Need advice and help.

Alright, i am 17, i am getting my first car (have been driving my mom's solara sleV6 for a year), and i want a sport car. I was looking at Camaro Z28's, but their bad reliability was a huge issue for me and my parents since this car will have to last me for years. Now i am looking at 3000GT's, i don't think it would be fast, just fun. The problem is the number of them around and their condition (its hard to find one with low miles and the features i want). The final choice i have in my mind is a mustang. The thing is, my parents are now saying nay to the V8, and i would only get a GT, i just think the V6 would be too under-powered. I see '98 GT's with like 32k miles, power everything, and a fair amount of features for $12k and a touch lower, which is my limit. The only thing holding me back is there are soooo many mustangs around and i wanted something different, plus i need to convince my parents on the V8. What do you suggest (in general)? Thanks.

Also, what is the power difference between the 4.6L and the 5.0L, and what years had the 5.0? What year do you sugget (from around 98 and earlier)? I looked at the stock horsepower, and its 225, what are some minor things, cheap things, that can boost some?

Why is it that Camaro's have such a reputation for "poor build quality" ??? :confused:
I know people with Camaros that have lasted over 150k miles!

Get an '87 Buick Grand National.
3.8L Turbocharged V6. Parents wont let ya get a V8? Fine, get the GN! Fastest things in their day, and still could hold it's own against many modern day muscle cars! 14.1s out of the box on a stock '87 Grand Nation back in the late 80's, and with $1000 in mods you can run mid-low 12's!
People underestimate their power because they look like family cars! And they are one of the cheapest cars to mod!

Well, from some owners i hear it, plus consumer reports has it on the worst reliability list for used cars. The GN's are AWESOME cars, but it would be too hard to get ahold of, and i would dump too much money into it (by choice), although i would kill to have a car that runs 10's (the GN with some mods) and is THE sleeper car.

I just actually talked to my parents about it, and the V8 only pushing 225hp and using only about a gallon or so more than the V6 (with a slight 150hp) is acceptable to them.

I have a Trans Am which is basically the same car as the Camaro (different body moldings) and have had ZERO problems even with all the aftermarket shit I've done...

I don't doubt it, i've heard the same thing from many other owners. But what i assume the problem is that the quality control isn't the best, so lemons get out there, but either way since consumer reports says so, my parents think so.

i have heard that camaro's have a few rattle's but don't know first hand. but hey to be able to run high 12's with a few bolt on's, damn!!

the difference between 4.6 and 5.0's are as follows;
the 5.0 is a push rod motor, has a single cam, and was made in mustangs till 95. the 4.6 is a modular motor with more power, has overhead cams, and started in mustangs in 96. some people prefer one over the other for different reasons, but you can't go wrong with either one.

so your parents don't want you to get a V8? why cause there too fast?? well that 3000GT you talk about is a fast car too. AWD 4 way steering, those things move!!! just tell your parents you want to support the great american sports car! with $12,000 you can get a very nice mustang! but watch out there are a lot of beat cars out there so beware. hope this helped some!

Craig

Thanks for the info, but for the differneces i was wondering more power-potential, reliability, ect. The 4.6 is about 15hp stronger stock than the 5.0, but the potential is an issue along with reliability (like i just mentioned). My parents are actually ok with teh V8 in the stang now, since i mentioned how low HP it puts out for the weight. The 3000GT isn't actually AWD, i believe its just the VR4's that are, which are much fast at 320hp. The mustang seems reasonable to me, but i need more ideas (i have considered eclipse GSX, impreza, f-bodies, mid 90 3-series BMWs, pick-ups, 3000GTs, and mustangs, WHAT ELSE?).

i don't remember the model, but subaru makes a turbo car thats pretty fast. what about a supra or RX-7. a couple friends of mine are into chevy's. one has a lumina Z34 which is very nice and quick for a 6 cyl. another has a berreta GTZ. that car is nice and really quick for a 4 cyl std

Don't go on what Consumer Reports says. I have always believed they favor the imports due to crappy American quality from the 70's and early 80's.

