Thinking about a nearly-classic american auto... suggestions?

[vtlion]

Now that I am finally out of school and making some money, I find it significantly more enjoyable to troll auto trader or similar sites for those cars that I lusted after in my high-school and college days.  After 10 years of looking at what I can't have, I think its the money in the bank adding hint of reality to the fantasy of owning a muscle car that gets me going.  anywho...

I have always been a sucker for GM's.  Camaro, Firebird, Corvette.  Any of the preceding dating back to the early 90's gets me excited.  These models are all in the age "sweet spot" right now:  old enough to be fully depreciated, but not old enough to have significant collector's value.  It's giving me serious pause when I come across a clean 94 vette for 15k or a 92 Camaro for 6k.

In high-school I drove an 87 Camaro V6, and in college I bumped up to a 92 Camaro RS V8.  I loved the low-slung ride and the awesome power it offered on the highway.  I'm not sure, though, about reliability.  I make a decent living now, but not enough to have a toy car.  If I did this, it would have to be a reliable daily commuter, not a wrenching project. 

Anybody have opinions on these cars?  Is it really possible to find and maintain one so old to the point of reliable daily use?

Comments?

[jserio]

i think you'd have a better chance looking in the southern states for a good ole car that's in top shape. something about the climate down there. i've got an uncle who's been a mechanic for over 35 years. he deals mainly with restorations of older cars. i once posed the same question to him. he gave me the response i gave you. i'm not saying it's impossible to find the car your looking for in the north. hell, just a few months back i found a 1976 vette. nice car. sounded good. needed a lil TLC on the interior. only wanted 6k for it. too bad i didn't have the money. anyways. good luck with your search.

[pnaberhaus]

Buy the newest (and nicest) Corvette that you can afford, and then keep it forever. I bought a car I've wanted back in '75,........and still have it. I'm glad I bought it back then, and have never regretted keeping it.

[vtlion]

Buy the newest (and nicest) Corvette that you can afford, and then keep it forever. I bought a car I've wanted back in '75,........and still have it. I'm glad I bought it back then, and have never regretted keeping it.

I'm thinking if I wait a year or so, I can take that approach.  I'm also thinking that waiting until I have a garage might be a smart idea.  After keeping the SV650 garaged and properly maintained for 3 years, it it damn nearly in showroom condition still, even at 9,000 miles.  Even the brake fluid is just now beginning to darken.  It seems that restraint might be the best policy for now. 

[yamahonkawazuki]

Now that I am finally out of school and making some money, I find it significantly more enjoyable to troll auto trader or similar sites for those cars that I lusted after in my high-school and college days.  After 10 years of looking at what I can't have, I think its the money in the bank adding hint of reality to the fantasy of owning a muscle car that gets me going.  anywho...

I have always been a sucker for GM's.  Camaro, Firebird, Corvette.  Any of the preceding dating back to the early 90's gets me excited.  These models are all in the age "sweet spot" right now:  old enough to be fully depreciated, but not old enough to have significant collector's value.  It's giving me serious pause when I come across a clean 94 vette for 15k or a 92 Camaro for 6k.

In high-school I drove an 87 Camaro V6, and in college I bumped up to a 92 Camaro RS V8.  I loved the low-slung ride and the awesome power it offered on the highway.  I'm not sure, though, about reliability.  I make a decent living now, but not enough to have a toy car.  If I did this, it would have to be a reliable daily commuter, not a wrenching project. 

Anybody have opinions on these cars?  Is it really possible to find and maintain one so old to the point of reliable daily use?

Comments?

hmmm dunno what the vette has as far as options goes, but check kbb.com for teh info, the price is kinda pushin value a bit. reliability wise, cant be beat. as long as, you keep oil changed, occasional tuneups, rad. flushed etc, damn things run forever

[Dober]

I had an 89 Camaro for the last 3 years and it was a great car.  It had the 5.7L TPI engine which unfortunately only came with the auto transmission.  Anyways I used to drive the hell out of that car and had it on the dyno a few times.  It was ridden extremely hard every weekend and never gave me any trouble until I changed the transmission fluid and filter.  It hadn't been done in a long time and started slipping a few months later.

There is a lot of different spots to look at on those cars to make sure they are in good shape.  Do a bit of research at www.thirdgen.org if your going to consider buying one.

[The Buddha]

I think those first gen mustangs (95 was it) are bound to be collectible in a few years.
89 5.0's are cool too.
Cool.
Srinath.

[yamahonkawazuki]

heh srinath, your sig, sounds like a good meal 

[brett]

I think those first gen mustangs (95 was it) are bound to be collectible in a few years.
89 5.0's are cool too.
Cool.
Srinath.

If you're gonna go for a classic Mustang, you gotta go for a late 60's fastback. If it's good enough for Steve McQueen, it's good enough for anyone.

[The Buddha]

Problem is, those cost like 30G. The 95 mustangs cost under 5K in excellent shape. Being newer there is no shortage of them either. Wait till those start getting rare in 20 years.
Cool.
Srinath.

[pantablo]

you have one problem with this...
you want a collectible car, and a daily driver...
If its going to be worth anything in 10-15 yrs time (ie if its going to be a valuable collectible)
In other words, in 15 years your daily driver will need a fll restoration to be worth anything (if it is a collectible). Buy what you want now to drive now. When you have the money, buy a resto project...later.

[brett]

Problem is, those cost like 30G. The 95 mustangs cost under 5K in excellent shape. Being newer there is no shortage of them either. Wait till those start getting rare in 20 years.
Cool.
Srinath.

Wow, I didn't know how much the old stangs were going for. I just checked ebay/craigslist and was blown away.

[jimbo1]

I have always been a sucker for GM's.  Camaro, Firebird, Corvette.  Any of the preceding dating back to the early 90's gets me excited.  These models are all in the age "sweet spot" right now:  old enough to be fully depreciated, but not old enough to have significant collector's value.  It's giving me serious pause when I come across a clean 94 vette for 15k or a 92 Camaro for 6k.

I have an 89 vette, that I drove daily for quite a while.  Never had a problem, and gets great mpg for what it is.  I still drive it as soon as I get off work.

I also have a second gen camero, an 81 Z28, but the value of that is sky rocketing now.  I haven't had that out of the garage in 5 yrs or so, and with 47k original miles it won't come out much when I finish it up.

[bombadillo]

If you're into the rare almost classics, get one of the special edition cars.  I had an 89 saleen fox body that was a blast to drive.  It had pp heads, msd6al ignition, roller rockers, hot cam, intake, tb spacer, maf upgrade, subframe connectors, exhaust, chassis boxed, short shifter, 6 puck clutch, lightened flywheel, monster tach, and a bunch of other goodies that I can't even think of right now.  It was only 5k and I completely re laid carpet, interior, and went with pearl white dusted with a pearl blue over it.  The thing was just sweet.  In a few years, it'll be worth a lot more than that.  I sold it to one of my friends after about 10 months for 6500 because he wanted the thing so bad.  Check out saleen, roush, and other rare breeds