new member - looking @ buying, have some questions

**Albigger** · 06-14-2006, 12:48 PM

Hello all -

I'm new around here, I've been reading and learning a lot so far and it seems like a great community.

I'm looking at buying a 2002 Firebird Trans Am, manual, t-tops. The guy is the second owner and has done some things like 1.5" drop and 19" wheels, larger throttle body. he doesn't seem to know much about the cars past, but is looking for the phone number of the original owner (is there another way I can get that info?). It has 12k miles on it, and is in great shape, garaged winters.

The main thing is that is has a hood with the large firebird logo stenciled on it, with "SLP 345 HP" on the hood along the bird wing. It also has polished aluminum gauges on the interior, and embroidered headrests. After seeing it I was all excited that it was SLP but I took down the VIN # and called SLP and they don't have it in their records.

So is this a fake or what? I didn't take down the RPO codes from the driver or passenger door yet. The guy I'm buying from didn't try to tell me it is the SLP or firehawk (he just said trans am), and it doesn't have the Firehawk logo on the bottom of the doors either. Even if it isn't the SLP version, should that be a deal-breaker?

What other things should I look for?

Thanks in advance for any advice & help!

**third_shift|studios** · 06-14-2006, 12:54 PM

intresting. They could have bought a stocker and then put all the slp stuff in it afterward. Just to let you know; any ls1, whether it be a vette or a z28, is factory 345 @ the crank. GM down played the f-bodies so they wouldn't outsell the vette. But they all have the same engine.

**Albigger** · 06-14-2006, 01:00 PM

Yeah, certainly the LS1 is a great engine. And when I was on the phone with SLP the guy said they don't do the hood graphic like that, so if he knew what he was talking about, it sure sounds like the first owner did these modifications...

EDIT: it sounds like the lowest he wants to take is 18k, but I want to try to talk him down a little.

**Albigger** · 07-06-2006, 06:59 PM

well, I haven't found out any more info really, but I think he'll now take 16.5k for it, so its looking like I might get it...

**KyleLs1** · 07-06-2006, 09:48 PM

good luck, if you get it post up some pics!

**RedT/Anumber1** · 07-07-2006, 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by KyleLs1

good luck, if you get it post up some pics!

**Albigger** · 07-07-2006, 01:19 PM

i took some pics today

**Albigger** · 07-07-2006, 01:20 PM

soliciting comments and opinons on these:

**Albigger** · 07-07-2006, 01:20 PM

**Albigger** · 07-18-2006, 01:35 PM

no comments on the pics, huh?

well he's down to $16k. good deal at this price?

BIGRED Z · 07-20-2006, 11:51 PM

All I get is the frog. (Your pics aren't working.)

Lori

**Albigger** · 07-21-2006, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by BIGRED Z

All I get is the frog. (Your pics aren't working.)

Lori

Thanks. Apparently imageshack was not the way to go (they worked originally).

Anyway, moved over to photobucket. See post #9.

**koolaid_kid** · 07-21-2006, 05:58 PM

Nice car. Looks like someone modded a T/A.
Still, very nice car.

2000pontiac6 · 07-22-2006, 10:20 AM

Really nice looking car. Yeah the bird o nthe hood was deffinitely done by one of te owners... I put the same bird on my rear windshied... almost put it on the hood tho. good luck with the purchase

**KyleLs1** · 07-23-2006, 02:46 PM

very nice car!
did you end up buying it? or were those pics you got from the person selling it?

im not a huge fan of the hood bird, but the rest of the car is sexy as hell!

**MIWS62001** · 07-23-2006, 05:01 PM

Nice car. All the decals look like add ons (personal preference). If the one on the rear says 5.7, that is GTO. It looks like borla exhaust. If so make sure you get the rest of the changable plates. The exhaust also looks like it needs some adjusting. Good luck. Cars are only worth what you are willing to pay for them. I rather pay a little more for what I want than to get a 'deal' on something I really didn't completely want.......If you like it, buy it. How hard you negotiate is up to you.

**Albigger** · 07-24-2006, 03:34 AM

thanks for the comments its not mine (yet).

Yes he said it is a borla exhaust and looking at the rear picture I thought it might need a little adjusting. What do you mean by "changeable plates?"

Thanks all.