OK, first post on these forums..nice place you all have here...

OK, here's my deal...I'm 17, and I'm looking to buy a car-- I want something that has a decently powerful engine (I'm not going to be racing or anything, but I still want something with lots of oomph, and of course, that sound of a V8 is just great. Not to mention bragging rights!), looks great, has t-tops, won't kill me in maintenance and repairs, and doesn't cost a whole lot. My budget is about $4-6K...so I'll probably have to get one with over 100K miles on it, keep that in mind.

Naturally an LT1 F-body has been an obvious choice, hence the reason I am posting on this forum I've test driven a few, and I've fallen in love with them...but love is deceitful, so I want to know just what I'm buying

What I basically came to these forums to find out are what you all, as experienced owners, think of the reliability and ease-of-repair/maintenance on these cars. What's the cost of replacement parts like? Do they require more regular maintenance than most cars? And also, how do the V6 4th-gen cars and V8 3rd-gen cars compare to the LT1s in these respects? I have heard from a few that the V8 3rd-gens are a lot "simpler" and might be better for me...but on the other hand, I might be asking for trouble with a car that's even older, and with more miles...

I don't expect or want a Japanese econobox out of it, but I want to go with a Camaro as long as it won't make me broke (I don't make a whole lot with just a part-time job and a website to rely on, parents help with nothing) or get my car in the shop every 2 weeks. So ALL input is appreciated, many thanks!!

I know it's a bunch of newbie questions, but we all start somewhere...

 

Well, for one thing these cars sure as hell aren't Toyota's where you can just get in and drive them and leave things neglected for thousands of miles without a hiccup.

But as long as you stick with good maintenance intervals you should be fine.

 

Horrible, frustraighting, and expensive... unless your parents are rich, you work on cars... or your uncle owns GM....at age 17 I'd look for an Srt-4 or something.....

 

almost forgot to add..."You'll Shoot your eye out kid"....

 

Thanks for the input guys. Don't think I want or can afford an SRT-4 (I'm talking $4-6K here)...

So you say that the 4th-gen Z28s are kinda high-maintenance... do you think the 3rd-gen V8 models would be any better? Or how about the V6 4th-gen ones? Maybe another model altogether?

Thanks

 

They are just fine as long as you dont drive the $hit out of it. I got mine when I was 17 and I learned by driving it hard will cost $$$. Drive it normal and do normal stuff when it is supposed to be done and you shouldn't have a problem

 

Justin, I was in your situation the same time last November 2003. I had just got my lisence in March 2003 when I was 16 and had been working all summer for a car. I didn't really know anything at all about cars, except that I didn't want a rice burner a.k.a. anything Toyota/Honda/Nissan. I pretty much narrowed it down to a Mustang or Camaro. Ahh... classic battle. But I chose the Camaro basically because the entry cost was much lower. I paid 4,000 for my 1994 z28 with 125,000 miles on it. A 95 Mustang was 5,900.

Anyways, back to your original post. Yes, Camaro's are great cars, and require a little more attention than a 4 banger. When I got the car it ran right through insprection except for rear tires. When getting a sports car, especially one with some miles like you and I, be sure to check into the car's history. You don't want to buy a car that is on its 5th owner and you know has been dogged by teenagers like you and I.

Maintence wise, I don't know what these guys are talking about but my Z has been near perfect. However, I did say near.

A few weeks after I got it, I noticed some puddles underneath my car. Like I said, I knew nothing about cars so I told my dad about it and he told me that it was oil and that it was not good. I started doing some research on the Internet becauuse he didn't let me drive it w/ it leaking oil, and I found out that it was the back of the intake manifold. With help from people on this site, I fixed it myself, and it hasn't leaked since. By the way, this is supposedly a very common flaw in the LT-1. Be sure to check it when you go to buy one (I know you want a Camaro). It is such an easy fix though, so you can use it as a negotiating tool if it is leaking. Took me about 5 hours and like I said, before I got my car I knew nothing about cars/engines.

Optispark! This little guy has caused some people nightmares! I have one word of advise, don't pressure wash your engine! I did on mine and it ran completley like dog **** for almost a week. Little did I know that if the Optispark gets drenched with water then it can be disasterous! Thankfully, it cleared up but I was pretty damn scared none the less.

Oil leak from rear of the intake, and the Optispark are the two downfalls of the LT-1. Intake is no problem to fix, but the Optispark can become a pain and very expensive ($300+). It is really hit or miss though, or so I hear. Like I said, I have never had any problems besides the pressure washing incident.

All in all I have spent less than 100 bucks on maintence in the 6,000 miles I've driven my Z since November. $35 for gaskets/RTV for intake. Rest in oil/filter every 3,000 miles. You should have no problem getting a Z28 as your first car. Take my word for it.

 

Oh yeah... I also forgot to add "Insurance" ......

 

Thanks for the input Kevin and hsyr, much appreciated! I guess it basically comes down to finding one that hasn't been driven like crap, and doing regular maintenance on it...but as always keep the comments coming...

Two other points I wanted to ask you guys though...

First of all, tune ups on this car. I hear they're quite expensive and difficult. Can someone explain to me what it involves, is it required every so often, or just a good idea to get your 1/4 mile times down? My local mechanic who is usually pretty decent, charges about $1000 for one, which is more than I make in a month and a half!! LOL...so naturally I just want to know the nitty-gritty on this one.

Secondly, gas mileage. What kind of mileage can I expect on an LT1? I have heard somewhere between 17-20 city, and of course less if you drive it like a maniac (I don't)...however this 94 Trans Am that I took for a test drive was getting like 10 or 12! That car had a few other problems, but I just want to make sure that's the exception, not the norm...I would be fine with 17-20 since I basically drive to school (1 mile) and work (2 miles), with the occasional trip elsewhere...so I can afford it if it's around 20ish...

