I finally got to test drive it!

[Blackbird01]

When your slowing down, just hit the clutch, and pop it into neutral.
You can't go into 1st untill you're at about 10-15mph.
You'll gradually learn lil tricks.
But you're right, the Skip Shift is a pain in the ass.
You can order a resister that plugs into the tranny to override it.

Goto www.LS1tech.com, www.LS1Speed.com or www.LS1.com for all your performance/chat needs!

[-cy-]

Well, when i am slowing down, if i don't downshift like 4 to 3, then 3 to 2, then i do just stick it into neutral. Sometimes if i know i am going to stop i will just pop it into first and keep the clutch in as i am stopping. The thing is if i was in 3rd, saw i had to stop, put in the clutch, and just slowed down in nuetral, then stuck it in 1st keeping the clutch in...it would grind. Is it to keep people from skipping gears while down shifting, b/c i don't see how fast i am going as a matter when the clutch is in. I haven't driven it a huge amount today, but my starting from stopped on flat ground is much better. I used to rev up, then let the clutch out, or something like that. Now i am actually starting like i should. I go back to school on the 7th, so by then i am hoping to be pretty perficient at it....don't wanna stall on a hill with like 100 cars waiting to get out in a hurry

[Street Beast]

Hey, just wanted to congratulate you on ur new buy. And as far as shifting goes, dont worry about it, you'll get it sooner or later, and as far as grinding the gears go, dont worry about it UNLESS u do it alot. i think u said u did it like 3 times or so, that isn't to bad, just as it starts to grind back off it. you'll be ok.. again congrats. laterz.

[SmoKiN GeO]

Hey bro, I'm 16 but I'm poor so I've been looking at 95-ish T\A's. What's your insurance on that thing and is it an 8 or 6 cylinder? Who do you get it through? My import-loving parents are trying to get me a Maxima or a Geo if I can't keep the rates down. I tell my dad to put myself as the main driver on his cheap car. Is that what you did too?

[-cy-]

I have a forumula (so its an 8). The insurance isn't bad at all for me, i don't know why. I am listed as the primary driver on it, normally its cheaper to list the adult as the primary driver and you as the secondary driver, but since my parents both have had accidents in the past 3 years, their rates would have been higher than mine. We have AAA. Get insurance quotes before even seriously considering buying the car, b/c i know i am lucky and normally people's rates are really high.

[lrwier]

On 04-06-2002 @ 11:39 AM, SmoKiN GeO wrote

Hey bro, I'm 16 but I'm poor so I've been looking at 95-ish T\A's. What's your insurance on that thing and is it an 8 or 6 cylinder? Who do you get it through? My import-loving parents are trying to get me a Maxima or a Geo if I can't keep the rates down. I tell my dad to put myself as the main driver on his cheap car. Is that what you did too?

My insurance company considers V8 high performance and V6 standard performance. They charge $195 additional semi-annual for V8 as mandated by my state.

[riceboy]

I was doing a little reading on this post... you should've gotten that T/A... at any price. I read somewhere on the web that purple is a real RARE color because it was stopped mid-production... I could be wrong on the numbers but I think there were less than 50 cars that came out in that color before it was stopped... and it was offered on ONLY the '98 model year. Some kid got an offer of 75k buckeroos for his, but decided not to sell it.

I don't want to pour salt on the wounds, but... you should do a little research on that if you feel like it.

Anyway, congrats on your new baby... treat it well and it will treat you well.

The skip-shift thing... yeah, that took me by surprise too. Like they told you, once you get used to it, you won't even notice that it's there... or else, get the eliminator. Have fun.

[-cy-]

Well, the purple was more of a deep blue color, either way it was cool. I tried buying it, i made an offer, they turned it down, i waited till a few days after Christmas (close to the end of the year) and went back to make the offer, made the same offer. They sold the car about an hour earlier for less money than my offer had been a week earlier, i was bummed.

Since i got my Firebird i've gotten the eliminator for the skip-shift, love it. I also got a cut-out, and i am in LOVE with the sound my car makes. I still wish i had the Trans Am for the looks a bit, but other than a few small looks issues, i have all the options the Trans Am does (leather, premium sound, t-tops, power everything, ect..), so i'm happy.

[riceboy]

Yeah, I did the waiting and thinking too... missed out on one black/black TA back in Nov. Ever since then, everytime I went to the dealer or followed up on an add I was always late by a day or two. When I saw mine... right after Christmas (they were closed)... I went in the next day on Dec 30... in about 4 hours, the car was mine... did NOT want to take any chances on this one slipping away too.

I'm glad you like your car. You sound like a very responsible guy... especially for a 16 yr old. I have four younger brothers... the youngest one is 17 (got no license... and no wish to get one anytime soon). I wish they could be more responsible.

Anyway, I digress...

Be careful... and take care of that car. I know what it was like to be young and driving a V8 sports car... don't let your friends talk you into doing anything stupid... which I'm sure you will know better.

[-cy-]

Well thanks, but i'm 17 now hehe. Its funny, some friends keep asking me why i don't drive faster b/c i have a fast car, i just reply with "because i'm not an idiot". Sometimes though i do speed/race, but i try to do it in areas that are safe.