I've been looking for a used Z28 for some time now. Ideally, I'd want something with 60-80k on it, but a local dealer has a very clean one with 175k. So my question is, what would be a fair price for such a high mileage Camaro?

Perhaps more importantly, what sort of issues should I be watching out for? Is it a really stupid idea to even go for this car in the first place? What should I look out for on a test drive? It appears stock now, but it could have been de-modded before it was sold to the dealer for all I know. I don't mind replacing suspension stuff - I'd be looking for beefed up handling anyway - but I don't want to get into an expensive, involved engine rebuild.

 

thats certainly a lot, i found my 96 with 90k on it.. keep looking. someone dogged the **** out of that probably

basically thats about 20k a year. i drive a lot and even I dont do 20k a year. you might end up having to rebuild it and that wont be cheap

 

If the car feels strong and nothing jumps out it might be ok. If it was all highway miles and adult owned it might have many miles still left in her. I would not pay 2/3 of what one with 100K miles goes for. Ive seen 60K mile cars driven into the ground and look worse and run worse than a 200K one.

 

20K miles a year is easy to do.

my wife did it on her jeep. job was 35 miles away...5 days a week. add on various other trips and you have 20K.


go for a test drive.
have someone else start it while you watch the tailpipes for smoke...and make sure it was cold when you do it. if they "warmed it up" before you got there...come back another time.

hell...have them run a compression check on it

ask them if they changed any of the fluids...coolant, oil, trans, diff...before putting it on the floor.

have them run an emissions test on it, if it passes you know the engine is running pretty clean. which is a good indicator of abuse.

 

yeah just see how it runs and just check it out really good.My buddy just baught a 94 with 220,000 on the clock.And it runs like a bat out of hell with no problems.and yeah it was owned by a collage kid.yeah i wouldn't pay more that 2/3's like the other guy said,my buddy only paid 2500.00 for his here in Austin texas.

 

Saw it yesterday but they wouldn't let me drive it because they were holding it for someone who was going to buy it today. Looks really clean, but obviously I'd need to hear it and drive it.

I also noticed it had 16" Z28 wheels even though it appeared to be an SS. My guess is this was either the guy's winter wheels (was wearing Blizzaks) or this wasn't a real SS. Not that it matters much, but I don't want to pay for a "premium SS" if it's missing the wheels.

 

I found my 1995 with like 80k on it but that was also 5 years ago, right now it only have 99k

 

What are they asking for it?

Is it a bigger dealership? I ask because if its a smaller one sales are only getting farther and fewer in between. If you lean on them with cash in hand you may be able to get the thing for a few grand.

I like writing the salesman checks for half the amount of the car, (sometimes 2/3) and then ask him to rip them up.
Majority of the time there is no possible way they could actually sell me the car for the figure on the check.
But i know it hurts them inside, I know cuz im in sales and the only thing worse than not selling anything is thinking your going to get something only to have it taken away.
I would visit them often and make them think they've got you in the bag. Than dont visit for a week after that come in with a low offer, you will practically steal the thing. Sales is just a game.

 

I paid $4500 for a really clean 99 Z28 with every possible option and 135K on it. It needed a few things when I got it. I put about a $1K in it and it runs beautifully now. Everything it needed was routine plugs, wires, water pump, power steering pump, and alternator. Motor pulls like a bastard and doesn't burn any oil.