Should I buy it...

[gm4life]

You know I have been thinking about a F-Body 2000-2002 with a V6 Coupe/T-Tops, I really would like a Firebird but found this Camaro at a only 6 grand with 59K! It is maroon (not first color choice my last actually because of my Cranberry SLE) and it has a fixed roof (great) and a stick (even better) and is priced good I think... Plus it is in Milwaukee and only 150 miles from my home. Plus I have family in that area as well... Hmm here is the car tell me what I should do... Keep in mind it would be my sons to drive to school and ours to play with on the weekends. My daughter would get the Impala then... Hmmm it is tempting but if it was white and had Pontiac on it, I prolly already would have called. I have also watched the price drop from 6,500 to 5,995... What do you guys think... Calling 68!

2002 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe L36 5spd.

[schuby87]

Well, as a current owner of an F-Body I have to say that having t tops is one of the single greatest things about the car! Spring and summer nights with the t tops off I can drive around for hours. I think that 6K is still a little pricey, even though it does have moderately low miles. If you watch for a good deal, especially with this time of year and economy, you could be looking at LS1 territory.

[gm4life]

Really... Do T-Tops leak? Know a LS1 is not an option for insurance reasons and don't they take premium? Thanks for the fast reply, I was under impression by what others are priced like that this was a pretty good deal.

Edited December 13, 2008 by gm4life

[schuby87]

Some people have problems with them, but I haven't. Every couple months I put dielectric grease around the windows to keep them moist and sealing nicely. They might dribble a little with a power washer directly on it. I think that the positives way outweigh the negatives.

Don't get me wrong, it looks like a nice car, especially if you are in the market for only a v6. LS1 prices have dropped because of the economy, gas prices, and the time of year. I haven't really been paying attention to the used v6 market.

[gm4life]

I know I am trying to weigh it out in my mind. I really want a Firebird like you...

[schuby87]

I would recommend a Pontiac over a Camaro. Looks better and has a better interior IMO.

[gm4life]

I know but I like the price on this one...

[AAS]

Price is good, car looks clean, and it's not bare bones (has power locks & windows, CD, fogs i think, looks like no traction control). T-tops are cool (had them on our '96 and '98 Z's), but you lose chassis rigidity on an already not very rigid chassis. Things will creak. I had sub-frame connectors installed on my SS, I'd definitely install them on a car with T-tops.

[gm4life]

Well I think I am passing and gonna wait for a Firebird, in the spring. It was a good buy tho!

[Chevy Nick]

If you watch for a good deal, especially with this time of year and economy, you could be looking at LS1 territory.

I agree with this, If you're going to buy an F-body, it must have a v8, you don't want to be "that guy".

[cletus8269]

maybe look fro a b4c too, som have high miles others dont, all the looks of a v6 but the power of a Z28 can sneak up on people quick, maybe even get a lower insurance premium since its not a z28

[regfootball]

nice car! but DANG that airbag cover is huge..LOL

[daves87rs]

Nah, I'd wait....not fond of the color....

[A Horse With No Name]

I'd say go for the Pontiac. I've found a few F bodies I like, but they always seem to come automatic.

I would prefer a non T-Top car, was out of town and went to look at a T top Firebird during a rainstorm...it was perhaps the one car on the planet that would make a mid sixites Mustang convertible seem watertight.

If you must have T tops, you could always make arangements to park the car upside down, of course.

Seriously, I don't like the loss in ridgidity with a t-top car.

Chris

Edited December 13, 2008 by 66Stang

[schuby87]

Everyone keeps saying that the t top car lose a ton of rigidity, but I don't really think that's the case. The hardtop cars have the exact same support under sheet metal roof that the t top cars do. I can see them loosing a little bit of rigidity, but nothing that should cause problems.

Like I said before, the positive outweigh the negatives IMO.

[AAS]

Everyone keeps saying that the t top car lose a ton of rigidity, but I don't really think that's the case. The hardtop cars have the exact same support under sheet metal roof that the t top cars do. I can see them loosing a little bit of rigidity, but nothing that should cause problems.

Like I said before, the positive outweigh the negatives IMO.

Definitely not something that would cause problems, but they do flex a bit more. Like I mentioned before, I put sub-frame connectors (and a strut tower brace) on my car, and it doesn't have T-tops. So, I guess I just didn't want any of the creaks I experienced with the '96 and '98, regardless of T-tops.

Personally, I wouldn't mind having a second F-body, 98-00 V6 manual, with T-tops...

[A Horse With No Name]

AAS,you do currently have the Camaro in your sig, right?

Chris

[gm4life]

Thanks guys I am going to wait till spring/summer. Maybe I'll pick up a 2002-2004 Seville with a Northstar... I will start considering a V8 but the insurance will kill I am sure...

Edited December 14, 2008 by gm4life

[AAS]

AAS,you do currently have the Camaro in your sig, right?

Chris

Yup.

[cletus8269]

Everyone keeps saying that the t top car lose a ton of rigidity, but I don't really think that's the case. The hardtop cars have the exact same support under sheet metal roof that the t top cars do. I can see them loosing a little bit of rigidity, but nothing that should cause problems.

Like I said before, the positive outweigh the negatives IMO.

as far as rigidity goes its tough to find non-t-top Buick GN's that havent been raced, i hear those guys really prefer the solid roof, the tops have been off my dad's 94 z28 maybe 10 times.

[vonVeezelsnider]

Thanks guys I am going to wait till spring/summer. Maybe I'll pick up a 2002-2004 Seville with a Northstar... I will start considering a V8 but the insurance will kill I am sure...

I like that vintage of Seville.... but I much perfer the Lucerne CXS' more classic lines. You'd be surprised with your insurance for your son. I found out from my insurance company that it would be nearly 700$/year cheaper to insure myself on a 2008 Corvette Z06 than the G5 I currently drive (Figure that one out)

[Satty]

G5/Cobalts are typically driven by high school girls who cant drive for $h! and get into wrecks.

[A Horse With No Name]

G5/Cobalts are typically driven by high school girls who cant drive for $h! and get into wrecks.

Actually I don't know why people think high school girls are always bad drivers.

I know a few that used to race Karts, autocross, road race, drag race etc. There is one around here in particular that looks like she's about 12 years old...and has handed plenty of guys their ass on an autocross course.

Around here, the Cobalt has a pretty good demographic of buyers. Since you seem to like porn Satty, let's jsut say that around here, the Cobalt has plenty of penetration but it's not deep enough.

Chris

[A Horse With No Name]

as far as rigidity goes its tough to find non-t-top Buick GN's that havent been raced, i hear those guys really prefer the solid roof, the tops have been off my dad's 94 z28 maybe 10 times.

If I had a GN I would race it...but yeah, it is hard to find them.

Chris