What do you guys think of this for a used car?

[dcmander]

1988 Pontiac Trans Am (GTA? - difference?)

- 5.7L V8
- TTops
- Power everything (windows, locks, mirrors, seats)
- Air Conditioning
- Cruise Control
- Tilt Steering Wheel
- Under 65k miles
- Good condition

Mostly looking for Gray exterior, gray interior like the one in the picture. I could always do black for exterior and i also like the blue/navy metallic, etc. I dont know really what all colors the 88 trans am comes in. I dunno if they make leather seats for 88s but i would prefer cloth.

How much should I be willing to pay? Also I would like to buy locally of course.. No more than 200m outside of Kansas City.

The one in the pic is going for 5k on ebay, reserve not yet met. It has 60k miles and is all i want except its not GTA and no ttops.

Only thing I will do to it is put in a system (prob spend around 800$) and prob get new rims eventually (will probably have to get new tires with those.... 800$ )

Any suggestions on future plans, where i should look, changes, etc?

Think it will be hard to find something like this Don't worry, I don't really NEED it for another 8 months...But can buy at any time.

Discuss.

Thanks. (new to forums)

[FAPhoenix]

I'd personally stay away from T-Tops because they tend to leak. Other then that at under 65k miles it shouldn't be too bad at all. Check for rust and try to find as much info on what goes wrong with those cars as you can.

[dcmander]

Originally Posted by FAPhoenix

I'd personally stay away from T-Tops because they tend to leak. Other then that at under 65k miles it shouldn't be too bad at all. Check for rust and try to find as much info on what goes wrong with those cars as you can.

I really love TTops, and I would have them off all the time weather permitting ( i live in kansas, not a big deal.) and I would only put them on when it was exceptionally hot and at night.

My brother has a 2002 fiebird with ttops and he loves them and has never had a problem with leaking. He also says they cant be damaged from hail and stuff.

So do you think they leak only because they are 1988? Could this be fixed if i got new ttops (they are on ebay a lot) or what?

I guess this would be a good thing to test out..poor a bucket of water on them and see if they hold ?!?

I always planned to get ttops..what do you think more about this? I woudl like to hear more and more opinions!

[petereggy]

your bros 02 dosent leak because its so new

the problems with T -tops is that he weather stripping cracks or breaks in places

[BlkCamaroSS]

Hmm, you're close to my parents house, and not far from me. If I were you, and you were really interested in F-bodies, I'd check out www.mofba.net. I'm an administrator there, so if you tell me what you're sign up as, I could approve you very quickly. This group of people is always selling cars, and on the look out for F-bodies that are for sale. They're from all over the KS, MO, IL areas, so they do pretty well at keeping an eye out for cars. Not to mention, you'd participate in one of the most active clubs in the midwest. Several of my friends have GTA's (got one that's rebuilding his engine in an 88 right now). There are alot of 3rd gen guys as well, so they're knowledge is extensive, if you can get them on the board, lol.

Let me know...

[dcmander]

HOw easy is it to replace the leaking ttops? coudl you just replace the ttops? you would probably have to replace the seals..how difficult and expensive would this be?

i would take the car to teh carwash to see if it leaked before buying...if it deson't leak, is that pretty safe?

[FAPhoenix]

I would 0think just the stripping would be bad, but if they do leak you would want to check out the interior as well to see if any damage happened.

As well, some tracks are begining to treat T-Tops as Converts, IE Roll Bar at slower times etc.

T-Tops are nice, just be careful. I doubt you're planning on an all out race car so the track restrictions probably won't be a problem.

[BlkCamaroSS]

Replacing a T-top will not end a leak if that's the problem. The weather stripping is attached to the car, not the T-top. You'd have to replace the weather stripping, of which I've got several friends that have done...

[dcmander]

Simple to do? Cheap? to replace the stripping..

[BlkCamaroSS]

Yeah, I imagine so. Alan, ACDC on MOFBA board is the one who's done it on his TA's. Check with him if you need details...

[triplerc]

Just by looking at that pic of the car You are looking to spend prolly around 5000.00 on it, Its in great condition body wise you cant beat that does it have the electronic gauges? I would buy it dont worry about the $$ it will go up in value if you keep it nice and clean like that

[dcmander]

Originally Posted by triplerc

Just by looking at that pic of the car You are looking to spend prolly around 5000.00 on it, Its in great condition body wise you cant beat that does it have the electronic gauges? I would buy it dont worry about the $$ it will go up in value if you keep it nice and clean like that

That car is on ebay right now. The reserve is at 6k and its only at 5100 right now. It has 46k miles and is automatic 5.7L GTA.

[DeViL]

Damn only 46k miles?! Shit I have 61k on mine and I thought that was pretty low for an old Firebird. Buy it!!!