Which Camaro would be best...?

[Canuck5056]

I'm buying my first car and I've pretty much decided I want like a late 80's-early 90's Camaro. The reviews I've read, about how good they handle, the speed, and all of that just sound so good, plus the cars are pretty nice-looking, obviously .

I posted in the general forum and someone told me that at 6'3"-6'4", I should be able to fit into a Camaro fairly nicely. Another problem, though, which I forgot to bring up, is that fact that I play hockey. Will the range of Camaro I described be able to accomadate a full-sized hockey bag, plus a hockey stick. The bag, which I just measured, is two and a half feet length wise, and about one foot from top to bottom. The stick, measuring directly from the top to the tip of the blade, is just about 6feet. The stick doesn't need to fit in the trunk though, it could probably be slide along the passenger side door. It will fit, right?

My price range is about 5,000-7,000 Canadian, discluding insurance costs. So naturally, since insurance is going to be somewhat high for a 17 year old with a Camaro, a Camaro in the 5,000-6,000 range would be ideal. My favorite models, looks-wise, are the 1986 models through the 1992. I don't really like the 1993, and anything before 86 is really too old as I would have a lot of money for maitenance. Likewise, if one of those years has some problems or anything like that, I'd like to know.

As I'm also a student, I need a car that won't swallow gas like its water. So, if you can wrack your brains around all the circumstances, which model should I be looking for?

Thanks!

[goldz28]

I have cramed alot of crap in my 98. you should not have a prob, the rear seat should fold down to allow for more room.

[Savage Messiah]

I know you're looking at a 3rd gen and we have 4th gens but I agree with goldz28, I have fit my mountain bike in my car so you shouldnt have a problem. You may want to look at a 96+ v6 tho, cheap, lower insurance, good gas milage, and the engine is pretty nice (3rd gen v6's arent too good on the power end, sorry)

[Chevyracincamaro]

it all depends on how resourceful you are. i fit a lawn mower into the back of an eclipse once. i have moved myself out of college twice in my camaro. you can put quite a bit of stuff into these things. ofcourse, years and years of playing tetris helps you too...

[SMOKEY818]

I would get a third gen just make sure it's a 87 and up tpi, they get pretty decent gas milage if you don't have a lead foot

[Canuck5056]

Well despite the later 90's being more economical and more powerful, I'm not really looking for power that much and I really like the look of the 3rd gens.

So what you're basically telling me is that the 3rd gens are pretty much the same, so I should just try to find one for a decent price without concentrating too much on which year?

By the way, do all the third gen. models have the rear folding down seat?

Also, in browsing some online and paper ads, almost all of the third-gen Camaro's seem to be automatic, whereas I really want a standard because I've heard that they're way more fun to drive. Is it going to be hard to find one? Because there are some Camaro's that I might consider buying, but they are all automatic.

This is probably out of the question, but how much does it cost to convert a car from automatic to standard?

[SMOKEY818]

the only camaro that came with standard were the 305 and trust me you will have alot more fun with the 350tpi automatic, and yes the seats do fold down, 1989 was the first year the put the vats system and rear seat belts. and yeah i like the way third gen camaros look, i think they look so intimidating.

[Dober89]

Im selling my 89 for 4k canadian.

5 spd tpi cars are out there, but they are getting hard to find. Not all thirdgens have fold down rear seats but it definately got more popular in the later years and maybe even standard.

Converting a car from auto to standard costs a few grand. If you can do alot of the work yourself of have a friend who can help, you can cut the costs down alot.

[Canuck5056]

Why would driving an automatic be more fun? From most people I've talked to said that standard is way more fun. My sister's first car was a standard Civic hatchback, and then she bought an automatic 94' Prelude, and said she really regretted getting an automatic (though she liked the Prelude) because driving a standard is so much fun.

[tacoma man.]

i have a 90 RS camaro with a 5.0 and a 5 speed, its an awsome car it seems very powerful, im around 6' 2'' i have no problems. i moved once and had mine crammed full has plenty of room. you wont regret buying a 3rd gen camaro, they seem to be dying down alot here lately. i have only seen maybe 2 in the last 6 months.

[Canuck5056]

For a third gen, how many km's is too high? Is anything less than 200,000 decent?

[Chevyracincamaro]

i will admit that driving a manual, at times, is exponentially more fun than an automatic. but if you are the kindof driver that races his car a bit, than the reliability of an automatic cant be beat. plus when you hit traffic on the interstate, nothing better than that auto. but winding through the gears will always be more fun (and impressive apparently) than an auto...

[Canuck5056]

But if it is going to be nearly impossible to find a 3rd generation standard, I should just settle for an auto?

[Chevyracincamaro]

oh i dont know how impossible it is. at the very most, you could always buy a 305 5spd and put a 350 with a t56 behind it in...

[Genopsyde]

you have good taste my friend.