Help On Buying 89 Gta Or 78/ta

[streethemi426]

OK IM A MOPAR MAN AS YOU CAN SEE BY MY NAME ,BUT I DO HAVE LOVE FOR OTHER CARS,I LIVE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OWN A FORD CAPRI 2.8 INJECTION 87 HOWEVER NEXT YEAR I WANA CHANGE IT FOR A 89 GTA T/A OR 78 T/A,I WOULD LIKE THE CAR IN RED BUT I NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT ARE THEY LIKE TO DRIVE,THE GTA HAS TO HAVE LEATHER SEATS ETC,I KNOW THEY ARE PRETTY QUICK,SOMEONE NOT FAR FROM ME HAS ONE IN RED IT LOOKS GREAT,I WOULD GET AN 89 TURBO BUT I CAN NOT AFORD THAT,AS FOR THE 78 T/A I WOULD LOVE 1 BUT THAT MIGHT BE A BIT OF A HANDFULL,HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO BUY EACH OF THESE CARS IN GOOD CONDITION,CUS I MIGHT IMPORT IT TO UK,

[MrPbody]

The '78 will cost about the same as the '88, if in comparable condition. The value of the 2nd gen birds is higher than the third gen (many versions are "collectable").
The '88 uses Chevrolet engine and transmission. The '78 uses Pontiac or Olds(ick). At the same level of tune, the '78 (400 Pontiac-equipped) will run away from the '88 until about 150 MPH, where the aerodynamics of the later car come into play.
The '88 will have tuned port injection, making it more modern, and more efficient. The '78 has the supension and handling goodies that made Trans Am famous.
There are more restoration parts and high performance parts available for the earlier cars (except, of course, racing parts for the small block Chevy). There is no shortage of parts or information to make plenty of power from the 400 Pontiac.
My vote is for the earlier car, but I'm a bit partial to Pontiac power. I would avoid the 403 Olds-powered car, unless you're willing to either re-invent the wheel (pump up the Olds) or swap it for the Poncho. While the power potential of the 403 is reasonably good, the durability is not. The block is too weak to take it very far, horsepower wise.

[CreepingDeath94]

I think if you're trying to save money and still have a nice car, your best bet is with the '89 GTA. The '78 is going to cost more if it is in restored or as nice condition as the '89 except there has been 11 more years for someone to modify and mess with the '78 to create future problems that only the previous hundred owners would know about. An '89 in perfect running condition with decent mileage would be your best bet in my humble opinion...though I am a little more biased toward the '70s Pontiacs myself. There's no substitute for cubic inches right...

[streethemi426]

Originally Posted by CreepingDeath94

I think if you're trying to save money and still have a nice car, your best bet is with the '89 GTA. The '78 is going to cost more if it is in restored or as nice condition as the '89 except there has been 11 more years for someone to modify and mess with the '78 to create future problems that only the previous hundred owners would know about. An '89 in perfect running condition with decent mileage would be your best bet in my humble opinion...though I am a little more biased toward the '70s Pontiacs myself. There's no substitute for cubic inches right...

oh yes of course you can not beat cubic inches,it just depends how much doh i will have next year