You know this is a question that i've been dealing with for just a little while and maybe you guys could help me with it. Well my question is what do I get a 3rd Gen Iroc or Z28. Or a 4th Gen Z28 or even worse a V6 from both Generations lol. The big dilema is that i'm 17 and working part time. So Insurance is a defiinitely a factor. Gas mileage is another big deal, money is tight and I don't want to be filling my car up every 2 days. I know that the LT1 is a good engine on gas mileage and has performance that will leave a smile on my face. But I guess the trade off is bending over and getting raped by the insurance companies. I dunno, just post your opinions and thoughts on what I should do. Thanks guys!

 

A 2000 SS was 4300$ insurance with the car on my parents policy under my dads name. Would have been 6000$ on my own policy...I live in NJ, it might be lower elsewhere, NJ is terrible.

4th gens are faster stock, and they are nice, not to say you couldn't find a nice 3rd gen...but man that 2000 SS was nice, I would have bought it if not for insurance.

 

Go for the insurance. You see, if the VIN comes up as a V6, they charge you less. Then if you slipped in say a 383 that you have bought with the insurance money you saved .....

 

I could have pulled off a '98 Z28 back in April, but I like the 3rd gen styling way better

Plus, I got a great deal on my car and it's a good one to work on, either way your getting a Camaro right?

Good luck man.

 

Depends on what you're looking for. If you want to leave the car stock and be fast as hell out of the box, take the insurance hit and get the fourth gen. Otherwise I'd get an RS camaro or a base firebird from the thirdgeneration (for cheap insurance), pull teh old crusty engine out...spend the money you saved buying the older car, to get a motor that'd kill a fourth gen.

Though if you're going for fuel economy, I'd definately look closely at a fourth gen...

Thirdgen's always looked better in my opinion, anyways.

Good luck man.

 

I personally like the third gen style better....well exterior at least. Don't like the cheese wedge shape of the fourth gens and HATE the fact that you can get a pinky between the motor and the fender and nothing more. IF you want something to work on and dont' wanna deal with insurance, get a RS and swap a L98 into it....everything will bolt up no problem and insurance will think you have a slow v6 or even worse....a slow L03. Then start modding the crap out of it and LT1's won't touch it. I have honestly heard of people beating LT1's with few mods on stock l98 motors with a K&N....doubt if it is true but there's always the possibility. I have yet to drive a fourth gen but I am sure tehy are nice. If I had the ability to get my hands on a 2000 SS such as StealthElephant was so fortunate to do, I would be all over that. LS1 But go older for insurance and more options, go newer for faster stock. And anything with a LS1, please buy so some white collar 50 year old doesn't use it for his daily commute at 36mph to his golf course!
~if it has 8 cylinders, drive it like you stole it~

 

Best thing is to get an older V6 F-body, put the money you would be paying extra on insurance on a newer or V8 F-body into the bank and start saving and learning all you can about the cars.
Learn how to drive the rwd car so when you move up to a bigger power plant, you will know what to expect from it.

My first outing in the rain with my 86 T/A 5 speed 3.5 years ago resulted in me doing a 180 making a turn at 10mph. I already had years of experience drving, but they were all front wheel drive cars.

 

I"m learning RWD every time I drive my dad's Dakota Quad Cab. It's got the 4.7 Liter V8 and trust me it's very peppy. I've driven in the rain and I know how to handle a V8 in the rain. You don't hammer it and just take it very easy on the turns. I'd really like a 4th Gen, as much as I love the IROC-Z to me it's just not going to be reliable enough. And I won't have to put money into the LT1 just to make it perform like I want it to. But oh well keep hitting me up with your opinions and comments. Thanks

 

i love my z so i'm a little to biased to comment!