Today, quality is on an equal basis IMO. My folks have owned Honda's since '90 and they have had their fair share of problems with them. Anything form driveshafts to transmissions to leaking head gaskets.

IMHO domestic quality is just as good as foreign. Anyone can produce horror stories about any make of car. For god's sake my dad rented a Mercedes once and when he went to get in the door handle fell off.

As for your choice, Blackbird is correct that the Buick Turbo v-6 is a tough engine to beat on the street. In stock form my 87 GN ran 13.9 on a hot humid day. With less than 500.00 invested they run mid to high 12's.

My only concern would be that these cars are being stolen on a regular basis. If you intend to make a daily driver out of it and drive to the malls and such...you may not have it very long.

You can pick up an 87 TR (Turbo Regal) with 50-75k miles for about 11 grand.

While I am not a big fan of the Mustang....there are a lot of them out there and you can get good deals. Of course nothing screams "Look at me...I am not a sheep" like a GN

I don't go by CR much, but the thing is my parents do, and they have a huge say in the car. The RX-7's are too much money for too old of a car, and the scooby WRX or 2.5RS's are what i was initially looking for, but i can't find any used ones here. You have a good point with the theft on the GN, it will be my daily driver. Another thing is i want a manual, and GN's weren't made in them i believe. I just test drove a '99 rustang GT 5 speed and i like how they feel, not to mention the great sound. I think its my primary choice b/c of availability and price.

I think the mustang is a good deal. Nice power and you can modify them pretty easily.

Just remember not to race any GN's that line up next to you ;-)

Or F-Bodies! :D :smoka:

I was thinking of insurance costs and that mustangs can be had for less$$ than f-bodies.

Believe me BB, I would take an f-body LONG before I drop a dime on a Mustang.

to each his own!

Did not mean to imply I would never buy a Mustang. I happen to like them quite a bit...I just like GM products better. No insult towards Mustangs intended.

They are fine cars.

Originally posted by Blackbird01
I have a Trans Am which is basically the same car as the Camaro (different body moldings) and have had ZERO problems even with all the aftermarket shit I've done...

He wasn't referring to your car in particular. When most folks talk about shitty firebirds and camaros, they are usually referring to the 3rd gen models and their disappointing 10 year run. MPI and TPI in my opinion were embarrassingly slow engines that were notorious for their unreliability.

The new F bodies, of course, are MUCH improved except for little things that are on most consumer lists, such as cheap interior plastics, poor visibility, and that darned catalytic converter hump in the passenger floor.

Originally posted by -cy-
Thanks for the info, but for the differneces i was wondering more power-potential, reliability, ect. The 4.6 is about 15hp stronger stock than the 5.0, but the potential is an issue along with reliability (like i just mentioned). My parents are actually ok with teh V8 in the stang now, since i mentioned how low HP it puts out for the weight. The 3000GT isn't actually AWD, i believe its just the VR4's that are, which are much fast at 320hp. The mustang seems reasonable to me, but i need more ideas (i have considered eclipse GSX, impreza, f-bodies, mid 90 3-series BMWs, pick-ups, 3000GTs, and mustangs, WHAT ELSE?).

I think maybe you should take to reading the euthansist magazines. The 96 GT was 225 hp, and the 95 GT was 215 hp...thats 10 hp, not 15.

Too bad the first generation 4.6 2v motors that came in the GTs were disappointly low on torque...so bad that most owners are ecstatic about the 99 head swap that is now available...take a 96-98 GT, add 99 GT heads and intake, voila ~300 hp due to 11:1 compression.

They are reliable cars, and still quick! BUT, if you plan to do any racing, do NOT buy a 96-98 GT. I almost bought one, and got smoked by a 3 rd gen camaro on the test drive...felt like the bottom gave out on me when I hit the gas, and I have a friend running a Vortech S trim and many bolt ons...usually runs low 13s, if he's lucky high 12s. The heads are the weak link, so I would start with either a 5.0 stang or a LT1 Camaro Z28.