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Soon enough i'm going to be buying my next car however i'm torn between going with a 2010 ss or a 2002 z28.
I could probably get a 2010 ss for about 30k and the 2002 z28 for 15k so I would then be able to throw some money into modding the z28 but with the 2010 ss, I doubt I would have very much money to be able to work with.
Right now i'm a grad student so within the year I will be getting my first job. I got no loans so what I am making will be going straight to me.
Opinions?
Z28 and mod it.Quote:
Originally Posted by pgviper
What ever fits your situation best.
I myself don't like car payments. I also don't care for a used car that was someone elses mess. Hard to find a good one that hasn't been molested.
Do you have a place to work on cars? Tools? A used car is going to need something eventually. A new car has a warranty at least for a little while.
Alot of ways to look at it. If it were me, and I were a grad student trying to find my first job in this crappy market we are in,,,,I'd be looking for the cheapest dependable car I could find and forget the sporty car thing for a while.
Ya I got a garage, tools and a dad who built a 67 SS from scratch. Literally not one piece is stock except for the roof and doors lol. I also want something that I can learn with. My only problem is that the 2002 z28 is almost ten years old now and i don't want to have to invest enough money into keeping it running to the point where I could have just bought a 2010 ss. Tricky situation if you ask me.
Thanks for the opinions and ideas!!! One thing people always forget about is maintenance and repairs and i've already had to deal with quite a bit of those on my maxima.
I read someone's signature on here and it said "cost, reliability and performance, choose two!" That is sooooooo true and a difficult choice.
The LS1 car is easy to mod and not that difficult to work on and the knowledge base is HUGE! However, if it was me I would go for the newer car. It IS a newer car and honestly you need something reliable with a warranty if you are going to be in your first job out of college.
I would go for the newer car in your situation. As a car just to mod and have a blast with I would go for the older car.
What he said! :thumbup:Quote:
The LS1 car is easy to mod and not that difficult to work on and the knowledge base is HUGE! However, if it was me I would go for the newer car. It IS a newer car and honestly you need something reliable with a warranty if you are going to be in your first job out of college.
I would go for the newer car in your situation. As a car just to mod and have a blast with I would go for the older car.
I would love a new SS Camaro, however I live in the Midwest and refuse to be without a four wheel drive vehicle. As such, I bought a new Jeep and have my 2002 Z28 as my fun car.....:)
I personally have not been a fan of the new camaro, so I may be biased.
Also, I can't imagine a used z28 being close to 15k. Maybe cause your in nyc, but that seems to be price of a pristine 4th gen ss.
At least in my area I've seen <80k mile z28 going for $ 6500-$ 10,000.
Shop around and find what suits you best and most affordable. Its not worth being financially unstable because of a car.
these were my thoughts exactly. for a graduate i would say start out with the 02 and work your way up. thats what I did. but in my case the 02 was my dream car and I started with a 92 and worked my way up to my 02 35th Le. Best of wishes to you.Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckie669
I would go for the 02 Because if you are looking for speed or learning on a car, you wouldn't want to void the warantee or anything like that
I have a Jeep and my Z28 as well. lol I had a Mountaineer and a GTO, then the Corvette.Quote:
Originally Posted by sworn
Nice! :)Quote:
I have a Jeep and my Z28 as well. lol I had a Mountaineer and a GTO, then the Corvette.
Do you still have the Vette?
Thank you everyone for the great advice.
I would prefer a car with less than 30k miles on it, I have a serious fear about used cars with a ton of miles.
I figured that the z28 would be a great car to start out with but what keeps getting at me is that they are almost 10 years old by now and no matter how many or little miles are on a car, after ten years, your gonna start having problems. Im the type of person who likes to buy something and hold onto it, almost making it an investment. The next car I get I will have for at least 5-10 years and by then the z-28 will be 15-20 years old. That's my argument for getting the 2010 ss
On the other hand, i can get a used z28 for almost a third of the price and have my fun with it along with being able to mod and learn from it without having to worry about screwing up a $30k car.
Everyone has given me great advice and the discussions have been great. I'm a new member here and really appreciating the help from everyone!!!!!!
