What do I need to know before I even think about buying a trans am?

[god hand]

Is this an easy car to drive? Will I have to keep fixing it?

[importeater38]

well if u don't already know how to drive stick, i think it easy tolearn on a f-body. The car in general...u have to have respect for its power, or you will die--its that simple. They suck in the snow, i don't car what anyone says. Snow tires or not, that much power is extreamly hard to control when its shitty out.

If you beat on it, you will have to fix it often. I beat the crap outta mine, but its low miles so other then a clutch and tires i haven't HAD to replace much. If you don't know much about cars or are not willing to learn and get dirty once in a while--your gonna pay ot your ass with bullshit mechanics taking you for a ride.

thats just my personal oppinion tho

[Mr. Luos]

Originally Posted by importeater38

They suck in the snow, i don't car what anyone says. Snow tires or not, that much power is extreamly hard to control when its shitty out.

Just gotta know how to drive.

I don't take mine out in the snow, I have a different car for that weather. But I know plenty of locals that daily drive their LS1 cars, and have NO problems through a Denver winter.

It isn't the easiest car to drive. When it comes to wanting comfort, I drive my Grand Am around and over long distances. The Trans Ams are fairly heavy cars with a good amount of power. Kinda feels bulky compared to my Grand Am. Even though it does everything better than the Grand Am does. Handling is kinda odd. It takes a while to get used to the fact that a 3500 pound car can actually handle decent. That is a lot of weight to be slinging around.

[importeater38]

Originally Posted by Mr. Luos

Just gotta know how to drive.

I don't take mine out in the snow, I have a different car for that weather. But I know plenty of locals that daily drive their LS1 cars, and have NO problems through a Denver winter.

It isn't the easiest car to drive. When it comes to wanting comfort, I drive my Grand Am around and over long distances. The Trans Ams are fairly heavy cars with a good amount of power. Kinda feels bulky compared to my Grand Am. Even though it does everything better than the Grand Am does. Handling is kinda odd. It takes a while to get used to the fact that a 3500 pound car can actually handle decent. That is a lot of weight to be slinging around.

a buddy of mine is selling his ws6 because he hates driving it in NY winters. He drives it fine in the winter, but the way you have to drive in the winter makes it extreamly uncomfortable and takes all the fun out of owning the car. Snow comes and you will hate you life if its your only car. But if you live down south, its a mute point

[Mr. Luos]

I can see that.
They aren't the easiest car to drive in the winter, but they can get you by safely. Snow tires.
Takes the fun outta driving it?? That part confuses me. It isn't fun to drive on the snow in ANY car.
Just my opinion I guess. Take the good (summer) with the bad (winter).

[importeater38]

oh i love driving in the snow, but its only fun if u have a big honkin truck or good 4x4. The only thing that sucks about driving in the snow is wathing out for all the people that don't know how to drive in the snow.
Snow is as close to "off road swamp boggin" as im gonna get. in this part of ny we are good for 3-6 major storms a year.

[76ta]

canada winters boys.. snows a good foot on some days... minus 55 celcius it got here last winter.. plus a wind chill...haha

[Pvt_Murphy]

I drove my 77 w/ a 403 from NY to Maine and back through a Blizzard just fine, BS Remmington M&S 15/60/245 tires w/ shite tread; It's bad enough the I95 wasnt salted or plowed up in Maine, but the local roads were untreaded. I managed just fine; the olny problem is when you're used to going 90+ going 30-45 is an adjustment. However it definatly was not fun.

BTW, if you get a 1st or 2nd gen It's really, really, easy to work on; I'm 19 and I rebuilt my entire engine by myself without any formal mechanical training or a manual. There's isnt much wiring to keep tack of and if you're good with tools and mechanics most of it is intuitive; everything else like clearances/gaps/ and torque specs you can look up online.

[Josie]

..hmm lets see , in my opinion i believe you need to know a lil' about the car in general. ITS AN AMAZING CAR. ha but as for problems with car, it starts to get expensive as u add it all up. Its best if you could do most of the work on it , if you have a place to do it. If you could have 2 cars and having this car your "sports car" i say def go for it! But if its an every day drive 2 hours to work.. maybe you should reconsider.. but thats jus my opinion.
~You need to know -Eats gas like crazy, if its an older one things start wearing down fast, SPPEED / POWER is awsome! ha RAce if you want! You'll get tons of compliments of having one, most often!

[Mr. Luos]

Originally Posted by Josie

-Eats gas like crazy

Last time I checked my mileage, I got 22.5 MPG around town. And that is with an untuned cam'd car.
Best I ever got was 31 MPG on the highway before cam.

Better than some I would say.

[76ta]

[quote=Josie]..if its an older one things start wearing down fast[quote]
my 76 has power windows/doors and a/c... works just like the day it came out the factory and they've never been changed..

[importeater38]

Originally Posted by Mr. Luos

Last time I checked my mileage, I got 22.5 MPG around town. And that is with an untuned cam'd car.
Best I ever got was 31 MPG on the highway before cam.

Better than some I would say.

All 4th gens are good on gas. The LT1 was designed with with 3 main things in mind, power and gas milage and emmisions. The engine changed the way most v8s are made now.

[god hand]

Ha Ha, better get friendly with a mechanic! Thanks all of u!

[cooltc2004]

I agree that it takes all the fun out of the car, driving in the snow, mainly because when you loose control, even for a second, you dont have control of the car. Thats why im against doing donuts and burnouts in the snow, its pointless and my old lumina could do that shit.

Anyways, awesome gas mileage. In my V6, I get around 16-18.

[god hand]

Originally Posted by cooltc2004

I agree that it takes all the fun out of the car, driving in the snow, mainly because when you loose control, even for a second, you dont have control of the car. Thats why im against doing donuts and burnouts in the snow, its pointless and my old lumina could do that shit.

Anyways, awesome gas mileage. In my V6, I get around 16-18.

I live in Dallas, (today its gonna be 96 F!) so I dont have to worry about the snow....well maybe twice a year.