Should I buy...a Camaro?

[qwerk]

I don't have a ton of details yet, but a friend of mine is giving me first dibs on her Camaro because I made a joke about buying it a few weeks back. It's a fourth Gen with a V6, not sure what year. It runs, but her fiance is getting a new car, so she won't be needing it anymore.

If anyone here is knowledgeable about these, I have a few questions:

1. I assume they aren't terribly hard to work on? I've always worked on my own cars, so I assume this would be pretty easy and that there is a ton of documentation.

2. Anything specific to this model to avoid?

3. It's in somewhat rough shape (lots of miles, needs new struts, etc). If I bought it, especially with winter around the corner, I'd like to just keep it in my garage and work on it. Would I still have to register and insure it during this time, or only when I actually want to drive it on public roads? I know this will vary by state, so I'll definitely look into it, but hopefully someone here has experience with this kind of thing.

I know if I really wanted a Camaro, it would probably be cheaper and easier to just buy one in better shape. What I like about this car is that it's cheap enough (likely less than $1000) that it would be a good "learning" car. I've never had a car before that I could rebuild the engine on just to see what's inside and how it works. That kind of thing. However, it's also in good enough condition that it still runs solidly, so it actually stands a chance of being a decent car someday.

Thoughts?

[Silverbullet]

First thought... If it runs... drive it till it doesn't... best money spent... If you fix it up... you will lose money... I've had a lot of Camaros but 4th gen are a dime a dozen. I had a 67, 69 70, 77...they do better on value.

[Mark D]

Camaros are fun cars... not super powerful by any means with the V6, but still a decent car if you're getting it for cheap. I wouldn't plan on driving it in the snow with RWD unless you can handle sliding around a little bit. It makes for some fun in an empty parking lot though :wink:

I prefer 3rd gen (IROC-Z) personally, but 4th gen cars are nice also. If it's cheap and you've got the space for it I'd say go for it. If you fix a few things and clean it up you might be able to sell it come spring and make a little profit or just enjoy it for a while.

[Mike C.]

Fourth gen camaros v6 are pigs. The motor sucks, build quality is horrible. Avoid it like the plague. Find a V8. At this point, the early 4th gens 93-97 are cheap. Lt1 powered, about 285hp. Get a 6 spd and you will get some damn good highway mileage.

Was a member of a 3rd and 4th gen fbody drag racing club back in the 90s. you will be unhappy with the 3.4L v6. The 3.8 is SLIGHTLY better, but still a crappy powerplant. Cars are plagued with weird idle issues, and are seriously under powered. If you are looking for a daily driver situation, there are much better cars out there. I wouldn't give anyone a v6 fbody.

It sounds like it's already a money pit. After you dump all this money, you are still going to have a high mileage car.

BTW, power window motors fail all the time (went through 3 on my 96 WS6), power window and power lock switches break all the time (cheap plastic), door design can make it difficult to get out in tight spaces, passenger seat is uncomfortable due to floor design (cat converter hump).
It's 90s gm, so it will literally just fall apart.

[Morpheus]

^ What Mike said.

On the other hand, if you would like a 5th Gen Camaro V6, I happen to be selling mine!

$26k and it's all yours!

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/3406645913.html

[Nicholas R]

Friends dont let friends buy V6's. I say look for a V8. Seriously, if this is to be a "fun" car at all, go for the V8 because the V6 in that era was a slug.

If it's a 93-97 it'll have an LT1 V8, if it's a 98-02 it'll have an LS1 V8. LS1 is where it's at :biggrin:

[nullset]

Friends dont let friends buy V6's. I say look for a V8. Seriously, if this is to be a "fun" car at all, go for the V8 because the V6 in that era was a slug.

If it's a 93-97 it'll have an LT1 V8, if it's a 98-02 it'll have an LS1 V8. LS1 is where it's at :biggrin:

Stock V6 Camero are quite a bit of slug so the turbo is a super nice up-grayed![sic]

[SamHill]

The way I see it, if you're gonna be white trash, you might as well do it with some style

[Dangermouse]

Stock V6 Camero are quite a bit of slug so the turbo is a super nice up-grayed![sic]

:cheers:

[OverlandMan]

Pass on the v6 in this car.

[Kenny_Z]

I almost bought a 4th gen Camaro as my first new car. I'm glad I didn't. They've got suspension issues right out of the gate. However, if you're planning to make this a big project you can fix all of those issues within the aftermarket. A new K member goes a long way to stiffen up and make them handle a lot better. Drop in a v8 with a 6 speed and you've got a fun car. How's the body? Rust anywhere?

There are tons of options out there for a car like this so you really want to be sure of your project plans before you start. Nothing like sinking a ton of money into a v6 and then decide you want to go with an 8.

Just don't do this...please.
http://gmauthority.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/4th-generation-camaro-turned-reventon/4th-generation-camaro-turned-reventon-1.jpg

[Starglider]

Just don't do this...please.

Still looks better than the DeLor.I.Am :)

[Dangermouse]

I'll see your



http://gmauthority.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/4th-generation-camaro-turned-reventon/4th-generation-camaro-turned-reventon-1.jpg

and raise you this

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/185t3iqpj0fd6jpg/original.jpg

http://jalopnik.com/5961842/this-is-the-worlds-worst-custom-camaro-zl1?tag=custom-cars

[Morpheus]

14966

[OverlandMan]

14967

[Kenny_Z]

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/185t3iqpj0fd6jpg/original.jpg

http://jalopnik.com/5961842/this-is-the-worlds-worst-custom-camaro-zl1?tag=custom-cars

I'll raise you this

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/c67.0.403.403/p403x403/149690_10151177892318930_154049135_n.jpg

People are not nice to Camaros...

[Nicholas R]

Oh goodness I hope this turns in to the ridiculous car pictures thread :biggrin:

[Mark D]

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=14981&d=1353479775

[qwerk]

I think Mark won that...whatever it was. :race:

Anyway, I'm still thinking about the Camaro. I realize that if I were specifically looking for a Camaro to buy, I'd definitely want to go for the V8. Truthfully, though, I'm not really interested in this car because it's a Camaro. I've really never been super interested in them, but like I said in my original post, it would be a semi-interesting, cheap car to be able to learn to tackle some larger projects on. And if I mess it up, oh well. It's just a 4th gen V6 Camaro, you know? Maybe down the road it could even be a good candidate for an engine swap or something to get experience with that.

We'll see. In the end it really comes down to price and whether or not some critical things (frame, etc) are in decent condition.

It seems like some of you have quite a bit of Camaro knowledge, so I'll definitely post back if I get some pics and other details.

[Mike C.]

We'll see. In the end it really comes down to price and whether or not some critical things (frame, etc) are in decent condition.


I'll get you started in the right direction... 4th gen camaros don't have frames... they are a unibody car.

[qwerk]

Whoops, thanks for the correction. I get so used to seeing "frame" around here, it slipped.

[ssaleen]

Should I buy a... Camaro?

Hell no! Unless you have a mullet then I could see it.
Unless its a 67-69 and maybe a 71-72 otherwise not worth it and totally ugly.

[timothymoore]

Fourth gen camaros v6 are pigs. The motor sucks, build quality is horrible.

depends on whether it is a 3.1, 3.4, or 3.8. the 3.8s have a decent bit of power.