Opinions on car purchase.

**lstrunk** · 05-17-2002, 11:37 AM

OK, I had my Physics teacher offer me a 1982 White Camaro.
60k- 70k miles on it. He says it runs fine, and just needs new valve gasket covers. It has a 305 V-8. He says it is souped up pretty nice, with a nice muffler, tires, etc.
He only wants 600$ for it. He traded a car for it last fall, and hasn't even driven it. HE says the few times that its been fired up, it runs fine.
I am 16, but I have a clean driving record, and a 3.6GPA.
Is it worth getting this car? I've looked at a few pics of other ones, and they look pretty nice.
How much would insurance cost me? I'm guessing like 150$ a month.
Input please!?
Thanks guys.

**Squeezer** · 05-17-2002, 03:46 PM

ok dude you went from a Lincoln that gave you nothing but problems to an S10 that gave you nothing but problems and now you want to get an old 3rd gen fbody that will give you nothing but problems? When will you learn?

**Loftus** · 05-17-2002, 07:58 PM

your only 16 so get a car that's cheap on gas. At 16 you'll be out driving with pal's or chick's showing off your mp3 player install at drive in's and campground parties, driving 1 hour to meet that girl you met at a party but she lives in the next town... trust me gas eat's up a lot of your budget. No point in having a fast car if you can't aford to put gas in when ever you feel that freedom kick.

**lstrunk** · 05-17-2002, 09:52 PM

Squeezer: The Lincoln had 153k miles, the S10 has 230k (and actually doesn't have serious problems, I just tend to like to fix small things)
The Camaro only has 60k miles. thats damn good for 600$.
I have asked a few people about it. Basically it would be an absolute gas hog, but would be fun as hell.
I am not going to get it, but it would be cool.

**wizardPC** · 05-18-2002, 02:13 AM

The first car I had (and drove) was a powder blue 1983 toyota tercel 5-door hatchback with 80k miles. This was in 1996.

It would go 75mph, got 30 MPG, and could hold me, my freinds, and their backpacks.

I paid $1200 cash that I had been saving for my ENTIRE LIFE. and I had to get a job to pay for the gas to get to the job. (How's that for circular?)

I loved that car, and I drove it into the ground. When I got rid of it, it maxed out at 45mph downhill, 12mpg, and 100k miles--in 9 months.

The point? well, I dont think I actually had one--but I think if I had driven a really nice car at first, I would probably be dead by now.

**Aaron Cake** · 05-18-2002, 10:40 AM

If it is in good shape (good compression, no smoke, NO RUST), then go for it. If there is any rust, don't buy it. Once the rust starts (on American cars), it's scrapyard time. It will guzzle the gas, but you don't buy a muscle car to be good on gas. If you care about gas mileage, then buy a Honda...

A little perspective: I fill up three times a week driving my '86 RX-7, and that's a 60 litre tank.

I'd imagine a Camero with a 305 would be about the same.

**eT/A** · 05-19-2002, 09:48 PM

Hell, if you like thirdgen f-bodies, I say go for it. But don't get involved unless you're willing to learn how to turn a wrench on the car (not that you don't already know how)... the 305 is a good starter engine- pretty good power, but not too much, and they're easy to work on. I've got a 92 T/A with the 305 (would have loved to get a 350, but they weren't offered with the convertibles), and it runs like a charm with over 110K on the clock. Averages around 15-18 mpg around town, maybe 23-25 mpg on the highway (much better than my '81 T/A... it gets around 5 mpg, but it's a performance-built 350). They are fun cars, but they're not without their problems. Keep in mind that if it's a sports car, someone has likely driven it like a sports car... they weren't made to be babied! The best thing about them is the massive shelf overhang on the passenger side dash... it's just screaming for an 8" LCD! Check out www.thirdgen.com for some more info on them in general....Good luck!