To T/A, or Not to T/A, that is the question!!

[GMTruckGuy74]

http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/4578545956.html - 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 Ram Air Coupe

I was searching G-body Pontiac Grand Prix's ('81-'87) and stumbled upon this awesome low-mileage 2000 T/A Ram Air WS6 Coupe. The wife and kids love this car, and I can't say I blame them. I had a a '95 T/A Coupe (used) in 1998 & 1999 - I absolutely love the '93-'02 generation ('96 & '97 WS6 Coupes are my true love). The '95 I got rid of for a more family sensible ride ('99 Grand Am GT1 Sedan) and the wife has not to this day let me forget how much she loved my '95 T/A. Showing her this 2000 got her all worked up and my son jumped on the bandwagon. Neither want me to pass up this car and want me to forgo a new '15 Canyon for this T/A.

So the plan would be that if I purchased the '00 T/A it would be a family fun car (3rd) and my Envoy would be replaced by a small car lease for the wife and I inherit the '08 Pontiac G6. I forgo a new pickup for the next several years. Or I forgo the T/A and continue my path towards a new 2015 GMC Canyon.

What would you do?

[ocnblu]

Sounds like the difference of opinion is as wide as a canyon right now.

 

GMC Canyon is the way to go.  Just get in and drive, no fiddling with the problems of a 15-year old car.  IMHO.

[GMTruckGuy74]

 

VS.

 

[GMTruckGuy74]

r

Sounds like the difference of opinion is as wide as a canyon right now.

 

GMC Canyon is the way to go.  Just get in and drive, no fiddling with the problems of a 15-year old car.  IMHO.

 

The T/A wouldn't be a daily driver, it would be a family fun car for weekends and special occasions (even car shows).  Instead of getting a new Canyon, I'd inherit the wife's '08 G6 Sedan as my daily in place of the Envoy (and future Canyon replacement) and the Envoy would be traded in for a small car for the wife (likely a lease, maybe an Encore if the price was right or a Verano [my recommendation] or a Ford Fiesta or Focus [her non-GM likes]).

 

But I get your point, Bill.  The T/A, even with low mileage and general maintenance, would be an older car purchase that would need to be financed to make it happen.  Plus deep down I know I love the T/A but will miss not having a GMC in the stable.  And of course seeing the Canyons on the street in the very near future will possibly make me regret this decision.

 

But oh the memories of cruising to the Jersey shore in my '95 T/A with the t-tops out and the sound of the custom exhaust system rumbling from the LT1 V8

Edited August 24, 2014 by GMTruckGuy74

[A Horse With No Name]

I agree with Blu, time to move on. I know you would enjoy the Pontiac, however you will deeply, deeply regret not getting the new GMC. I actually like the GMC better, and I am the C And G sports car guy fwiw.

Were it to be me, I would buy the truck and never look back. Also, remember how quickly you tired of your Cadillac.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Boy am I getting the guilt trip from my 9-year old son for not "jumping on the T/A"!! He says to us tonight, "Mom's all for it and says do it, why haven't you called the guy yet?" He's usually all for the Canyon but I think he wants the T/A when he turns 17 Good kid

Having given it some more thought, I'd be basing my decision making process off of too much emotion with the T/A. If cash were no issue it may be a different story. But seeing as how I really want a new 2015 Canyon, I think I'll channel some additional patience

[Blake Noble]

Nothing is worth having to drive a Pontiac G6. Sorry.

 

Buy the truck.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Awe, come on guys!  The G6 isn't that bad of a car.  I like it much better than my '04 Malibu though I think my '07 Aura was more stylish overall.  I've been driving that G6 over 6 years now and it's a decent car

[§carlet §wordfish]

I would T/A, but I'm not a truck guy at all. And I don't have a family.

[A Horse With No Name]

Awe, come on guys!  The G6 isn't that bad of a car.  I like it much better than my '04 Malibu though I think my '07 Aura was more stylish overall.  I've been driving that G6 over 6 years now and it's a decent car

It is a decent car, but the GM lineup in 2014 is orders of magnitude better than the 2008 lineup. With the exception of the crappy Malibu, I like the whole current lineup as well as or better than the stuff from the late sixties/early seventies golden age.

[smk4565]

The Trans Am is a good idea, but not at that price.  15 year old cars will have some upkeep cost, and if you drive it, it will depreciate quickly.  Plus the back seat in those is tiny, so it isn't all that usable on anything more than a 15 minute trip.  I think you could find a Camaro/Firebird from 2000 for under $8,000, just not in that good of condition. Maybe get a cheap one if you want a sports car for occasional use. 

 

The G6 is better than an 04 Malibu, but I'd agree with black-kinght, the G6 isn't a very good car.  I guess it could be worse though.

[Blake Noble]

Awe, come on guys!  The G6 isn't that bad of a car.  I like it much better than my '04 Malibu though I think my '07 Aura was more stylish overall.  I've been driving that G6 over 6 years now and it's a decent car

 

The G6 is a better car than an '04 Malibu, yes. But then again, so is a mule and cart. Just eye, em, ayche, oh. I know I hated the 2006 model my mother owned my Sophomore/Junior year of high school. The driving position was only fit for a rabid baboon with severe scoliosis. The ride was rubbish. Then there was the worst bit: the handling, which was far too light, too... over assisted. That was no thanks to the electric steering, which dictated frequent vists to the local Pontiac dealer.

 

Yours is from a later batch though, right? Maybe 2006 was all around just a bad year for the G6.

Edited August 26, 2014 by black-knight

[GMTruckGuy74]

My wife's is a 2008; I must say it reminds me a lot of my 2007 Saturn AURA XE (3.5L V6) than it does of my 2004 Chevy Malibu LT (3.5L V6).  My dad had a 2006 G6 V6 Sedan and it felt very different from my wife's 2008.  I wonder if the intro of the AURA had an effect on the G6 for 2007/2008 since they shared the same platform? 

 

For the time being I have passed on the '00 T/A and am still moving forward with the '15 Canyon once they hit the dealer lots for a test drive

 

Though I was in Lancaster (PA) Friday and picked up the Auto Exchange used car booklet and found at least two interesting '90s GM vehicles that have caught my attention

[A Horse With No Name]

Thankfully, cars are unlike women in that they are easy to trade out of once you tire of them. Be interested to see where this goes.