I would get the 02 Z28 and try to save as much money as you can,because this world is mess up as you can see:iagree:.I just turn 39 years old on the 3 of this month and i got sons your age, and like i tell them you should try to start your on business.
Being my own boss would be amazing!!! No matter how much money I end up making, i'm going to end up with a camaro ss. I've been raised from birth with my dad's. He's got pictures from 15 years ago with me standing up next to the headers and they are almost as tall as me hahaha.
Quick question about the 2002 z28, are there any problems that they have been starting to give people after this many years? Common problems that I should look into when trying to find one?
Power window motors! The stock rear end is weak, especially if you're considering a M6.Quote:
Quick question about the 2002 z28, are there any problems that they have been starting to give people after this many years? Common problems that I should look into when trying to find one?
I would say take a look around the site..
Look @ what is usually going wrong with the 4th gens..
Then weigh that against a better class of car (which the 5th gen is reguardless of opinions) and the fact it will likely have a great warranty..
The 5th gan comes with a good engine and suspension.
Being 4 wheel independant means it will put a pickup axled car in the weeds cornering all day..
The interior of the 5th gen is night and day, far and away nicer inside than a 4th gen was ever optioned also..
I loved my 4th gen maybe a little too much, but I did'nt let that cloud my judgement when I went for a new reliable fully warranteed vehicle..
10 model years is an eternity..imho
Not to mention that parts are already starting to not be availible for the 4th gen anymore.. Leaving modding as your only choice..IMHO
Oh and.... Don't forget being an 02 means the paint will likely bubble and fall off @ some point too..
In the end I just got tired of it always needing something..
Bought my '99 M6 in early 2006 with 66,000 miles on it for $6500. It needed a headliner and the paint was going bad. Had a friend do an awesome paint job for $1800 a couple of years ago and the headliner was less than $200 (I installed).
I've replaced some things (window motors, stereo, headlights, grill, spoiler, a few mods) but that was more by choice than necessity. One set of tires and regular maintenance, it now has over 114,000 on it. I'm looking to have a new torque arm installed, pinion seal, service the rear-end and drivetrain for about $600. All together, I have less than $10K (total) in this car and it is still going on the original clutch.
Because of that, I do not subscribe to the 5th gen being a better platform. More creature comforts, less squeaks, and maybe a few less repairs due to age, are attributes of the 5th gen, but I know several owners of them who spend a lot of time with warranty issues. No car model is perfect. In the end, it matters how it is cared for and if the aesthetics please you, if you choose to go with the older (and less expensive) car.
Now that the "new" is wearing off, I still think most people prefer the looks of the 4th over the 5th. My .02.
Have you sat in or driven either yet? If not, that's the first thing you should do. I was seriously thinking of getting rid of one of my 4th gens to get a 5th gen SS until I sat in it and drove it.
A car being 15-20 years old is not a bad thing!
My dad has a 66 Corvette and that is around 45 years old and he takes care of that thing like a baby. Has 145,000+ miles on it and it still roll's like a champ! Its all about how well you take care of your car
And that's the key, taking care of it goes a long way. I have a few unrestored 40+ year old cars here that still run fine. General maintanance is to be expected.Quote:
Originally Posted by 10spokess
If you buy the 02, and it's a bone stock low mile example, and providing you leave the car stock and drive it civilized, it would probably provide you with many years of trouble free service as long as routine maintanance is performed.
Once you start modding, beating the hell out of it, etc.....then your chances of trouble free transportation diminish drastically.
If you want to treat it as a hot rod and drive it as such,,,then I'd suggest you keep a cheap backup car to drive just in case.
No, I have the pics in my profile. I got the Z28 after the Corvette was wrecked.Quote:
Originally Posted by sworn
There are issues. The rears are known for issues and the interiors are not great. The window motors go bad, if its a t-top it was squeek and rattle a little. The doors shut like a tin can in my opinion and feel like they are going to break. lol The dash is known for getting a crack here or there in it as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by pgviper
Not a whole lot of bad. The transmissions are solid units and the engines can run a long time if taken care of.
