Used Muscle Car Shopping Observations

"thedevilinside" (thedevilinside)
02/19/2015 at 21:56 • Filed to: None

I've looked at 2 different LS1 Trans Ams the past two days. Some observations:

Car 1: Exactly as described, the owner is extremely big on keeping everything stock. A nice thing to know. Car never sees snow, etc.

Car 2: Service Engine Light on, "just an O2 sensor". . . Right. "It's a WS6" but the RPO sticker doesn't match. "It came with a Diablo Tuner but I don't know if the car has ever been tuned." This plus some other stuff meant no. no. no. no.

Car 3: No reply to my text. hard to sell a car like that.

Car 4: Looks just like Car 1 in the ad so I haven't made the trip to see it.

All other cars I've seen in the area advertised: We think these are collector cars so we don't drive them and want $20k.

So Car 1 is an option, but I'm still looking around to see if other reasonable WS6's come up or something.

DISCUSSION (28)

camaroboy68ss > thedevilinside
02/19/2015 at 22:00

yeah it was a pain shopping for my 98 Camaro SS, most cars have over 100k miles and have had the piss beat out of them.

thedevilinside > camaroboy68ss
02/19/2015 at 22:07

I've kept an eye out for those too. The "Car 1" was a 1999 Trans Am non WS6. It seemed to have not been beat up so it's my leading candidate right now.

Milky > thedevilinside
02/19/2015 at 22:09

Obviously you're a fan so this might be pointless but I didn't enjoy the test drive I took in one. IMO it just felt cheap and a bit clumsy. Granted one could wipe my Crossfire in a straight line …. either way though, are GTOs in your price range?

crowmolly > thedevilinside
02/19/2015 at 22:12

Not that much different other than the hood. Check the rear end for noise and the dash pad for cracks.

thedevilinside > Milky
02/19/2015 at 22:12

I had an '06 GTO. It was great when it wasn't giving me problems. But all the problems meant I couldn't own one as my only car. So I sold it and got a FoST. But now I'm missing the LS/T56 combo. So I'm looking around for one of these as a second car.

thedevilinside > Milky
02/19/2015 at 22:14

I agree they are a bit clunky to drive. But I liked the couple I drove enough that I would enjoy them as I worked through upgrading it. It would be a project. Supsension/brakes as the focus.

thedevilinside > crowmolly
02/19/2015 at 22:16

Ya, I've been looking at the dashes for cracks. The doors have all been cracked that I've seen. I know the WS6 isn't too much different, that's why the "Car 1" is my favorite so far. Not a WS6 but very clean and the prices WS6's are commanding is too much more when compared to what you get. But if I somehow found a deal on a WS6, I'd like that.

crowmolly > thedevilinside
02/19/2015 at 22:18

I'd rather a std T/A T56 than a WS6 with a 4L60-E. Elitist-manual-crap aside, the T56 is just such a great trans.

Milky > thedevilinside
02/19/2015 at 22:19

Ahh I see, well it probably didn't help that the one I test drove's owner was a complete dumbass. but I digress /IllSeeMyselfOut

camaroboy68ss > crowmolly
02/19/2015 at 22:19

Plus you got better rear end gears in a stick car. 3.42's in a t56 car over 3.08s in a auto

crowmolly > camaroboy68ss
02/19/2015 at 22:21

That too. And you could get 2.73s with an auto. Or 3.23.

Wait, which ones got a 3.08?

thedevilinside > Milky
02/19/2015 at 22:22

I went with the GTO first, so I get that. But for a second car, project the Trans Am suits my desires and budget better.

thedevilinside > crowmolly
02/19/2015 at 22:23

I'm only looking at T56 cars. I had one in my GTO and that's a lot of the reason I want one of these, is for a T56.

thedevilinside > camaroboy68ss
02/19/2015 at 22:24

I don't think a 3.08 would be too bad. I would never drag race it. Maybe a road course way down the road. But highway cruising with a 3.08 rear gear would be pretty good. Anyway, I'm only looking T56.

