and it seemed really slow. It was a 1996 z28, 152,xxx miles, auto, hardtop, and 2.73 rear end. I use to own a 1998 3.8 5spd camaro with a few mods and it ran a 15.4 at the track. The z28 doesn't feel any faster than my old v-6 camaro.

Is a z28 with a 2.73 rear end really that slow..... or does the automatic transmission just make it "feel" that slow. I was wondering because I was really interested in buying it til I test drove it. Otherwise it looks like the car was babied, perfect carpet, new tires, no misses, no leaks, good brakes, etc......


What should a stock 1996 z28 with 152,xxx miles and a 2.73 rear run in a quarter mile? I was thinking 14.4-14.7, but it didn't feel like it would run faster than 15.0.

eh the 2.73's def. aren't helping but when I went from my v6 to my Z i could def. tell a difference I ran a 13.7 my first night at the track with it with just an slp intake and ran consistant low 13.80's the rest of the night car is auto but mine has 3.23 rear.

I'm pretty sure there are some 2.73 guys on here that have hit high 13's nearly stock also maybe one of them can chime in.

Yea I thaught at the least it would be a mid 14 sec car. With some luck and a good launch I was thinking a low 14. It runs smooth though and everything else checks out good on the car.


It is on a car lot that I do alot of business with so I can get the car for around $2700-$2900. Does that sound like a good deal on a 1996 z with 152,xxx miles ?

Well it definitely should be faster than your old V-6. Just cause it doesn't feel faster doesn't mean it isn't though

Did you get it checked out?? Is it down a cylinder or have some mechanical issue that's causing it to run poorly??

If it's mechanically sound and you still get the feeling it's slower than you old car you have two options:
#1: Buy it and MOD away until it feels as fast as you want it to be
#2: Don't buy it

I would personally opt for option #1, then you got the best of all worlds. And who could pass up a 96 in decent shape

Eric

I test drove a 94 Z28 w/ 90K and a A4 on the clock a few weeks ago (had the 3.23 gears) and it felt as my 95 Z w/ the M6. Could be something wrong with that car

Yea I agree with you 96 z 28. I didn't say it wasn't as fast or faster than my old v-6, but it didn't FEEL much faster. But I think that about every auto I have ever drove. They have a 1998 v-6 on the same car lot and I drove it also, and it felt alot slower than my old v-6 (but my old v-6 had some mods).

So basically I think it is the auto transmission that makes me think it is slower. When infact it could be a 14 sec car it just doesn't feel like it to me. I know there is only one sure way I can find out though, and that is to take it to the track. I just thaught maybe some 2.73 guys mind chime in and let me know how there cars fell under accleration and some stock times they have put down with them.

well when you get it if your comfortable doing this seafoam the oil, gas a few times, and brake booster line. if u dont know how just ask. then change the plugs and wires if you want to as well and see how it runs then. if u dont know seafoam is something that can bring your car back up to par by getting rid of all carbon buildup in fuel injectors, intake manifold and cylinders. supposebly raises rpm compression or something like that when used in oil. but like i said if ur not sure how to use it then just ask. good luck with the car and its good to have another fellow z owner

With that kind of mileage, it can very well be in need of a tuneup or some other minor mechanical problem may be robbing power.

It could just need a tuneup. My old Mustang with an AOD and 2.73's in the back
ran a 14.59 with just a few free mods, it only ran low 16's when I got it with the original plugs/wires etc still on it. I honestly don't see an LT1 in good shape running at least a half second faster than that 14.59 in similar conditions. If the car checks out mechanically swap in some 3.73's and do a tuneup and have fun.

2:73's are horendous! That same car with a shift kit, 2800 stall, and 3:73's would amaze you! That being said with those miles the car could need an opti or some plugs/wires. My last Z had 2 fried wires and it was sloooooowwww.

People make 2.73's out to be much worse than they truly are. It depends solely on what you want the car to do. 2.73's working with an LT1 camaro is such a great highway vehicle. It will run all day and all night, and not grumble one bit like this. There is still PLENTY of power for the street if its daily driver car. But because of the 2.73 gears it will not get up and go quite as quickly as an LT1 car would if it had 3.73's or even 4.10's.

It all truely depends on what you want in your car. If you want it to be daily driver friendly, halfways decent in the rain, great on the highway and better on gas...then 2.73's will be good. If you want more performance and more of drag strip/street race car...then gears like 3.73's would be better.

I am one of the 2.73 guys that have chimed in with some input...just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

By the way...I ran bone stock with my 2.73's a 13.9 @ 98 MPH. With those same gears and the addition of a CAI, exhaust, and tuning....I pushed it down to a 13.6 @ 102 MPH. Havent done anything but drive it since. Good luck

Cory