than a new Camaro or Mustang's V6.

But they respond extremely well to mods and are very stout.

What's an affordable "great" motor, then, in your opinion?

BTW, '02 WS6 quarter mile, 13.1 seconds. '12 Mustang V6, 13.9. '12 Camaro V6, 14.3.

I also doubt the new V6's respond as well to mods as the LS motors do (like 66rwhp from a cam).

Many of the LS1 cars dipped into the 12's stock with zero mods. Tack on some DR's and a few cheap mods and they would scream!!

 

[exdeath]

Even the LS1 isn't that great. It only puts out 50 more horsepower than a new Camaro or Mustang's V6.

5.7L V8 @ 20% of its max potential vs 3.7L V6 @ 90% of its max potential... people don't buy these for their stock power.

And show me a 2012 V6 Mustang or Camaro for $10,000, let alone one with 400+ HP with < $1000 in mods.

And you're making the common mistake of comparing only peak horsepower on paper and not looking at torque curves and power bands.

If you want to badmouth a motor, how about the 260HP 4.6L 2 valve...

 

[SparkyJJO]

But they respond extremely well to mods and are very stout.


Many of the LS1 cars dipped into the 12's stock with zero mods. Tack on some DR's and a few cheap mods and they would scream!!

... until the 10 bolt explodes

They should have at least put an 8.5" 10 bolt in those cars.

 

[Gillbot]

... until the 10 bolt explodes

They should have at least put an 8.5" 10 bolt in those cars.

Depends on the car and driver really. I've been in the 11's for years on a 10 bolt with friends DEEP into the 10's still running the good old 10 bolt.

Manual car, hell no!!! But man i'm glad I got a stalled slushbox!

Though a good friend had a M6 car that ran consistently in the low 11's on a 10 bolt for years. Granted, he was running like mid 11's at like 130+MPH rolling off the start then mashing it, but hey, it survived!!!

 

[96Firebird]

Put a deposit down on the '02 SOM WS6 above, if all goes to plan I'll be picking it up next weekend. Any idea on how I can legally get it from WV to NY? From what I've read, I need to get a temporary registration from WV, and then register it in NY when I get back. But I can't find anything on WV's DMV site about temporary registration, and NY's DMV site only gives out temporary registration for cars being transported within NYS, or out of NYS. I know I will have to get insurance prior to leaving to get the car. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[Gillbot]

You may be able to go to the local DMV and get a t-tag. Call ahead and ask them what you should do.
http://www.transportation.wv.gov/dmv/Pages/default.aspx