JasonStern911 > thedevilinside
02/19/2015 at 22:26

the trick to getting a good price on a good car is patience. infinite f'ing patience.

thedevilinside > JasonStern911
02/19/2015 at 22:30

I'll be out of town a lot the next few weeks and busy at work after that, so even if I don't want to wait I will have to. I just don't like the limited selection.

camaroboy68ss > thedevilinside
02/19/2015 at 22:31

you wouldn't want 3.08's with the t56, my 98 is a ls1/t56 with the 3.42's and im around 13-1400rpm at 65-70

thedevilinside > camaroboy68ss
02/19/2015 at 22:34

Oh, ya you're right. I didn't realize it was that tall. The two I drove were 3.42's then, and those were good.

camaroboy68ss > thedevilinside
02/19/2015 at 22:35

yeah a stick with 3.08's is terrible to take off in

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > crowmolly
02/19/2015 at 23:17

wait, GM stuck an LT1 up against a 4L60-E? Holy grenaded transmissions, batman.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > thedevilinside
02/19/2015 at 23:38

Sounds a lot like what I went through looking for a Mustang, though I never even bothered to check out ones that were to far modded like car number 2. I was surprised and not surprised to see so many beat up Mustang's, both V6 and V8 for around 12K. I really had hoped to find some decent ones, but it wasn't easy. I didn't mind having a car that needed work, I expected it of course. But most of those cars were so far gone it was sad.

It seemed hopeless after searching for a few months but I got what is probably the best car I ever could get. Like someone else said, you have to have some patience and really spend a lot of time searching. Also look for other car sites, I ended up finding my car on eBay before I was preparing to give up. I just can't imagine what you're finding with Trans Ams though, they're pretty sought after right now. I see beat up ones go for high prices. So good luck!

Younginwithavette > thedevilinside
02/19/2015 at 23:54

This is the car I really wanted when I bought my c5. I spent a few years saving up and looking for the right one. I gave up and just got a corvette. I'd recommend test driving one. Most c5s are treated like gold and are in the same price range as the ws6 would be. The only downside is you see them everywhere. Ws6's are a little less common. A ws6 is still on my list of cars I must own before I die, right under the gmc typhoon.

thedevilinside > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
02/20/2015 at 00:09

I'm checking/watching ebay, cars.com, autotrader, and craigslist. As well as any other plaves I find to look. The Car 2 I didn't know was like that until I went to check it out. Car 1 would be good if I just want an untiuched nice, not show level car. So I need to figure out if I can pay to get the next level up or not. I'll be busy or gone with work for a couple weeks so I have plenty of time to think it over. I think I'd be ok spending a bit more, but it can't be a torn up or modded car.

thedevilinside > Younginwithavette
02/20/2015 at 00:14

I don't know if my budget is really WS6 range. The one I saw today was cheap for what they called a WS6, but I haven't seen any real possibility WS6'S in my range nor have I seen any C5's below 125k miles. I'm trying not to rush and making sure I get the most I can. I don't want to drive a C5 until I see one that is a realistic choice. I'm hoping to get whatever I get for under $12,000. If I can't find the right car under that I'll wait.

Younginwithavette > thedevilinside
02/20/2015 at 00:28

My c5 was slightly more than that but it came with window sticker, service records, and every zo6 suspension component aside from springs as well as 79k miles. I don't know where you are looking for cars but I find the best cars are for sale on forums. Ls1tech may have what you are looking for. I got my car from a forum and it has been great so far.

crowmolly > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/20/2015 at 09:09

He is looking at an LS1 car, which is worse.

4L60 (and the -E) were the transmissions behind every automatic 4th gen f-body. And some of the GTO's.

It's really not a bad trans. There are plenty of guys that beat them hard and do OK. But the T56 (even of that vintage) is very stout.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > crowmolly
02/20/2015 at 10:17

Yes, but why the fuck would they not go with a 4L80E? Shit, the Northstar got 4T80Es, and it's less powerful than a damn LS.

crowmolly > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/20/2015 at 10:33

Much more expensive, heavier, and it's a much bigger trans. Way overkill for a mostly stock engine.