Actually after driving one for a while you'll begin to learn its "sweet spots". The first is from a 30 roll. It downshifts into 1st (doesn't while doing 40). When I first got m TA I loved mashing the gas from 30. The rpms build up in a hurry and the tires started breaking loose at 4K. Another sweet spot is around 55mph or so. She'll downshift right into it's RPM band again, and you'll see 100mph very shortly

But to answer your question on what to get, sounds like an auto will be better for you. Just be prepared to defend yourself when dumbasses that don't know what they're talking about ask why you have an auto... "auto's are slow" I was dumb enough to put over an hour of discussion in with a guy that was was so persistant in saying all manuals are faster and that auto's suck. Don't get me wrong, manuals WILL be faster with a pro driver, but maybe 10% or people out there can drive good enough to beat a manual...

 

Since you seem to be leaning towards the auto and say you can put two grand in it then I suggest doing this.

1). Find an auto with 3.23 gears (gu5 on inside of door). Autos for sale far outnumber manuals so it should be easier to find a good deal. If you can afford an 01 or 02 then get it because they have ls6 intake which gave those models more HP and a little more low end torque. But don't pass a great deal on a 98-00 if you see one because the HP is easy to make up.

2). Spend one grand on the torque converter and trans cooler. This will make you launch like a **** and kill all the dead spots in your A4 trans. You can punch it at any speed and it will throw your friends back in thier seats.

3). use the other grand to get a Lid or FIPK, Catback and some Nitto 555r drag radials for the back.

This will give you one heck of a fast and impressive launching ride. Don't forget a helmet and go to the track. Show your friends what a A4 with TC can do in the quarter mile. I think they will be quiet about the whole it's not a stick routine when you pull off some 12 second time slips. Then on the way home from the track impress them with how you can eat a cheese burger, pull out your best time card and beat a ricer in a race. All at the same time, now that's cool

 

That sounds good to me.

 

Don't forget talking on the phone Try doing that with a manual

 

Just got back from driving a 2000 TransAm A4. Man I was up to 90 and it seemed like I was going 40. I have a few questions now about buying used:

1. The car was a 2000 w/ 20k and the tires were looking pretty rough, is this normal? Does anyone have pics of say a used 01 and what the stock tires should look like, IF it hasn't been abused? (I am thinking the first owner has a few races under his belt)

2. The steering had a slight shimmy in it. I've had the same in my Jeep and it was because f an "out of round tire", is that the case with these cars or does it need an alighnment?

3. I think the rotors may have been a little warped (felt like the rears), when I would come to a stop you could feel it.

4. The auto seemed to shift pretty firm (or hard), is that normal? I was thinking since its a sportscar it may be normal for firm shifts, especially 1st.

I was wrong about room, w/ t-tops I had a nice amount of room. I do think I may need an a4 because my size 13s didn't have a ton of room and a clutch added to that would be worse.

Any help with these new ?s

 

1). 20k on tires for a TA is a lot. The original owner probably burned a little rubber (come on it's a TA). I'd say that is normal and you'll want to put better tires on the back anyway so no biggie.

2). New rear tires and maybe subframe connectors should fix the shimmy up nicely so again no biggie.

3). Bad rotors on a 20k mileage car is not normal. That one might raise my eyebrow a bit. Aftermarket rotors and pads won't break the bank but I would get them to knock off a few bucks off the cars price for the brake work needed or get them to put new rotors and pads on before you take delivery.

4). Firm shifts are fairly normal. This is a high performance vehicle so you want firm shifts at WOT. It's possible the previous owner had a shift kit installed which firms the shifts up more then normal. This would not be a bad thing because shiftkits are said to extend the life of a tranny.

Sounds like a nice car accept for the rotor part. I would test drive a few more (again an 01 or 02 if possible). If you go back to that TA then definately haggle a little for rotor replacements.

Good Luck.

can you tell by how fast I reponded that I am very bored at work today? It's sooo slow here and I wanna go home

 

Unfortunately, on our cars warped (factory) rotors are a fact of life.

This would not scare me a bit (the fact that it had 'em) , but I do agree that he should use this to knock a few bucks off the price, or have the seller fix the problem.