Thanks all, for helping a poor old soul like myself

 

Here's the thing-- I am a poor student and I can't afford full coverage. My agency, Allstate, charges the SAME for any car if you get liability-only insurance, which is what I'm getting...I know it's a risk, but there's no way I can afford full coverage on any type of sports car (Even if it was just some nothing car, it'd be quite pricey), so it doesn't really matter.

So insurance will be a non-issue for me.

 

I wish you luck than.... be carefu kid....

 

Heh, I too am 18 years old, but i did know a few things about engines/brakes and other what not before i bought my car.

I bought my car about 11 months ago, and i had one problem with it since then, about 6 months ago, and that was the OPTIspark. That thing is a bastard and i hate it, but it one of the only flaws about the car is the use of the opti.

I was in a similar position as KevinChoption, but the '94 Z was my second car, and i'm really happy that it was. I learned alot from my POS '73 Thunderbird. (it has a Ford 429 in it- with less than 100k miles!) But anyway, an LT1 will definately provide you with some fun, and as long as insurance isn't a problem than you won't be hurting too bad. 10-12MPG is NOT good, do NOT buy that Trans AM if thats the case, unless it has some SERIOUS mods to it and you want it that bad. I average about 16 around town and 22 on the freeway with an A4.

What exactly do you mean by Tune up? You can check most everything yourself, if it just means like fluids, leaks, and stuff. Just be sure you change the oil with a good quality oil every 2500-3000 miles. I use Mobile 1 5w-30 Synthetic but its up to you. Also make sure you flush the coolant when you need to and check the transmission fluid and power steering fluid on a regular basis. Doing little things like these will keep a car thats driven lightly last forever.

With that said, i wish you the best of luck, buying my Camaro was the best thing i have ever done, even though the insurance + car payment + gas is running me around $400 a month (soon car will be paid off) it is still well worth it. I have to warn you though, you will eventually want to go faster and that can get expensive lol.

Have fun, and just remember to BE CAREFUL, especially in the rain.

 

I got my camaro when I was 21, still love the car to death. The cost of ownership of a camaro is really only slightly higher than an import. I change the oil, plugs, and fix the car up myself. Most of the cost is in using more oil per oil change, having to buy more sparkplugs, having to bire big tires which are much more expensive and such. If you properly maintain the car, it'll run great. The only major repair I've had to do was the water pump. In retrospect, if I had just gotten a mezierre pump, I would have save 100 bucks and freed up some hp. The other big one that I have heard of is the opti, I have near 90k and mine still works fine. Freeway mileage is decent, especially when you consider how much power the eninge makes, about 24 mpg if you don't have a lead foot. City driving mileage sucks, about 16-17 mpg . What will really kill you is insurance.

These engines will last quite a while, especially if you take good care of them.

I think camaro's are better than mustangs. But I will admit that mustang parts seem to be available for cheaper. Don't overlook the thirdgen camaros, they are pretty good if you mod them right.

 

I would say you have come to the right place to get info as I have been getting a lot of good info her for about 2 1/2 years now and I owe many thanks to many people.

However beware of the advice giving post ****** who offer advice not based on they know but what they heard.

LT1 F body in my opinion will require a tad more maintenance but it is in it's nature since it is a GM sports car. I am a Chevy guy all the way but I also can admit that they still have a way to go in the quality department.

If you cannot work on your own car I do not reccomend you getting an F Body as they do require extra atention. Also, many shops are too incompetent to work on your car and get good results.

However if you perform maintenance right away on breakdowns, keep the fluids up and changed regular and be always checking the car out you will iron out bugs and will have yourself a very fun vehicle. Very fun indeed.

F Body (LT1) weak points & reccomendations

my own opinion:

1) Opti
2) intake manifold leak
3) faster rear brake pad wear
4) In the last year or so I have seen a few LT1's on this board with blown head gaskets (mine did too) as these engines have cast iron blocks and aluminium heads,, so do not over heat them at all.
5) reverse cooling system can be hard to bleed air out of
6) interior rattles must be tackled right away or they will pile up on you
7) change tranny fluid (if auto) at every 50K, this important!!
8) headlight bulbs are very expensive
9) door weather stripping prone to leakage so check the floor pans out

Now it sounds like I don't like my Z28,, OH CONTRARE I love it more than any other car I have owned and I have had 6 Fbodies, a 71 Charger (440 magnum) and other rather quick vehicles.

 

Nah I brought the Trans Am back to the dealer. I think it was an auction block car, even they didn't know much about it. It was an attractive car (red with chrome wheels and new tires) at a nice attractive $5K price, but it had various fluid leaks, and a couple of other problems. It drove like a bat out of hell though and I was only doing 55mph at max, so that's one factor that got me even more interested in the LT1s. Not to mention my two Camaro-owning friends, though they have third-gens.

What I mean by a tune up is stuff like this...not sure how many of you do all that stuff, or if it's required, but I do want to know. I've heard it's quite expensive or difficult to do.

Now about this Optispark, fill me in a bit. I've heard a lot about it, but isn't it the 93-94 models that have this problem? Also, in event of a failure, can I replace the non-vented Optispark that keeps failing with another model or something, so that it won't keep failing over and over? Also, how much do those things cost and how difficult are they to install (or about how much would it run me to have one installed?)?

Thanks guys, great help you're giving me. I don't mind a slightly higher cost of ownership, but not astronomical or anything