looking to join the club, need some advice

**wvbrett** · 04-20-2011, 08:31 PM

so i am in the market for a 98-02 firebird trans am ws6 with the 6spd transmission. i do have a price range of no more than $7500. so most of the trans am's ive been looking at have high miles. is there a mileage cut off i should consider? are these cars known to develope specific problems as the miles rack up?

my main concern is finding that all or most high mileage trans am's have the same issues or issues that are expensive to repair. though i am trying to buy cheap, id hate to have to immediately do some work on it!

**wileyCoyote** · 04-20-2011, 09:22 PM

some guys on here have had little problems. some have had big problems.. i'd say, have the car looked over by a mechanic before buying, ...and save some money in case repairs are needed. yes, repairs can be expensive, especially labor cost.

specific problem points are likely: rear end/differential (most are leaky - pinion, ...window motors, headlight gearbox, water pump (has it been replaced before), gaskets (valley cover, intake, valve cover) - i just had to get all of these replaced recently.

**Trans Am WS6** · 04-21-2011, 08:05 AM

check and make sure transmission will come out of four gear without sticking, with my car especially at higher rpms it will stick and i have read the shift fork could be bent which im sure is not a cheap fix, other then what has been already said my powersteering has recently started leaking which also seems like a common problem i have read on hear, my car has 112000 miles ish on it.

***SMWS6TA*** · 04-21-2011, 08:09 AM

A couple of threads to help you.

Guide to Buying a F-Body
http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118628

Differences between the yrs.
http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27512

**REVNORR82** · 04-21-2011, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by Trans Am WS6

check and make sure transmission will come out of four gear without sticking, with my car especially at higher rpms it will stick and i have read the shift fork could be bent which im sure is not a cheap fix, other then what has been already said my powersteering has recently started leaking which also seems like a common problem i have read on hear, my car has 112000 miles ish on it.

Shift fork???

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**Trans Am WS6** · 04-21-2011, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by REVNORR82

Shift fork???

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sincro keys lol sorry was typing and not thinking

**wvbrett** · 04-21-2011, 08:46 AM

i have come across a 2000 trans am. ws6 6spd. black with t tops. black leather interior. it is about a 5 hour drive away from me though, so i have to drive just to look at it. he is asking $7000 for it. it has 142,000 miles. from what i have seen this is a pretty decent deal. it does not have the ram air hood though. carfax says it was in an accident where the driver hit a guardrail and sustained boday damage to the passenger front quarter panel and front bumper only.

is this a halfway decent deal if it checks out ok

***SMWS6TA*** · 04-21-2011, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by wileyCoyote

some guys on here have had little problems. some have had big problems.. i'd say, have the car looked over by a mechanic before buying, ...and save some money in case repairs are needed. yes, repairs can be expensive, especially labor cost.

specific problem points are likely: rear end/differential (most are leaky - pinion, ...window motors, headlight gearbox, water pump (has it been replaced before), gaskets (valley cover, intake, valve cover) - i just had to get all of these replaced recently.

these plus the PCV, and the DRL (daytime running lights)

Every car you buy will have it's quirks. We just know all of ours

**Lunatikgixxer** · 04-21-2011, 05:53 PM

My DRLs havent had bulbs in them for about 8 months! haha. Screw those damned things! Im having problems with my window now. Whos damned idea was it to mount the whole power window assembly on a weak ass fiber glass frame. Holy shit.

**02transamce** · 04-22-2011, 10:25 AM

my CETA has 216,xxx and runs great but my wife has had it since new and I do all the maintenance.buying used is a crapshoot because you don't know how the vehicle has been maintained.

**wvbrett** · 04-24-2011, 02:23 PM

well guys, i leave for the dealership in the morning. i am going to try and get this thing for $6k, but i'll take it for $6.5 out the door. all of this is pending a thorough inspection. i am going to really check it for rust since this thing has been in the cleveland area. will be taking a magnet to search for bondo areas. will keep you updated.

link to the t/a