Still have your maxima? Get the '02. Don't? get the '10.
Imo, if you're looking for a car to get you into cars so to speak, start learning how to work on it and mod it, have some fun and really start to make it your own, I suggest the '02 100%. The 2010 SS is a great car and overall a better car, fact. But, with the amount of money you'd be saving, you could easily build the drivetrain to become worry free, at least for a long time. You'll be happy with either choice. The Z28 looks more bland, interior isn't nearly close to as nice, but its basically just as fast in a straight line, can be made faster, cheaper, and will leave your wallet a little heavier. Maintenance shouldn't scare you because it's all part of learning. But if you're to only have one car, I'd still say the SS.
Smart man. However, stop with the common sense stuff and show more pics of the girl against your car. :) That is all the matters as of now in this thread. lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Ant71130
Got a thing for my fiancee sir? lol. We were practicing for the calendar. I got an album of it but.. not really relevant :nono:Quote:
Originally Posted by TLS_Addict
No not at al my friend, but a cute girl in a tiny bikini next to a kick ass car is hard NOT to take a look at (a few times).Quote:
Originally Posted by Ant71130
Its always relvant. :rock:
I say get the 02', of course I'm partial. I love to work on cars so I would never own a new one, nothing to do. Save your money for more import things like a house.
Like others said, parts are plentiful, and the knowledge base is huge.
Oh and if you want to pay $15K for an 02', I'll gladly sell you mine.
Jon
Fair enough lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by TLS_Addict
I paid about 14. Little over. '02 M6 with 47k on it. I agree with JFL.
Hell I payed only 9500 and I've driven mine about 3 times the amount of times my dad has driven his 2010. Oh yeah that is because his was in the shop so many damn times. I guess that is the price you pay to be an early adapter to a platform
I dont care too much for the newer Camaros, and I dont like the money you lose buying a new car. However, if you plan on keeping it forever and taking care of it, I would buy the 2010. If you want to experiment and have some fun with it, but the 2002. LS1s are great motors to play with.
I actually have not gotten a chance to drive either one and I understand that I must do that no matter what before buying one. Until then I literally am going day in and day out changing my mind. I know whichever one I get, the modding will begin as soon as I have enough money.
Personally I see the 2002 as being more of a toy, something I know that I will evantually be getting rid of however the 2010/2011 will be an investment. It seems as if the 2002's hold their value rather well (if kept in good condition) so I could really seeing myself going with that until I settle down and become financially comfortable before investing in a 2010. These are just some of the ideas going through my head right now.
I will def be keeping my maxima so I will always have a back up car/winter car for the camaro.
The common problems mentioned sound small and easily fixed. As long as there were no serious problems with the drivetrain or set up of the car itself that is great news!!!
I agree with you and buying new cars. I would never buy it directly off the assembly line, EVER!!! There are 2010 camaro 2ss going for just under 30k when book price puts them around 38k depending on the options. Once a car leaves the dealer lot, it is incredible how much the price depreciates.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2001SSCamaro#2516
If your keeping the nissan get the 02. They have problems, but they aren't that bad to work on. You can use the extra money for a nice place.Quote:
Originally Posted by pgviper
Get the new one and fly out here and buy the one about 15 miles from me.
2002, white with black stripes, 6-speed, 90k miles, aftermarket exhaust, t-tops, new tires and Cragar looking wheels (looks like 315s on the back) along with the stockers.......$5,500. Sounds and looks good. Driver seat has some wear and a few scratches here and there but my friend looked at it and said its a good running car. Pretty cheap transportation.
Honestly, both cars have their charm. The 2002 Z28 is pure muscle nostalgia ? easy to work on, tons of community support, and that LS1 is just bulletproof if maintained right. But the 2010 SS definitely gives you that modern comfort and reliability you?ll appreciate once you start working full time. Personally, if I were in your shoes, I?d grab the Z28, enjoy the build, and keep some cash aside ? no fun having a dream car and being broke. 😅
Also, kinda funny, I?ve been thinking about selling one of my old rides soon too. Trying to Sell My Car for Cash in New York City has shown me how crazy the used car market has become lately.