As far as tires go -

I had a '99 T/A before the SS.

At 11K, my rears were 1/2 worn.

Not my fault - you can't hear 'em boiling away at 30 MPH downshifts after the top layer wears off !!


Britt

 

Thanks for the imput.

Im not buying the TA, I really really want an 01+ SS. I think the TAs look too "soft" and a little too busy for my taste, plus the price wasn't great. To add to it the sales guy was like "the 01+ have alittle more power", dumbass didn't even have a 01+ on the lot.
They were asking $20k, but I know for a fact if I showed up with a check for $18k they would hand me the keys, especially since its a big name Chevy dealer.

Can anyone tell me which car is more aero-dynamic? SS or TA?

Ohh, yeah a guy drove up next to me when I was getting in the car and he was driving a 01 Z28 and he said, "So you getting a real car?" I was like hell yeah! The guy got out and asked what they wanted for the Ta and I said their asking $20, he told me his friend has an 01 Vette w/ 11k miles forsale. He said he would take $25k for it. Too bad I can't spend that much Actually I would be perfectly happy with a TA/Z28, I don't need a vette at 21.

 

Yep.

 

Well, my M6 went high 12s at 110-111 mph with those mods. It was fun beating M6 guys, too. I'm not sure if it was a freak or what, but I toasted other LS1s. The M6s did tend to keep up better than the A4s.

It's funny, because it only dyno'd at 323 rwhp.

 

I don't know if one is more aerodynamic then the other. But I personally think the TA with WS6 package looks the most aggressive. Something about that double nostril ram air hood that makes me think the car is gonna bite me if I get too close. I wouldn't worry about aerodynamics just get the one you like the looks of better.

Take a good look at a ss and ws6 ta or formula and get the one you like. But don't forget the pontiacs have the dash lights that are red at night. Holy **** does that look cool. I think my car is possessed by a demon when I drive at night. The power of christ compells you. The power of christ compells you. I need an old priest and a young priest.

Ok, sorry about that. I was having a austin powers flashback. Like I said earlier don't worry too much about an 01 or 02 either. You can get the HP back in other ways and the money you could save on a 99 or 2000 might be worth looking at since you are 21 and insurance is gonna be a killer. Just food for thought.

 

Haha, yeah insurance is killer like $900 every three months killer, but compared to my 2000 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 at $650 every 3 or a 01 Mustang GT at $800 every 3 its not crazy. Its gonna be high no matter what and the reason I can live with that is this:

I have saved up $12k and I have paid off my 2000 Jeep XJ 4x4. I know for a fact I could sell it in a week for $9-$10k easy ($8k trade in). I work at a Golden Flake chip factory close to my house, I get paid $10/hr. and work 42 hrs. a week and I am in College taking night classes. My dad pays my insurance, but when I get the car he will only pay half, which is completly and gratefully cool with me.

So I can afford the insurance. (Just to show what hard work gets you)

 

I really like the Ws6, but their getting harder to find muchless a good deal. Some reason if I do find one they want like $2k more over a TA just because its a got ht Ws6 package. I just got to keep my eyes open for one thats a good price. I really don't want to spend more than $18k out the door.

 

I hear you. Probably are more SS out there then WS6's. I may put a WS6 hood on mine sometime for the looks. Found them at a place here in Illinois for $485 brand new. But for now I am keeping the stock hood because it looks cool with my decal kit I put on.

you can see pics at:

http://www.tsplant.com/uploads/files/mvc-005s

http://www.tsplant.com/uploads/files/mvc-004s

http://www.tsplant.com/uploads/files/mvc-003s

http://www.tsplant.com/uploads/files/mvc-002s


Also think about searching carmax websight. They even deliver cars from other states to you in a lot of cases. Good selection of camaros and TA's at a fair price. Might be worth a look.

Good Luck in the hunt!

Ok try the links now if you had trouble before.

 

Had the links in wrong. They should work now. I did the decals myself so total cost was $200.00. Really woke up the white I think.

http://www.tsplant.com/uploads/files/mvc-005s

http://www.tsplant.com/uploads/files/mvc-004s

http://www.tsplant.com/uploads/files/mvc-003s

http://www.tsplant.com/uploads/files/mvc-002s